JP2009131635A - Workstation acting as desk or drawing table for at least one seated user - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To propose a novel workstation making it possible to improve working conditions on a screen. <P>SOLUTION: The present invention provides a workstation (1) suitable for acting as a desk or a drawing table for at least one seated user, the workstation comprising a structure (2) supported by a stand (3) so as to be capable of pivoting about a horizontal pivot axis (X), and a window (6) defining a display zone for one or more screens (5) and/or one or more image projector devices (35) disposed beneath the window, the screen(s) and/or the projector device(s) being carried by the structure, each screen and/or each projector device being fixed relative to the portion of the window covering it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a workstation that functions as a desk or drafting table for at least one seated user (user sitting in a chair).

  In Canadian Patent CA 1 106 895, a desk having a transparent work surface is arranged below the work surface and fixed to a frame that can slide relative to the work surface. The desk is disclosed. In this Canadian patent, the work surface is fixed to a stand and can only be used in a horizontal position. In addition, the size of the display zone constituted by a single screen is relatively small.

  International patent application WO 85/03626 discloses a workstation in which a single screen is arranged below the work surface. The screen is fixed to the workstation by a device that can slide the screen and pivot in several directions, thus making the device relatively complex. Also, this workstation can only fix a relatively small size single screen, thus limiting the possibility of displaying multiple images simultaneously or displaying one large format image. The workstation also has telescopic legs.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a novel workstation that can improve the working conditions on the screen.

  According to the present invention, a workstation functioning as at least one sitting user's desk or drafting table has a structure supported by a stand so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis and a window. The window forms one or more screens and / or one or more image projector devices arranged under the window, the screen (s) and / or projector device (s) being Supported by the structure, each screen and / or each projector device is fixed to the portion of the window that covers it. The workstation is also configured in a manner that allows a seated user to place a leg under the structure, at least when the window is horizontal.

According to the present invention, the specific window has both functions as a work surface and a display zone.
The workstation of the present invention allows one or more users to work simultaneously while sitting or standing, or if the user is a disabled person or a mechanic lying under a vehicle, For example, it is possible to work in a prone position where the display zone is visible.

When the user is seated, the user can place the knee under the structure and the arm over the window in a comfortable manner.
The user may be a child, so the workstation is adaptable especially with respect to height.
Also, the workstation of the present invention can save a lot of work space compared to the normal situation where the screen is placed on the desk.

The window can be made from any kind of transparent material, such as plastic material or glass. The window may consist of a single piece or multiple panels, or may optionally be formed as part of the screen, especially when the screen is touch sensitive.
The structure can be provided with a box with a screen and / or projector device (s) arranged within the screen.

The structure can also be configured in a cellular shape that can accept a screen, which allows the screen to be conveniently removed from these shells as needed.
The display zone advantageously occupies most of the window.
Thus, a large format image or a plurality of small format images can be displayed simultaneously.

  Generally speaking, the present invention can display a large amount of information simultaneously, thus making the user's work easier and more efficient. More specifically, since the area of the display zone is large, the user can accurately consider the decision zone of the plan or map while looking around the display zone. This prevents the user from zooming or re-centering periodically on a specific zone of the image.

The present invention requires the display of large format images such as maps, plans, drawings, graphs or directory tree structures, and possibly such multi-element text, spreadsheets and arbitrary composite images. Especially suitable for activities.
The window can be formed flat at least over most of its surface, and the window constitutes the top surface of the structure and most of the work surface available to the user.

The structure can include a single screen or preferably a plurality of screens arranged in a rectangular matrix.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the structure has a projector device that is disposed relative to the structure in a manner that allows a user to place its legs under at least a portion of the structure.

  In one embodiment of the invention, the structure has one or more screens. In a variant, the structure has only one or more projector devices. In other variations, the structure has both at least one screen and at least one projector device. Thus, the structure can attach a projector device to this first portion along with one or more screens (eg, a flat screen and more particularly a touch sensitive screen) attached to the second portion of the structure. . The second part is less deep than the first part, so that the user can place its legs under the second part.

In one embodiment of the invention, the display zone is rectangular or square and has a diagonal equal to or greater than 144 cm, preferably 166 cm.
The workstation of the present invention is advantageous in that it includes a controller for the screen and / or projector apparatus.

