Computer controlled display device

• US 20070014084A1
• Filed: 09/19/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kim, Sung, Stringer, Christopher, McBroom, Daniel, Sudderth, Brian, McBroom, Michael, Jobs, Steven, Meuniot, Arturo, Beltran, Jesus, Riccio, Daniel, Brownell, Robert, Andre, Bartley, Jensen, Joel, Ive, Jonathan, McDonald, Anwyl, Tsai, Frank, Mead, Russell, Brigham, Arthur, Hillman, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,349,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.220
• 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 11/2078 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: 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 248/919 Adjustably orientable video screen support

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. Additionally, the moveable assembly may include a plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies.

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; and

a moveable base coupled with said moveable assembly to support positioning of said moveable assembly and said flat panel display.

2. The computer controlled display device of claim 1 wherein said moveable base is a computer.

3. The computer controlled display device of claim 1 wherein said moveable base acts as a counterweight relative to said moveable assembly and to said flat panel display.

4. The computer controlled display device of claim 1 wherein one of a cable to provide display data, a tension device, and an anti-torsion device is located within said moveable assembly.

5. The computer controlled display device of claim 1 wherein said moveable assembly comprises a region of substantial friction and a region of lesser friction.

6. The computer controlled display device of claim 1 wherein said moveable assembly comprises a plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies.

7. The computer controlled display device of claim 1 wherein said moveable assembly is snakelike and changes positions in a smooth manner.

8. A computer controlled display device, comprising:

a flat panel display device 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; and

an actuator assembly coupled with said flat panel display, said actuator moveable between a first position and a second position, said actuator operatively coupled with a tension device to apply a force to said tension device when said actuator occupies said first position, and to lessen said force when said actuator occupies said second position.

9. The computer controlled display device of claim 8 wherein said actuator is on said flat panel display device.

10. The computer controlled display device of claim 8 wherein said tension device is a cable having a fixed path length.

11. The computer controlled display device of claim 8 wherein said actuator assembly comprises:

a tongue;

a crank coupled with said tongue, said crank having a detachable handle;

a strut coupled with said crank; and

a spring shaft coupled with said strut and with a resilient mechanism.

12. The computer controlled display device of claim 11 wherein said resilient mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a piston and a spring.

13. The computer controlled display device of claim 11 further comprising:

an actuator housing to house and to support said tongue, crank, strut, and spring shaft.

14. The computer controlled display device of claim 11 wherein said resilient mechanism provides a restoring force of approximately 180.0 to approximately 200.0 pounds.

15. The computer controlled display device of claim 11 wherein said tongue comprises a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, and ceramic filled plastic.

16. The computer controlled display device of claim 11 wherein said crank comprises a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, and ceramic filled plastic.

17. The computer controlled display device of claim 11 wherein said detachable handle comprises a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, and ceramic filled plastic.

18. The computer controlled display device of claim 11 wherein said strut comprises a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, and ceramic filled plastic.

19. The computer controlled display device of claim 11 wherein said spring shaft comprises a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, and ceramic filled plastic.

20. The computer controlled display device of claim 13 wherein said actuator housing comprises a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, and ceramic filled plastic.

21. The computer controlled display device of claim 11 wherein one of a data cable, said tension device, and an anti-torsion device is located within said moveable assembly.

22. The computer controlled display device of claim 8 wherein said moveable assembly comprises a region of substantial friction and a region of lesser friction.

23. The computer controlled display device of claim 8 wherein said moveable assembly comprises a plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies.

24. The computer controlled display device of claim 8 wherein said moveable assembly is snakelike and changes positions in a smooth manner.

25. 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; and

a cable to provide display data, said cable located within said moveable assembly, a first end of said cable operatively coupled with said input of said flat panel display, a second end of said cable operatively coupled with a computer system.

26. The computer controlled display device of claim 25 wherein said moveable assembly comprises a plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies.

27. The computer controlled display device of claim 25 wherein a ball-and-socket assembly of said plurality of assemblies, comprises:

a substantially spherical ball;

a first annular plunger, said first plunger having walls defining a bore therethrough, and having a first concave insert fittable therein; and

a second annular plunger, said second plunger having walls defining a bore therethrough, and having a second concave insert fittable therein, said second concave insert coupled to said first concave insert.

28. The ball-and-socket assembly as in claim 27 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.

29. The ball-and-socket assembly as in claim 27 wherein said ball is comprised of aluminum.

30. The ball-and-socket assembly as in claim 27 wherein said ball is comprised of stainless steel.

31. The ball-and-socket assembly as in claim 28 wherein said ball has a flattened first end and a flattened second end, a bore extending through the center of the ball from said first end to said second end, and an interior cable guide portion located within said bore.

