Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
  • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
  • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
  • G06F1/1632—External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
  • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
  • G06F1/1601—Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
  • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
  • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
  • G06F1/1626—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
  • E05D3/00—Hinges with pins
  • E05D3/06—Hinges with pins with two or more pins
  • E05D3/08—Hinges with pins with two or more pins for swing-doors, i.e. openable by pushing from either side
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
  • E05D3/00—Hinges with pins
  • E05D3/06—Hinges with pins with two or more pins
  • E05D3/12—Hinges with pins with two or more pins with two parallel pins and one arm
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
  • E05D7/00—Hinges or pivots of special construction
  • E05D7/009—Elongate hinges, e.g. piano-hinges
• • E05Y2999/00—
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F2200/00—Indexing scheme relating to G06F1/04 - G06F1/32
  • G06F2200/16—Indexing scheme relating to G06F1/16 - G06F1/18
  • G06F2200/161—Indexing scheme relating to constructional details of the monitor
  • G06F2200/1612—Flat panel monitor

Definitions

• This invention relates to visual displays generally, and, more particularly, to portable visual display monitors.
• Visual displays including cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, flat panel displays (e.g., flat panel liquid crystal displays, or LCDs, and flat panel plasma displays), are popular output devices for conveying visual information generated by computer systems, as well as computer-driven devices such as medical monitoring devices, aeronautical displays, and many military applications. They also are used to display TV signals or video playback from devices such as videocassette recorders, DVD players, video cameras, video games, and other video or digital sources.
• CTR cathode ray tube
• LCDs liquid crystal displays
• flat panel plasma displays are popular output devices for conveying visual information generated by computer systems, as well as computer-driven devices such as medical monitoring devices, aeronautical displays, and many military applications. They also are used to display TV signals or video playback from devices such as videocassette recorders, DVD players, video cameras, video games, and other video or digital sources.
• flat panel visual displays are used in portable devices, because the decreased weight and size of a flat panel display greatly increases versatility over a CRT display.
• flat panel displays are commonly incorporated into portable computers such as laptop computers.
• Flat panel displays are also found in stand-alone monitors used with non-portable desktop computers and workstations, as well as displays of digital and analog video.
• Flat panel displays are also found in stand-alone monitors used in conjunction with portable computers (just as CRT monitors have been used for some time), because they offer the user either a single larger display, or multiple displays that may display different sets of information.
• a portable computer is a popular configuration enabling increased mobility for a user.
• the motherboard, display and keyboard are integrated into a common case in a portable configuration.
• the notebook computer typically has a display housing and a keyboard housing permanently attached to each other by a hinge system of some kind.
• a flat panel display is mounted within the display housing.
• a keyboard, motherboard, data storage unit(s), expansion slot, and I/O port are mounted in the keyboard housing.
• Portable computers are often used in meetings to provide visual and audio information often referred to as multimedia.
• video or data projectors are employed to present the information on to a screen for presentation to the audience with the audio portion of the presentation emanating from speakers housed within the projector or through an independent public address system.
• the invention involves methods of providing an image on a portable display system connected to a display driver apparatus.
• the portable display system has open and closed positions.
• One major component of the system is a generally planar display portion having a front face and a back face.
• Another component is a graphic display panel arranged to be viewable on the front face of the display portion.
• Another major component is a generally planar base/cover portion having a base surface and a cover surface. This component has sufficient size to substantially cover the graphic display panel when the system is in the closed position, during which the display portion is parallel to the base/cover portion.
• the two portions are connected together to enable relative motion of the display portion to the base/cover portion between the open and closed positions.
• connection is a compound hinge (or equivalent) attached to an outer periphery (e.g., an outer edge or other region adjacent the edge) of the base/cover portion and an outer periphery of the display portion.
• outer periphery e.g., an outer edge or other region adjacent the edge
• the system includes any suitable feature to ensure that the display system may be exposed for viewing and held in the open position.
• the angle between the back face of the display portion and the base/cover portion is greater than zero degrees and less than one hundred eighty degrees.
• Figure 1 is schematic view of one embodiment of the invention, specifically a portable flat screen display monitor in the open position.
• Figure 2 is a schematic view of the combination of a laptop computer and the portable flat panel display monitor of Figure 1, connected to each other via cable.
• FIG 3 is a schematic view of the combination of a personal digital assistant (PDA) and the portable flat panel display monitor of Figure 1, connected to each other via cable.
• PDA personal digital assistant
• Figure 4A is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 1 in the closed position.
• Figure 4B is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 4A in the open position.
• Figure 4C displays the range of relative position possible in the embodiment of Figures 4A and 4B.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the combination of a handheld computer or portable digital assistant (PDA) and another embodiment of a portable flat panel display monitor, in which the PDA is directly connected (“docked") to the portable flat panel display monitor.
• PDA portable digital assistant
• Figure 6 A is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 5 in which a universal connector is used and the PDA is about to be connected to the portable flat panel display monitor.
