DISPLAY FACEPLATE

Publishing Venue

Motorola

Related People

Abstract

In today's marketplace for communication devices the push is for smaller and smaller products with increased options. In products that require LCD's this usually means that the glass surface is enlarged while it is moved very close to the exterior of the housing that encloses it. In moving the display closer to the exterior, it is more susceptible to breakage when dropped or impacted with a concentrated load. One solution to this problem would be to sink the LCD deeper into the product, but this decreases reading clarity due to shadowing from the housing. Another solution would be to thicken the display lens that covers the LCD, but this requires making the product thicker.

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MOTOROLA INC. Technical Developments Volume 13 July 1991

DISPLAY FACEPLATE

by Dan Troutman and Dave Naehring

  In today's marketplace for communication devices the push is for smaller and smaller products with increased options. In products that require LCD's this usually means that the glass surface is enlarged while it is moved very close to the exterior of the housing that encloses it. In moving the display closer to the exterior, it is more susceptible to breakage when dropped or impacted with a concentrated load. One solution to this problem would be to sink the LCD

deeper into the product, but this decreases reading clarity due to shadowing from the housing. Another solution would be to thicken the display lens that covers the LCD, but this requires making the product thicker.

  The Display Faceplate is an injection molded plastic cover for the LCD. Hinge pins on this cover attach to recesses in the display area on the radio. This cover acts as a protective plate for the LCD during normal use and replaces the need for the display lens. This way if the pager is dropped OT

struck with an object the glass is not as vulnerable as it is with a display lens, because the Display Faceplate can be molded from reinforced plastics. When a page is received, the customer simply opens the Display Faceplate to read the message.

  The Display Faceplate would protect the LCD without growing the product and provide a means to customize the look of the housing through the use o...