Computer controlled display device

• US 20060176655A1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Stringer, Christopher, Tarbell, Ben, Yom-Tov, Opher, Jue, Clifford, McBroom, Daniel, Sudderth, Brian, McBroom, Michael, Fourt, Jesse, Tsai, Frank, Riccio, Daniel, Andre, Bartley, Mann, Theo, Hillman, Michael, Lawson, Tony
• Granted Patent: US 7,289,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.60
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

A computer-controlled display device. In one embodiment, the display device includes a flat panel display coupled to one end of a moveable assembly. A base containing computer components is coupled to an opposite end of the moveable assembly. Power and data cables linking the flat panel display to one or more of the computer components are positioned within an interior portion of the moveable assembly. In one embodiment, the moveable assembly includes a first arm coupled to a second arm and provides movement in two or more dimensions simultaneously.

Claims

1. A computer-controlled display device, comprising:

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

a moveable assembly coupled to said display, said moveable assembly providing at least three degrees of movement for said flat panel display, and having a cross-sectional area that is less than a cross-sectional area of a display structure of said flat panel display, wherein said moveable assembly comprises a first arm mechanically coupled to a second arm.

2. The computer-controlled display device of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second arms are counter-balanced such that a user of a system can use one hand to move said flat panel display within a region of space relative to said user.

3. The computer-controlled display device of claim 1, wherein said first arm and said second arm each comprises:

a first rotational member;

a second rotational member;

at least one tension rod having a first end mechanically coupled to said first rotational member and having a second end mechanically coupled to said second rotational member; and

a biasing means having a first end mechanically coupled to said first rotational member, and a second end mechanically coupled to said second rotational member.

4. The computer-controlled display device of claim 1, wherein said first arm further comprises:

a first elongate, substantially hemispherical housing coupled to a second elongate, substantially hemispherical housing to enclose therein said first and said second rotational members, said tension rod, and said biasing means.

5. The computer-controlled display device of claim 4, wherein said biasing means is a spring.

6. The computer-controlled display device of claim 4, wherein said biasing means is a piston.

7. The computer-controlled display device of claim 1, wherein said moveable assembly is biased to elevate said flat panel display in an event said biasing means mechanically fails.

8. The computer-controlled display device of claim 3, wherein said moveable assembly further comprises:

an elbow, wherein the elbow includes a post having a first end mechanically coupled to said second rotational member of said first arm and a second end mechanically coupled to said first rotational member of said second arm.

9. The computer-controlled display device of claim 1, further comprising:

a wrist member mechanically coupled to said second rotational member of said second arm, said wrist member to provide a pitch and a yaw for said flat panel display.

10. The computer-controlled display device of claim 9, wherein said pitch rotates said flat panel display backward from a substantially vertical upright position.

11. The computer-controlled display device of claim 10, wherein said pitch rotates said flat panel display forward from said substantially vertical upright position.

12. The computer-controlled display device of claim 9, wherein said flat panel display further comprises:

a plurality of extension springs, said plurality of springs being mechanically coupled to said wrist member and to said flat panel display to counteract a gravitational force exerted on said flat panel display.

13. The computer-controlled display device of claim 1, wherein said first arm rotates in an arc measuring approximately 180 degrees.

14. The computer-controlled display device of claim 2, wherein said first arm rotates from approximately 0 degrees to approximately 45 degrees above horizontal.

15. The computer-controlled display device of claim 1, wherein at least one of a power cable or a data cable coupled to said flat panel display is positioned within an interior portion of said moveable assembly.

16. The computer-controlled display device of claim 1, further comprising:

a base mechanically coupled to said first arm, the base including;

a processor;

an input/output device;

a memory; and

an input/output port, wherein said processor is operatively coupled to said flat panel display via said moveable assembly.

17. The computer-controlled display device of claim 1, wherein said base is not fixably secured to a supporting surface under said base.

