Personal computer

• US 6,381,125 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2000
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Masayuki, Mizoguchi, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US09/624,887
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 361/681-683, 361/679, 361/678, 361/708, 364/708.1, 345/179, 345/180, 345/174, 345/905, 248/917-922, 248/923, 248/157, 248/101, 248/420, 248/346.03, 248/346.04, 349/58, 312/223--22, 178/18, 178/19, 178/18-1-, 178/19-1-
• US Class Current: 361/679.08
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/046 adapted to upward-downward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2064 for tilting and panning F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/28 Undercarriages for supports with one single telescoping pillar
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/028 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1631 Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel

Abstract

A personal computer includes a main unit including a computer circuit therein, and a flat panel display unit supported in a standing state by the main unit through a connecting section. The connecting section includes a lower strut attached to the main unit, and an upper strut attached to the display unit and combined with the lower strut such that the lower and upper struts are movable relative to each other. The upper strut is provide with a rack and is biased upward by a spring. The lower strut is provided with a stopper arranged to engage with the rack. The display unit is placed at an arbitrary height when the positions of the first and upper struts are changed relative to each other, and are fixed by the stopper.

Claims

1. A personal computer comprising:

a keyboard;

a main unit including a computer circuit for controlling various operations of the personal computer;

a display unit arranged to be operated by the computer circuit, and including a display area for displaying information inputted from the keyboard;

a support member for supporting the display unit such that the display unit is supported to the main unit through the support member;

a stand portion arranged on the main unit to support the support member of the display unit; and

an adjusting mechanism provided to the stand portion for adjusting height position of the display unit by supporting the support member to be movable up and down;

wherein the adjusting mechanism includes an elevating member, which is movable up and down relative to the main unit and supports the display unit, and locking means for locking the elevating member at an arbitrary height; and

wherein the locking means includes a rack arranged on the elevating member to extend in a vertical direction, and a stopper arranged to detachably engage with the rack.

2. A personal computer comprising:

a keyboard;

a main unit including a computer circuit for controlling various operations of the personal computer;

a display unit arranged to be operated by the computer circuit, and including a display area for displaying information inputted from the keyboard;

a support member for supporting the display unit is supported to the main unit through the support member;

a stand portion arranged on the main unit to support the support member of the display unit; and

an adjusting mechanism provided to the stand portion for adjusting height position of the display unit by supporting the support member to be movable up and down;

wherein the adjusting mechanism has an elevating member, which is movable up and down relative to the main unit and supports the display unit, and a rack-and-pinion mechanism for moving the elevating member up and down.

3. A personal computer comprising:

a main unit including a keyboard for inputting various instructions and a computer circuit for controlling various operations;

a flat panel display unit arranged to be operated by the computer circuit on the basis of instructions inputted from the keyboard, and including a display area for displaying information inputted from the keyboard;

a stand portion through which the main unit supports the flat panel display unit to be rotatable and movable up and down, such that the keyboard is selectively covered with the display unit by rotating the display unit; and

an adjusting mechanism provided to the stand portion, for adjusting height of the flat panel display unit, the adjusting mechanism including an elevating member arranged on a back of the flat panel display unit reverse to the display area, for moving the flat panel display unit up and down relative to the stand portion while the stand portion stands on the main unit,

wherein the elevating member includes a rack arranged on the flat panel display unit, and a stopper arranged on the stand portion to engage with the rack and lock the elevating member at an arbitrary height.

4. A personal computer comprising:

a main unit having a computer circuit;

a display unit arranged to be operated by the computer circuit;

a stand-connecting section for supporting the display unit to be movable up and down on the main unit;

a processing section for displaying a specific operation button on the display unit;

a pointing device for designating the operation button displayed on the display unit; and

a driving mechanism for adjusting height of the stand-connecting section, when the specific operation button is designated by the pointing device.

5. The computer according to claim 4, wherein the stand-connecting section has a strut standing on the main unit, an elevating member, which is movable up and down relative to the strut and supports the display unit, and a ball screw mechanism, which includes a ball screw shaft arranged to move the elevating member up and down and a ball screw nut arranged to engage with the ball screw shaft.

6. The computer according to claim 4, wherein the driving mechanism has adjusting means for continuously adjusting the height of the stand-connecting section while the specific operation button is designated by the pointing device.

7. The computer according to claim 4, wherein the specific operation button has first and second operation buttons, such that the height of the stand-connecting section is continuously adjusted to move the display unit up while the first operation button is designated by the pointing device, and the height of the stand-connecting section is continuously adjusted to move the display unit down while the second operation button is designated by the pointing device.