Image display system, image display apparatus and peripheral devices of image display apparatus

• US 7,034,902 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2001
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tajima, Hisao
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/941,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20020027613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• Field of Search: 348/552, 348/14.04, 348/14.01, 348/373, 348/375, 348/836, 348/838, 348/839, 361/686, 361/681, 361/687, 361/683, 248/231.31, 248/187.1, 248/229.11, 248/918, 439110-122, 439/17
• US Class Current: 348/836
• 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 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/642 Disposition of sound reproducers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

An image display system has an image display apparatus and a peripheral device that can be mounted on the image display apparatus. The image display apparatus includes a first electrode for electrically connecting the image display apparatus and peripheral device, and the peripheral device includes a second electrode for electrically connecting the image display apparatus and peripheral device. These electrodes are placed so as to have contact with one another when the peripheral device is mounted on the image display apparatus. In addition, the image display system moves the mounting position of the peripheral device on the image display apparatus as appropriate. The system minimizes cables used for electrical connections between the image display apparatus and peripheral devices, makes the apparatus compact and allows adoption of a variety of layouts.

Claims

1. An image display system comprising:

an image display apparatus provided with a first electrode and a second electrode;

a peripheral device provided with a third electrode and a fourth electrode, which can be mounted onto said image display apparatus; and

a guide for directing a path when a mounting position of said peripheral device on said image display apparatus is changed, wherein

said first and second electrodes are placed along said guide,

said first electrode and said third electrode are for supplying power from said image display apparatus to said peripheral device,

said second electrode and said fourth electrode are for transmitting a signal between said image display apparatus and said peripheral device, and

said first and second electrodes are placed in such a way as to directly contact said third and fourth electrodes, respectively, by positioning said peripheral device to any of a plurality of mounting positions along said guide.

2. The image display system according to claim 1, wherein said guide is a rail provided on said image display apparatus.

3. The image display system according to claim 1, wherein said guide is an opening or groove provided on said image display apparatus.

4. The image display system according to claim 1, wherein at least part of said guide also serves as said first and second electrodes.

5. The image display system according to claim 1, wherein said image display apparatus is provided with a rectangular image display plane and the length of the diagonal of said image display plane is 20 inches or more.

6. The image display system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second electrodes or said third and fourth electrodes have a spherical shape.

7. The image display system according to claim 6, comprising an elastic material to support said first electrode or said second electrode.

9. The image display system according to claim 1, wherein said guide is arranged so as to direct said path along of a fringe of said image display apparatus.

8. An image display apparatus capable of mounting a peripheral device, comprising:

a guide for directing a path when a mounting position of said peripheral device on said image display apparatus is changed; and

first and second electrodes that contact third and fourth electrodes provided on said peripheral device, respectively, wherein

said first and second electrodes are placed along said guide,

said first electrode and said third electrode are for supplying power from said image display apparatus to said peripheral device,

said second electrode and said fourth electrode are for transmitting a signal between said image display apparatus and said peripheral device, and

said first and second electrodes are placed in such a way as to directly contact said third and fourth electrodes, respectively, by positioning said peripheral device to any of a plurality of the mounting positions along said guide.

10. The image display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said guide is arranged so as to direct said path along of a fringe of said image display apparatus.