Rotatable computer display apparatus and method

• US 20060007644A1
• Filed: 07/08/2004
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Swivel IT, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Swivel IT, Inc.
• Inventors: Healy, Brian E., Nickel, Michael J., Gondek, Mark M., Huilgol, Vivek R., Munzel, Brian J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,082,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.70
• 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 1/1622 with enclosures rotating around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define or with ball-joint coupling, e.g. PDA with display enclosure orientation changeable between portrait and landscape by rotation with respect to a coplanar body enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method adapted to control or assist the movement of a display screen relative to a screen housing. In some embodiments, a linkage assembly is adapted to move a display screen relative to a screen housing. Also, some embodiments employ a hub movable within an elongated aperture, and can also have a projection engaged with a second elongated aperture to help control the orientation of the display screen relative to the screen housing. Some embodiments according to the present invention employ lift devices, lock devices, and other display control devices, such as clutches and friction assemblies.

Claims

1. An apparatus for rotating a display screen relative to a housing from a first orientation to a second orientation, wherein the display screen lies in a plane, the apparatus comprising:

a first link pivotably coupled to the housing at a first point, and pivotably coupled to the display screen at a second point located a distance from the first point; and

a second link pivotably coupled to the housing at a third point located a distance from the first and second points, and pivotably coupled to the display screen at a fourth point located a distance from the first, second, and third points;

the first link positioned relative to the second link to allow movement of the screen relative to the housing from the first orientation in the plane to the second orientation substantially in the plane.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a backing coupled to a back side of the display screen, wherein the first and second links are coupled to the display screen via the backing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the housing comprises a chassis; and

the first and second links are coupled to the housing via the chassis.

4. Thee apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

a first elongated curved aperture and a second elongated curved aperture are defined in the chassis;

the first link is coupled within the first curved aperture proximate the first point; and

the second link is coupled within the second curved aperture proximate the third point.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first link is coupled to the housing by a first pivot; and

the second link is coupled to the housing by a second pivot.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the first link is coupled to the display screen by a third pivot; and

the second link is coupled to the display screen by a fourth pivot.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the first pivot is received within and movable along a first elongated curved aperture in the housing; and

the second pivot is received within and movable along a second elongated curved aperture in the housing.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first orientation is a landscape orientation and the second position is a portrait orientation.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display screen is further rotatable with respect to an axis lying substantially in the plane.

10. A method of pivoting a display screen from a landscape orientation to a portrait orientation, the method comprising:

rotating the display screen relative to a display housing and substantially in a plane in which the display screen lies;

rotating the display screen with respect to a first link and about a first axis passing through the plane in response to rotating the display screen, the first link coupling the display screen to a housing;

rotating the display screen with respect to a second link and about a second axis passing through the plane in response to rotating the display screen, the second link coupling the display screen to the housing; and

controlling movement of the display screen relative to the display housing with the first and second links.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a display screen backing coupled to the display screen, wherein the first link is coupled to the display screen via the display screen backing.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

rotating the first link with respect to the housing and about a third axis passing through the plane in response to rotating the display screen; and

rotating the second link with respect to the housing and about a fourth axis passing through the plane in response to rotating the display screen

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

guiding the first link in a first curved aperture defined in the housing; and

guiding the second link in a second curved aperture defined in the housing.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein rotating the display screen with respect to the first link comprises rotating at least one of the display screen and the first link with respect to a first pivot extending between the display screen and the first link.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein rotating the display screen with respect to the second link comprises rotating at least one of the display screen and the second link with respect to a second pivot extending between the display screen and the second link.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising guiding a portion of the first pivot along at least a portion of a first curved aperture defined in one of a display screen backing coupled to the display screen and the display housing.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

guiding a portion of the first pivot along at least a portion of a first curved aperture defined in one of a display screen backing coupled to the display screen and the display housing; and

guiding a portion of the second pivot along at least a portion of a second curved aperture defined in one of the display screen backing and the display housing.

18. A pivotable display apparatus for a computer, comprising:

a display screen;

a housing pivotally coupled to the display screen and having a first elongated aperture and a second elongated aperture;

a hub extending away from the display screen into the first elongated aperture of the housing, the hub moveable within and along the first elongated aperture; and

a projection extending from the display screen into the second elongated aperture of the housing, the projection limiting rotation of the display screen with respect to the housing in a portion of a range of movement of the hub within the first elongated aperture.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the hub extends from a screen backing coupled to the display screen.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the hub moves in a substantially straight path within the first elongated aperture.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the hub is rotatable within the first elongated aperture.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the second elongated aperture is shaped similarly to a corresponding portion of the first elongated aperture.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second elongated aperture has a substantially straight portion and a curved portion in which the second elongated aperture permits rotation of the display screen relative to the housing.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein rotation of the display screen is substantially prevented by the projection within the straight portion of the second elongated aperture.

