Display device and electrical apparatus having such display device

• US 8,154,768 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2008
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Muraki, Motohito
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Madelein A
• Application Number:
  US12/203,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20090168112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 358/296, 358/442, 358/444, 358/115, 358/1.13, 345/30, 345/87, 345/905, 345/156, 345/184, 345/169, 361/679.01, 361/679.06, 361/679.07, 361/679.21, 361/679.27, 361/679.29, 248/660, 248/917
• US Class Current: 358/296
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00496 Constructional details of the interface or console not otherwise provided for, e.g. rotating or tilting means

Abstract

An electrical apparatus includes a main body and a display device. The display device has a display panel that moves between a first and second position, and the display device, and a first and second link member. Each of the first and second link members has a first and second end. The first end of both the first and second link member is connected to the frame, and the second end of the first and second link member is connected to the main body. The first end of the first link member rotates about a first axis, and the second end rotates about a second axis. The first end of the second link member rotates about a third axis, and the second end rotates about a fourth axis. The first, second, third, and fourth axes are orthogonal to a direction in which the first and second link members extend.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a display panel configured to move between a first position and a second position;

a frame, wherein the frame encloses the display panel;

a first link member comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the first link member is connected to the frame at a first axis and the second end of the first link member is connected to a main body of an electrical apparatus at a second axis; and

a second link member comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the second link member is connected to the frame at a third axis and the second end of the second link member is connected to the main body at a fourth axis,

wherein the first end of the first link member is configured to rotate about the first axis, and the second end of the first link member is configured to rotate about the second axis, wherein the first end of the second link member is configured to rotate about the third axis, and the second end of the second link member is configured to rotate about the fourth axis, wherein the first link member is configured to pivot about the second axis, and the second link member is configured to pivot about the fourth axis, and

the first link member extends from the first end of the first link member to the second end of the first link member in a first direction, and the second link member extends from the first end of the second link member to the second end of the second link member in a second direction, wherein each of the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal to each of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth axes,

wherein a distance between the first and third axes is greater than a distance between the second and fourth axes.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display panel extends further away from the main body when the display panel is in the second position than when the display panel is in the first position.

3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein when the display panel is in the first position, the first axis is located above the second axis, and when the display panel is in the second position, the first axis is located below the second axis.

4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein when the display panel is in the second position, an upper end of the display device is disposed at a same height as or lower than a height of the entire display device when the display panel is in the first position.

5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first link member is configured to pivot about the second axis in a first direction in response to an external force applied orthogonally to the display panel, and the second link member is configured to pivot about the fourth axis in a second direction opposite to the first direction in response to an external force applied orthogonally to the display panel.

6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first link member and the second link member comprises a latch mechanism configured to hold the display panel at a predetermined angle with respect to the main body.

7. An electrical apparatus comprising:

a main body; and

a display device, wherein the display device comprises;

a display panel configured to move between a first position and a second position;

a frame, wherein the frame encloses the display panel;

a first link member comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the first link member is connected to the frame and the second end of the first link member is connected to the main body; and

a second link member comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the second link member is connected to the frame and the second end of the second link member is connected to the main body,

wherein the first end of the first link member is configured to rotate about a first axis, and the second end of the first link member is configured to rotate about a second axis, wherein the first end of the second link member is configured to rotate about a third axis, and the second end of the second link member is configured to rotate about a fourth axis, wherein the first link member is configured to pivot about the second axis, and the second link member is configured to pivot about the fourth axis, and

the first link member extends from the first end of the first link member to the second end of the first link member in a first direction, and the second link member extends from the first end of the second link member to the second end of the second link member in a second direction, wherein each of the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal to each of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth axes, and

wherein the display device is disposed adjacent to an edge of an upper surface of the main body such that the first, second, third, and fourth axes extend in a direction parallel to the edge of the upper surface,

wherein when the display panel is in the second position, the display panel forms an angle with respect to the upper surface of the main body, wherein the angle formed is a maximum angle allowed by the first link member and the second link member, and

wherein a distance between the first and third axes is greater than a distance between the second and fourth axes.

8. The electrical apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the display panel is in the second position, at least a portion of the display panel extends further outward than the edge of the main body.

9. The electrical apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display device is disposed adjacent to a front edge of the upper surface of the main body.

10. The electrical apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when the display panel is in the first position, the display panel faces upward, and when the display panel is in the second position, the display panel faces forward, relative to the main body.

11. The electrical apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first link member is disposed closer to a front end of the main body than the second link member.

12. The electrical apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first link member and the second link member are positioned along a line that extends from a front end of the main body to a rear end of the main body, and the first link member is positioned closer to the front end of the main body than the second link member.

13. The electrical apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the upper surface of the main body comprises a cavity formed therein, and the cavity is configured to open upward and configured, when the display panel is facing upward, to store the display device therein.

14. The electrical apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the second end of the first link member is connected to a first portion of the cavity, and the second end of the second link member is connected to a second portion of the cavity.

15. The electrical apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a bottom portion of the cavity comprises at least one contact surface adjacent to at least one of the first link member and the second link member, when the display panel is in the second position.

16. The electrical apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

at least one operation key; and

an image reading device comprising a document placing plate and a plate frame surrounding the document placing plate;

wherein the at least one operation key and the display device are disposed on a front side of the upper surface of the main body, and the image reading device is disposed behind the at least one operation key and the display device, and when the display panel is in the second position, an upper end of the display device is disposed at a same height as or lower than a front end portion of the plate frame.

17. The electrical apparatus according to claim 16, wherein when the display device is in the second position, the upper end of the display panel and the front end portion of the plate frame are separated by a predetermined distance.

18. The electrical apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

a recording unit configured to form an image and disposed inside the main body; and

a feeding and discharging portion disposed inside the main body, and configured to feed a recording medium to the recording unit and to discharge the recording medium from the recording unit;

wherein a front of the main body has an opening formed therethrough, and the opening is configured to communicate with the feeding and discharging portion, wherein when the display panel is in the second position, a lower end of the display device is disposed at a same height as or higher than an upper end of the opening.