Computer controlled display device

• US 20040228080A1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: McBroom, Daniel L., Tsai, Frank, Andre, Bartley K., Kim, Sung, Stringer, Christopher, Hillman, Michael D., McBroom, Michael D., Sudderth, Brian T., Riccio, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,218,510 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/683
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2078 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/40 by means of coilable or bendable legs or spiral shaped legs
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/044 for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/065 with a special structure, e.g. reinforced or adapted for space reduction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/08 Foot or support base
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64

Abstract

The present invention is a computer controlled display device. In one embodiment, the display device includes a flat panel display having an input for receiving display data. Additionally, a moveable assembly may be coupled to the display. The moveable assembly may provide at least three degrees of freedom of movement for the flat panel display device. Additionally, the moveable assembly may have a cross-sectional area, which is substantially less than a cross-sectional area of a display structure of the flat panel display.

Claims

1. A computer controlled display device, comprising:

a flat panel display having an input for receiving display data;

a moveable assembly coupled to said display, said moveable assembly providing at least three degrees of freedom of movement for said flat panel display device and having a cross-sectional area which is substantially less than a cross-sectional area of a display structure of said flat panel display, wherein said moveable assembly comprises a plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies, wherein a ball-and-socket assembly includes a substantially spherical socket, said socket having a cavity defining an inner surface of said socket, and a substantially spherical ball within said cavity; and

an actuation device coupled to said moveable assembly, said actuation device suspending movement of said moveable assembly when a pressure is applied within said actuation device and permitting said movement when said pressure is lessened.

2. The computer controlled display device of claim 1, wherein said pressure is hydraulic pressure.

3. The computer controlled display device of claim 1, wherein said pressure is pneumatic pressure.

4. The computer controlled display device of claim 1, wherein said actuation device includes a pump to generate said pressure.

5. The computer controlled display device of claim 1, wherein disposed within said moveable assembly is one of a data cable and a power cable.

6. The computer controlled display device of claim 1, wherein said ball-and-socket assembly is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a ceramic, a plastic, and combinations thereof.

7. A computer controlled display device, comprising:

a flat panel display having an input for receiving display data;

a moveable assembly coupled to said display, said moveable assembly providing at least three degrees of freedom of movement for said flat panel display device and having a cross-sectional area which is substantially less than a cross-sectional area of a display structure of said flat panel display, wherein said moveable assembly comprises a plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies, wherein a ball-and-socket assembly includes a substantially spherical socket, said socket having a cavity defining an inner surface of said socket, and a substantially spherical ball within said cavity; and

a brake device within said ball-and-socket assembly, said brake device comprising a bladder within said ball, said bladder being expandable, said bladder to suspend movement of said ball within said cavity when said bladder is in an expanded state.

8. The computer controlled display device of claim 7, further comprising an actuation device coupled to said moveable assembly, said actuation device suspending movement of said moveable assembly when a pressure is applied within said actuation device and permitting said movement when said pressure is lessened.

9. The computer controlled display device of claim 8, wherein said actuation device includes flexible tubing within said ball-and-socket assembly, said flexible tubing coupled to said bladder.

10. The computer controlled display device of claim 9, wherein said pressure is hydraulic pressure.

11. The computer controlled display device of claim 9, wherein said pressure is pneumatic pressure.

12. The computer controlled display device of claim 9, wherein said brake device comprises a first seal plate and a second seal plate, said bladder disposed between said first and second seal plates, said first and second seal plates to axially constrain said bladder when said bladder is in said expanded state.

13. The computer controlled display device of claim 12, wherein said brake device comprises a structural member disposed within said bladder, said structural member to provide support for said bladder.

14. The computer controlled display device of claim 9, wherein said bladder is substantially toroidal.

15. The computer controlled display device of claim 9, wherein said bladder is substantially spherical.

16. The computer controlled display device of claim 9, wherein said flexible tubing substantially coiled.

17. The computer controlled display device of claim 9, wherein said ball comprises a leaf, said leaf being capable of flexing outward from said ball when said bladder is in said expanded state.