18. A computer-controlled display system, 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 movement for said flat panel display, and having a cross-sectional area that is less than a cross-sectional area of a display structure of said flat panel display, wherein said moveable assembly comprises a first arm mechanically coupled to a second arm; and

a base mechanically coupled to said first arm, the base including;

a processor;

an input/output device;

a memory; and

an input/output port, wherein said processor is operatively coupled to said flat panel display via said moveable assembly.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

at least one of a data cable or a power cable positioned within said moveable assembly to operatively couple said flat panel display to said processor.

20. A system of claim 19, wherein each of said first and second arms are counter-balanced such that a user of the system can move said flat panel display within a region of space relative to said user using one hand.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said first arm and said second arm each comprises:

a first rotational member positioned at a first end thereof;

a second rotational member positioned at a second opposite end thereof;

at least one tension rod having a first end mechanically coupled to said first rotational member and a second end mechanically coupled to said second rotational member; and

a biasing means having a first end mechanically coupled to said rotational member, and a second end mechanically coupled to said second rotational member.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein said first arm and said second arm each further comprises:

a first elongate, substantially hemispherical housing coupled to a second elongate, substantially hemispherical housing, wherein said first and second housing enclose therein said first and second rotational members, said tension rod, and said biasing means.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said biasing means is a spring.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein said biasing means is a piston.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein said moveable assembly is biased to elevate said flat panel display in an event said biasing means mechanically fails.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein said moveable assembly further comprises:

an elbow, wherein said elbow includes a post having a first end mechanically coupled to said second rotational member of said first arm and a second end mechanically coupled to said first rotational member of said second arm.

27. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a wrist member mechanically coupled to said second rotational member of said second arm to provide a pitch and a yaw for said flat panel display.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said flat panel display further comprises:

a plurality of extension springs, wherein said plurality of extension springs are mechanically coupled to said wrist member and to said flat panel display to counteract a gravitational force exerted on said flat panel display.

29. The system of claim 19, wherein said base is not fixably secured to a supporting surface under said base.

30. The system of claim 19, wherein said system is moveable as a unit by one person unaided by any assistance.

31. 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 mechanically coupled to said flat panel display, said moveable assembly having a cross-sectional area 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, wherein said moveable assembly includes a first arm and a second arm;

a biasing assembly disposed within said moveable assembly, said biasing assembly having an energy stored therein, wherein said user is assisted in changing a position of said flat panel display by said energy stored in said biasing assembly;

a base housing mechanically coupled 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 input/output controller; and

an input/output port, wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said input of said flat panel display.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said energy reduces an amount of user force needed to change a position of said moveable assembly.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein application of a single user force allows positioning of said flat panel display in multiple degrees of freedom simultaneously.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein said base houses computer components further comprising:

an optical drive; and

a network interface.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein said cross-sectional area is defined by a cross section taken perpendicularly to a longitudinal dimension of said moveable assembly.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein such system is moveable as a unit by one person unaided by any assistance.

37. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

a data cable coupled to said input of said flat panel display, a first end of said data cable being coupled to a display controller housed within said base, said data cable being positioned within said moveable assembly.

38. The system of claim 31, wherein said base is not fixably secured to a supporting surface under said base.

39. The system of claim 31, wherein said moveable display is moveable by a user from a first retracted position to a second extended position.

40. The system of claim 31, wherein the holder device further includes:

first biasing means concealed within said first arm;

a second biasing means concealed within said second arm; and

a third biasing means coupled to said flat panel display.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein said first biasing means is a spring.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein said first biasing means is a piston.

43. The system of claim 40, wherein said second biasing means is an extension spring.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein said second biasing means is a piston.

45. The system of claim 40, wherein said third biasing means is an extension spring.

46. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

a wrist member mechanically coupled to a second end of said second arm; and

wherein a plurality of extension springs are mechanically coupled to said wrist member, and to said flat panel display to counteract a gravitational force exerted on said flat panel display.

47. The system of claim 31, wherein said biasing assembly is configured to elevate said flat panel display in an event said biasing assembly suffers a mechanical failure.