Connector and display apparatus having the same

A display apparatus comprising:

• a printed circuit board which outputs a driving signal;
• a connector mounted on an upper surface of the printed circuit board;
• a flexible board inserted into the connector and coupled with the connector;
• and
• a display panel connected to the flexible board, wherein the display panel receives the driving signal from the printed circuit board through the connector and the flexible board, and displays an image using the driving signal,
• wherein the connector comprises:
• an actuator including:
• a body including a slit into which the flexible board is inserted in a first direction, and extending in a longitudinal direction of the slit, and
• a pivot at opposing ends of the body in the longitudinal direction defining a pivot axis,
• wherein the actuator rotates about the pivot axis, and the slit is opened to a front surface of the actuator;
• an outer cover within which the actuator rotates wherein the outer cover supports rotation of the actuator;
• a supporter extending in the longitudinal direction and adjacent to the front surface of the actuator;
• and
• a plurality of contact terminals extending through the supporter and into the body of the actuator, and protruding into the slit,
• wherein
• the actuator receives the flexible board when at a first position, and
• each contact terminal makes contact with the flexible board when the actuator is at a second position different from the first position.

A display apparatus comprising:

• a circuit board which outputs a driving signal;
• a connector on an upper surface of the circuit board;
• a flexible board, of which a portion is in the connector;
• and
• a display panel connected to the flexible board, wherein the display panel displays images using the driving signal from the circuit board, the driving signal transmitted through the connector and the flexible board to the display panel;
• wherein
• the connector comprises:
• an actuator extending in a longitudinal direction and including:
• a front surface at which a groove is open, the portion of the flexible board being in the groove,
• an upper surface, the portion of the flexible board being on the upper surface,
• a pivot axis about which the actuator rotates,
• a first position where the upper surface of the actuator is inclined with respect to the upper surface of the circuit board;
• and
• a second position where the upper surface of the actuator is parallel to upper surface of the circuit board;
• contact terminals protruded into the groove of the actuator;
• and
• a cover within which the actuator rotates, wherein the cover supports rotation of the actuator and
• in the second position of the actuator, the flexible board contacts each of the contact terminals.

A method of electrically connecting a flexible board to a circuit board, the method comprising:

• rotating an actuator of a connector disposed on the circuit board, to an inclined position relative to an upper surface of the circuit board;
• inserting a portion of the flexible board into a groove of the actuator and onto an upper surface of the actuator;
• disposing a plurality of contact terminals extending into the groove of the actuator, and extending through a body of a supporter separate from the actuator;
• rotating the actuator of the connector to a parallel position relative to the upper surface of the circuit board;
• contacting the flexible board with the plurality of contact terminals;
• and
• electrically connecting the flexible board to the circuit board solely by the rotating the actuator of the connector to a parallel position;
• wherein
• the actuator comprises the groove open at a front surface of the actuator, and pivots about which the actuator is rotated;
• and
• the connector comprises:
• the plurality of contact terminals electrically connected to the circuit board,
• the supporter adjacent to the front surface of the actuator, and
• a cover within which the actuator is rotated wherein the cover supports rotation of the actuator.