Electronic device display panel

• US 7,436,674 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2005
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Barsun, Stephan K., Boyum, Kevin E., Bolich, Bryan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/104,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20060227154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679, 361/681, 361/683, 361/724, 361/727, 361/725, 312/7.2, 312/319.6, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 345/905, 345/169, 345/170, 248/920, 348/836, 348/837, 348/794
• US Class Current: 361/727
• 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: H05K 7/1494 having hardware for monitoring blades, e.g. keyboards, displays methods or software therefore H05K7/1498

Abstract

An electronic device includes a panel having a display screen that moves along a first axis and pivots about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a panel having a display screen linearly movable along a first axis and pivotable about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the display screen is on a first face of the panel and wherein the device further comprises a signal light on a second face of the panel; and

a housing receiving the panel, wherein the panel is linearly movable between a retracted position within the housing and an extended position out of the housing; and

a controller configured to generate control signals in response to a servicing need such that the signal light changes state to indicate the servicing need while the panel is in the retracted position and such that additional information regarding the servicing need is presented on the display screen when the panel is in the extended position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the signal light comprises a light emitting diode.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the second face is perpendicular to the first face.

4. The device of claim 1 including a flexible electrical connector having a first end connected to the panel and a second end connected to the electronic component.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing forms a cavity along the first axis receiving the panel.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the second face of the panel faces outward from the cavity when the panel is received within the cavity.

7. The device of claim 5 including a track configured to guide linear movement of the display along the first axis.

8. The device of claim 1 including a track configured to guide linear movement of the display along the first axis.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing has a housing face perpendicular to the first axis.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the panel pivots between a first position substantially perpendicular to the housing face and a second position substantially parallel to the housing face.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to generate control signals causing the display screen to provide at least one image providing instructions on at least one of configuring, controlling or servicing of the electronic device.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the at least one image includes a video clip.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to generate control signals causing the display screen to provide at least one image including alpha-numeric symbols.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the panel further includes an operator input interface on the second face.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the display screen comprises a touch sensitive screen configured to receive operator input.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the display screen comprises a liquid crystal display screen.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the panel pivots to a position in which the panel and the display screen extend in a plane parallel to the first axis.

18. A system comprising:

a plurality of electronic devices supported in a stacked relationship along a first axis, each of the devices including a panel having a display screen on a first face, wherein the panel is linearly movable along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis between a retracted position and an extended position and pivotable about a third axis perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis;

a signal light on a second face of the panel; and

a controller configured to generate control signals in response to a servicing need such that the signal light changes state to indicate the servicing need while the panel is in the retracted position and such that additional information regarding the servicing need is presented on the display screen when the panel is in the extended position.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to generate control signals causing the display screen to provide at least one image providing instructions on at least one of configuring, controlling or servicing of the electronic device.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the at least one image includes a video clip.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to generate control signals causing the display screen to provide at least one image including alpha-numeric symbols.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the panel includes an operator input interface on the first face.

23. The system of claim 18 wherein the display screen comprises a touch sensitive screen configured to receive operator input.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one electronic device has a housing forming a cavity along the second axis that receives the panel.

25. The system of claim 24 including a track configured to guide linear movement of the panel along the second axis.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of electronic components each has a housing having a major face facing in a direction along the first axis and a minor face facing in a direction along the second axis.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one electronic device includes a server.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the panel pivots between a first position substantially parallel to the second axis and a second position substantially parallel to the first axis.

29. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of electronic devices includes and upper device and a lower device and wherein the display screen of the upper device is pivotable about the third axis to a position overlapping the lower device.

30. A method comprising:

providing a panel having a display screen on a first face of the panel and an indicator on a second face of the panel;

providing a servicing alert on the indicator;

linearly moving a the panel along a first axis in response to the alert;

pivoting the panel and the display screen about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis after the linearly moving of the panel; and

displaying servicing information on the display screen.

31. The method of claim 30 including withdrawing the panel from a cavity while moving the panel along the first axis.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the first axis extends parallel to a major surface of a housing coupled to the panel.

33. The method of claim 30 including presenting an image on the display screen.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the image includes at least one alpha-numeric symbol.

35. The method of claim 30 including presenting at least one image on the screen providing instructions on at least one of configuring, controlling or servicing of an electronic device associated with the panel.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein the display screen is on a first face of the panel and wherein the method further includes receiving input via an input interface on the first face.

37. An electronic device comprising:

a panel having a display screen linearly movable along a first axis and pivotable about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;

a housing forming a cavity along the first axis receiving the panel, wherein the display screen is on a first face of the panel;

a signal light on a second face of the panel, wherein the second face of the panel faces outward from the cavity when the panel is received within the cavity; and

a controller configured to generate control signals initiating the display of new information on the display screen and causing the signal light to changes state while the panel is received within the cavity to indicate that the new information is available on the display screen and such that the new information on the display screen may be viewed by withdrawing the panel from the cavity.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein the panel further includes an operator input interface on the second face.