If the workstation has multiple screens and / or multiple projector devices, the controller is configured to control content displayed by each of the screens and / or projector devices.
More specifically, the controller is suitable for displaying information only on some screens and leaving other screens in standby.

The controller can also rotate the image displayed in the display zone, so that when multiple people work simultaneously around a workstation, each person can select the image orientation to suit each person. It is configured.
The controller is also configured to display multiple arbitrary identical images at different locations in the display zone, with each image oriented in the desired direction, so people sitting around the workstation are most suitable You can see the image in the direction condition.

The workstation can be provided with an electronic stylus that interacts with the display zone.
Thus, the user can modify the displayed image, annotate on the display plan or map, and / or select an operation button displayed on the screen (s).

The window or screen (s) can be touch sensitive where appropriate.
In addition to the window, the structure can be provided with a frame suitable for enclosing at least a portion of the window, for example, to support a computer keyboard and / or a drawing or writing instrument.

In a particular embodiment, the workstation includes a compartment with one or more drawers or screen controllers and / or one or more shelves suitable for receiving peripheral devices such as printers or uninterruptible power supplies. Can be provided.
The stand is advantageously constructed so that the height of the pivot axis of the structure can be adjusted.

The workstation may be provided with a motor driven device that adjusts the height of the pivot and the tilt of the structure and / or a locking element that locks the structure in the desired position.
The structure is advantageously provided with screen fixing means that allow the removal of individual screens. This allows the user to replace one or more screens as needed.

As disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,017,584, the screen can be a cathode ray tube (CRT) type, liquid crystal type, plasma type, or microcapsule type screen.
The workstation is suitable to function as a screen wall, the structure pivots with respect to the stand and moves the window to a substantially vertical position, so that, for example, all attendees of the conference can be seen. It is suitable to construct a display zone that can be viewed from a certain distance.

The structure can pivot over an angle of 180 ° in both directions relative to the horizontal.
In certain embodiments, at least a portion of the window is particularly suitable to be lifted together with the screen (s) to allow access to the internal compartment.
The workstation can be provided with a plotter located behind and / or above the structure and secured to the stand.

The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the non-limiting aspects of the invention and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a workstation 1 according to the invention having a structure 2 supported by a stand 3.

The structure 2 has a frame 2a that supports four screens 5 arranged in a rectangular 2 × 2 matrix.
In the example described here, the screen 5 is a CRT.
As a modification, the screen 5 can be a liquid crystal type, plasma type or microcapsule type screen.

The screen 5 forms an A0 format display zone A which is particularly suitable for displaying large format graphic documents.
The screen 5 is fixed to the structure 2 by fixing means (not shown) capable of individually removing an arbitrary screen in case of failure.
The screen is also covered by a non-removable flat window 6 that can withstand impacts and scratches and exhibits suitable mechanical properties suitable for use as a work surface.

The structure 2 has a trough 7 along the longitudinal front edge, and a user can put a drawing tool or a writing tool on the trough 7, for example.
In addition to the trough 7 or in place of the trough 7, the structure 2 has one or more circumferential supports (not shown) that can accept one or more keyboards for screens or several sets of control buttons. It can also be provided.

In the illustrated example, the structure 2 is connected to the stand 3 via a two-part horizontal shaft 10 that can rotate about the axis X.
The shaft 10 can be hollow so that it can accept a connecting cable, if appropriate.

The stand 3 has two support elements 12 (or “uprights”), each support element 12 having an H-shape and two telescopic legs 11 of adjustable height.
The legs 11 can be attached to casters that allow the workstation to be easily moved, in which case a locking device is also attached to the legs.

Each support element 12 also has a horizontal crossbar 15 that interconnects the legs 11, and the shaft 10 is connected to the crossbar 15 via a hinge 18.
A locking element 19 acting on the hinge 18 can lock the structure 2 in a desired angular position, for example the horizontal position shown in FIG. 1, the tilted position shown in FIG. 2, or the vertical position.

The height and / or inclination angle of the structure 2 can be adjusted manually or by motor control.
The workstation can also be provided with an additional locking element that prevents or brakes the structure 2 from pivoting beyond an allowable angle.

