Control apparatus and method for sharing information in a collaborative workspace

• US 9,254,035 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2014
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Epstein, Lewis, Kincaid, Brett, Yoo, Hyun, Stage, Suzanne, Scherrer, Lukas, Cheng, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V
• Application Number:
  US14/293,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20140261096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 108/64, 108/23, 312/226.6, 312/223.3, 312/223.1, 312/195, 312/196, 709/204, 348/14.05, 348/14.07, 348/14.1, 348/705, 348/716, 361/679.02, 361/679.05, 361/79.22, 361/379.23, 361/679.22, 361/679.23, 715/719
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/08 Table tops; Rims therefor not restricted to table tops A47B95/04
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/066 with power or communication connection interface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2083/003 Table combination having a central power access component
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2083/006 having an incorporated display screen
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 37/00 Tables adapted for other particular purposes glass cutting tables C03B33/03
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/268 Signal distribution or switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/66 Transforming electric information into light information scanning details H04N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 : Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A cable assembly for use in an opening formed in a table top, the cable assembly comprising a substantially horizontal deck member, the deck member forming a plurality of cable passing openings, each cable passing opening dimensioned to freely pass the intermediate portion of a cable, a separate cable passing through each of the cable passing openings, each cable having a distal end located at a height below the deck member and a proximal end located at a height above the deck member, the proximal end for linking to a video source device.

Claims

1. An table assembly for use with at least one common display, the table assembly comprising:

a switching device linked to the common display, the switching device including at least one output linked to the common display and a plurality of inputs, the switching device controllable to link the switching device inputs to the at least one common display;

a table top member having a flat top surface and a downwardly facing undersurface, the top member forming a table top opening between the top surface and the undersurface;

a support structure supporting the table top member with the top surface substantially horizontally oriented;

a deck assembly mounted to the top member adjacent the opening, the deck assembly including a deck member below and aligned with the table top opening, the deck member forming a substantially horizontal top surface spaced below the table top opening and an undersurface and forming a plurality of cable passing openings that pass through the deck member from the top surface of the deck member through to the undersurface of the deck member; and

a separate control cable for each of the cable passing openings, each control cable including proximal and distal ends, each distal end linked to a different one of the inputs on the switching device, each proximal end including a connector for connecting to a source device, each control cable passing through one of the cable passing openings so that the proximal end resides above the cable passing opening and the distal end resides at a height below the deck member, each control cable having a length between the proximal and distal ends such that the proximal end of the cable can be moved between a stowed position with the proximal end proximate the top surface of the deck member and below the top surface of the table top member and an extended position in which the proximal end is pulled through the table top opening into a use position where the connector at the proximal end can be linked to a source device.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a portion of each control cable resides below the deck member when the control cable is in the stowed position and the portion of each control cable is above the deck member when the control cable is in the use position.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each control cable further includes a housing proximate the proximal end and a control button for controlling the switching device mounted within the housing, the housing including a structural element that forms an external surface and that forms an internal cavity, the external surface of the housing having dimensions greater than the dimensions of the cable passing opening that an associated control cable passes through so that the deck member prohibits movement of the housing through the cable passing opening.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein each cable passing opening has a diameter dimension and each housing has dimensions larger than the diameter dimension of the control cable so that when a control cable is in the stowed position, the housing resides on the top surface of the deck member.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein each button includes a control interface for controlling the switching device.

6. The assembly of claim 1 further including a control assembly connected to the table assembly for controlling the switching device, the control assembly including separate control buttons linked to each of the control cables, each control button selectable to provide control signals to the switching device to control content presented on the common display.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the common display is a first common display, the table assembly also for use with a second common display, the switching device controllable to link switching device inputs to each of the first and second common displays, each control assembly including first and second control buttons for controlling the switching device to present content from a source device linked to an associated control cable on the first and second common displays, respectively.

8. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the control assembly includes touch sensitive control buttons.

9. The assembly of claim 6 wherein, when a source device including a display screen is linked to a first control cable and content is presented on the source device display screen, the control button associated with the first control cable is selectable to control the switching device to toggle between replicating the content from the source device display screen on the at least one common display and removing the content from the device display screen from the at least one common display, the content from the source device display screen provided to the switching device via the control cable linked to the source device.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the control assembly further includes an indicator for each of the control buttons, each indicator controlled to indicate three separate states including a first state when no source device is linked to an associated control cable, a second state when a source device is linked to an associated control cable and the content from the source device display is not replicated on the at least one common display and a third state when a source device is linked to an associated control cable and the content from the source device display is replicated on the at least one common display.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the control assembly is attached to the table assembly.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the control assembly includes a separate control interface for each of the control cables, each control interface connected to an associated control cable.

13. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the control assembly includes at least one flat top surface member that is touch sensitive where at least one control button is formed at a location on the flap top surface member.

14. The assembly of claim 10 further including a door member mounted proximate the table top opening and moveable between a closed position in which the door member substantially closes at least a portion of the opening and an open position in which the door member allows access to the opening.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the connectors at the proximal ends of the control cables are located between the top surface of the deck member and an undersurface of the door member when the control cables are in the stowed positions and the door member is in the closed position.

16. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the door member is hinged for movement between the closed and open positions.

17. The assembly of claim 14 further including electrical receptacles mounted within the table top opening adjacent the top surface of the deck member for access through the table top opening.

18. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the table top opening is substantially centrally located within the table top member.

19. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cable passing openings are separate cable passing openings.

20. The assembly of claim 1 further including a door member mounted proximate the table top opening and moveable between a closed position in which the door member substantially closes at least a portion of the opening and an open position in which the door member allows access through the opening.

21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the connectors at the proximal ends of the control cables are located between the top surface of the deck member and an undersurface of the door member when the control cables are in the stowed positions and the door member is in the closed position.

22. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the horizontal top surface of the deck member is a first horizontal top surface, the deck member further including second and third horizontal members on opposite sides of the first horizontal top member, the second and third horizontal members spaced below the first horizontal top surface and at least partially below the table top opening.

23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the deck member further includes a first angled wall member that extends from a first edge of the first horizontal top surface to the second horizontal member and a second angled wall member that extends from a second edge of the first horizontal top surface to the third horizontal member, at least first and second power receptacles mounted in the first and second angled wall members for access above the second and third horizontal members, respectively.

24. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the table top member has a circumferential edge and wherein the circumferential edge includes at least one substantially straight rear edge section, the common display screen including a lower edge and a front surface and supported in a position with the lower edge adjacent and extending along the rear edge section with the front surface extending vertically upward to be viewed from locations proximate the circumferential edge of the table top member.

25. A table assembly for use with at least one common display, the table assembly comprising:

a switching device including at least one output and a plurality of inputs, the at least one output linked to the common display and controllable to link the switching device inputs to the at least one common display;

a table top member having a flat top surface and a downwardly facing undersurface, the top member forming a table top opening between the top surface and the undersurface;

a deck member supported by the table top member below the table top opening, the deck member forming a central substantially horizontal top surface and first and second angled wall surfaces that extend downward and outward from opposite edges of the horizontal top surface, the horizontal top surface spaced below the top surface of the table top member;

a support structure supporting the table top member with the top surface substantially horizontally oriented; and

at least a first control cable including proximal and distal ends and an intermediate section between the proximal and distal ends, each control cable further including a control device mounted proximate the proximal end that includes a housing having a wall structure that forms an external surface and an internal cavity and at least one control button mounted within the cavity, each control cable further including a connector mounted at the proximal end for connecting the proximal end to a video source device, each distal end of each control cable located below the table top member, each control device moveable from a stowed position on the horizontal top surface of the deck member and a use position in which the control device is pulled through the table top opening and resides on the top surface of the table top where the connector at the proximal end of the cable is connectable to a video source device, when in the stored position, the entire control device located below the top surface of the table top member; and

first and second power receptacles mounted to the first and second angled wall surfaces for access through the table top opening.

26. The assembly of claim 25 wherein each control device is held by gravity against the horizontal top surface formed by the deck member when the control device is in the stowed position.

27. The assembly of claim 26 wherein the deck member forms at least first and second cable passing openings and wherein first and second of the control cables pass through the openings with the distal ends below the openings and the proximal ends above the openings.

28. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the deck member forms second and third substantially horizontal surfaces that extend outward from the first and second angled wall surfaces opposite the central substantially horizontal top surface, the second and third horizontal surfaces at a height that is below the central substantially horizontal top surface and positioned at least in part below the table top opening.

