GB2278026A - Widescreen television with movable loudspeakers obscuring unused parts of screen - Google Patents

Abstract

A television receiver comprises a wide aspect ratio screen 10 having a stereo pair of loudspeakers 18 which are movable from a first position in which the whole of the screen is visible (fig 3c) for displaying wide aspect ratio material, and a second position in which the edges of the screen are obscured (fig 2c) by the loudspeakers for displaying standard aspect ratio material. The loudspeakers are moved by motor driven cogged hinges (figs 6 to 9). <IMAGE>

Description

CINEMA TELEVISION This invention relates to a standard television that can adjust it's screen size to accommodate a widescreen format wlen required.

Standard televisions are square screened and cannot accommodate a widescreen movie. Whenever a movie in its original widescreen ratio is screened on such a TV the result can only be displayed in two fashions: one way is to displaY the full screen, while distinctive black bars at the top and bott()m of the screen, whlle the other is to show only part of the picture and eliminate he edges. This is commonly nown as "Panning and Scanning".

With the introduction of widescreen television the full glory of widescreen movies can be displayed. This is due to a much wider screen than the ordinary standard television. The disadvantagks, however, outweigh the advantages as widescreen broadcasts are tew and such movies on video are still in their infancy. As the standard TV's cannot accommodate widescreen the problem is now in the inverse. As the standard picture is incompatible with the wider screen normal broadcasts have to be displayed with the black bars at the wedges. The other alternatives on offer are that the picture is stretched to accommodate the screen or only part of the picture is displayed resulting in the unacceptable 'Panning and canning process.

According to the present invention there is provided a widescreen television housing comprising two loudspeakers, means of protection against electromagnetically radiated interference, means of securing the loudspeakers on the housing, the speakers being adapted to pivot 1800 to and from the housing at the edges thereof and retractable 5 speaker cable provided from the housing to the speakers thereof which end is situated adjacent the edge of the housing.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the disadvantages of both standard and widescrfen television sets; a) Standard television displaying widescreen movie.

b) Standard television displaying widescreen movie in "Panning and Scanning" Scanning11ecni technique.

c) Widescreen Television displaying standard broadcast d Widescreen Television displaying standard broadcast in stretched technique. .

e) Widescreen Television displaying standard broadcast in "Panning and Scanning" technique.

f) Widescreen Television displaying widescreen movie t full effect.

Figur,e 2 shows introspectively, the television with the speakers in closed position, hiding the black bars displayed as in Figure Ic; a) Elevation of television displaying "Panning and Scanning" movie.

i. Suggested position of manual controls hidden by flap; ii. Suggested Position of sub-woofer sPeaker to enable more faithful reproduction of NICAM stereo sound; iii. Suggested position of remote control receiver; b) End Elevation of television d isplaing how mobile speaker (18) fits into housing (12 c) Plan of television displaying how mobile speakers (18) fit into housing (12); Figure 3 shows introspectively, the television with the speakers in 'open' position displaying the widescreen movie to full effect as in Figure if; Figure 4 shows in rotation, the right-hand speaker with it's magnetic shielding (26) and designed grooves that house hinged mechanism.The speaker casing has a moulded rubber back that, when placed on the television tube (10), no light will disclose unused screen when in 'closed' position as in Figure 2 (it is recommended that an FST screen is used for this purpose); Figure 5 shows the plastic clips that accommodate the metal 'Swivel Pin' a) In Elevation, both clips are displayed in the groove that the hinged mechanism will enter; b) In Plan, both clips are disPlayed in the groove this shows the sues ted shape of te clip in order to accommodate the swivel pin; c) In perspective, the top of the swivel pin is shown; Figure 6 shows the hinges that will accommodate the movement of the speakers- a) In plan, the 'cogged-arm' is solid with a cog mecanism at one side.The other has a circular hole adequate to accommodate swivel pin (20); b) When the 'cogged-arm' is pivoted on the television housing itwilbe situated parallel with the 'un cogged hinge arm; c) In plan the 'un-coed-arm' is hollow and can precisely envelope tte 'cogged-arm'. It too has a nole with identical dimensions as in Fig 6(a); Both arms are equal in length and have cutouts in order that the may fit with each other after a pivot of 1800.As tne arms rotate they will always remain parallel with each other due to the attachment of the speaker casings; Figure 7 illustrates the mechanism that will provide the drive required to move the speakers from 'oPen' position to 'closed' position; the boxes '14' are the Quartz Locked drive motors.

