Electronic device display system and method
DCFirst Claim
1. A system for displaying a plurality of electronic devices each being operable when electrical power is supplied thereto at a respective operating voltage through a respective power connector, said system comprising:
- a power supply providing input electrical current at a first voltage;
a plurality of cable structures each being connected with the power supply so as to receive said input electrical current therefrom at said first voltage, and each having a respective power connector configured to electrically connect with the power receiving structure of a respective one of the electronic devices;
said cable structures each including a respective voltage regulator system receiving said input electrical current, and converting said input electrical current to a respective output electrical current at a respective output voltage and transmitting said output electrical current to said power connector so as to transmit an operating electrical current to the associated electronic device;
said voltage regulator system setting the output voltage of the output electrical current such that the operating electrical current delivered to the associated electronic device has a voltage that corresponds to the operating voltage of said electronic device; and
wherein the voltage regulator system comprises a voltage regulator electrically connected with a calibrating component said voltage regulator being configured to vary the output voltage of said output electrical current dependent upon an electrically connected with characteristic of said calibrating component;
said calibrating component being releasably connected to the voltage regulator and being selected such that the electrical characteristic thereof causes the voltage regulator to set the output voltage thereof to correspond to the operating voltage of the electronic device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are provided for displaying electronic devices operable when electrical power is supplied to them at respective operating voltages through respective power connectors. The system has a power supply providing input electrical current at a first voltage and cable structures each connected with the power supply and having a respective power connector electrically connecting with the power receiving structure of one of the electronic devices. The cable structures each include a voltage regulator system that receives the input electrical current, converts it to an output electrical current at an output voltage, and transmits it to the power connector, so as to transmit an operating electrical current to the associated electronic device. The voltage regulator system sets the output voltage of the output electrical current such that the operating electrical current delivered to the associated electronic device has a voltage that corresponds to the operating voltage of that device. This is accomplished by connecting the voltage regulator to a calibrating component with a selected electrical characteristic that sets the output voltage. A security circuit creates an alarm when separation of the electrical device from the system occurs.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A system for displaying a plurality of electronic devices each being operable when electrical power is supplied thereto at a respective operating voltage through a respective power connector, said system comprising:
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a power supply providing input electrical current at a first voltage; a plurality of cable structures each being connected with the power supply so as to receive said input electrical current therefrom at said first voltage, and each having a respective power connector configured to electrically connect with the power receiving structure of a respective one of the electronic devices; said cable structures each including a respective voltage regulator system receiving said input electrical current, and converting said input electrical current to a respective output electrical current at a respective output voltage and transmitting said output electrical current to said power connector so as to transmit an operating electrical current to the associated electronic device; said voltage regulator system setting the output voltage of the output electrical current such that the operating electrical current delivered to the associated electronic device has a voltage that corresponds to the operating voltage of said electronic device; and wherein the voltage regulator system comprises a voltage regulator electrically connected with a calibrating component said voltage regulator being configured to vary the output voltage of said output electrical current dependent upon an electrically connected with characteristic of said calibrating component; said calibrating component being releasably connected to the voltage regulator and being selected such that the electrical characteristic thereof causes the voltage regulator to set the output voltage thereof to correspond to the operating voltage of the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for displaying a plurality of electronic devices each being operable when electrical power is supplied thereto at a respective operating voltage through a respective power connector, said system comprising:
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a power supply providing input electrical current at a first voltage; a plurality of cable structures each being connected with the power supply so as to receive said input electrical current therefrom at said first voltage, and each having a respective power connector configured to electrically connect with the power receiving structure of a respective one of the electronic devices; said cable structures each including a respective voltage regulator system receiving said input electrical current, and converting said input electrical current to a respective output electrical current at a respective output voltage and transmitting said output electrical current to said power connector so as to transmit an operating electrical current to the associated electronic device; said voltage regulator system setting the output voltage of the output electrical current such that the operating electrical current delivered to the associated electronic device has a voltage that corresponds to the operating voltage of said electronic device; wherein the voltage regulator system comprises a voltage regulator electrically connected with a calibrating component, said voltage regulator setting the output voltage of said output electrical current dependent upon an electrical characteristic of said calibrating component; wherein the calibrating component is electrically connected with the voltage regulator via a releasable connector structure; wherein said releasable connector structure also connects said voltage regulator system with the power connector; wherein the releasable connector structure is a jack-and-socket electrical connection system comprising a socket connected with the voltage regulator, and a jack connected to an end of a cable having an opposite end connected electrically with said power connector so that said output current from said voltage regulator flows to said power connector through said cable; wherein, the cable has at least four conductor wires therein, two of said wires being operatively connected with the power conductor so as to power the device, and another two of the wires being electrically connected with said calibrating component so as to form a circuit therethrough.
