(12) United States Patent
`Lin
`
`USOO649321.6B1
`US 6,493,216 B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`Dec. 10, 2002
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) PORTABLE COMPUTER WITH AN LCD
`WHICH CAN BE ROTATED WITHIN 360
`DEGREES
`
`(75) Inventor: Wen-Cheng Lin, Ping-Chen (TW)
`(73) Assignee: Arima Computer Corp., Taipei (TW)
`(*) Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/457,076
`(22) Filed:
`Dec. 9, 1999
`(30)
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Oct. 20, 1999 (TW) ....................................... 88.118148A
`(51) Int. Cl." .................................................. G06F 1/16
`(52) U.S. Cl. ....................... 361/681; 361/679; 361/683;
`364/708.1; 312/223.1; 34.5/905
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 361/680, 681,
`361/683, 679, 687; 364/705.01, 70801;
`312/223.1, 223.2; 345/905; 248/917; 16/342,
`366, 378,379,354, 321, 341
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,333,356 A * 8/1994 Katagiri....................... 16/340
`5,481,430 A * 1/1996 Miyagawa et al. ......... 361/681
`5,661,632 A * 8/1997 Register ..................... 361/683
`5,719,799 A * 2/1998
`... 364/705.01
`5.987,704 A * 11/1999 Tang ........................... 16/354
`
`8/2000 Wahl et al. ................... 16/342
`6,101,676 A
`6,154,359 A 11/2000 Kamikakai et al. ......... 361/681
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`408179851 A * 7/1996 ............. GO6F/1/16
`JP
`4081798.54. A * 7/1996 ............. GO6F/1/16
`JP
`410116.134. A
`5/1998 ............. GO6F/1/16
`JP
`411024788 A
`1/1999
`............. GO6F/1/16
`JP
`411219232 A 8/1999 ............. GO6F/1/18
`JP
`411296,258 A 10/1999 ............. GO6F/1/16
`JP
`O8O2O1299
`1/1991
`TW
`O832O1145
`1/1994
`TW
`O86221155
`12/1997
`TW
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner-Lynn D. Feild
`Assistant Examiner Michael Datskovsky
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Winston Hsu
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A portable computer comprises a machine body approxi
`mately rectangular in shape comprising a front end, a rear
`end, a top face and a bottom face; a liquid crystal display
`approximately rectangular in shape comprising an upper end
`and a lower end; and a connecting device comprising a front
`end and a rear end. The front end of the connecting device
`is fixed to the rear end of the machine body in a rotatable
`manner, and the rear end of the connecting device is fixed to
`the lower end of the liquid crystal display. The connecting
`device enables the liquid crystal display to be folded upon
`the top face of the machine body by a forward rotation or
`upon the bottom face of the machine body by a backward
`rotation.
`
`11 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
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`Lenovo EX-1020,
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 10, 2002
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`Sheet 1 of 6
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`US 6,493,216 B1
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`le,
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`12
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`O
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`14
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`16
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`Fig. 1 Prior art
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`12
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`14
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`C P
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`Fig. 2 Prior art
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`Lenovo EX-1020,
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 10, 2002
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`Sheet 2 of 6
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`US 6,493,216 B1
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`2.
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`22
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`24
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`Fig. 3 Prior art
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`24
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`Fig. 5 Prior art
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`Lenovo EX-1020,
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 10, 2002
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`Sheet 3 of 6
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`US 6,493,216 B1
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`Lenovo EX-1020,
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 10, 2002
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`Sheet 4 of 6
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`US 6,493,216 B1
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`Fig. 7
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`Lenovo EX-1020,
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 10, 2002
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`Sheet S of 6
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`US 6,493,216 B1
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`Lenovo EX-1020,
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 10, 2002
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`Sheet 6 of 6
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`US 6,493,216 B1
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`Fig. ll
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`Lenovo EX-1020,
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`

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`US 6,493.216 B1
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`1
`PORTABLE COMPUTER WITH AN LCD
`WHICH CAN BE ROTATED WITHIN 360
`DEGREES
`
`2
`This and other objectives of the present invention will no
`doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art
`after having read the following detailed description of the
`preferred embodiment which is illustrated in the various
`figures and drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are diagrams of a portable computer
`according to the prior art.
`FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 are diagrams of an alternative portable
`computer according to the prior art.
`FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portable computer
`according to the present invention.
`FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are perspective views of the portable
`computer shown in FIG. 6 installed on a base.
`FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the connecting module
`shown in FIG. 6.
`FIG. 10 is an exploded diagram of the portable computer
`shown in FIG. 6.
`FIG. 11 is an exploded diagram of an alternative portable
`computer according to the present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`Please refer to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a
`portable computer 30 according to the present invention.
`The portable computer 30 comprises a machine body 32 that
`is approximately rectangular in shape, a liquid crystal dis
`play (LCD) 38 and two connecting modules 44. The
`machine body 32 comprises a front end 34, a rear end 36, a
`top face, and a bottom face. The LCD 38 is approximately
`rectangular in Shape and comprises an upper end 40 and a
`lower end 42. The two connecting modules 44 are separately
`installed on the left and right sides of the rear end 36 of the
`machine body 32, and are used to connect the rear end 36 of
`the machine body 32 with the lower end 42 of the liquid
`crystal display 38. The connecting modules 44 enable the
`liquid crystal display 38 to be folded upon the top face of the
`machine body 32 by a forward rotation or upon the bottom
`face of the machine body 32 by a backward rotation.
`Please refer to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are
`perspective views of the portable computer 30 shown in
`FIG. 6 installed on a base 62. The portable computer 30
`further comprises a base 62 with a recession 64 installed on
`its top. When the liquid crystal display 38 is folded towards
`the bottom face of the machine body 32 by a backwards
`rotation, the front end 34 of the machine body 32 can be
`vertically inserted into the recession 64 of the base 62 so that
`the liquid crystal display 38 can be vertically hung from the
`machine body 32. A computer circuit (not shown) is installed
`inside the machine body 32, and a keyboard 66 is installed
`on the top face of the machine body 32 and electrically
`connected to the computer circuit. A forward-facing LCD
`panel 68 is installed in the liquid crystal display 38, and the
`LCD panel 68 is electrically connected with the computer
`circuit in the machine body 32 to display images transmitted
`from the computer circuit. The liquid crystal display 38
`further comprises a button 39 connected with the computer
`circuit that is used to control the orientation of the images
`displayed by the LCD panel 68. When the button 39 is
`pressed the computer circuit will reverse the orientation of
`the images displayed by the LCD panel 68.
`Please refer to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of
`the connecting module 44 shown in FIG. 6. Each connecting
`module 44 comprises a connecting piece 46, a first Shaft 48
`and a second shaft 52. The first shaft 48 is fixed to the front
`end 50 of the connecting piece 46 in a rotatable manner, and
`is used to connect to the rear end 36 of the machine body 32.
`
`15
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`25
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to a portable computer, and
`more particularly, to a portable computer with an LCD that
`can be rotated within 360 degrees.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`A general portable computer comprises a machine body
`and an LCD connected to one end of the machine body in a
`rotatable manner. A keyboard is installed on the machine
`body as an input device and the LCD displays the images
`generated as a result of the various input Signals.
`Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are
`diagrams of a portable computer 10 according to the prior
`art. The portable computer 10 comprises a machine body 12
`that is approximately rectangular in shape, and an LCD 14
`that is also approximately rectangular in shape connected to
`an end 16 of the machine body 12. The LCD 14 can be
`folded onto the top face of the machine body 12 by a forward
`rotation (FIG. 1), or it can be folded backwards 180 degrees
`to form a flat surface that is parallel to the machine body 12
`(FIG. 2).
`Please refer to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5. FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 are
`diagrams of an alternative portable computer 20 according
`to the prior art. The portable computer 20 comprises an
`approximately rectangular machine body 22, an LCD 24 that
`is also approximately rectangular in shape, and a connecting
`device 26 to connect together the machine body 22 and the
`LCD 24. The connecting device 26 will permit the LCD 24
`to be folded upon the top face of the machine body 22 by a
`forward rotation (FIG. 3). The LCD 24 can also form a flat
`surface parallel to the machine body 22 by a 180 degree
`backward rotation (FIG. 4). In addition, the connecting
`device 26 permits the LCD 24 to make an acute angle 0 with
`the bottom face 28 of the machine body 22 by a further
`backward rotation. However, neither of the prior art portable
`computers permits the LCD to be folded upon the bottom
`face of the machine body.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention
`to provide a portable computer with an LCD which can be
`rotated within 360 degrees to solve the above mentioned
`problem.
`In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides
`a portable computer comprising:
`a machine body approximately rectangular in shape com
`50
`prising a front end, a rear end, a top face and a bottom
`face;
`a liquid crystal display approximately rectangular in
`shape comprising an upper end and a lower end; and
`a connecting device comprising a front end and a rear end,
`the front end of the connecting device fixed to the rear
`end of the machine body in a rotatable manner, the rear
`end of the connecting device fixed to the lower end of
`the liquid crystal display;
`wherein the connecting device enables the liquid crystal
`display to be folded upon the top face of the machine
`body by a forward rotation or upon the bottom face of
`the machine body by a backward rotation.
`It is an advantage of the present invention that, with the
`connecting device, the liquid crystal display can not only be
`folded upon the top face of the machine body, but can also
`be folded upon the bottom face of the machine body.
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`Lenovo EX-1020,
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`US 6,493.216 B1
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`15
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`25
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`3
`The second shaft 52 is fixed to the rear end 54 of the
`connecting piece 46 in a rotatable manner, and is used to
`connect to the lower end 42 of the liquid crystal display 38.
`Both the first shaft 48 and the second shaft 52 comprise two
`ends, 56 and 58. One end 56 of the first shaft 48 is connected
`to the front end 50 of the connecting piece 46. One end 56
`of the second shaft 52 is connected to the rear end 54 of the
`connecting piece 46. The other end 58 of the first shaft 48 is
`connected to the rear end 36 of the machine body 32. The
`other end 58 of the second shaft 52 is connected to the lower
`end 42 of the liquid crystal display 38. The first shaft 48 is
`a non-friction-loaded torque shaft. The second shaft 52 is a
`friction-loaded torque shaft So that the liquid crystal display
`38 can be fixed at any angle.
`Please refer to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is an exploded diagram
`of the portable computer 30 shown in FIG. 6. The portable
`computer 30 further comprises a latching device 60 used for
`fixing the connecting piece 46 of the connecting module 44
`to the rear end 36 of the machine body 32 so that the first
`shaft 48 of the connecting module 44 cannot be rotated, and
`hence the liquid crystal display 38 can only utilize the
`second shaft 52 of the connecting module 44 to rotate
`forwards and backwards. The latching device 60 can be a
`Spring-loaded latching device or a Screw-tight device.
`Please refer to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is an exploded diagram of
`an alternative portable computer 70 according to the present
`invention. Compared to the portable computer 30, the por
`table computer 70 only has one connecting module 88
`installed at the center portion of the rear end 74 of the
`machine body 72 used for connecting the rear end 74 of the
`machine body 72 and the lower end 78 of the liquid crystal
`display 76. The center portions of the first and second shafts
`80, 82 of the connecting module 88 are separately fixed to
`the front end 84 and the rear end 86 of the connecting piece
`96. And the two ends of the first and second shafts 80, 82 are
`separately fixed to the rear end 74 of the machine body 72
`and the lower end 78 of the liquid crystal display 76.
