Display monitor

• US 6,919,864 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2000
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Macor, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lamarre, Guy J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alphonse, Fritz
• Application Number:
  US09/627,009
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/1.3, 345/2.2, 345/3.1, 345/156, 345/169, 345/901, 345/905
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor

Abstract

A computer monitor and computer system are described having multiple integrated display screens to allow for multi-tasking without any overlapping of images. The computer monitor includes a primary display platform, having a monitor screen, and at least one auxiliary display platform electrically and physically connected with said primary display platform. A hinge allows the display platforms to rotate relative to one another. The auxiliary display platform can rotate to a dosed position, covering the monitor screens of both display platforms. An activation/deactivation mechanism may be included on the monitor so that rotation to a closed position can deactivate the display monitors and rotation to an opened position can enliven the display monitors.

Claims

1. A computer monitor comprising:

a primary display platform having a display screen;

at least one auxiliary display platform having a display screen; and

at least one hinge rotatably connecting said at least one auxiliary display platform to said primary display platform, such that said at least one auxiliary display platform can be operated at a variety of angles relative to said primary display platform, to suit the ergonomic preferences of a user, wherein said at least one auxiliary display platform is optically connected to said primary display platform through said at least one hinge.

2. The computer monitor of claim 1, wherein said at least one auxiliary display platform is sized and shaped to cover at least a portion of said display screen of said primary display platform in a closed position.

3. The computer monitor of claim 2, wherein said at least one auxiliary display platform is sized and shaped to cover all of said display screen of said primary display platform in said closed position.

4. The computer monitor of claim 1, further comprising at least one activation/deactivation mechanism for turning on and turning off the display screens of said display platforms.

5. The computer monitor of claim 4, wherein said at least one activation/deactivation mechanism is adapted for tuning on said display screens through rotation of said at least one auxiliary display platform from a closed position to an open position and turning off said display screens through rotation of said at least one auxiliary display platform from said open position to said closed position.

6. The computer monitor of claim 4, wherein said at least one activation/deactivation mechanism is positioned on a front surface of said primary display platform.

7. The computer monitor of claim 1, comprising a first said auxiliary display platform rotatably connected to said primary display platform with a horizontally-directed hinge.

8. The computer monitor of claim 7, comprising a second said auxiliary display platform rotatably connected to said primary display platform with a second horizontally-directed hinge.

9. The computer monitor of claim 8, wherein said first and second auxiliary display platforms are sized and shaped to cover at least a portion of said display screen of said primary display platform in a closed position.

10. The computer monitor of claim 1, comprising a first said auxiliary display platform rotatably connected to said primary display platform with a vertically-directed hinge.

11. The computer monitor of claim 10, comprising a second said auxiliary display platform rotatably connected to said primary display platform with a second vertically-directed hinge.

12. The computer monitor of claim 11, comprising a third said auxiliary display platform rotatably connected to said primary display platform with a second horizontally-directed hinge.

13. The computer monitor of claim 12, comprising a fourth said auxiliary display platform rotatably connected to said primary display platform with a second horizontally-directed hinge.

14. The computer monitor of claim 13, wherein said first, second, third and fourth auxiliary display platforms are sized and shaped to cover at least a portion of said display screen of said primary display platform in a closed position.

15. The computer monitor of claim 1, wherein said primary display platform and said at least one auxiliary display platform are integrated to inhibit overlapping of any display images.

16. The computer monitor of claim 1, further comprising:

a motor for selectively rotating said at least one auxiliary display platform relative to said primary display platform between an open position and a closed position.

17. A computer system comprising:

a processing unit;

a primary display platform, with a display screen, electrically connected with said processing unit;

at least one auxiliary display platform having a display screen; and

a hinge rotatably connecting said at least one auxiliary display platform to said primary display platform, such that said at least one auxiliary display platform can be operated at a variety of angles relative to said primary display platform, to suit the ergonomic preferences of a user, wherein said at least one auxiliary display platform is optically connected to said primary display platform through said hinge.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein said at least one auxiliary display platform is sized and shaped to cover at least a portion of said display screen of said primary display platform in a closed position.

19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein said at least one auxiliary display platform is sized and shaped to cover all of said display screen of said primary display platform in said closed position.

20. The computer system of claim 17, wherein said primary display platform and said at least one auxiliary display platform are integrated to inhibit overlapping of any displayed images.

21. The computer system of claim 20, further comprising a computer generated program which maximizes an amount of available space for one or more images to be displayed on said primary display platform and said at least one auxiliary display platform without allowing for an overlapping between any of said displayed images.

22. The computer system of claim 17, further comprising at least one activation/deactivation mechanism for turning on and turning off the display screen of said display platforms, said mechanism being positioned on at least one of said display platforms.

23. The computer system of claim 22, wherein said at least one activation/deactivation mechanism is adapted for tuning on said display screens through rotation of said at least one auxiliary display platform from a closed position to an open position and shutting off said display screens through rotation of said at least one auxiliary display platform from said open position to said closed position.

24. The computer system of claim 23, wherein one said mechanism is positioned on a front surface of said primary display platform.

25. The computer system of claim 17, comprising a first said auxiliary display platform rotatably connected to said primary display platform with a horizontally-directed hinge.

26. The computer system of claim 25, comprising a second said auxiliary display platform rotatably connected to said primary display platform with a second horizontally-directed hinge.

27. The computer system of claim 26, wherein said first and second auxiliary display platforms are sized and shaped to cover at least a portion of said display screen of said primary display platform in a closed position.

28. The computer system of claim 17, comprising a first said auxiliary display platform rotatably connected to said primary display platform with a vertically-directed hinge.

29. The computer system of claim 28, comprising a second said auxiliary display platform rotatably connected to said primary display platform with a second vertically-directed hinge.

30. The computer system of claim 29, comprising a third said auxiliary display platform rotatably connected to said primary display platform with a horizontally-directed hinge.

31. The computer system of claim 30, comprising a fourth said auxiliary display platform rotatably connected to said primary display platform with a second horizontally-directed hinge.

32. The computer system of claim 31, wherein said first, second, third and fourth auxiliary display platforms are sized and shaped to cover at least a portion of said display screen of said primary display platform in a closed position.

33. The computer system of claim 17, further comprising:

a motor for selectively rotating said at least one auxiliary display platform relative to said primary display platform between an open position and a closed position.

34. A computer monitor comprising:

a primary display platform having a display screen;

at least one auxiliary display platform having a display screen;

at least one hinge rotatably connecting said at least one auxiliary display platform to said primary display platform, such that said at least one auxiliary display platform can be operated at a variety of angles relative to said primary display platform, to suit the ergonomic preferences of a user; and

a motor for selectively rotating said at least one auxiliary display platform relative to said primary display platform between an open position and a closed position.

35. The computer monitor of claim 34, wherein said at least one auxiliary display platform is sized and shaped to cover at least a portion of said display screen of said primary display platform in said closed position.

36. The computer monitor of claim 34, wherein in said at least one auxiliary display platform is electrically connected to said primary display platform through said at least one hinge.

37. A computer system comprising:

a processing unit;

a primary display platform, with a display screen, electrically connected with said processing unit;

at least one auxiliary display platform having a display screen;

a hinge rotatably connecting said at least one auxiliary display platform to said primary display platform, such that said at least one auxiliary display platform can be operated at a variety of angles relative to said primary display platform, to suit the ergonomic preferences of a user; and

a motor for selectively rotating said at least one auxiliary display platform relative to said primary display platform between an open position and a closed position.

38. The computer system of claim 37, wherein said at least one auxiliary display platform is sized and shaped to cover at least a portion of said display screen of said primary display platform in said closed position.

39. The computer system of claim 37, wherein in said at least one auxiliary display platform is electrically connected to said primary display platform through said at least one hinge.