Mountable electronic device having an input device

• US 7,589,958 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Originatic LLC
• Original Assignee: Originatic LLC
• Inventors: Smith, Renato L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): WRIGHT, INGRID D
• Application Number:
  US11/509,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20070047193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680, 361/683, 361/679.21
• US Class Current: 361/679.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1631 Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H

Abstract

An electronic device comprising a housing which is mountable to a support, such as a wall or upstanding support structure. The electronic device has a display device and an input device. This electronic device provides enhanced convenience and operational functionality.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing configured to be mounted to a support, the housing having an upper end and a lower end, the housing defining a cavity;

a central processing unit positioned within the housing a hard drive positioned within the housing;

a display device mounted to the housing, the display device including;

(a) a back portion supported by the housing, the back portion being positioned within the cavity of the housing; and

(b) a front portion positioned opposite of the back portion, the front portion comprising a screen;

a right wall supported by the housing and extending downward from the lower end of the housing, the right wall having a right side and a left side;

a left wall supported by the housing and extending downward from the lower end of the housing, the left wall having a left side and a right side, the right side of the left wall being spaced apart from the left side of the right wall by a space, the space being located;

(a) downward from the lower end of the housing; and

(b) between the right and left walls;

an input device having;

(a) a right end spaced apart from a left end; and

(b) a typing portion between the right and left ends of the input device,

the input device being pivotable about an axis between a plurality of positions, the axis having a fixed position relative to the right and left walls, the plurality of positions including;

(i) a first position in which the typing portion is positioned within the space; and

(ii) a second position in which at least part of the typing portion is positioned outside of the space;

a plurality of shaft portions positioned along the axis, the shaft portions including;

(a) a right shaft portion which movably couples the right end of the input device to the left side of the right wall, the right shaft portion extending into the right wall; and

(b) a left shaft portion which movably couples the left end of the input device to the right side of the left wall, the left shaft portion extending into the left wall.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, which includes a wall mount or wall securing member.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

(a) the right wall has a width selected from the group consisting of;

(i) a uniform width; and

(ii) a non-uniform width

(b) the left wall has a width selected from the group consisting of;

(i) a uniform width; and

(ii) a non-uniform width.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the typing portion of the input device has:

(a) a plurality of rows of keys; and

(b) an input apparatus operable to steer a pointer displayable on the screen, the input apparatus positioned below at least one of the rows of keys.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the input apparatus includes an element selected from the group consisting of a touch pad, a mouse, a trackball, and a stylus.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, which includes at least one output device supported by the housing, at least part of the output device being positioned below the screen.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the output device is coupled to one of the right and left walls, the output device including a device selected from the group consisting of an audio output device and a speaker.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a housing configured to be mounted to a support, the housing having an upper end and a lower end, the housing defining a cavity;

a central processing unit positioned within the housing a hard drive positioned within the housing;

a display device mounted to the housing, the display device including;

(a) a back portion supported by the housing, the back portion being positioned within the cavity of the housing; and

(b) a front portion positioned opposite of the back portion, the front portion comprising a screen;

a right vertical wall supported by the housing and extending downward from the display device, the right vertical wall having;

(a) an outward side;

(b) an inward side; and

(c) at least one width portion between the outward side and the inward side;

a left vertical wall supported by the housing and extending downward from the display device, the left vertical wall having;

(a) an outward side;

(b) an inward side spaced apart from the inward side of the right vertical wall by a space located downward from the lower end of the housing; and

(c) at least one width portion between the outward side and the inward side of the left vertical wall;

an input device having;

(a) a right end;

(b) a left end; and

(c) a typing portion between the right and left ends,

the input device being pivotable about an axis between a plurality of positions, the axis having a fixed position relative to the right and left vertical walls, the positions including;

(i) a first position in which the typing portion is positioned within the space and oriented inward; and

(ii) a second position in which at least part of the typing portion is positioned outside of the space and oriented at least partially outward;

a plurality of shaft portions which pivotably couple the input device to the right and left vertical walls, the shaft portions being positioned along the axis, the shaft portions including;

(a) a right shaft portion which pivotably couples the right end of the input device to the inward side of the right vertical wall, part of the right shaft portion extending into the width portion of the right vertical wall, said width portion being configured to provide support for the right shaft portion during use of the input device; and

(b) a left shaft portion which pivotably couples the left end of the input device to the inward side of the left vertical wall, part of the left shaft portion extending into the width portion of the left vertical wall, said width portion being configured to provide support for the left shaft portion during use of the input device.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein:

(a) the right vertical wall has a width selected from the group consisting of;

(i) a uniform width; and

(ii) a non-uniform width, the right vertical wall having an additional width portion, the width portion of the right vertical wall and the additional width portion of the right vertical wall having different widths.

(b) the left vertical wall has a width selected from the group consisting of;

(i) a uniform width; and

(ii) a non-uniform width, the left vertical wall having an additional width portion, the width portion of the left vertical wall and the additional width portion of the left vertical wall having different widths.

10. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the typing portion of the input device has:

(a) a plurality of rows of keys; and

(b) an additional input device operable to steer a pointer displayable on the screen, the additional input device positioned below at least one of the rows of keys.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the additional input device includes an element selected from the group consisting of a touch pad, a mouse, a trackball, and a stylus.

12. The electronic device of claim 8, which includes at least one output device supported by the housing, at least part of the output device being positioned below the screen.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the output device is coupled to one of the right and left vertical walls, the output device being selected from the group consisting of an audio output device and a speaker.

14. The electronic device of claim 8, which includes at least one input apparatus supported by the housing, at least part of the input apparatus being positioned below the screen, the input apparatus having a device selected from the group consisting of an input member and a control button.

15. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the housing, the right vertical wall, and the left vertical wall are elements of an integral structure.

16. The electronic device of claim 8, which includes a wall mount or a wall securing member.

17. An electronic device comprising:

a housing configured to be mounted to a support, the housing having an upper end and a lower end, the housing defining a cavity;

a central processing unit positioned within the housing a hard drive positioned within the housing;

a display device mounted to the housing, the display device including;

(a) a back portion supported by the housing, the back portion being positioned within the cavity of the housing; and

(b) a front portion positioned opposite of the back portion, the front portion comprising a screen;

a right leg coupled to the housing and extending downward from the display device;

a left leg coupled to the housing and extending downward from the display device, the left leg being spaced apart from the right leg,

the right and left legs defining a space located;

(a) downward from the lower end of the housing; and

(b) between the right and left legs;

an input device pivotably coupled to the right and left legs, the input device being movable relative to the right and left legs, the input device having;

(a) a right end;

(b) a left end; and

(c) a typing portion between the right and left ends, the typing portion having a plurality of rows of keys,

the input device being pivotable about an axis between a plurality of positions, the axis having a fixed position relative to the right and left legs, the positions including;

(i) a first position in which the typing portion is positioned within the space; and

(ii) a second position in which at least part of the typing portion is positioned outside of the space.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the input device includes a pointer device, the pointer device including an element selected from the group consisting of a touch pad, a mouse, a trackball, and a stylus.

19. The electronic device of claim 17, which includes a holder coupled to the housing, the holder being configured to hold a device selected from the group consisting of a handheld electronic device and a personal digital assistant.

20. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the screen has a touch screen.

21. The electronic device of claim 20, which includes a wall mount or a wall securing member.

22. The electronic device of claim 17, which includes a wall mount or a wall securing member.

23. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the housing, the right leg, and the left leg are elements of an integral structure.

24. An electronic device comprising:

a computer housing configured to be mounted to an upstanding structure, the computer housing having;

(a) an upper housing section, the upper housing section defining a cavity;

(b) a right leg section extending downward from the upper housing section;

(c) a left leg section extending downward from the upper housing section, the left leg section being spaced apart from the right left leg section by a space; and

(d) a plurality of side sections;

a central processing unit positioned within the cavity of the upper housing section;

a hard drive positioned within the cavity of the upper housing

at least one memory device positioned within the cavity of the upper housing section, the memory device being usable by the central processing unit to perform a plurality of computer functions;

at least one data port connected to at least one of the side sections of the computer housing, the data port being operatively coupled to the central processing unit;

a display device mounted to the computer housing, a portion of the display device being positioned within the cavity of the upper housing section, the display device comprising a screen;

a plurality of shafts extending along an axis, the axis being fixed relative to the computer housing, the shafts comprising;

(a) a right shaft, part of the right shaft extending into the right leg section; and

(b) a left shaft, part of the left shaft extending into the left leg section; and

a keyboard having;

(a) a right end coupled to the right shaft;

(b) a left end coupled to the left shaft;

(c) a plurality of keys, the keyboard being pivotable between a plurality of positions relative to the computer housing, the keyboard being located below the screen in each of the positions, the positions comprising;

(i) a closed position in which the keys are positioned within the space; and

(ii) an open position in which the keys are positioned outside of the space.

25. The electronic device of claim 24, wherein the keyboard has a pointing device located between the right and left ends of the keyboard, the pointing device including an element selected from the group consisting of a touch pad, a mouse, a trackball, and a stylus.

26. The electronic device of claim 24, which includes a wall mount or a wall securing member.

27. The electronic device of claim 24, which includes at least one audio output device supported by the computer housing, at least part of the audio output device being positioned below the screen.