Stand assembly for an electronic device providing multiple degrees of freedom and built-in cables

• US 10,352,496 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2017
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Mehdi, Rafat E., Kilgore, Adam Scott, Goulden, Jason Evans
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tan
• Application Number:
  US15/606,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20180340646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 2481221, 248121, 2482981, 2483094, 248917, 24823151, 248314, 2481811, 36167956, 362414, 362191, 362396
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2097/003 Cable holders; cable organisers
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/06 allowing pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/105 the horizontal axis being the roll axis, e.g. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2007 comprising means allowing pivoting adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2035 in more than one direction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2064 for tilting and panning F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/38 by folding , e.g. pivoting or scissors tong mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/005 integral with the apparatus or articles to be supported
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/088 Clips; Clamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/55 with provision for heating or cooling, e.g. in aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20445 : the coupling element being an additional piece, e.g. thermal standoff

Abstract

A stand assembly for an electronic device includes a neck portion with a first end that holds and extends from the electronic device, a spine portion that is coupled via a joint structure to a second end of the neck portion, the joint structure being configured to provide a first rotational degree of freedom of the neck portion with respect to the spine portion, and one or more interconnect wires. The one or more interconnect wires include a first wire portion, a second wire portion and a third wire portion, the first wire portion being routed through an interior of the neck portion, the second wire portion being routed along a surface of the spine portion, and the third wire portion being routed though the joint structure from the surface of the spine portion to the interior of the neck portion.

Claims

1. A stand assembly for an electronic device, comprising:

a neck portion having a first end that holds the electronic device and a second end arranged opposite the first end;

a spine portion that is coupled via a joint structure to the second end of the neck portion, wherein the joint structure is configured to provide a first rotational degree of freedom of the neck portion with respect to the spine portion; and

one or more interconnect wires including a first wire portion, a second wire portion and a third wire portion, the first wire portion being routed through an interior of the neck portion, the second wire portion being routed along a surface of the spine portion, the third wire portion being routed though the joint structure from the surface of the spine portion to the interior of the neck portion, thereby enabling the first and second wire portions to be positionally reorientated with respect to one another in accordance with the first rotational degree of freedom,

wherein rotation of the neck portion at the first rotational degree of freedom has substantially consistent resistance through a first full range of rotation, and

wherein the spine portion includes a spring coupled to the joint structure, such that when depressed, the spring applies a force on the second end of the neck portion and thereby creates at least a portion of the substantially consistent resistance associated with the first rotational degree of freedom of the neck portion.

2. The stand assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes a camera.

3. The stand assembly of claim 1, wherein the first rotational degree of freedom of the joint structure is associated with pivoting of the neck portion and the electronic device about the axis of rotation, and the axis of rotation being substantially parallel to a planar surface of a base portion of the stand assembly that is shaped to rest against a supporting surface.

4. The stand assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is configured to rotate at a second rotational degree of freedom with respect to the neck portion, the second rotational degree of freedom being associated with twisting of the electronic device with respect to a twisting axis that passes through a central axis of the neck portion, the rotation of the electronic device at the second rotational degree of freedom having substantially consistent resistance through a second full range of rotation.

5. The stand assembly of claim 4, wherein the electronic device further includes one or more clamping members that wrap around the neck portion to create the substantially consistent resistance associated with the second full range of rotation, the one or more clamping members being concealed within the electronic device.

6. The stand assembly of claim 4, wherein the first end includes a slot, and an interior of the electronic device includes one or more rotation stops, wherein the slot and the one or more rotation stops mate with each other and are configured to define the second full range of rotation when the electronic device rotates with respect to the neck portion.

7. The stand assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more interconnect wires includes a plurality of discreet wires held into an interconnect wire bundle, and are configured to provide data and power to the electronic device.

8. The stand assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes first electronic circuitry, the first electronic circuitry being electrically coupled to second electronic circuitry via the one or more interconnect wires, the second electronic circuitry being disposed within a base configured to rest against a supporting surface.

9. The stand assembly of claim 8, wherein the base further comprises an electronic connector that is exposed from a rim side of the base and inset into a body of the base, wherein the electronic connector is electrically coupled to the second wire portion of the one or more interconnect wires within the base.

