Desktop device with adjustable flat screen display

• US 20030080949A1
• Filed: 12/03/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1993
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NetAirus Systems
• Original Assignee: NetAirus Systems
• Inventors: Ditzik, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US10/308,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20030080949A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1631 Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/92 Angular and linear video display screen support adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/923 Tilting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A relatively small transportable desktop computer/workstation with a display panel assembly (2) in combination with a microprocessor or controller (44) is made display screen position adjustable, in inclination angle, azimuth angle and elevation translation movements. The workstation can have a pen or stylus touch screen input function (36) added, so that a user or operator can write, draw and sketch directly onto the screen in a natural manner. The workstation can be placed on top of a desk or table providing an ergonomic man-machine interface for information communications between individual users via a communications network. A keyboard (7, 42), voice/speaker telephone (48), mouse or trackball input unit (46), and communications modem (42) may be added to the workstation. The flat panel display, pen input device and microprocessor can be combined into an assembly, which can be removed from the main body for portable mobile computing operation.

Claims

1. A desktop information device comprising:

a flat panel display device having an elevation and an inclination angle;

a base unit; and

an adjustable support element configured to adjust the elevation and inclination angle of the display device, the adjustable support element attached to the display device via a first connection means and attached to the base unit via a second connection means, wherein the base unit provides physical support to the display device and the adjustable support element, the adjustable support element comprising;

a support arm component;

a first hinge means attached to a first end of the support arm component, the first hinge means serving to attach the support arm component to the first connection means, wherein the first connection means comprises a first post member fixedly attached to the display device and pivotally attached to the first hinge means; and

a second hinge means attached to a second end of the support arm component, the second hinge means serving to attach the support arm component to the second connection means, wherein the second connection means comprises a second post member fixedly attached to the base unit and pivotally attached to the second hinge means.

2. The desktop information device of claim 1, wherein the device is portable.

3. The desktop information device of claim 1, wherein the adjustable support element further comprises a display position assist means configured to facilitate adjustment of the elevation and the inclination angle of the display device.

4. The desktop information device of claim 1, wherein the adjustable support element further comprises a friction means configured to maintain the elevation of the display device against the force of gravity.

5. The desktop information device of claim 1, wherein the second connection means further comprises a roughly parabolic lobe structure integrated with the base unit.

6. A desktop computer device comprising:

a flat panel display device comprising a roughly flat display screen and associated electronics, the display device having an elevation and an inclination angle;

a base unit comprising one or more microprocessors configured for electrical communication with the associated electronics of the display device; and

an adjustable support element configured to adjust the elevation and inclination angle of the display device, the adjustable support element attached to the display device via a first connection means and attached to the base unit via a second connection means, wherein the base unit provides physical support to the display device and the adjustable support element, the adjustable support element comprising;

a support arm component;

a first hinge means attached to a first end of the support arm component, the first hinge means serving to attach the support arm component to the first connection means, wherein the first connection means comprises a first post member fixedly attached to the display device and pivotally attached to the first hinge means; and

a second hinge means attached to a second end of the support arm component, the second hinge means serving to attach the support arm component to the second connection means, wherein the second connection means comprises a second post member fixedly attached to the base unit and pivotally attached to the second hinge means.

7. The desktop computer device of claim 6, wherein the device is portable.

8. The desktop computer device of claim 6, wherein the base unit is configured for electrical communication with the display device via an electrical cable placed inside the adjustable support element.

9. A desktop computer device comprising:

a flat panel display device comprising a roughly flat display screen and associated electronics, the display device having an elevation and an inclination angle;

a substantially unitary base unit comprising one or more microprocessors configured for electrical communication with the associated electronics of the display device; and

an adjustable support element configured to adjust the elevation and inclination angle of the display device, the adjustable support element attached to the display device via a first connection means and attached to the base unit via a second connection means, wherein the base unit provides physical support to the display device and the adjustable support element, the adjustable support element comprising;

a support arm component;

a first hinge means attached to a first end of the support arm component, the first hinge means pivotally attached to the first connection means and the first connection means fixedly attached to the display device, wherein the first hinge means rotates along a first plane to provide a means for adjusting the inclination angle of the display device; and

a second hinge means attached to a second end of the support arm component, the second hinge means pivotally attached to the second connection means and the second connection means fixedly attached to the base unit, wherein the second hinge means rotates along a second plane to provide a means for adjusting the elevation of the display device.

10. The desktop computer device of claim 9, wherein the device is portable.

11. The desktop computer device of claim 9, wherein the base unit is configured for electrical communication with the display device via an electrical cable placed inside the adjustable support element.

12. The desktop computer device of claim 9, wherein the first connection means comprises a first post member fixedly attached to the display device and pivotally attached to the first hinge means.

13. The desktop computer device of claim 9, wherein the second connection means comprises a second post member fixedly attached to the base unit and pivotally attached to the second hinge means.

14. The desktop computer device of claim 9, wherein the display device further has a roll angle and the first hinge means rotates along a third plane to provide a means for adjusting the roll angle of the display device.

15. A desktop computer device comprising:

a flat panel display device comprising a roughly flat display screen and associated electronics, the display device having an elevation, an inclination angle, and a roll angle;

an adjustable support element pivotally attached to the display device via a first hinge and a first short post, wherein the adjustable support element is adapted to adjust the elevation, inclination angle, and roll angle of the display device; and

a base unit pivotally attached to the adjustable support element via a second hinge and a second short post, the base unit having one or more microprocessors and other computer system components that are configured for electrical communication with the associated electronics of the display device via an electrical cable placed inside the adjustable support element, wherein the base unit provides physical support to the display device and the adjustable support element, and

wherein the adjustable support element comprises;

a support arm component;

the first hinge attached to a first end of the support arm component and the first short post, the first short post fixedly attached to the display device; and

the second hinge attached to a second end of the support arm component and the second short post, the second short post fixedly attached to the base unit,

wherein the first hinge rotates along a first plane to provide a means for adjusting the inclination angle of the display device and rotates along a second plane to provide a means for adjusting the roll angle of the display device between portrait and landscape orientations, and

wherein the second hinge rotates along a second plane to provide a means for adjusting the elevation of the display device.