Display monitor position adjustment apparatus

• US 5,589,849 A
• Filed: 07/25/1994
• Issued: 12/31/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NetAirus Systems
• Original Assignee: Richard J. Ditzik
• Inventors: Ditzik, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOW, DOON Y
• Application Number:
  US08/280,148
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/126, 345/173, 345/179, 345/905, 345/121, 312/7.2, 312/194, 248/917, 248/918, 248/919, 248/920, 248/921, 248/922, 248/923, 248/924, 379/96, 348/825, 348/827, 348/836, 361/681, 361/682
• US Class Current: 361/679.22
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0073 liftable above the desk top
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0073 Desk with integrated computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4406 Loading of operating system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/921 Plural angular
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A man-computer-man communications system, including a computer workstation (10), which is comprised of a display device (22), graphic tablet (18), stylus (14), and computer unit (24), where the physical orientation of the display device screen (16) is made adjustable in inclination angle, azimuth angle, and elevation height. The active area of the graphic tablet is a transparent surface area (18), which is coincident to the display screen and is approximately the same size as the display screen. The graphic tablet device may include active or passive stylus (14). A keyboard unit (12) and telephone unit (28) may be added to the workstation. An external communications system may be added to transmit and receive data to or from remote computers or other workstations. The display screen angle can be adjusted to inclination angles between horizontal and vertical orientations. The computer unit (24) controls the operation of the workstation and external communications.

Claims

1. A display device position adjusting apparatus, which comprises:

a. a table support structure defining a horizontal surface member and a plurality of vertical support members fixed to the horizontal surface, the horizontal surface member having an opening sufficiently large that the display device can fit inside the opening and moved in a multiplicity of orientations;

b. means for adjusting the display device through a large range of orientations, wherein the adjusting means is attached to the table support structure, such that the display device can be adjusted to position well above and below the table support structure horizontal surface an can be locked into a fixed position, and wherein the adjusting means provides;

(1) a front reversible motor connected to a display elevation linkage means and front display hinge, for elevation adjustment, and

(2) a rear reversible motor connected to a display inclination linkage means and rear hinge, for inclination rotation adjustment, wherein each linkage means is connected to the to a display device cradle in which the display device sits;

c. said table support structure being suitable for a computer desk, capable of supporting computer related devices; and

d. said adjusting means may be comprised of a plurality of electrical and mechanical adjustment means.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which the orientation adjusting means includes adjusting the azimuth angle of the display device in addition to other orientation adjustments, wherein the display device can be locked into place.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which the orientation adjustment means is replaced by a spring-loaded mechanism means, wherein the mechanism means acts to apply a force to the weight of the display device to assist in the orientation adjustment of the display device.

4. A system, which comprises:

a. a Cathode Ray tube (CRT) display;

b. means for encoding the position of stylus or pen over an encoding area, wherein the encoding means is interfaced to the CRT display for control, such that when the stylus is moved over the encoding area, the position of the stylus is encoded into a continuous stream of electrical signals;

c. a table support structure defining a horizontal surface member and a plurality of vertical support members fixed to the horizontal surface, the horizontal surface member having an opening sufficiently large that the CRT display can fit inside the opening and moved in a multiplicity of orientations;

d. means for adjusting the CRT display through a large range of orientations, wherein the adjusting means is attached to the table support structure, such that the CRT display can be adjusted to position well above and below the table support structure horizontal surface and can be locked into a fixed position, and wherein the adjusting means provides;

(1) a front reversible motor connected to a display elevation linkage means and front display hinge, for elevation adjustment, and

(2) a rear reversible motor connected to a display inclination linkage means and rear hinge, for inclination rotation adjustment, wherein each linkage means is connected to the to a display device cradle in which the display device sits;

e. said table support structure being suitable for a computer desk, capable of supporting computer related devices; and

f. said adjusting means may be comprised of a plurality of electrical and mechanical adjustment means.