Flat-panel display mounting system for portable computer
View Patent ↗A flat-panel display with fixtures in its sidewalls to enable support by lateral mounting members is disclosed. The advantage of this approach, in which the fixtures are essentially rotated around to the sides of the flat-panel display, is the reduction in the portion of the portable computer's top cover that is not the active display. In practice, this results in an increase in the size of the display that may be housed in the same-sized top cover. In order to accommodate the lateral mounting of the flat-panel display, metal brackets are used. These brackets extend from the base unit hinges and cradle the display. This adds torsional rigidity, but also removes the requirement that the back must be structural. Further reductions in the inactive portions of the top cover may be achieved by extending the ends of the display's fluorescent back-light beyond or through the metal rim that surrounds the display.
1. In a flat-panel display having a back, a display area, and a light, a mounting system mounting the flat-panel display in a folding top cover of a portable computer, the mounting system comprising:
a flat-panel display comprising a display panel, a display rim extending around a perimeter of the display panel, and a display back, the flat-panel display having a plurality of side walls including at least two holes formed laterally therein for mounting the flat-panel display in the top cover of a portable computer, the top cover having a back and a side wall having at least two holes extending laterally therethrough; and
lateral mounting members extending laterally from the at least two holes in the side wall of the top cover engaging at least portions of the at least two holes in the plurality of side walls of the flat-panel display.
2. In the flat-panel display described in claim 1 , wherein the lateral mounting members extend through the at least two holes in opposed portions of the side wall of the top cover.
3. In the flat-panel display described in claim 1 , wherein the lateral mounting members comprise bolts that engage bosses of the flat-panel display.
4. In the flat-panel display described in claim 1 , wherein the top cover comprises a plastic back, pivotal couplings connecting the top cover to a base unit, and at least one metal bracket that extends from the pivotal couplings, the lateral mounting members engaging the at least one metal bracket and the plastic back.
5. In the flat-panel display described in claim 4 , wherein the lateral mounting members comprise bolts that pass through the at least one bracket and the plastic back to engage bosses of the flat-panel display.
6. In the flat-panel display described in claim 4 , wherein the plastic back does not substantially contribute to the rigidity of the top cover.
7. In the flat-panel display described in claim 1 , wherein the flat-panel display comprises:
the lateral mounting members comprising bolts that engage bosses of the display back of the flat-panel display, behind the rim.