29. The assembly of claim 25 further including at least one door member hingedly supported within the table top opening for movement between a closed position in which a top surface of the door member is substantially flush with the top surface of the table top member and an open position in which the door member extends upward from the table top opening at an angle, an undersurface of the door member facing and substantially parallel to the central horizontal top surface of the deck member, a space between the central horizontal top surface and the undersurface of the door member dimensioned to accommodate the control devices when stored and when the door member is in the closed position.

30. A content sharing assembly comprising:

at least first and second common display screens, the second display screen supported adjacent the first display screen, each of the display screens supported in a substantially vertically upright position;

a table top member having a substantially horizontal top surface and an undersurface, the top member forming a table top opening that extends from the top surface through to the undersurface;

a switching device having at least first and second outputs and a plurality of inputs, the first and second outputs linked to the first and second common display screens for presenting content thereon that is received at one or more of the switching device inputs;

a substantially horizontal deck member supported proximate the opening and residing generally below a top surface of the table top within the opening;

at least first and second control cables, each control cable having a distal end located at a height below an undersurface of the table top that is linked to one of the switching device inputs and a proximal end for linking to a separate video source device above the table top surface, the first control cable including a first control device linked to the first cable proximate the proximal end of the first cable, the second control cable including a second control device linked to the second cable proximate the proximal end of the second cable, each control device including a housing and at least first and second selection buttons associated with the first and second common display screens, respectively;

wherein, the first selection buttons are controllable to control content on the first common display screens and the second selection buttons are controllable to control content on the second common display screen.

31. The assembly of claim 30 wherein the deck member forms a plurality of cable passing openings, each cable passing opening dimensioned to freely pass the intermediate portion of a cable that passes there through, and wherein the deck member restricts movement of the control device linked to each cable through the opening that the cable passes through.

32. The cable assembly of claim 30 wherein each cable includes an intermediate portion and wherein the proximal end of each cable can be moved between a stowed position proximate the deck member and a use position spaced away from the deck member with the intermediate portion of an associated cable above the deck member.

33. The cable assembly of claim 30 wherein each control device further includes a state indicator for each of the first and second control buttons, each state indicator controlled to indicate first and second different states where the first state indicates that content from a linked video source device is currently presented on an associated one of the first and second common display screens and the second state indicates that content from a linked video source device is not presented on an associated one of the first and second common display screens.

34. A table assembly comprising:

a table top member having a flat top surface and a downwardly facing undersurface, the top member forming a table top opening between the top surface and the undersurface;

a support structure supporting the table top member with the top surface substantially horizontally oriented;

at least one common display supported adjacent the top member and at a height above the top surface of the top member;

a switching device supported below the undersurface of the top member, the switching device controllable to link switching device inputs to the at least one common display;

a deck assembly mounted to the top member adjacent the opening, the deck assembly including a deck member below and aligned with the table top opening, the deck member forming a substantially horizontal top surface spaced below the table top opening, an undersurface opposite the horizontal top surface and a plurality of cable passing openings that open from the top surface through the undersurface; and

a separate control cable for each of the cable passing openings, each control cable including proximal and distal ends, each distal end linked to a different one of the switching device inputs, each proximal end including a connector for connecting to a source device, each control cable passing through one of the cable passing openings so that the proximal end resides on the top side of the deck member, each control cable having a length between the proximal and distal ends such that the proximal end of the cable can be moved between a stowed position with the proximal end proximate the top surface of the deck member and below the top surface of the table top member and an extended position in which the proximal end is pulled through the table top opening into a use position where the connector at the proximal end can be linked to a source device, each control cable providing content from a linked source device to a connected input of the switching device; and

a control assembly for controlling the switching device, the control assembly supported by the table assembly and linked to the switching device and including at least one separate control buttons for each of the control cables, each control button selectable to control the switching device to control content presented on the common display.

35. The table assembly of claim 34 wherein the control assembly further includes at least one two state indicator for each of the control cables to indicate when content from a source associated with an associated control cable is shared via the common display.

48. The assembly of claim 34 wherein the table top member has a circumferential edge and wherein the circumferential edge includes at least one substantially straight rear edge section, the common display screen including a lower edge and a front surface and supported in a position with the lower edge adjacent and extending along the rear edge section with the front surface extending vertically upward to be viewed from locations proximate the circumferential edge of the table top member.

36. A table assembly comprising:

a table top member having a flat top surface and a downwardly facing undersurface, the top member forming a table top opening between the top surface and the undersurface;

a support structure supporting the table top member with the top surface substantially horizontally oriented;

at least one common display supported adjacent the top member and at a height above the top surface of the top member;

a switching device supported below the undersurface of the top member, the switching device controllable to link switching device inputs to the at least one common display;

a control assembly connected to the table assembly, the control assembly for controlling the switching device, the control assembly including a plurality of separate control interfaces, each control interface including at least one interface specific control button accessible from above the top surface of the table top member, the control assembly linked to the switching device;

wherein, each of the control interfaces may be associated with a different video source device such that when an interface button is selected, content from the video source device associated with the selected button is presented on the at least one common display screen.

37. The assembly of claim 36 further including at least one cable linked to the control assembly, the at least one cable also linked to the switching device below the undersurface of the table top.

38. The assembly of claim 36 wherein each of the control interfaces is includes an separate interface housing supporting at least one control button.

39. The assembly of claim 36 further including a separate control cable associated with each of the control interfaces, each control cable including proximal and distal ends, each distal end linked to the switching device below the undersurface of the table top, each proximal end linkable to a source device above the top surface of the table top.

40. A method for use with a conferencing configuration including a table assembly and at least a first common display screen, the screen positioned adjacent the top surface of the table assembly, the table assembly including a switching device and a plurality of control cables, the switching device located below an undersurface of the table top and linked to the common display screen to present information thereon, each cable including a distal end linked to the switching device below the undersurface of the table top and a proximal end opposite the distal end, the proximal ends retained below the top surface of the table top when in a stowed position, the method for linking at least first and second video source devices to the switching device and comprising the steps of:

pulling the proximal end of a first control cable up above the top surface of the table top;

connecting the proximal end of the first control cable to a first video source;

pulling the proximal end of a second control cable up above the top surface of the table top; and

connecting the proximal end of the second control cable to a second video source.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the table top forms an opening and wherein the proximal ends of the control cables are located within the opening below the top surface of the table top when in the stowed position.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the table assembly further includes a door member that closes the opening formed by the table top when the proximal ends of the control cables are in the stowed position, the method further including the step of opening the door prior to pulling the first and second control cables up above the top surface of the table top.

43. A table assembly comprising:

a table top member having a flat top surface and a downwardly facing undersurface, the top member forming a table top opening between the top surface and the undersurface;

a support structure supporting the table top member with the top surface substantially horizontally oriented;

a deck assembly mounted to the top member adjacent the opening, the deck assembly including a deck member below and aligned with the table top opening, the deck member forming a substantially horizontal top surface spaced below the table top opening, an undersurface opposite the top surface and a plurality of cable passing openings that open from the top surface through to the undersurface; and

a separate control cable for each of the cable passing openings, each control cable including proximal and distal ends, each proximal end including a connector for connecting to a source device, each control cable passing through one of the cable passing openings so that the proximal end resides on a top side of the deck member and the distal end resides on a side of the deck member opposite the side on which the proximal end resides, each control cable having a length between the proximal and distal ends such that the proximal end of the cable can be moved between a stowed position with the proximal end proximate the top surface of the deck member and below the top surface of the table top member and an extended position in which the proximal end is pulled through the table top opening into a use position where the connector at the proximal end can be linked to a source device.

44. The assembly of claim 43 wherein the horizontal top surface of the deck member is a first horizontal top surface, the deck member further including second and third horizontal members on opposite sides of the first horizontal top member, the second and third horizontal members spaced below the first horizontal top surface and at least partially below the table top opening.

45. The assembly of claim 44 wherein the deck member further includes a first angled wall member that extends from a first edge of the first horizontal top surface to the second horizontal member and a second angled wall member that extends from a second edge of the first horizontal top surface to the third horizontal member, at least first and second power receptacles mounted in the first and second angled wall members for access above the second and third horizontal members, respectively.

46. The assembly of claim 43 further including a switching device and at least a first common display screen, the switching device linked to the common display screen to present content thereon, the distal ends of each control cable linked to inputs on the switching device, each of the control cables further including a control interface, each control interface including a housing mounted proximate the proximal end of an associated control cable and at least one control button mounted in the housing and linked through the control cable to the switching device, content from a source device linked to a control cable provided to the switching device through the control cable, each first control button selectable to control content presented on the first common display screen.

47. The assembly of claim 46 further including at least a second common display screen linked to the switching device, each control interface including at least a second control button, each second control button selectable to control content presented on the second common display screen.