Sliding display apparatus

• US 7,107,084 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2002
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Danger Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Duarte, Matias, Palmer, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, NGUYEN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/232,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20030109230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 455/347, 455/351, 379/433.01, 379/433.04, 379/433.12, 379/433.13, 361/679, 361/680, 361/681
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence

Abstract

A sliding display apparatus is described. The apparatus includes a base and a cover. The cover substantially covers the base in a closed position. A first edge of the cover is slideably coupled to the base and the cover is also coupled to the base by one or more links. Each of the links have a first pivot in a first axis and a second pivot in a second axis. The first axis, the second axis and the first edge of the cover are substantially parallel. The first axis is located in the base, the second axis is located in the cover. The first pivot can also include a tensioner that applies tension to the first pivot of each one of the links.

Claims

1. A sliding display apparatus comprising:

a base having a keyboard; and

a cover including a display;

wherein the cover substantially covers the base in a closed position and uncovers the keyboard when moved from the closed position to an open position;

wherein the cover in a closed position uncovers the keyboard upon a pressure being applied to an edge of the cover;

wherein the cover and the base are substantially parallel in the closed position and the open position;

wherein a first edge of the cover is slideably coupled to the base;

wherein the cover is further coupled to the base by one or more links;

wherein each one of the one or more links have a first pivot in a first axis and a second pivot in a second axis;

wherein the first axis, the second axis and the first edge of the cover are substantially parallel;

wherein the first axis is substantially located in the base;

wherein the location of the first axis in the base is substantially fixed in the base;

wherein the second axis is located in the cover;

wherein the second axis is located at an approximate midpoint location of the cover;

wherein the first pivot includes a tensioner;

wherein the tensioner applies tension to the first pivot of each of the one or more links;

wherein the tensioner holds the cover in the open position or the closed position;

wherein the tensioner includes a damper; and

wherein the display is visible in both the closed position and the open position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein slideably coupled includes at least one track and at least one track engagement in each of the at least one track.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one track is substantially located in the base and wherein the at least one track engagement is attached to the cover.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base includes a first track side and a second track side wherein the first track side extends above base to the substantially overlap a first side of the cover and wherein the second track side extends above the bottom surface of the base to substantially overlap a second side of the cover and wherein the first and second sides of the cover are opposing sides of the cover.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein slideably coupled includes a first track located in the first track side and a second track located in the second track side and wherein an open side of the first track opens toward the first side of the cover and wherein the an open side of the second track opens toward the second side of the cover and wherein a first engagement is attached to the first side of the cover located proximal to the first edge of the cover and wherein the first engagement slideably engages the first track and wherein a second engagement is attached to the second side of the cover located proximal to the first edge of the cover and wherein the second engagement slideably engages the second track.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base further includes a computer.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the computer includes a wireless network device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the wireless network device includes a receiver-transmitter.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the wireless network device includes a cellular telephone receiver transmitter.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the wireless network device includes a cellular telephone.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tension on the first pivot is reduced as the cover is moved from the closed position to an open position.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tension on the first pivot is increased as the cover is moved from the closed position to a center position and wherein the tension on the first pivot is reduced as the cover is moved from the center position to a open position.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the damper is a rotary damper.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tensioner includes a spring.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the spring is a torsional spring.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base includes at least one latch and wherein the at least one latch engages the cover in the closed position.

17. A portable data processing apparatus comprising:

a base including a keyboard;

a cover having a first edge slideably coupled to the base and a second edge opposite the first edge, the cover substantially covers the base in a first position and uncovers the keyboard when moved from the first position to a second position, wherein;

the cover in a first position uncovers the keyboard upon a pressure being applied to an edge of the cover; and

the cover and the base are substantially parallel in a first position and a second position;

at least one linkage rotatably coupled to the approximate midpoint location of the cover at a first rotation point and rotatably coupled to the base at a second rotation point, the linkage allowing relative rotational movement between the cover and the base;

a tensioner coupled to the first and/or second rotation point, the tensioner configured to apply a force to direct the cover towards a first position or a second position, wherein the tensioner includes a damper;

wherein, when the cover is in the first position, a line connecting the first rotation point with the second rotation point forms an angle of less than ninety degrees with respect to a plane defined by the base and wherein, as the cover is moved from the first position to the second position, the angle between the line and the plane defined by the base increases to substantially ninety degrees prior to the cover reaching the second position and wherein, when the cover reaches the second position, the angle between the line and the plane defined by the base is greater than ninety degrees; and

wherein a display on the cover is viewable in both the first position and the second position.

18. The portable data processing apparatus as in claim 17 wherein the first edge of the cover includes a track engagement slideably coupled to at least one track formed on the base.

19. The apparatus as in claim 17 further comprising a latch formed on the display to engage the display with the base and hold the display in place when the display is in the second position.

20. The apparatus as in claim 17 further comprising a latch formed on the display to engage the display with the base and hold the display in place when the display is in the first position.

21. The apparatus as in claim 17 wherein the tensioner applies a force to direct the cover towards the first position when the cover is relatively closer to the first position than the second position and applies a force to direct the cover towards the second position when the cover is relatively closer to the second position than the first position.