• Figure 6B is a side view similar to Figure 6A, but the PDA is fully docked to the portable flat panel display monitor.
• Figure 6C is an side view of an alternative embodiment of Figure 5, in which a universal connector is used and the PDA is about to be docked to the portable flat panel display monitor, but in which a different type of docking feature is employed.
• Figure 6D is a side view similar to Figure 6C, but the PDA is fully docked to the portable flat panel display monitor.
• Figure 7 is a schematic view of a component of an alternative embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 8 is a schematic view of one embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 9 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 8, illustrating the range of tilt available in preferred embodiments of the invention.
• Figure 9A illustrates the embodiment in the open position.
• Figure 9B illustrates the embodiment in a partially open position.
• Figure 9C illustrates the embodiment in a nearly closed position.
• Figure 9D illustrates the embodiment in the closed position.
• Figure 10 is a schematic partial view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 10A shows the embodiment in one position, while Figures 10B and IOC show the same embodiment in a partially open position but from different angles.
• One of the display shortcomings of a notebook computer is evident when it is used to make a presentation to small groups of one or more people.
• the options are to present the audio and video or multimedia information directly from the portable computer's built-in display, or to plug into the laptop an additional monitor (if one is even present).
• an additional monitor is not available. If an additional monitor is available, it may be an integral part of an existing computer desktop installation and thus require disconnection from its normal operation, typically involving one or more cable connectors between the personal computer and the monitor. This can prove to be inconvenient when making a presentation.
• the presentation of audio and video or multimedia information must therefore be made from the portable computer itself. This requires the presenter of the information to share the computer display with the small audience to whom the multimedia information is being presented. During the presentation it is often required that the presenter have the ability of interfacing with the portable computer through the computer keyboard to affect the presentation. It is difficult for the presenter to be able to view the multimedia information while optimizing the viewing angle for presentation to the intended audience.
• PDAs personal digital assistants
• the display housing rotates the display housing away from the keyboard housing into an open position, and turn on the computer. (When closed against the keyboard housing, the display housing protects the display itself from damage.
• a portable display is desirable, including audiovisual entertainment away from a power source while camping or traveling; medical applications when in transit; and monitoring situations in which a standalone, portable, lightweight, monitor is required.
• the invention involves methods and systems for displaying an image on a portable display system that is connected to a display driver apparatus. It is possible, but not required, that the display driver apparatus be physically incorporated into one of the base/cover portion and display portion. In the more typical situation, the display driver apparatus is a separate computer such as a laptop computer or other handheld computer personal computer, such as those known as "personal digital assistants" or PDAs.
• the display driver apparatus is a separate computer such as a laptop computer or other handheld computer personal computer, such as those known as "personal digital assistants" or PDAs.
• one major component of the system 1 is a generally planar display portion 2 having a front face 3 and a back face 4.
• Another component is a graphic display panel 5 arranged to be viewable on the front face of the display portion.
• Another major component is a generally planar base/cover portion 6 having a base surface 7 and a cover surface 8. This component has sufficient size to substantially cover the graphic display panel when the system is in a closed position, during which the display portion is parallel to the base/cover portion.
• a suitable form of compound hinge 9 may be connected to an outer periphery (e.g., an outer edge or other region adjacent the edge) of the base/cover portion and an outer periphery of the display portion.
• Equivalent types of compound hinge include butt hinges, articulated hinges, and double action hinges.
• Figures 10A, 10B, and IOC show the range of motion possible with a double action hinge suitable for some embodiments of the invention
• Figure 7 shows the range of motion possible with an articulated hinge suitable for other embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that the type of hinge selected will dictate whether a pin is required.
• the connection between the base/cover and display portions may comprise two linked features in a planetary gear relationship to each other.
• the system includes any suitable feature to ensure that the display system may be exposed for viewing and held in the open position.
• the angle ⁇ between the back face of the display portion and the base/cover portion is greater than zero degrees and less than one hundred eighty degrees; in some preferred embodiments, this angle is in the range of approximately seventy degrees to approximately one hundred ten degrees.
• the base surface of the base/cover portion may be immediately adjacent the display panel when the system is in the closed position, or the cover surface of the base/cover portion may be immediately adjacent the display panel when the system is in the closed position.
• the two portions open in a conventional "clamshell” or “book” manner as do commercially available laptop computers.
• the display portion may undergo a 180 degree twist about its rotational axis 10 ( Figure 1) to achieve the fully open position.
• Figure 1 An example of this configuration, although in the laptop-like unitary configuration known under the trade name of "Tablet PC", was disclosed at Fall COMDEX in 2001, prior to the filing date of this International Application by Acer Inc. (Taipei, Taiwan), under the model designation TravelMate 100 Tablet PC (but it is believed that no disclosure of this product occurred prior to the priority application date).
• a compound hinge comprises a first section fixed to the base/cover portion and a second section fixed to the display portion.