25. A display orientation device for a display screen coupled to a display housing and rotatable within a plane in which the display screen lies, the display screen having a first orientation with respect to the display housing and a second orientation with respect to the display housing, the display orientation device comprising:

a hub extending between the display screen and the display housing, the hub coupled to the display screen in the first and second orientations and resisting rotation of the display screen in the first and second orientations, the hub movable from the first and second orientations to an intermediate position in which rotation the hub and the display screen are rotatable with respect to the display housing.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein:

the hub has a first and second apertures defined therein;

the first aperture is oriented substantially perpendicular to the second aperture; and

the first aperture is oriented to engage a portion of the housing in the first orientation of the display screen; and

the second aperture is oriented to engage the portion of the housing in the second orientation of the display screen.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the portion of the housing is a projection slidably received within the first and second apertures.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein the portion of the housing has an aperture dimensioned to receive a projection of the hub.

29. A display screen control apparatus for a display screen movable within a plane in which the display screen lies and movable with respect to a display screen housing, the apparatus comprising:

a projection extending between the display screen and the display screen housing; and

a bias element coupled to the projection and positioned to exert a bias force upon the projection to urge the display screen in a direction, the display screen movable with respect to the display screen housing under the bias force exerted by the bias element.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the projection extends away from the display screen and is movable with respect to the display screen housing.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the bias element is coupled to and between the projection and the display screen housing.

32. A display screen latching apparatus for a display screen movable with respect to a display screen housing and in a plane in which the display screen lies, the display screen latching apparatus comprising:

a catch releasably coupled to the display screen;

a user-manipulatable control coupled to the catch and operable by a user to actuate the catch between latched and unlatched positions;

the display screen restrained from movement in the plane with respect to the display screen housing when the catch is in the latched position, and movable in the plane with respect to the display screen housing when the catch is released by the user-manipulatable control to the unlatched position.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the catch is releasably engagable with one of a projection and an aperture on a screen backing to releasably couple the catch to the display screen.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein:

the display screen is rotatable in the plane; and

the catch is releasably coupled to the display screen to selectively restrain rotation of the display screen with respect to the display screen housing.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein:

the display screen is translatable in the plane; and

the catch is releasably coupled to the display screen to selectively restrain translation of the display screen with respect to the display screen housing.

36. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a bias element positioned to bias the catch into the latched position.

37. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the catch is actuatable by rod coupled to the user-manipulatable control.

38. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the display screen is rotatable with respect to the display screen housing between a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation.

39. A display screen control apparatus for a display screen movable within a plane in which the display screen lies and movable with respect to a display screen housing, the apparatus comprising:

a hub extending between the display screen and the display screen housing and received within an aperture in the display screen housing;

a slide coupled to the hub and movable to a plurality of different positions along the aperture corresponding to a plurality of different positions of the display screen with respect to the display screen housing;

a resiliently deformable washer coupled to the hub and exerting a load upon the slide to bias the slide into frictional engagement with the housing; and

a fastener coupled to the hub to retain the resiliently deformable washer on the hub.

40. A display screen control apparatus for a display screen movable within a plane in which the display screen lies and movable with respect to a display screen housing, the apparatus comprising:

at least one projection extending from the display screen housing;

an elongated flexible element coupled to the display screen housing and extending at least partially around the at least one projection; and

a hub coupled to the display screen and to the elongated flexible element;

the elongated flexible element movable about the at least one projection to at least partially control movement of the hub and display screen with respect to the display screen housing.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the hub is received within and is movable along an elongated aperture in the housing in movement of the display screen with respect to the display screen housing.

42. A method of rotating a display screen with respect to a computer, comprising:

providing a first electrical connection between the display screen and the computer in a first orientation of the display screen;

rotating the display from the first orientation;

disconnecting the first electrical connection by rotating the display from the first orientation;

rotating the display to a second orientation different than the first orientation; and

establishing a second electrical connection between the display screen and the computer by rotating the display to the second orientation.

43. A display releasably coupled to a first electrical connector establishing at least one of power and communication to the display, the display comprising:

a display screen rotatable within a plane in which the display screen lies, rotatable with respect to a display screen housing, and rotatable between first and second orientations with respect to the display screen housing; and

a second electrical connector coupled to the display screen and selectively electrically coupled to the first electrical connector by rotation of the display screen between the first and second orientations.