Computer controlled display device

• US 7,042,714 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Andre, Bartley K., Kim, Sung, Stringer, Christopher, Hillman, Michael D., McBroom, Daniel L., Tsai, Frank, McBroom, Michael D., Sudderth, Brian T., Riccio, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/740,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20050036283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 361679-683, 600/148, 600/585
• US Class Current: 361/679.21
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2078 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/40 by means of coilable or bendable legs or spiral shaped legs
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/044 for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/065 with a special structure, e.g. reinforced or adapted for space reduction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/08 Foot or support base
• 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

Abstract

A computer controlled display device. In one embodiment, the computer controlled display device includes a flat panel display having an input for receiving data and a moveable assembly coupled to the display. A motor may be operatively coupled to a tension device disposed within the moveable assembly. The motor applies a force to the tension device to suspend movement of the moveable assembly, and also releases the force to permit movement of said moveable assembly.

Claims

1. A computer controlled display device, comprising:

a flat panel display having an input for receiving display data;

a moveable assembly coupled to said display near a first end and a base to house computer components near a second end;

a tension device disposed within said moveable assembly;

a motor operatively coupled to said tension device and disposed within said base, wherein said motor applies a force to said tension device to suspend movement of said moveable assembly, and releases said force to permit movement of said moveable assembly to change a position of said flat panel display; and

wherein said moveable assembly provides at least three degrees of freedom of movement for said flat panel display device and having a cross-sectional area which is substantially less than a cross-sectional area of a display structure of said flat panel display, and wherein said moveable assembly comprises a plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies; and

wherein said moveable assembly comprises a region of substantial friction and a region of lesser friction; and

wherein a ball-and-socket assembly of said plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies comprises;

a substantially spherical ball;

a first annular plunger, said first annular plunger having walls defining a bore therethrough, and having a first concave insert fitted therein; and

a second annular plunger, said second annular plunger having walls defining a bore therethrough, and having a second concave insert fitted therein, said second concave insert coupled to said first concave insert.

2. The ball computer controlled display device of claim 1, wherein said ball has a flattened first end and a flattened second end, a bore extending through the center of the ball from said first end to said second end, and an interior cable guide portion disposed within said bore.

3. The computer controlled display device of claim 2, wherein said ball has a convex cosmetic surface and a convex contact surface, said convex cosmetic surface supported by one of said first or second annular plunger, said convex contact surface being positioned with an edge substantially adjacent to a flattened end of said ball.

4. The computer controlled display device of claim 2, wherein said interior cable guide defines a central bore and a plurality of off-centered openings, said central bore to house said tension device, said plurality of off-centered openings to house a data cable and an anti-torsion device.

5. The computer controlled display device of claim 4, further comprising:

a resilient mechanism operatively coupled with said first and second plungers to space said plungers apart until compressed.

6. The computer controlled display device of claim 1, wherein said ball has a convex cosmetic surface and a convex contact surface, said convex cosmetic surface supported by one of said first or second annular plunger when said resilient mechanism is in an expanded state such that said convex contact surface breaks contact with one of said first or second concave insert, said convex contact surface being positioned with an edge substantially adjacent to a flattened end of said ball.

7. The computer controlled display device of claim 6, wherein said convex contact surface contacts said concave insert when said resilient mechanism is compressed.

8. The computer controlled display device of claim 6, wherein said convex contact surface has a thickness measured from an outer surface of said convex contact surface to an outer surface of said convex cosmetic surface, said thickness to limit an angle at which said ball can be rotated from a longitudinal axis centrally extending through said bore by contacting an interior annular lip on said annular plunger.

9. The computer controlled display device of claim 5, wherein said resilient mechanism is a wave spring.

10. The computer controlled display device of claim 1, wherein said ball is a termination ball, said termination ball having a flattened base portion on one end, a convex contact surface on an opposite end, a bore extending through said termination ball from said one end to said opposite end, and a cable guide positioned within said bore, said base portion having a fastening mechanism therein to fasten said termination ball to a structure.

11. A computer controlled display device, comprising:

a flat panel display having an input for receiving display data;

a moveable assembly coupled to said display near a first end and a base to house computer components near a second end;

a tension device disposed within said moveable assembly;

a motor operatively coupled to said tension device and disposed within said base, wherein said motor applies a force to said tension device to suspend movement of said moveable assembly, and releases said force to permit movement of said moveable assembly to change a position of said flat panel display; and

wherein said moveable assembly provides at least three degrees of freedom of movement for said flat panel display device and having a cross-sectional area which is substantially less than a cross-sectional area of a display structure of said flat panel display, and wherein said moveable assembly comprises a plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies; and

wherein said moveable assembly is snakelike and changes positions in a smooth manner; and

wherein said tension device is a cable having a proximal end coupled near said flat panel display and a distal end coupled with a termination ball; and

wherein said moveable assembly comprises a region of substantial friction and a region of lesser friction; and

wherein said region of lesser friction comprises at least one ball-and-socket assembly disposed near said flat panel display; and

wherein a ball-and-socket assembly of said plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies comprises;

a substantially spherical ball;

a first annular plunger, said first annular plunger having walls defining a bore therethrough, and having a first concave insert fitted therein; and

a second annular plunger, said second annular plunger having walls defining a bore therethrough, and having a second concave insert fitted therein, said second concave insert coupled to said first concave insert.

