Information device with adjustable flat panel screen

• US 6,326,955 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2000
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NetAirus Systems
• Original Assignee: Richard J. Ditzik
• Inventors: Ditzik, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAO, LUNYI
• Application Number:
  US09/510,955
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/176, 345/179, 345/180, 345/174, 345/905, 248/817, 248/918, 248/920, 248/921, 248/923, 248/922, 248/919, 361/679, 361/688, 361/724, 361/680-682, 178/18-1-, 178/19-1-
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• 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 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1631 Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/92 Angular and linear video display screen support adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/923 Tilting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A relatively small transportable desktop computer/workstation with a display panel assembly (2) in combination with a microprocessor or controller (44) is made display screen position adjustable, in inclination angle, azimuth angle and elevation translation movements. The workstation can have a pen or stylus touch screen input function (36) added, so that a user or operator can write, draw and sketch directly onto the screen in a natural manner. The workstation can be placed on top of a desk or table providing an ergonomic man-machine interface for information communications between individual users via a communications network. A keyboard (7, 42), voice/speaker telephone (48), mouse or trackball input unit (46), and communications modem (42) may be added to the workstation. The flat panel display, pen input device and microprocessor can be combined into an assembly, which can be removed from the main body for portable mobile computing operation.

Claims

1. A portable information device comprising:

a. a flat panel display assembly comprised of control electronics and display device with display screen;

b. tilting hinge means attached to said portable flat panel display monitor assembly for inclination orientation adjustments;

c. a support structure comprised of a first and second column-like members, wherein said first column-like member is attached to said tilting hinge means, and wherein one column-like member has a larger diameter than the other column-like member, such that one of the members can slide over the other in a telescoping manner for raising and lower the position of said display screen; and

d. a passive base support structure attached near the bottom of said second column-like member for stable placement onto a roughly horizontal surface of a desk or table like structure.

2. A portable information device, as recited in claim 1, in which said first and second column-like members are roughly cylindrical in shape.

3. A portable information device, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a mechanical locking means attached to said support structure members for locking said two column-like members to a fixed stable position thus fixing said flat panel display monitor assembly in position.

4. A portable information device, as recited in claim 1, in which said flat panel display assembly is adapted to be easily removable from said support structure.

5. A portable information device, as recited in claim 1, in which said support structure and said flat panel display assembly is adapted for portrait to landscape position adjustments.

6. A portable information device, as recited in claim 1, in which said a passive base support structure has a roughly wedge shape.