10. The stand assembly of claim 9, wherein when the electronic connector is coupled to an external connector, a connection interface is formed between the electronic and external connectors and concealed within the base.

11. The stand assembly of claim 1, further comprising a stem cover configured to cover the spine portion, wherein the third portion of the one or more interconnect wires are concealed between the spine portion and the stem cover.

12. The stand assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more interconnect wires are structurally invisible to a user of the stand assembly.

13. The stand assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a base shaped to rest against a supporting surface, wherein the spine portion is fixed to and extends from the base; and

a spine cover mechanically coupled onto the base independently of the spine portion, the spine cover being configured to conceal the spine portion and at least a portion of the one or more interconnect wires and provide protection thereto.

19. The stand assembly of claim 1, wherein the spring is positioned within an interior of the spine portion, and wherein the second wire portion is positioned along an external surface of the spine portion.

20. The stand assembly of claim 1, wherein the third wire portion does not substantially move with respect to the spine portion when the neck portion is pivoted with respect to the spine portion.

14. A stand assembly for an electronic device, comprising:

an interconnect wire;

holding means for holding the electronic device, the holding means having a first end that holds the electronic and a second end arranged opposite the first end; and

guiding means for guiding the interconnect wire, the guiding means being coupled via a joint structure to the second end of the holding means, wherein the joint structure is configured to provide a first rotational degree of freedom of the holding means with respect to the guiding means;

wherein the interconnect wire includes a first wire portion, a second wire portion and a third wire portion, the first wire portion being routed through an interior of the holding means, the second wire portion being routed along a surface of the guiding means, and the third wire portion being routed though the joint structure from the surface of the guiding means to the interior of the holding means, thereby enabling the first and second wire portions to be positionally reorientated with respect to one another in accordance with the first rotational degree of freedom,

wherein the guiding means comprises a biasing means for applying a force against the holding means to create a substantially consistent resistance associated with the first rotational degree of freedom.

15. The stand assembly of claim 14, wherein the electronic device is configured to rotate at a second rotational degree of freedom with respect to the holding means, the second rotational degree of freedom being associated with twisting of the electronic device with respect to a twisting axis that passes through a central axis of the holding means, the rotation of the electronic device at the second rotational degree of freedom having substantially consistent resistance through a second full range of rotation.

16. The stand assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

a support means for resting against a supporting surface and for housing electronic circuitry, wherein the guiding means is fixed to and extends from the support means; and

a cover means for concealing the guiding means and at least a portion of the interconnect wire, the cover means being coupled onto the base independently of the guiding means.

17. The stand assembly of claim 16, wherein the electronic device includes first electronic circuitry, the first electronic circuitry being electrically coupled to second electronic circuitry disposed within the support means via the interconnect wire.

18. A stand assembly for an electronic device, comprising:

a neck portion having a first end that holds the electronic device and a second end arranged opposite the first end;

a spine portion that is coupled via a joint structure to the second end of the neck portion, wherein the joint structure is configured to provide a first rotational degree of freedom of the neck portion with respect to the spine portion; and

one or more interconnect wires including a first wire portion, a second wire portion and a third wire portion, the first wire portion being routed through an interior of the neck portion, the second wire portion being routed along a surface of the spine portion, the third wire portion being routed though the joint structure from the surface of the spine portion to the interior of the neck portion, thereby enabling the first and second wire portions to be positionally reorientated with respect to one another in accordance with the first rotational degree of freedom,

wherein the electronic device is configured to rotate at a second rotational degree of freedom with respect to the neck portion, the second rotational degree of freedom being associated with twisting of the electronic device with respect to a twisting axis that passes through a central axis of the neck portion, the rotation of the electronic device at the second rotational degree of freedom having substantially consistent resistance through a second full range of rotation, and

wherein the first end includes a slot, and an interior of the electronic device includes one or more rotation stops, wherein the slot and the one or more rotation stops mate with each other and are configured to define the second full range of rotation when the electronic device rotates with respect to the neck portion.