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15. A system for displaying a plurality of electronic devices each being operable when electrical power is supplied thereto at a respective operating voltage through a respective power connector, said system comprising:
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power supply providing input electrical current at a first voltage; a plurality of cable structures each being connected with the power supply so as to receive said input electrical current therefrom at said first voltage, and each having a respective power connector configured to electrically connect with the power receiving structure of a respective one or the electronic devices; said cable structures each including a respective voltage regulator system receiving said input electrical current, and converting said input electrical current to a respective output electrical current at a respective output voltage and transmitting said output electrical current to said power connector so as to transmit an operating electrical current to the associated electronic device; said voltage regulator system setting the output voltage of the output electrical current such that the operating electrical current delivered to the associated electronic device has a voltage that corresponds to the operating voltage of said electronic device; wherein the power supply is part of a base module from which the cable structure extends; said cable structure including a security module configured to be secured to the associated electronic device; said cable structure including a cable portion forming a security circuit extending from the base module to said security module; said security module closing the security circuit when said security portion is secured to the electronic device, and said security module breaking the security circuit when the security module is removed from the electronic device, and an alarm system determining if the security circuit has been broken, said alarm system generating a visible or audible alarm responsive to a determination that the security circuit has been broken; wherein the alarm is in the security module; and wherein the voltage regulator system is supported on the security module, and the cable portion of security circuit extends between the base module and the security module as part of a cable that also conducts the input electrical current to the voltage regulator system.
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16. A system for displaying a plurality of electrical devices each operable by a user when electrical power is supplied thereto at a respective operating voltage via a respective power receiving structure thereof that is configured to electrically connect with a complementary power supply connector, said system comprising:
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a base module having a power supply providing DC current at a first voltage to a plurality of electrical connector structures; a plurality of a cable assemblies each being associated with a respective one of the electrical devices and comprising; a first cable having first and second ends, the first end being electrically connected with a respective electrical connector structure of the base module and receiving said DC current therefrom at said first voltage; a device module electrically connected with the second end of the first cable and secured to said electrical device; the device module having a voltage regulator receiving the DC current, convering said DC current to an output current at an output voltage, and transmitting said output voltage to a device module output connector structure; a first connector structure connected with the device module output connector structure and receiving said output current therefrom; a second cable having first and second ends, said first end being electrically connected with the first connecting structure so that said output current is transmitted through the second cable; a power connector on the second end of the second cable, said power connector complementarily engaging with the power receiving structure of said electrical device and transmitting said output current to the power receiving structure of said electrical device; a calibrating component connected with the first connector structure and electrically connected therethrough with the voltage regulator; the voltage regulator being configured such that the output voltage of the output current therefrom is dependent on an electrical characteristic of the calibrating component connected therewith; said calibrating component being selected to set the output voltage of the output current of the voltage regulator such that the output current transmitted to the power receiving structure of said electrical device is at the operating voltage of said electrical device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for displaying a plurality of electrical devices each being supplied with electrical current at a respective operating voltage through a respective power input structure configured to electrically connect with a respective power connector structure fitting complementarily therewith, said method comprising:
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providing a base module having a power supply with a plurality of electrical connector structures each supplied with DC current at a first voltage; securing to each electronic device a respective device module; connecting a first cable between each device module and a respective electrical connector structure of the base module so that said first cables each carry said DC current at said first voltage to the associated device module; the device modules each having a respective voltage regulator receiving the DC current and converting said DC current to a respective output current; connecting a second cable between each device module and the electrical device secured thereto, said second cable receiving the output current from the device module and transmitting the output current to a power connector complementarily engaging and electrically connecting with the power input structure of said electrical device; said output current being transmitted to the electrical device at a voltage corresponding to the operating voltage of said device; each of said voltage regulators setting the associated output current at a voltage that is dependent on an electrical characteristic of a respective calibrating component connected therewith, said calibrating component being part of the associated second cable connected with the device module. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A cable assembly comprising:
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a first electrical connector element having at least four electrical contacts configured to make four separate electrical connections when said first electrical connector element is secured in engagement with a complementary electrical connector structure; a cable portion having two opposite ends and two wires each connected with a respective one of said electrical contacts of the first electrical connector element; a device power input jack having at least two electrical contacts each connected electrically with a respective wire of said cable portion, said power input jack being configured to be matingly engaged with a power input structure as an electrical device so as to form an electrical connection therewith supplying electrical power to said electrical device at an operating voltage through said power input structure; a calibrating component connected with two other contacts of the first electrical connector element so that a circuit containing the calibrating component is formed between said two contacts, said calibrating component having an electrical characteristic selected to cause a voltage regulator connected therewith to transmit electrical power at a voltage corresponding to the operating voltage of the electrical device. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A module for use in a system for display of an electrical device having an operating voltage, said module comprising:
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a housing including a securement structure configured to secure said module to said electrical device; a power input supported on said module and configured to be connected with a power input cable so as to receive therefrom an electrical current having an input voltage; a voltage regulator supported in said housing and having an input and an output, said input being electrically connected with the power input so as to receive said electrical current therefrom; said voltage regulator being configured to convert said electrical current to an output current at an output voltage and to transmit the output current through the output; the voltage regulator having a calibrating input, said voltage regulator being configured to set the output voltage of the output current dependent on an electrical characteristic of a calibrating component connected electrically with said calibrating input; a connector structure electrically connected with the calibrating input of the voltage regulator, said connector structure being configured to releasably connect with a complementary connection structure so that a user can selectively connect to said voltage regulator one of a plurality of calibrating elements each having a respective electrical characteristic corresponding to an associated output voltage of the voltage regulator, the electrical characteristic of the selected calibrating element being such as to cause said voltage regulator to set the output voltage to an appropriate voltage in view of the operating voltage of the electrical device. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A base module for a display of a plurality of electrical devices each having a respective operating voltage, said base module comprising:
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a power source transmitting DC electrical current at a first voltage; a plurality of electrical connector structures each with a plurality of electrical contacts, each electrical connector structure being configured to connect with a respective complementary electrical connector having a plurality of separate electrical contacts so as to transmit said DC electrical current to said complementary electrical connector to at least one of said contacts; two of said contacts of said electrical connector structures being connected with an alarm circuit, said alarm circuit detecting whether a circuit connected to said two contacts of the electrical connection structure is closed or open said alarm circuit being configured to initiate an alarm-set condition of the alarm circuit responsive to an initial detection that the circuit connected to said two contacts is closed; said alarm circuit being configured to trigger an audible or visible alarm responsive to a determination during the alarm-set condition that the circuit between said two contacts is open; wherein the only electrical current transmitted through said electrical connection structures is the DC current at said first voltage, and an alarm sense signal transmitted to one of said two contacts by said alarm circuit for determining whether the circuit is open or closed; wherein said electrical connector structures are sockets configured to receive jacks therein; and wherein the sockets are each six-pin ethernet sockets. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
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50. A system for displaying a plurality of electronic devices each being operable when electrical power is supplied thereto at a respective operating voltage through a respective power connector, said system comprising:
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a power supply module providing input electrical current at a first voltage; a plurality of cables each having a first end connected with the power supply and receiving the input electrical current therefrom at said first voltage; each cable having a distal end connected with a respective module secured in engagement with a respective one of the electronic devices, each module having a respective power connector electrically connected with the power receiving structure of the respective one of the electronic devices; each module receiving the input electrical current from the associated cable and supporting therein a respective voltage regulator system receiving said input electrical current; the voltage regulator system converting said input electrical current to a respective output electrical current at a respective pre-selected output voltage and transmitting said output electrical current to said power connector so as to transmit an operating electrical current to the associated electronic device, the output voltage of the output electrical current corresponding to the operating voltage of said associated electronic device “
wherein each voltage regulator system comprises a respective voltage regulator electrically connected with a respective calibrating component, each voltage regulator being configured to output any of a range of voltages, said voltage regulator outputting current at one of said voltages based upon an electrical characteristic of the respective calibrating componentwherein the calibrating component is releasably connected to the voltage regulator by a mating connection structure so that a user can exchange a new calibrating component with a different electrical characteristic for the calibrating component and thereby change the output voltage of the associated voltage regulator system.” - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification