Display for hand-held electronics

• US 8,698,617 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2010
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobile Tech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mobile Tech, Inc.
• Inventors: Henson, Donald, Allison, Thaine, Goldberg, Jason, Olson, Justin, Pitt, Eric, Schatz, Kris, Wheeler, Wade
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US12/819,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20110309928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 340/686.1, 340/568.2, 340/568.3, 340/571, 340/538.16, 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 without 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 triggered via wireless signals.

Claims

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

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 at least one source module and receives at least one electrical signal at least when the mounting member is in the resting position;

an electronics board carried by the mounting member, the electronics board carrying security circuitry, with the electronics board being adapted to pass at least a portion of the at least one electrical signal to the electronic device and another portion of the at least one electrical signal to the security circuitry carried by the electronics board, and wherein the security circuitry carried by the electronics board is adapted to create a wirelessly transmitted security condition signal that originates from the location of the mounting member; and

a secondary security sensor cable assembly for electrically coupling the electronic device to the mounting member, the secondary security sensor cable assembly being connected to the security circuitry carried by the electronics board.

2. The cable management apparatus of claim 1, including a tether cable assembly that includes a retractable cable connected to the mounting member for tethering the mounting member to the display.

3. The cable management apparatus of claim 2, wherein the retractable cable is a mechanical cable, and further, the mounting member is connected to receive the electrical signal by a wire-to-wire connection when the mounting member is in the resting position, and wherein the wire-to-wire connection is broken when the mounting member is lifted from the resting position.

4. The cable management apparatus of claim 3, wherein the security circuitry is adapted to use the retractable cable as an antenna for wirelessly transmitting the security condition signal.

5. The cable management apparatus of claim 3, including:

a battery carried by the mounting member that is charged by the at least one electrical signal, the battery being adapted to operate the security circuitry when the wire-to-wire connection is broken.

6. The cable management apparatus of claim 1, including:

an adaptor cable assembly for electrically coupling the electronic device to the mounting member, the adaptor cable assembly being characterized in that the adaptor cable assembly adjusts the voltage of the at least one electrical signal to match the operating voltage of the electronic device.

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

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 at least one source module and receives at least one electrical signal from the source module at least when the mounting member is in the resting position, and further, the mounting member is connected to receive the electrical signal by a wire-to-wire connection when the mounting member is in the resting position, and wherein the wire-to-wire connection is broken when the mounting member is lifted from the resting position;

an adaptor cable assembly for electrically coupling the electronic device to the mounting member, the adaptor cable assembly being characterized in that the adaptor cable assembly adjusts the voltage of the at least one electrical signal to match the operating voltage of the electronic device; and

a secondary security sensor cable assembly for electrically coupling the electronic device to the mounting member, the secondary security sensor cable being operable to generate a security condition signal; and

a means for operating the secondary security sensor cable when the wire-to-wire connection is broken.