18. The computer controlled display device of claim 17, wherein said leaf includes a friction pad to apply a force against said inner surface of said socket when said bladder is in said expanded state.

19. The computer controlled display device of claim 8, wherein said actuation device includes a pump to generate said pressure.

20. The computer controlled display device of claim 7, wherein disposed within said moveable assembly is one of a data cable and a power cable.

21. The computer controlled display device of claim 7, wherein said ball-and-socket assembly is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a ceramic, a plastic, and combinations thereof.

22. A computer controlled display system, comprising:

a flat panel display having a display surface and an input for receiving display data to be displayed on said display surface;

a moveable assembly coupled mechanically to said flat panel display, said moveable assembly having a cross-sectional area which is substantially less than an area of said display surface, said moveable assembly being moveable to allow said flat panel display to be selectively positioned in space relative to a user of said computer controlled display system, said moveable assembly including a plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies, wherein a ball-and-socket assembly includes a substantially spherical socket, said socket having a cavity defining an inner surface of said socket, and a substantially spherical ball within said cavity;

a brake device within said ball-and-socket assembly, said brake device comprising a bladder within said ball, said bladder being expandable, said bladder to suspend movement of said ball within said cavity when said bladder is in an expanded state; and

a base coupled mechanically to said moveable assembly and to said flat panel display through said moveable assembly, said base housing computer components comprising a microprocessor, a memory, a bus, an I/O (input/output) controller, and an I/O port, wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said input of said flat panel display.

23. The computer controlled display system of claim 22, further comprising an actuation device coupled to said moveable assembly, said actuation device suspending movement of said moveable assembly when a pressure is applied within said actuation device and permitting said movement when said pressure is lessened.

24. The computer controlled display system of claim 23, wherein said actuation device includes flexible tubing within said ball-and-socket assembly, said flexible tubing coupled to said bladder.

25. The computer controlled display system of claim 24, wherein said pressure is hydraulic pressure.

26. The computer controlled display system of claim 24, wherein said pressure is pneumatic pressure.

27. The computer controlled display system of claim 24, wherein said brake device comprises a first seal plate and a second seal plate, said bladder disposed between said first and second seal plates, said first and second seal plates to axially constrain said bladder when said bladder is in said expanded state.

28. The computer controlled display system of claim 27, wherein said brake device comprises a structural member disposed within said bladder, said structural member to provide support for said bladder.

29. The computer controlled display system of claim 24, wherein said bladder is substantially toroidal.

30. The computer controlled display system of claim 24, wherein said bladder is substantially spherical.

31. The computer controlled display system of claim 24, wherein said flexible tubing substantially coiled.

32. The computer controlled display system of claim 24, wherein said ball comprises a leaf, said leaf being capable of flexing outward from said ball when said bladder is in said expanded state.

33. The computer controlled display system of claim 32, wherein said leaf includes a friction pad to apply a force against said inner surface of said socket when said bladder is in said expanded state.

34. The computer controlled display system of claim 23, wherein said actuation device includes a pump to generate said pressure.

35. The computer controlled display system of claim 22, wherein disposed within said moveable assembly is one of a data cable and a power cable.

36. The computer controlled display system of claim 22, wherein said ball-and-socket assembly is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a ceramic, a plastic, and combinations thereof.

37. A computer controlled display device, comprising:

a flat panel display having an input for receiving display data;

a moveable assembly coupled to said display, said moveable assembly providing at least three degrees of freedom of movement for said flat panel display device and having a cross-sectional area which is substantially less than a cross-sectional area of a display structure of said flat panel display, wherein said moveable assembly comprises a plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies, wherein a ball-and-socket assembly includes a substantially spherical socket, said socket having a cavity defining an inner surface of said socket, a substantially spherical ball within said cavity, and a seal disposed between said socket and said ball, wherein said socket and said ball are coupled such that movement of said ball within said cavity is capable of being suspended by increasing a pressure within said cavity.

38. The computer controlled display device of claim 37, further comprising an actuation device coupled to said moveable assembly, said actuation device suspending movement of said moveable assembly when said pressure is applied within said actuation device and permitting said movement when said pressure is lessened.

39. The computer controlled display device of claim 38, wherein said ball comprises a leaf, said leaf being capable of flexing outward from said ball when said pressure within said cavity is increased.

40. The computer controlled display device of claim 39, wherein said leaf includes a friction pad to apply a force against said inner surface of said socket when said pressure within said cavity is increased.

41. The computer controlled display device of claim 38, comprising:

a ball of a first ball-and-socket assembly coupled to a socket of a second ball-and-socket assembly; and

a bore between said ball of said first ball-and-socket assembly and said socket of said second ball-and-socket assembly, said bore to fluidly interconnect said ball of said first ball-and-socket assembly and said socket of said second ball-and-socket assembly.

42. The computer controlled display device of claim 38, wherein said pressure is hydraulic pressure.

43. The computer controlled display device of claim 38, wherein said pressure is pneumatic pressure.

44. The computer controlled display device of claim 38, wherein said actuation device includes a pump to generate said pressure.

45. The computer controlled display device of claim 37, wherein disposed within said moveable assembly is one of a data cable and a power cable.

46. The computer controlled display device of claim 37, wherein said ball-and-socket assembly is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a ceramic, a plastic, and combinations thereof.

47. A computer controlled display system, comprising:

a flat panel display having a display surface and an input for receiving display data to be displayed on said display surface;

a moveable assembly coupled mechanically to said flat panel display, said moveable assembly having a cross-sectional area which is substantially less than an area of said display surface, said moveable assembly being moveable to allow said flat panel display to be selectively positioned in space relative to a user of said computer controlled display system, said moveable assembly including a plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies, wherein a ball-and-socket assembly includes a substantially spherical socket, said socket having a cavity defining an inner surface of said socket, a substantially spherical ball within said cavity, and a seal disposed between said socket and said ball, wherein said socket and said ball are coupled such that movement of said ball within said cavity is capable of being suspended by increasing a pressure within said cavity; and

a base coupled mechanically to said moveable assembly and to said flat panel display through said moveable assembly, said base housing computer components comprising a microprocessor, a memory, a bus, an I/O (input/output) controller, and an I/O port, wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said input of said flat panel display.

48. The computer controlled display system of claim 47, further comprising an actuation device coupled to said moveable assembly, said actuation device suspending movement of said moveable assembly when said pressure is applied within said actuation device and permitting said movement when said pressure is lessened.

49. The computer controlled display system of claim 48, wherein said ball comprises a leaf, said leaf being capable of flexing outward from said ball when said pressure within said cavity is increased.

50. The computer controlled display system of claim 49, wherein said leaf includes a friction pad to apply a force against said inner surface of said socket when said pressure within said cavity is increased.

51. The computer controlled display system of claim 48, comprising:

a ball of a first ball-and-socket assembly coupled to a socket of a second ball-and-socket assembly; and

a bore between said ball of said first ball-and-socket assembly and said socket of said second ball-and-socket assembly, said bore to fluidly interconnect said ball of said first ball-and-socket assembly and said socket of said second ball-and-socket assembly.

52. The computer controlled display system of claim 48, wherein said pressure is hydraulic pressure.

53. The computer controlled display system of claim 48, wherein said pressure is pneumatic pressure.

54. The computer controlled display system of claim 48, wherein said actuation device includes a pump to generate said pressure.

55. The computer controlled display system of claim 47, wherein disposed within said moveable assembly is one of a data cable and a power cable.

56. The computer controlled display system of claim 47, wherein said ball-and-socket assembly is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a ceramic, a plastic, and combinations thereof.