Retractable face-up LCD monitor with off-monitor power supply and back-EMF braking
First Claim
1. A retractable liquid crystal display (LCD), comprising:
- a housing having an exterior wall with an opening for an LCD monitor,an LCD monitor pivotally mounted to said housing for pivoting through an arc exceeding 90°
between an open position at which the monitor extends out from the housing, and a retracted position at which the monitor is lodged in said opening, said monitor including an LCD viewing screen that is exposed for viewing in said open monitor position, faces the interior of said housing and is shielded by the remainder of said monitor in said retracted monitor position, said monitor being without an internal power supply but having an input to receive electrical power from an external supply,a motor mounted to said housing so that it does not pivot with said monitor,a power supply for said motor and for said monitor mounted to said housing outside the monitor'"'"'s retracted position so that it does not pivot with said monitor, said power supply producing outputs at different respective voltage levels for said motor and said monitor,a mechanical coupling between said motor and said monitor for pivoting said monitor to its open position when actuated by said motor,a return actuator for returning said monitor to its retracted position, andan electrical connector for supplying said monitor with power from said power supply in its open position.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A retractable LCD monitor for use in aircraft and the like is supplied with power from a power supply that is secured in a fixed off-monitor location on the monitor'"'"'s housing. The power supply also provides power for a motor assembly that controls a pivoting of the monitor between open and retracted positions. This configuration allows for a compact monitor assembly that can be stowed screen up within a restricted space housing, thus protecting the display from damage by passengers and presenting a pleasing appearance, while still pivoting the monitor by more than 90° to its open position. The motor that is used to pivot the monitor to the open position remains coupled to the monitor pivot mechanism during the retraction cycle, providing a back-emf that resists a spring force used to retract the monitor, and thereby cushion its retraction.
167 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A retractable liquid crystal display (LCD), comprising:
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a housing having an exterior wall with an opening for an LCD monitor, an LCD monitor pivotally mounted to said housing for pivoting through an arc exceeding 90°
between an open position at which the monitor extends out from the housing, and a retracted position at which the monitor is lodged in said opening, said monitor including an LCD viewing screen that is exposed for viewing in said open monitor position, faces the interior of said housing and is shielded by the remainder of said monitor in said retracted monitor position, said monitor being without an internal power supply but having an input to receive electrical power from an external supply,a motor mounted to said housing so that it does not pivot with said monitor, a power supply for said motor and for said monitor mounted to said housing outside the monitor'"'"'s retracted position so that it does not pivot with said monitor, said power supply producing outputs at different respective voltage levels for said motor and said monitor, a mechanical coupling between said motor and said monitor for pivoting said monitor to its open position when actuated by said motor, a return actuator for returning said monitor to its retracted position, and an electrical connector for supplying said monitor with power from said power supply in its open position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A retractable liquid crystal display (LCD), comprising:
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a housing having an exterior wall with an opening for an LCD monitor, an LCD monitor pivotally mounted to said housing for pivoting through an arc exceeding 90°
between an open position at which the monitor extends out from the housing, and a retracted position at which the monitor is lodged in said opening, said monitor including an LCD viewing screen that is exposed for viewing in said open monitor position, faces the interior of said housing and is shielded by the remainder of said monitor in said retracted monitor position, a back surface on an opposite side of the monitor from said screen, a linkage receiver on the screen side of the monitor at the monitor'"'"'s upper end in its open position, and a pivot coupling located towards the monitor'"'"'s upper end closer to its back surface than to its screen,a motor mounted to said housing, a pivot coupling on said housing engaging the pivot coupling on said monitor, a compound linkage connected between said motor and said monitor linkage receiver for pivoting said monitor about said pivot couplings to its open position when actuated by said motor, and a return actuator for returning said monitor to its retracted position. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification