Display table

• US 10,078,387 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2016
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Brugger, Alice Marlin, Finger, Tracey Adam, Hamaguchi, Daniel Satoru, Liu, Yang, Michalske, Steven Charles, Vicente, Israel Pastrana
• Primary Examiner(s): Lam, Vinh Tang
• Application Number:
  US15/137,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20170308210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179, 178 1801- 1811, 715867
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0076 the screen being incorporated in the desk top
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 11/06 Means for bringing about special optical effects
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/02 for jewellery, dentures, watches, eye-glasses, lenses, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04107 Shielding in digitiser, i.e. guard or shielding arrangements, mostly for capacitive touchscreens, e.g. driven shields, driven grounds
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A system for presenting an electronic device on a display table is disclosed. The system includes a table, a processor, an electronic device, and a cable. The table includes a display screen, and the display screen is operably connected to the processor. The electronic device is disposed on the table and includes a touch screen. The cable connects the electronic device to the processor. The touch screen of the electronic device is configured to display an image that changes in response to an input to the touch screen. The display screen of the table is configured to display an image that changes in response to the input to the touch screen of the electronic device. A change in the display screen image comprises a graphical continuation of a change in the touch screen image.

Claims

1. A system for presenting an electronic device on a display table, the system comprising:

a table comprising a display screen;

a processor operably connected to the display screen;

an electronic device disposed on the table and comprising a touch screen; and

a cable that connects the electronic device to the processor,

wherein the touch screen of the electronic device is configured to display an image that changes in response to an input to the touch screen,

wherein the display screen of the table is configured to display an image that changes in response to the input to the touch screen of the electronic device, and

wherein a change in the display screen image comprises a graphical continuation of a change in the touch screen image, such that graphical elements of the touch screen image appear to continue off of the touch screen and onto the display screen.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the change in the touch screen image is different based on a characteristic of the input.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the characteristic comprises a force of the input.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the characteristic comprises a frequency of the input.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the characteristic comprises a location of the input.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the characteristic comprises a size of the input.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the characteristic comprises a direction of the input.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a circuit board disposed on a back side of the electronic device; and

a flexible cable having a first end connected to the electronic device and a second end connected to the circuit board,

wherein the cable that connects the electronic device to the processor does so by connecting the circuit board to the processor.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second electronic device disposed on the table and comprising a touch screen; and

a second cable that connects the second electronic device to the processor,

wherein the touch screen of the second electronic device is configured to display an image that changes in response to an input to the touch screen of the second electronic device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the display screen image changes in response to the input to the electronic device and the input to the second electronic device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the cable is transparent.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen image and the display screen image comprise an image of water.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the input creates a visual effect of a moving graphical element in the touch screen image.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the moving graphical element appears to continue onto the display screen image.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the moving graphical element comprises ripples.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen image comprises an image of an object.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the input causes the image of the object to move.

18. A display table comprising:

a display screen disposed horizontally;

a support structure vertically supporting the display screen;

a transparent cover overlaying the display screen and forming a top surface of the table;

an electronic device disposed on the transparent cover; and

a cable that operably connects the electronic device and the display screen,

wherein the transparent cover comprises a hole and is configured to support the electronic device at a location of the hole, and

wherein the hole provides a conduit for the cable.

19. The display table of claim 18, wherein the cable is transparent.

20. The display table of claim 18, wherein the cable passes over the display screen without blocking an image displayed on the display screen.

21. The display table of claim 18, wherein the transparent cover comprises eight holes.

22. The display table of claim 18, further comprising a processor configured to control the display screen.

23. The display table of claim 18, wherein the support structure comprises:

an outer frame;

a plurality of ribs disposed within the outer frame;

a pair of rails supported by the ribs configured to extend from a first length to a second length; and

a display cart disposed on the pair of rails,

wherein the display screen is disposed on the display cart.

24. A system for presenting electronic devices on a display table, the system comprising:

a table with a display screen extending horizontally across substantially the entire length and width of the table; and

electronic devices disposed on the table in an array over the display screen, each electronic device comprising a touch screen that is parallel with the display screen,

wherein the touch screen displays a graphical representation of a moving ripple in water,

wherein an input to the touch screen forms an epicenter of the graphical representation of the moving ripple at the location of the input,

wherein the ripple begins on the touch screen and continues off of the touch screen and onto the display screen as the ripple moves outward,

wherein a transparent cover overlays the display screen and comprises holes, each electronic device disposed at a location of one of the holes, and

wherein cables connect each of the electronic devices to a processor operably connected to the display, each cable passing through one of the holes.