32. The ball-and-socket assembly as in claim 27 wherein said ball has a convex cosmetic surface and a convex contact surface, said convex cosmetic surface supported by one of said first or second plunger, said convex contact surface being positioned with an edge substantially adjacent to a flattened end of said ball.

33. The ball-and-socket assembly as in claim 27, wherein said interior cable guide defines a central bore and a plurality of off-centered openings, said central bore to house a tension device, said plurality of off-centered openings to house a data cable and an anti-torsion device.

34. The ball-and-socket assembly as in claim 33 wherein said data cable runs through a said plurality of off-center openings of said interior cable guide.

35. The ball-and-socket assembly as in claim 33 wherein said cable to display data has a length approximately 20% longer than a fixed path length of said moveable assembly, said fixed path length measured from an exterior portion of said flat panel display to an exterior portion of a support structure coupled to said moveable assembly.

36. The computer controlled display device of claim 25 wherein said moveable assembly comprises a region of substantial friction and a region of lesser friction.

37. The computer controlled display device of claim 25 wherein said moveable assembly is snakelike and changes positions in a smooth manner.

38. The computer controlled display device of claim 25 wherein at least one of a tension device and an anti-torsion device is located within said moveable assembly.

39. 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; and

an anti-torsion device located within said moveable assembly to prevent a cable located within said moveable assembly from being rendered inoperable.

40. The computer controlled display device of claim 39 wherein said cable is a data cable or a tension cable.

41. The computer controlled display device of claim 39 wherein said moveable assembly comprises a region of substantial friction and a region of lesser friction.

42. The computer controlled display device of claim 39 wherein said moveable assembly is snakelike and changes positions in a smooth manner.

43. The computer controlled display device of claim 39 wherein said moveable assembly comprises a plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies.

44. The computer controlled display device of claim 39 wherein a ball-and-socket assembly of said plurality of assemblies, comprises:

a substantially spherical ball;

a first annular plunger, said first annular plunger having wails defining a bore therethrough, and having a first concave insert fitted therein; and

a second annular plunger, said second annular plunger having walls defining a bore therethrough, and having a second concave insert fitted therein, said second concave insert coupled to said first concave insert.

45. The ball-and-socket assembly as in claim 39 wherein said assembly is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a ceramic, a plastic, and combinations thereof.

46. The ball-and-socket assembly as in claim 44 wherein said ball has a flattened first end and a flattened second end, a bore extending through the center of the ball from said first end to said second end, and an interior cable guide located within said bore.

47. The ball-and-socket assembly as in claim 44 wherein said ball has a convex cosmetic surface and a convex contact surface, said convex cosmetic surface supported by one of said first or second plunger, said convex contact surface being positioned with an edge substantially adjacent to a flattened end of said ball.

48. The ball-and-socket assembly as in claim 46, wherein said interior cable guide defines a central bore and a plurality of off-centered openings, said central bore to house a tension device, said plurality of off-centered openings to house a data cable and said anti-torsion device.

49. The ball-and-socket assembly as in claim 48 wherein said anti-torsion device is a looped cable running through a said off-center portion of said interior cable guide.

50. The ball-and-socket assembly as in claim 49 wherein said looped cable has a length approximately 20% longer than a fixed path length of said moveable assembly, said fixed path length measured from an exterior portion of said flat panel display to an exterior portion of a support structure coupled to said moveable assembly.

51. 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; 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.

52. A system as in claim 51 wherein said base houses computer components further comprising an optical drive and a network interface and wherein said cross-sectional area is defined by a cross-section taken perpendicularly to a longitudinal dimension of the moveable assembly.

53. A system as in claim 52 wherein said moveable assembly is moveable such that said flat panel display has at least three degrees of freedom of movement.

54. A system as in claim 52 wherein said system is moveable as a unit by one person unaided by any assistance.

55. A system as in claim 54 wherein a weight of said system is less than about 40 lbs and a footprint size of said base is less than about four (4) square feet.

56. A system as in claim 52, further comprising:

an actuator attached to said flat panel display and coupled to a force generator which maintains said moveable assembly in a rigid mode when said actuator is in a first state and which allows said moveable assembly to be moveable when said actuator is in a second state.

57. A system as in claim 56 wherein said force generator is a mechanism which may be electronically or electromagnetically activated to change said first and second states of said moveable assembly

58. A system as in claim 56 wherein said actuator, through a single actuation of said actuator, allows simultaneous positioning in multiple degrees of freedom (of said flat panel display).

59. A system as in claim 52, further comprising:

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

60. A system as in claim 59 wherein said data cable is concealed within said moveable assembly.

61. A system as in claim 52, further comprising:

an anti-torsion cable coupled to said moveable assembly, said anti-torsion cable restraining said flat panel display from being rotated beyond a pre-determined amount.