`Compared to the prior art portable computers 10 and 20,
`by using the connecting modules 44, 88 of the present
`invention portable computer 30, 70 the liquid crystal display
`38, 76 can not only be folded upon the top face of the
`machine body 32,72 but can also be folded upon the bottom
`face of the machine body 32, 72. This solves the inability of
`the prior art LCD 14, 24 to fold onto the bottom face of the
`machine body 12, 22.
`Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous
`modifications and alterations of the device may be made
`while retaining the teaching of the invention. Accordingly,
`the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by
`the metes and bounds of the appended claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A portable computer comprising:
`50
`a machine body approximately rectangular in shape com
`prising a front end, a rear end, a top face and a bottom
`face;
`a liquid crystal display approximately rectangular in
`shape comprising an upper end and a lower end;
`a connecting device comprising a front end and a rear end,
`the front end of the connecting device fixed to the rear
`end of the machine body in a rotatable manner, the rear
`end of the connecting device fixed to the lower end of
`the liquid crystal display, wherein the connecting
`device enables the liquid crystal display to be folded
`upon the top face of the machine body by a forward
`rotation or upon the bottom face of the machine body
`by a backward rotation; and
`
`4
`a base with a recession installed on a top of the base
`wherein when the liquid crystal display is folded
`towards the bottom face of the machine body by a
`backwards rotation, the front end of the machine body
`is capable of being vertically inserted into the recession
`of the base So that the liquid crystal display is capable
`of being hung from the machine body Vertically.
`2. The portable computer of claim 1 wherein a computer
`circuit is installed inside the machine body, and a keyboard
`is installed on the top face of the machine body and
`electrically connected to the computer circuit.
`3. The portable computer of claim 2 wherein a forward
`facing LCD panel is installed in the liquid crystal display,
`and the LCD panel is electrically connected with the com
`puter circuit in the machine body to display images trans
`mitted from the computer circuit.
`4. The portable computer of claim 3 wherein the liquid
`crystal display further comprises a button connected with the
`computer circuit used for controlling the orientation of the
`images displayed by the LCD panel.
`5. The portable computer of claim 4 wherein when the
`button is pressed the computer circuit will reverse the
`orientation of the images displayed by the LCD panel.
`6. The portable computer of claim 1 wherein the connect
`ing device comprises at least one connecting module, and
`the connecting module comprises:
`a connecting piece;
`a first shaft fixed to the front end of the connecting piece
`in a rotatable manner used for connecting to the rear
`end of the machine body; and
`a Second shaft fixed to the rear end of the connecting piece
`in a rotatable manner used for connecting to the lower
`end of the liquid crystal display.
`7. The portable computer of claim 6 wherein the connect
`ing device comprises two connecting modules Separately
`installed at the left and right side of the rear end of the
`machine body used for connecting the rear end of the
`machine body with the lower end of the liquid crystal
`display.
`8. The portable computer of claim 7 wherein each of the
`first shaft and the Second shaft comprises two ends, one end
`of the first shaft and one end of the second shaft are
`Separately fixed to the front end and rear end of the con
`necting piece, and the other end of the first Shaft and the
`other end of the Second shaft are separately fixed to the rear
`end of the machine body and the lower end of the liquid
`crystal display.
`9. The portable computer of claim 6 wherein the connect
`ing device comprises a connecting module installed in the
`center portion of the rear end of the machine body used for
`connecting the rear end of the machine body with the lower
`end of the liquid crystal display.
`10. The portable computer of claim 9 wherein the center
`portions of the first shaft and the Second shaft are separately
`fixed to the front end and rear end of the connecting piece,
`and the two ends of the first shaft and the two ends of the
`Second shaft are Separately fixed to the rear end of the
`machine body and the lower end of the liquid crystal display.
`11. The portable computer of claim 6 further comprising
`a latching device used for fixing the connecting piece of the
`connecting module to the rear end of the machine body So
`that the first shaft of the connecting module can not be
`rotated and the liquid crystal display can only utilize the
`Second shaft of the connecting module to rotate forward and
`backward.
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`35
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`45
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`55
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`60
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`Lenovo EX-1020,
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