Electronic device having a movable input assembly with multiple input sides

• US 7,826,205 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• 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:
  US11/315,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20060098403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,776 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/679.21, 361/679.22, 361/679.02, 361/679.31, 361/679.26, 361/679.08, 248917-924
• 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

A device having at least one processor, at least one memory device accessible by the processor, a display device, a housing and a support. The support is rotatably coupled to the housing. One side of the support carries a data entry device and the other side of the support carries at least one other input device. By rotating the support between different positions, users can interchangeably operate the data entry device and the input device.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory device accessible by the processor, the at least one memory device including a mass storage device;

a display device controllable by the processor, the display device having a screen;

a housing supporting the display device, the housing having a back side located behind the screen, the back side being configured to be mounted to an upstanding structure, the back side defining a plurality of mount openings, each one of the mount openings being configured to receive a portion of a fastener, the at least one processor being positioned within the housing;

a support rotatably coupled to the housing, the support having a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end;

a plurality of shaft members extending along an axis, the axis extending through at least part of the housing, a first one of the shaft members coupling the first end of the support to the housing, a second one of the shaft members coupling the second end of the support to the housing;

a data input device carried on the first side of the support, the data input device positioned between the first and second ends of the support; and

at least one input device carried on the second side of the support, the at least one input device positioned between the first and second ends of the support.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second shaft members defines an opening configured to receive a wire, the wire operatively coupling the data input device to the processor.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the mass storage device includes a hard disk drive.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the data input device includes a plurality of full-sized keys, each of the full-sized keys having a typing function.

5. The device of claim 1, which includes a CD drive operatively coupled to the processor, the CD drive being supported by the housing.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein a rotation resistance device includes at least one damper configured to resist rotation of the support during the rotation of the support.

7. The device of claim 1, which includes at least one rotation resistance device coupled to the support, the rotation resistance device configured to apply a resistance force to the support.

8. The device of claim 6, which includes at least one position control device operatively coupled to the support.

9. The device of claim 1, which includes a support holder rotatably coupled to the housing, the support holder holding the support, wherein:

(a) the support holder is rotatable relative to the housing about one axis; and

(b) the support is rotatable relative to the support holder about another axis.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a mass storage device operatively coupled to the processor;

a display device operatively coupled to the processor, the display device having a screen;

a housing supporting the display device, the housing having a back side located behind the screen, the back side being configured to be mounted to an upstanding structure, the back side defining a plurality of mount openings, each one of the mount openings being configured to receive a portion of a fastener, the processor being positioned within the housing;

an input assembly rotatably coupled to the housing, the input assembly having;

(a) a plurality of sides;

(b) a keyboard coupled to a first one of the sides; and

(c) at least one input device coupled to a second one of the sides;

at least one shaft member extending along an axis, the axis extending through at least part of the housing, the shaft member coupling the input assembly to the housing; and

at least one rotation resistance device coupled to the input assembly, the rotation resistance device being configured to apply a resistance force to the support during rotation of the support.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the shaft member defines an opening, the electronic device having a wire positioned within the opening, the wire operatively coupling the keyboard to the display device.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, which includes a CD drive operatively coupled to the processor, the CD drive being supported by the housing.

13. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein:

(a) the input device has a plurality of ends; and

(b) the electronic device includes a second shaft member extending along the axis, the second shaft member having a second end, the at least one shaft member being coupled to one of the ends, the another shaft member being coupled to the second end.

14. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the mass storage device includes a hard disk drive.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the keyboard has a plurality of keys arranged in a QWERTY arrangement, each of the keys being a full-sized key.

16. The electronic device of claim 10, which includes a position control device operatively coupled to the input assembly.

17. An electronic device comprising:

data processing means;

mass storage means operatively coupled to the data processing means;

producing means for producing a visual output, the producing means being operatively coupled to the data processing means, the producing means having a screen;

housing means for housing at least part of the producing means, the housing means having a means for mounting the housing means to an upstanding structure, the mounting means being located behind the screen, the data processing means being positioned within the housing means;

supporting device having;

(a) a first end;

(b) a second end;

(c) a first side for supporting an input device; and

(d) a second side for supporting another input device ;

first coupling means for rotatably coupling the first end of the supporting device to the housing means, the first coupling means extending along an axis, the axis extending through at least part of the housing means;

second coupling means for rotatably coupling the second end of the supporting device to the housing means, the second coupling means extending along the axis, the axis extending through at least part of the housing means; and

resistance means for applying a resistance force to the supporting device during rotation of the supporting device.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first and second coupling means defines an opening, the electronic device having a wire positioned within the opening, the wire operatively coupling at least one of the input devices to the producing means.

19. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the mass storage means includes a hard disk drive.

20. The electronic device of claim 17, which includes CD reading means for reading a CD, the CD reading means being supported by the housing means.