Desktop computer with adjustable flat panel screen

• US 6,064,373 A
• Filed: 09/13/1997
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NetAirus Systems
• Original Assignee: Richard J. Ditzik
• Inventors: Ditzik, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-Yi
• Application Number:
  US08/937,258
• Time in Patent Office: 976 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/176, 345/179, 345/180, 345/174, 345/905, 248/917, 248/918, 248/920, 248/921, 248/923, 248/922, 248/919, 361/679, 361/688, 361/724, 361/680, 361/681, 361/682, 364/708.1, 400/83, 400/84, 178/18, 178/19, 178/18.01-18.11, 178/19.01-19.07
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1631 Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/92 Angular and linear video display screen support adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/923 Tilting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A relatively small transportable desktop computer/workstation with a display panel assembly (2) in combination with a microprocessor or controller (44) is made display screen position adjustable, in inclination angle, azimuth angle and elevation translation movements. The workstation can have a pen or stylus touch screen input function (36) added, so that a user or operator can write, draw and sketch directly onto the screen in a natural manner. The workstation can be placed on top of a desk or table providing an ergonomic man-machine interface for information communications between individual users via a communications network. A keyboard (7, 42), voice/speaker telephone (48), mouse or trackball input unit (46), and communications modem (42) may be added to the workstation. The flat panel display, pen input unit and microprocessor can be combined into an assembly, which can be removed from the main body for portable mobile computing operation.

Claims

1. A portable display monitor wherein a user has the option to rest the monitor on a roughly horizontal surface of a desk or table, so that its screen is viewable by one or more users, the display monitor comprising:

a. a flat panel display assembly defining a display screen and associated display electronics;

b. a control electronics means electrically interfaced to said flat panel display electronics,

c. a support hinge means directly connected to said flat panel display assembly;

d. a multi-section telescoping post-like structure attached to said support hinge means, such that said flat panel display assembly can be pushed down and pulled up by the user, for elevation position adjustments; and

e. a base unit adapted to resting onto horizontal surfaces, wherein the base unit is connected to the bottom portion of said multi-section telescoping post-like structure, wherein the user has the option to rest the base unit supporting elements (a)-(e) onto the roughly horizontal surface or a desk or table.

2. A portable display monitor as recited in claim 1, in which said multisection telescoping post-like structure includes a force actuator means applying a vertical upward force along the y-axis, wherein the force of said actuator means approximates the weight of said display panel assembly and said support hinge means, and wherein said actuator means assists the user when pulling upward on said flat panel display assembly.

3. A portable display monitor as recited in claim 1, in which said flat panel display assembly is adapted to include a microcomputer system and a battery power supply, wherein said flat panel display assembly and said microcomputer system is adapted to be physically removable, such that said flat panel display assembly and computer system can be operational without connection to elements (c)-(e).

4. A portable display monitor as recited in claim 1, in which said support hinge means is adapted to azimuth angle rotation adjustment of said flat panel display assembly, wherein the user has options to adjust the azimuth angle to a desired position by hand.

5. A portable display monitor as recited in claim 1, in which said support hinge means is adapted to roll angle rotation adjustment of said flat panel display assembly, wherein the user has options to adjust the roll angle to a desired position by hand.

6. A portable display monitor as recited in claim 1, in which said support hinge means is adapted to a universal ball and socket hinge support means for said flat panel display assembly can be adjusted in orientation in a multiplicity of rotations other than said inclination, azimuth and roll directions.

7. A portable display monitor as recited in claim 1, in which said electronic control means is comprised of a microcomputer system, and further comprising a telephone means interfaced to said micro computer system, wherein the user has options to have voice or data communications operations to and from an external communication means.

8. A portable display monitor as recited in claim 1, further comprising a microcomputer system running operating system programs, forming a personal computer system for running application programs.

9. A portable display monitor as recited in claim 8, further comprising a keyboard connection means.