his mechanism is situated inside the television housing in circumference of the widescreen television tube; Figure 8 illustrates the movement of the cogs/cog-rods and su sequent movement of the hinged arm when on pivot; Figure 9 illustrates the movement of the hinged arms in order to keep the loudspeakers facing forward while in movement; and Figure 10 illustrates how the retractable speaker cable and reel are used. There are two of these, the other in inverse direction. They are situated below the motorised mechanism (Fig 7) at the edges of the television housing.

Referring to the drawing the television comprises a widescreen television tube 10, a casing esPecially adaPted to accommodate two moulded loudspeaker casings 2, means generated momentum 14 and pivoted 'hinge arms 1 secured to the speaker casing 18 by 'hinge pin 20 when inserted into clip 22.

In order to move the speakers from 'Closed' position to 'Open' position the motors 14 are started as shown in Fig 7. (Suggested that this can be generated by using remote control and automatically have the picture on the screen 'zoom in to accommodate widescreen simultaneously; an override system is suggested to accommodate one's own pleasure). The motors subsequently rotate the fixed cogs/cog-rods 15 to finally start the hinged arm 16 in movement as illustrated in Fig 8. The hinged arms gently start to rotate on hing pin 20 as they carry the loudspeaker casings 18, which maintain position, on, their journey of 1800 as illustrated in Fig 9.

In order to power sound to the speaker a retractable cable 11 is provided to supply the constant length of cable required. This will result in no surplus cable that will look untidy or will cause damage to the cogs 15.

As the appliance moves in the direction of arrows 25 the retractable cable 11 flows freely from the sring-tensioned reel 17 and will comfortably retract into the reel when in reverse.

The cable is securely held within the speaker by cable grips thrdugh hole 19, whereas a guide wheel 21 admit wil retractable cable 11 to enter and leaye hole 23 with ease as illustrated in figure 10.

In order to set the speakers back to their 'Closed' position the same procedures described above are carried out with the motors working in reverse.

Claims (14)

1. A widescreen television comprising a housing especially adapted to accommodate two moulde loudspeater casings the loudspeaker casings being adapted to move to and from the television housing from both edges thereof and retractable speaker cable provided from the housing to the speaker casings adjacent the edges thereof which edges are situated adjacent the television housing when the speakers are in 'closed' position on the housing.

2. A widescreen television as claimed in Claim 1 wherein hinge means are provided on the housing co-operable with the speaker casings on the housing.

3. A widescreen television as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the hinge means are provided in mirrored image at both left and right edges of the housing thereof adjacent the corners of t e housing.

4. A widescreen television as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein catchment means are provided on the speaker casing for pivoting the hinged movement of the speaker casing.

5. A widescreen television as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the catchment means are adapted to co-operate with the hinge means in order to pivot the hinged movement of the speaker casing.

6. A widescreen television as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the speaker casingS are made mobile due to means of power source situated within the television housing.

7. A widescreen television as claimed in Claim 6 wherein power source is dual motors which are Quartz locked.

8. A widescreen television as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein rotation means are provided in order to turn 'cog rods' by use of threads cut into the rotation means adjacent the 'cog-rod' ends.

9. A widescreen television as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the 'cog-rods' are used to control the simultaneous movement of the large cogs adjacent the 'cog-rod' ends.

10. A widescreen television as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein the appliance subsequently rotates cogged' hinge arm.

11. A widescreen, television as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an 'un-cogged' hinge arm is provided on the housing remote from the motor appliance.

12. A widescreen television as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the un-cogged' hinge arms are hollow and envelope the 'cogged' hinge arms when in lateral position.

13. A widescree television as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12, wherein both hinged arms rotate simultaneously and are similar in lengtn.

14. A widescreen television as described herein with reference to Figures 1-10 of the accompanying drawings.