12. The computer controlled display device of claim 11, wherein said ball has a flattened first end and a flattened second end, a bore extending through the center of the ball from said first end to said second end, and an interior cable guide portion disposed within said bore.

13. The computer controlled display device of claim 12, wherein said ball has a convex cosmetic surface and a convex contact surface, said convex cosmetic surface supported by one of said first or second annular plunger, said convex contact surface being positioned with an edge substantially adjacent to a flattened end of said ball.

14. The computer controlled display device of claim 12, wherein said ball has a convex cosmetic surface and a convex contact surface, said convex cosmetic surface supported by one of said first or second annular plunger, said convex contact surface being positioned with an edge substantially adjacent to a flattened end of said ball.

15. The computer controlled display device of claim 12, wherein said interior cable guide defines a central bore and a plurality of off-centered openings, said central bore to house said tension device, said plurality of off-centered openings to house a data cable and an anti-torsion device.

16. A computer controlled display device, comprising:

a flat panel display having an input for receiving display data;

a moveable assembly having a first end and a second end, said first end coupled to said display, wherein said moveable assembly comprises a plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies;

a tension cable disposed within said moveable assembly;

a motor operatively coupled to said tension cable, wherein said motor applies a force to said tension cable to suspend movement of said moveable assembly, and releases said force to permit movement of said moveable assembly;

a base coupled to said second end of said moveable assembly, wherein said motor is disposed within said base; and

wherein said moveable assembly comprises a region of substantial friction and a region of lesser friction; and

wherein a ball-and-socket assembly of said plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies comprises;

a substantially spherical ball;

a first annular plunger, said first annular plunger having walls defining a bore therethrough, and having a first concave insert fitted therein; and

a second annular plunger, said second annular plunger having walls defining a bore therethrough, and having a second concave insert fitted therein, said second concave insert coupled to said first concave insert.

17. The ball computer controlled display device of claim 16, wherein said ball has a flattened first end and a flattened second end, a bore extending through the center of the ball from said first end to said second end, and an interior cable guide portion disposed within said bore.

18. The computer controlled display device of claim 17, wherein said ball has a convex cosmetic surface and a convex contact surface, said convex cosmetic surface supported by one of said first or second annular plunger, said convex contact surface being positioned with an edge substantially adjacent to a flattened end of said ball.

19. The computer controlled display device of claim 17, wherein said interior cable guide defines a central bore and a plurality of off-centered openings, said central bore to house said tension device, said plurality of off-centered openings to house a data cable and an anti-torsion device.

20. The computer controlled display device of claim 19, further comprising:

a resilient mechanism operatively coupled with said first and second plungers to space said plungers apart until compressed.

21. The computer controlled display device of claim 16, wherein said ball has a convex cosmetic surface and a convex contact surface, said convex cosmetic surface supported by one of said first or second annular plunger when said resilient mechanism is in an expanded state such that said convex contact surface breaks contact with one of said first or second concave insert, said convex contact surface being positioned with an edge substantially adjacent to a flattened end of said ball.

22. The computer controlled display device of claim 21, wherein said convex contact surface contacts said concave insert when said resilient mechanism is compressed.

23. The computer controlled display device of claim 21, wherein said convex contact surface has a thickness measured from an outer surface of said convex contact surface to an outer surface of said convex cosmetic surface, said thickness to limit an angle at which said ball can be rotated from a longitudinal axis centrally extending through said bore by contacting an interior annular lip on said annular plunger.

24. The computer controlled display device of claim 20, wherein said resilient mechanism is a wave spring.

25. The computer controlled display device of claim 16, wherein said ball is a termination ball, said termination ball having a flattened base portion on one end, a convex contact surface on an opposite end, a bore extending through said termination ball from said one end to said opposite end, and a cable guide positioned within said bore, said base portion having a fastening mechanism therein to fasten said termination ball to a structure.

26. The computer controlled display device of claim 26, wherein said tension cable has a proximal end disposed near said flat panel display and a distal end disposed within said termination ball.

27. The computer controlled display device of claim 26, further comprising a screw and a nut coupled to said cable near said distal end, wherein a threading of said screw within said nut corresponds to applying a tension force to said cable, and wherein an unthreading of said screw within said nut corresponds to releasing said tension force.

28. The computer controlled display device of claim 27, wherein said screw comprises an Acme screw.

29. The computer controlled display device of claim 28, wherein said motor is coupled to said nut and performs said threading and unthreading of said screw within said nut.

30. The computer controlled display device of claim 29, wherein said base houses computer components comprising a microprocessor, a memory, a bus, an I/O (input/output) controller, a display controller, and an I/O port, wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said input of said flat panel display.

31. The computer controlled display device of claim 29, wherein said motor comprises a low torque, high-speed motor.

32. The computer controlled display device of claim 29, wherein said motor comprises a high torque, low-speed motor.

33. The computer controlled display device of claim 32, wherein said high torque, low-speed motor is a pancake motor.

34. The computer controlled display device of claim 29, wherein said motor comprises worm gears.

35. The computer controlled display device of claim 30, wherein said motor comprises planetary gears.

36. The computer controlled display device of claim 30, further comprising a data cable coupled to said input of said flat panel display at a first end of said data cable and coupled to said display controller housed within said base, said data cable being disposed within said moveable assembly.

37. The computer controlled display device of claim 29, further comprising an actuator operatively coupled to said motor, wherein an actuation of said motor unthreads said screw within said nut to release said tension force on said cable.

38. The computer controlled display device of claim 37, wherein said actuator is electronically actuated.

39. The computer controlled display device of claim 37, wherein said actuator is capacitively actuated.

40. The computer controlled display device of claim 37, wherein said actuator is voice actuated.

41. The computer controlled display device of claim 37, wherein said actuator comprises a touch sensor.

42. The computer controlled display device of claim 37, wherein said actuator is disposed on said flat panel display.

43. The computer controlled display device of claim 37, wherein said actuator is disposed on said base.

44. A computer controlled display system, comprising:

a flat panel display having a display surface and an input for receiving display data to be displayed on said display surface;

a moveable assembly coupled mechanically to said flat panel display, said moveable assembly having a cross-sectional area which is substantially less than an area of said display surface, said moveable assembly being moveable to allow said flat panel display to be selectively positioned in space relative to a user of said computer controlled display system;

a tension cable disposed within said moveable assembly;

a motor operatively coupled to said tension cable, wherein said motor applies a force to said tension cable to suspend movement of said moveable assembly, and releases said force to permit movement of said moveable assembly;

a computer base coupled mechanically to said moveable assembly and to said flat panel display through said moveable assembly, said computer base housing said motor, a microprocessor, a memory, a bus, an I/O (input/output) controller, and an I/O port, wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said input of said flat panel display; and

wherein said moveable assembly comprises a plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies; and

wherein a ball-and-socket assembly of said plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies comprises;

a substantially spherical ball;

a first annular plunger, said first annular plunger having walls defining a bore therethrough, and having a first concave insert fitted therein; and

a second annular plunger, said second annular plunger having walls defining a bore therethrough, and having a second concave insert fitted therein, said second concave insert coupled to said first concave insert.

45. The ball computer controlled display device of claim 44, wherein said ball has a flattened first end and a flattened second end, a bore extending through the center of the ball from said first end to said second end, and an interior cable guide portion disposed within said bore.

46. The computer controlled display device of claim 45, wherein said ball has a convex cosmetic surface and a convex contact surface, said convex cosmetic surface supported by one of said first or second annular plunger, said convex contact surface being positioned with an edge substantially adjacent to a flattened end of said ball.

47. The computer controlled display device of claim 46, wherein said interior cable guide defines a central bore and a plurality of off-centered openings, said central bore to house said tension device, said plurality of off-centered openings to house a data cable and an anti-torsion device.

48. The computer controlled display device of claim 47, further comprising:

a resilient mechanism operatively coupled with said first and second plungers to space said plungers apart until compressed.

49. The computer controlled display device of claim 44, wherein said ball has a convex cosmetic surface and a convex contact surface, said convex cosmetic surface supported by one of said first or second annular plunger when said resilient mechanism is in an expanded state such that said convex contact surface breaks contact with one of said first or second concave insert, said convex contact surface being positioned with an edge substantially adjacent to a flattened end of said ball.

50. The computer controlled display device of claim 49, wherein said convex contact surface contacts said concave insert when said resilient mechanism is compressed.

51. The computer controlled display device of claim 50, wherein said convex contact surface has a thickness measured from an outer surface of said convex contact surface to an outer surface of said convex cosmetic surface, said thickness to limit an angle at which said ball can be rotated from a longitudinal axis centrally extending through said bore by contacting an interior annular lip on said annular plunger.

52. The computer controlled display device of claim 48, wherein said resilient mechanism is a wave spring.

53. The computer controlled display device of claim 44, wherein said ball is a termination ball, said termination ball having a flattened base portion on one end, a convex contact surface on an opposite end, a bore extending through said termination ball from said one end to said opposite end, and a cable guide positioned within said bore, said base portion having a fastening mechanism therein to fasten said termination ball to a structure.