Display for hand-held electronics

• US 8,558,688 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobile Tech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mobile Tech, Inc.
• Inventors: Henson, Donald, Allison, Thaine, Schatz, Kris, Wheeler, Wade
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US13/457,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20120268103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/568.3, 340/568.2, 340/568.8, 340/571, 340/538.16, 340/541, 248/551
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

The invention disclosed here is a display system for managing power and security for a plurality of hand-held electronic devices sold to consumers in a retail location. The display includes features that allow power to be supplied to individual devices and security sensors without continuous hard wiring or multi-conductor retractor cables. The display also allows for individual security alarms to be triggered when a theft occurs. Security alarm conditions are preferably triggered via wireless signals.

Claims

1. A method for providing anti-theft security for an electronic device on a retail security display, comprising:

providing a power source;

providing a mechanically tethered mounting member for carrying said electronic device, for lifting said electronic device from said display for product examination and returning said electronic device to a resting position on said display;

providing an inductive power transmitter in said mounting member coupled to said power source;

providing an inductive power receiver in said electronic device coupled to said electronic device; and

locating said inductive power receiver sufficiently close to said inductive power receiver to inductively and wirelessly transmit power to said electronic device via said mounting member; and

detecting a break in inductive wireless transmission between said transmitter and receiver when said electronic device is physically separated from said mounting member.

2. A method for providing anti-theft security for an electronic device on a retail security display, comprising:

providing a power source;

providing a mounting member for carrying said electronic device, for lifting said electronic device from said display for product examination and returning said electronic device to a resting position on said display;

providing an inductive power transmitter in said mounting member coupled to said power source;

providing an inductive power receiver in said electronic device coupled to said electronic device; and

locating said inductive power receiver sufficiently close to said inductive power receiver to inductively and wirelessly transmit power to said electronic device via said mounting member; and

detecting a break in inductive wireless transmission between said transmitter and receiver when said electronic device is physically separated from said mounting member.

3. A method for monitoring removal of an electronic device on a retail security display, comprising:

providing a power source;

providing a display surface for said electronic device, for lifting said electronic device from said display surface for product examination and returning said electronic device to a resting position on said display surface;

providing an inductive power transmitter in said display surface coupled to said power source;

providing an inductive power receiver in said electronic device coupled to said electronic device; and

locating said inductive power receiver sufficiently close to said inductive power receiver to inductively and wirelessly transmit power to said electronic device via said display surface; and

detecting a break in inductive wireless transmission between said transmitter and receiver when said electronic device is physically separated from said display surface.

4. A method for monitoring examination of an electronic device on a retail security display, comprising:

providing a power source;

providing a mounting member for carrying said electronic device, for lifting said electronic device from said display for product examination and returning said electronic device to a resting position on said display;

providing a base member for holding the mounting member in the resting position;

placing an inductive power transmitter in the base member, the inductive power transmitter being coupled to said power source;

placing an inductive power receiver in the mounting member, the inductive power receiver being coupled to said electronic device;

locating said inductive power receiver sufficiently close to said inductive power receiver to wirelessly transmit power from said power source to said electronic device via said inductive power transmitter and receiver, respectively, when said mounting member is in said resting position; and

detecting a break in inductive wireless transmission between said transmitter and receiver when said mounting member is lifted from said base member.

5. A cable management apparatus for use in mounting an electronic device to a display, comprising:

a tether cable assembly that includes a retractable cable, wherein the retractable cable is a mechanical cable;

a mounting member adapted to receive the electronic device, wherein the mounting member is connected to the retractable cable, and the mounting member may be lifted and returned to a resting position while connected to the retractable cable, with the retractable cable serving to tether the device to the display;

a source module for providing at least one electrical signal;

a wireless connection between the source module and the mounting member when the mounting member is in the resting position, for electrically communicating the at least one electrical signal from the source module to the mounting member, and wherein the wireless connection between the source module and the mounting member is broken when the mounting member is lifted from the resting position; and

further,

another cable assembly for electrically coupling the electronic device to the mounting member, the other cable assembly being carried by the mounting member as the mounting member is lifted and returned to the resting position.

6. The cable management apparatus of claim 5, including power storage device means carried with the mounting member for supplying power to the electronic device when the wireless connection is broken.

7. The cable management apparatus of claim 6, wherein the power storage device means is a rechargeable battery received in the mounting member.

8. The cable management apparatus of claim 5, including a security sensor arrangement carried by the mounting member, the security sensor arrangement being adapted to wirelessly transmit a security condition signal to a receiver.

9. The cable management apparatus of claim 5, including a power storage device carried by the mounting member that is charged by the at least one electrical signal, the power storage device being adapted to operate the security sensor arrangement when the wire-to-wire connection is broken.

10. A cable management apparatus for use in mounting one of a plurality of electronic devices to a display, comprising:

a source module for providing at least a single-source power signal;

a mounting member adapted to carry an electronic device, wherein the mounting member may be lifted and returned to a resting position on the display, and further, the mounting member is electrically connected to the source module and receives the power signal at least when the mounting member is in the resting position; and

an inductive power transmitter carried by the mounting member; and

an inductive power receiver carried by the electronic device,

and wherein the inductive transmitter and receiver are in sufficiently close proximity when the mounting member carries the electronic device to wirelessly transmit power between the mounting member and electronic device,

and including a battery carried by the mounting member that is charged by the single-source power signal, the battery being adapted to operate the inductive power transmitter when the single-source power signal is disconnected from the mounting member.

11. A cable management apparatus for use in mounting an electronic device to a display, comprising:

a mounting member adapted to receive the electronic device, wherein the mounting member may be lifted and returned to a resting position;

a source module for providing at least one electrical signal; and

a wireless connection between the source module and the mounting member when the mounting member is in the resting position, for electrically communicating the at least one electrical signal from the source module to the mounting member, and

wherein the wireless connection between the source module and the mounting member is broken when the mounting member is lifted from the resting position.