• the first and second sections of the hinge have respective axes of rotation, and by offsetting those axes from each other by a distance D ( Figure 4) the desired rotation of the cover/base may rotate behind the back face of the display portion is achieved.
• the compound hinge may further comprise a third section joining the first hinge section to the second hinge section but extending between the two and therefore providing the offset of the axes of rotation.
• any conventional electrical connection between the base/cover portion and the display portion is suitable, such as the "open cable” approach shown in US Patent 5,283,862 noted above.
• the connection may comprise at least one passage for the electrical connection, such as the example shown in US Patent 5,390,075, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference.
• the display panel 5 may exploit any conventional display technology, including (without limitation) liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma display, organic light emitting diode (OLED), and touch screen display technologies.
• LCD liquid crystal display
• OLED organic light emitting diode
• connection between the base/cover portion and display portion provides sufficient friction to temporarily keep the base/cover portion and the display portion in the closed position.
• the system may further comprise at least one latch to temporarily keep the base/cover portion and the display portion in the closed position.
• at least one handle 20 attached to the system either the base/cover portion, or the display portion, or both.
• connection may provide sufficient friction to temporarily keep the base/cover portion and the display portion in the open position, and the ability to adjust the exact angle between the two is important to the need to position the graphic display panel at an appropriate viewing angle.
• system may further comprise a feature to lock the display portion into the open position.
• a feature to lock the display portion into the open position there may be at least one tab 21 on the cover/base portion that is moved into place to restrict the relative motion of the base/cover portion and the display portion.
• a variation on this embodiment further comprises at least one channel incorporated into the display portion, so that the tab may clear the display portion when the cover/base portion is rotated.
• a conventional external or internal 120 VAC (or equivalent) power supply may be included, or a battery may be located within either or both of the base/cover portion and the display portion.
• a battery may be located within either or both of the base/cover portion and the display portion.
• both rechargeable batteries and a connection to an external power source for charging the batteries and/or powering the display may be employed. It is preferred to place any power-related components within the base/cover portion so that the weight of such components may add stability to the system when it is in the open position. It is also possible for the system to have conventional battery "bays" that accommodate removable batteries, either alone or in combination with an external power supply as is common in the art.
• FIG. 2 One suitable type of connection when the display driver apparatus is a common laptop computer 10, is the conventional VGA or SVGA cable 11 that may operatively connect a video output port on such a laptop computer to a video input port 12 of the invention.
• Another possible technology is available from Margi Systems (Fremont, California, USA) under the trade name DISPLAY-TO-GO when connection between a PC Card (formerly PCMCIA) slot of the laptop computer 10 and the invention is desired.
• the format of the operative electronic signal connection between the display panel and the separate video display apparatus may be any conventional format such as those compatible with any of NTSC, PAL, SECAM, analog VGA, digital VGA, S-Video, and RGB component video.
• At least one audio channel 15 in the inventive system including (if appropriate but not required) appropriate connections, speakers, and controls 16 for various parameters related to the quality of the audio (volume, balance, tone, and the like).
• Any such controls may be manually adjustable on the system (e.g., physical knobs or switches, or an electronic control of any appropriate sort).
• the controls for the audio channels on the inventive system may be manually adjustable on the separate display driver apparatus.
• controls 17 for the visual quality of the image on the display monitor in the inventive system.
• controls for various parameters related to the quality of the display may be manually adjustable on the system (e.g., physical knobs or switches, or an electronic control of any appropriate sort).
• some sort of software-based application program within the electronics associated with the graphic display panel may be invoked so that such parameters are adjusted directly on the portable display system, but it is possible for a software application to be resident on the separate display driver apparatus to provide suitable manual adjustment of display quality.
• the system may further comprise at least one data transfer bus, 18, such as (but not necessarily) one meeting an established standard, e.g., RS-232C, USB, PC Card (PCMCIA), Compact Flash, Memory Stick, IEEE 1394, ISA, PCI, AGP, and the like.
• an established standard e.g., RS-232C, USB, PC Card (PCMCIA), Compact Flash, Memory Stick, IEEE 1394, ISA, PCI, AGP, and the like.
• one embodiment of the invention further comprises a docking feature 14 for the handheld computer that is incorporated into the base/cover portion.
• An even more detailed embodiment further comprises a spring-loaded cover 18 to normally enclose the docking feature.
• One possible connection between the handheld computer and the portable display system comprises an "L" shaped bidirectional adapter 19 having first and second ends. One end is adapted for connection to the handheld computer (or PDA), and the second end is adapted for connection to any convenient location on the system, e.g., the base/cover portion.
• Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram indicating a possible functional design in which In general, such selections are within the scope of the art applying known principles in accordance with the definition of the invention provided by the following claims.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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• 2002
  • 2002-05-30 CA CA002486727A patent/CA2486727A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-05-30 WO PCT/US2002/017293 patent/WO2002098123A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-05-30 EP EP02741792A patent/EP1412937A2/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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