HANDHELD CONTROL DEVICE WITH DUAL DISPLAY SCREENS

• US 20130169509A1
• Filed: 10/03/2012
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Measurement Systems, Inc. (Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC)
• Original Assignee: Measurement Systems, Inc. (Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC)
• Inventors: Chen, Michael, Ecsedy, Thomas Robert, Paquette, Raymond J.
• Application Number:
  US13/633,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20130169509A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/1.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T

Abstract

A portable operator control unit (OCU) includes a main portion disposed between handle portions extending from the main portion; the main portion has a front side, an opposing back side, and a top surface. The OCU includes a plurality of display devices including a primary display disposed on the front side of the main portion, and a secondary display movable with respect to the main portion. The secondary display is viewable by the operator along with the primary display while the secondary display is in use, and is stowed out of the operator'"'"'s view while the secondary display is not in use.

Claims

1. A portable operator control unit (OCU) comprising:

a main portion disposed between handle portions extending from the main portion, the main portion having a front side, an opposing back side, and a top surface; and

a plurality of display devices including

a primary display disposed on the front side of the main portion, and

a secondary display movable with respect to the main portion, wherein

the secondary display is viewable by the operator along with the primary display while the secondary display is in use, and

the secondary display is stowed out of the operator'"'"'s view while the secondary display is not in use.

2. An OCU according to claim 1, wherein the secondary display has a front surface including a display screen, and said display screen is proximate to the back side of said main portion while the secondary display is not in use.

3. An OCU according to claim 2, further comprising a sliding mechanism wherein the secondary display is slidably attached to the main portion, said display screen being viewable by the operator above the top surface of the main portion in accordance with the secondary display slid upwards against said back side when in use.

4. An OCU according to claim 2, further comprising a joint mechanism having a rotatable portion and a pivot, wherein the secondary display is attached to the main portion via the joint mechanism, said display screen being viewable by the operator above the top surface of the main portion in accordance with the secondary display rotated and pivoted with respect to the back side when in use.

5. An OCU according to claim 4, wherein the secondary display further comprises a snap-lock mechanism for positively holding the secondary display against the back side when not in use.

6. An OCU according to claim 1, wherein the secondary display is detachable from the main portion and includes a mechanical and electrical attachment interface for attaching to the main portion at said backside when the secondary display is in use.

7. An OCU according to claim 6, wherein the secondary display further comprises a snap-lock mechanism for positively holding the secondary display against the top surface when in use.

8. An OCU according to claim 6, wherein the secondary display includes a display screen having a size approximately that of the primary display.

9. An OCU according to claim 1, wherein the secondary display has an LCD display screen.

10. An OCU according to claim 1, wherein the primary display has information regarding the status of control devices included in the OCU, and the secondary display has a real-time video image.