SUPPORTING DEVICE AND DUAL DISPLAY UNIT HAVING THE SAME

• US 20090090825A1
• Filed: 09/12/2008
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jin Sung, Jung, Jun Su, Lee, Jeong Roh
• Granted Patent: US 8,317,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/205.1
• 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

A supporting device is installed between an auxiliary display unit and a main display unit to variously change the position and pose of the auxiliary display unit and a dual display unit having the same are disclosed. The dual display unit includes a main display unit which displays an image, a supporting device which is coupled to the main display unit, and an auxiliary display unit which is installed on the supporting device. The supporting device is configured to adjust the distance between the main display unit and the auxiliary display unit.

Claims

1. A dual display unit comprising:

a main display unit which displays an image;

a supporting device which is coupled to the main display unit; and

an auxiliary display unit which is installed on the supporting device,

wherein the supporting device is configured to adjust a distance between the main display unit and the auxiliary display unit.

2. The dual display unit according to claim 1, wherein the supporting device is rotatably installed such that the auxiliary display unit moves to an upper side or opposite side of the main display unit.

3. The dual display unit according to claim 1, wherein the supporting device is rotatably coupled to the auxiliary display unit such that the auxiliary display unit is capable of being arranged in a landscape view or a portrait view.

4. The dual display unit according to claim 1, wherein the supporting device includes a first supporting member installed on the main display unit and a second supporting member installed on the auxiliary display unit, and the first supporting member and the second supporting member are slidably coupled to each other to adjust the distance between the main display unit and the auxiliary display unit.

5. The dual display unit according to claim 4, wherein the first supporting member includes a guide rail to guide a sliding motion of the second supporting member.

6. The dual display unit according to claim 5, wherein a guide member is installed on an inside of the guide rail to guide the sliding motion of the second supporting member.

7. The dual display unit according to claim 6, wherein at least one fixing protrusion is disposed on any one of the inside of the guide rail, the guide member or a fixing groove coupled to the fixing protrusion, is disposed on the other thereof to fix a position of the guide member.

8. The dual display unit according to claim 6, wherein the first supporting member includes a position determining groove to guide a sliding position of the second supporting member, and a stopper having a position determining protrusion, which is engaged with the position determining groove, is installed on the second supporting member.

9. The dual display unit according to claim 4, wherein the second supporting member includes a hinge portion such that the auxiliary display unit can be tilted forward and backward.

10. The dual display unit according to claim 1, wherein an installation hole compliant with a VESA standard is disposed on a rear surface of the main display unit, and the supporting device is installed through the installation hole.

11. The dual display unit according to claim 10, wherein an installation bracket is coupled to the rear surface of the main display unit through the installation hole, and the installation bracket includes a shaft hole to support the supporting device to rotate with respect to the main display unit.

12. The dual display unit according to claim 11, wherein the installation bracket includes first rotation limiting projections formed at opposite sides of the shaft hole, and the supporting device includes a second rotation limiting projection which is in contact with the first rotation limiting projections to restrict a rotation range of the supporting device.

13. The dual display unit according to claim 1, wherein the supporting device includes a supporting member which connects between the main display unit and auxiliary display unit, and a slide unit which is installed on the main display unit or the auxiliary display unit and guides forward and backward movement of the supporting member to adjust the distance between the main display unit and auxiliary display unit.

14. The dual display unit according to claim 13, wherein the slide unit is rotatably coupled to main display unit or the auxiliary display unit.

15. The dual display unit according to claim 14, wherein the supporting member is rotatably coupled to the main display unit or the auxiliary display unit.

16. The dual display unit according to claim 13, wherein the slide unit includes a guide roller to guide the forward and backward movement of the supporting member.

17. The dual display unit according to claim 13, wherein a rack is disposed on the supporting member in a longitudinal direction, and the slide unit includes a pinion which rotates while being engaged with the rack.

18. The dual display unit according to claim 13, wherein the supporting member includes a guide groove formed in a longitudinal direction, and the slide unit includes a slide protrusion which is coupled to the guide groove to restrict a moving range of the supporting member.

19. The dual display unit according to claim 13, wherein the supporting member includes a hinge portion such that the auxiliary display unit can be tilted forward and backward.

20. The dual display unit according to claim 13, wherein the main display unit includes at least one first rotation limiting projection formed on its rear surface, and the supporting device includes a second rotation limiting projection which is in contact with the first rotation limiting projection to restrict a rotation range of the supporting device.

21. A supporting device which is installed between a main display unit and an auxiliary display unit to adjust a distance between the main display unit and the auxiliary display unit, and is rotatably installed on a rear surface of the main display unit such that the auxiliary display unit is movable to an upper side or opposite sides of the main display unit.

22. The supporting device according to claim 21, wherein the supporting device is rotatably coupled to the auxiliary display unit such that the auxiliary display unit can be arranged in a landscape view or a portrait view.

23. The supporting device according to claim 21, wherein the supporting device includes a first supporting member installed on the main display unit and a second supporting member installed on the auxiliary display unit, and the first supporting member and the second supporting member are slidably coupled to each other to adjust the distance between the main display unit and the auxiliary display unit.

24. The supporting device according to claim 23, wherein the first supporting member includes a guide rail to guide a sliding motion of the second supporting member.

25. The supporting device according to claim 24, wherein a guide member is installed on an inside of the guide rail to guide the sliding motion of the second supporting member.

26. The supporting device according to claim 23, wherein the second supporting member includes a hinge portion such that the auxiliary display unit can be tilted forward and backward.

27. A dual display unit comprising:

a first display unit;

a second display unit; and

a supporting device coupled to the first display unit and the second display unit, the supporting device being capable of providing a range of motion to reposition at least one of the display units such that the viewing configuration is changed as either the first display unit or the second display unit is repositioned along the range of motion of the supporting device.

28. A supporting device capable of connecting a first display unit and a second display unit, the supporting device comprising:

a support member presenting a longitudinal length and axis and having a first end and a second end, each end disposed opposite the other along the length of the support member;

first coupling structure suitable to couple with the first display unit and disposed proximal the first end of the support member;

second coupling structure suitable to couple with the second display unit and disposed proximal the second end of the support member; and

repositioning structure to reposition at least one display unit and disposed on the support member, such that when the first display unit is coupled with the first coupling structure and the second display unit is coupled with the second coupling structure, at least one of the first display unit or the second display unit can be repositioned.

29. A supporting device capable of connecting a first display unit and a second display unit, the supporting device comprising:

a first support member;

a second support member coupled to the first support member, the first support member and second support member presenting a longitudinal collective length and axis and having a first end and a second end, each end disposed opposite the other along the collective length of the support member;

a first coupling structure suitable to couple with the first display unit and disposed proximal the first end;

a second coupling structure suitable to couple with the second display unit and disposed proximal the second end of the support member; and

repositioning structure to reposition at least one display unit and disposed along the collective length of the first support member and the second support member, such that when the first display unit is coupled with the first coupling structure and the second display unit is coupled with the second coupling structure, at least one of the first display unit or the second display unit can be repositioned.