62. A system as in claim 52 wherein said longitudinal dimension of the moveable assembly extends from said flat panel display to said base and wherein a weight of said system is less than about 25 lbs and a footprint size of said base is less than an area of about 500 square centimeters.

63. A system as in claim 62 wherein said base is not fixedly secured to a supporting surface under said base.

64. A system as in claim 56 wherein said moveable assembly stores potential energy in a tensioned tension cable and in a plurality of compressed resilient members when said actuator is in a first state.

65. A system as in claim 56 wherein said actuator stores potential energy in a compressed spring/piston assembly when said actuator is in a second state.

66. A system as in claim 56 wherein moving said actuator from a first state to a second state converts potential energy stored in a tensioned cable and in a plurality of compressed resilient members and mechanical energy provided by a user into elastic potential energy stored in a compressed spring/piston assembly.

67. A system as in claim 66 wherein moving said actuator from a second state to a first state transfers a portion of the elastic potential energy stored in a compressed spring/piston assembly into elastic potential energy stored in a tensioned tension cable and in a plurality of resilient members, and converts the remaining stored elastic potential energy to work done on the use and to kinetic energy of the actuator.

68. A method, comprising:

storing a first potential energy in a tension cable extending through a longitudinal interior portion of a moveable assembly having a first end attached mechanically to a flat panel display and a second end attached to a moveable base, said moveable assembly having a plurality of moveable portions;

storing a second potential energy in a plurality of resilient members corresponding to said plurality of moveable portions, wherein said resilient members are compressible and coupled with said plurality of moveable portions;

combining a portion of said first potential energy and a portion of said second stored potential energies with an applied mechanical work;

converting a portion of said stored energy and work to an elastic potential energy; and

storing said elastic potential energy in a force generator which maintains said moveable assembly in a rigid mode when said force generator is in a first state and which allows said moveable assembly to be moveable when said force generator is in a second state.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein combining a portion of said first potential energy and a portion of said second potential energy, further comprises:

moving an actuator attached to said flat panel display from a first actuator state which maintains said moveable assembly in rigid mode to a second actuator state which allows said moveable assembly to be moveable.

70. The method of claim 68 wherein said force generator is a spring assembly.

71. The method of claim 68 wherein said force generator is a piston assembly.

72. A method, comprising:

transferring a portion of an elastic potential energy stored in a force generator which maintains said moveable assembly in a rigid mode when said force generator is in a first state and which allows said moveable assembly to be moveable when said force generator is in a second state into a first potential energy and a second potential energy;

storing said first potential energy in a tension cable extending through a longitudinal interior portion of a moveable assembly having a first end attached mechanically to a flat panel display and a second end attached to a moveable base, said moveable assembly having a plurality of moveable portions; and

storing a second potential energy in a plurality of resilient members corresponding to said plurality of moveable portions, wherein said resilient members are compressible and coupled with said plurality of moveable portions.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein transferring a portion of the elastic potential energy stored in a force generator, further comprises:

moving an actuator attached to said flat panel display from a second actuator state which allows said moveable assembly to be moveable to a first actuator state which maintains said moveable assembly in a rigid mode.

74. The method of claim 73 wherein said force generator is a spring assembly.

75. The method of claim 73 wherein said force generator is a piston assembly.

76. 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;

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;

a holder device coupled with said moveable assembly, said holder device having an energy stored therein; and

an actuator coupled to said holder device, said actuator to change a state of said moveable assembly to permit movement of said moveable assembly, wherein said actuator is assisted in said change of state by said energy stored in said holder device.

77. The system of claim 76 wherein said energy reduces an amount of user force needed to change said state of said moveable assembly.

78. The system of claim 76 wherein said actuator is attached to said flat panel display and wherein said actuator, through a single actuation of said actuator, allows simultaneous positioning in multiple degrees of freedom (of said flat panel display).

79. A system as in claim 76 wherein said base houses computer components further comprising an optical drive and a network interface, and wherein said cross-sectional area is defined by a cross-section taken perpendicularly to a longitudinal dimension of the moveable assembly.

80. A system as in claim 76 wherein said system is moveable as a unit by one person unaided by any assistance.

81. A system as in claim 76 wherein a weight of said system is less than about 40 lbs and a footprint size of said base is less than about four (4) square feet.

82. A system as in claim 76, further comprising:

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

83. A system as in claim 82 wherein said data cable is concealed within said moveable assembly.

84. A system as in claim 76, further comprising:

an anti-torsion cable coupled to said moveable assembly, said anti-torsion cable restraining said flat panel display from being rotated beyond a pre-determined amount.

85. A system as in claim 76 wherein said longitudinal dimension of the moveable assembly extends from said flat panel display to said base and wherein a weight of said system is less than about 25 lbs and a footprint size of said base is less than an area of about 500 square centimeters.

86. A system as in claim 76 wherein said base is not fixedly secured to a supporting surface under said base.