One or both of the two support elements 12 has at least one for receiving a central unit 17 which functions as a screen controller, to which the screen 5 is connected via a connection cable (not shown). Two shelves 16 can be provided.
Of course, any peripheral device such as a printer, scanner, CD-ROM or DVD reader, or uninterruptible power supply can be placed on the shelf 16.

In the fitting provided in the structure 2, the motherboard of the central unit 17 and possibly other cards can be placed.
The central unit 17 is configured to control the content displayed by each screen 5, especially if the user wishes to use only a part of the display zone A, only a part of the screen 5 is used. Can be operated.

If there are multiple users around the workstation 1, the central unit 17 can represent any multiple identical images at different locations in the display zone A, these images being in the direction appropriate for each user. Oriented.
The central unit 17 can also be configured to rotate the image displayed in the plane of the window 6 so that the image is oriented in the desired direction and adapted to the direction of the structure 2.

Display zone A can be configured to interact with an electronic stylus that allows the user to modify the displayed image.
In the example shown, the workstation 1 further comprises a plotter 20 which is fixed to the support element 12 well above and behind the structure 2 so as not to disturb the pivoting of the structure 2. ing.

As shown in FIG. 5, it is not beyond the scope of the present invention to replace at least one screen 5 with an image projector device 35 such as a video projector that can be fixed to the structure 2.
The projector device 35 is suitable for projecting an image on a part of the display zone A located above the projector device 35.

The projector device 35 extends under a relatively large depth under the window 6 while maintaining a state where the user can still easily place his legs under the three screens 5.
The use of only a single screen does not go beyond the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a workstation 1 ′ having a structure 2 ′ fixed to a stand 3 similar to the stand 3 in the examples of FIGS. 1 and 2.
The structure 2 ′ has a box 25 and a panel 26 that closes the box, and the panel 26 is hinged to the longitudinal rear edge of the box 25.

  The panel 26 supports a window 27 and an A0 format single flat screen 5 'disposed below. The panel 26 is lifted by the user pivoting it back, thereby allowing access to the internal compartment 30. As a variant, if the window is made of panels, it is possible to lift a single panel and its associated screen.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
The support elements 12 can be of various shapes, more particularly A-shaped or inverted T-shaped, and can be connected to each other at the floor level.
If possible from the weight of the structure, a single central leg can be used, in which case the structure is connected to the leg by a ball-and-socket hinge. In such a configuration, the structure can pivot at a greater or lesser angle in one or the other direction over an angle approaching 90 ° relative to the horizontal.

  The workstation also functions as, for example, a digitizing table or as a light box that considers transparency. The workstation also functions as a computer station having a plurality of computer devices. In addition, the workstation may be provided with one or more touch sensitive screens.

The workstation can also be provided with elements that reduce or eliminate light reflections within the display zone, such as a cover that covers the display zone.
The structure can be configured to be pivoted by connecting to the stand in a non-hinged manner and changing the length of the legs of the stand.
The stand itself can be supported by a base plate or a flat plate.

It is a general | schematic fragmentary perspective view which shows the place where the display zone of the workstation which comprises 1st embodiment of this invention is orientated horizontally. FIG. 2 is a schematic partial perspective view showing a tilted display zone of the workstation of FIG. 1. It is a general | schematic fragmentary perspective view of the workstation which comprises 2nd embodiment of this invention, and shows the place where the window is closed. It is a general | schematic fragmentary perspective view of the workstation which comprises 2nd embodiment of this invention, and shows the place where the window is opened. It is a schematic fragmentary figure which shows the modification of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1 'Workstation 2, 2' Structure 3 Stand 5, 5 'Screen 6, 27 Window 12 Supporting element 16 Shelf 17 Central unit 19 Locking element 25 Box 30 Internal compartment 35 Image projector apparatus

Claims (10)

  A structure (supported by a stand (3) so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis (X) in a workstation (1, 1 ') functioning as a desk or drawing table for at least one seating user ( 2, 2 ′) and windows (6, 27), one or more screens (5, 5 ′) and / or one or more image projector devices (/ 35), wherein the screen (s) and / or projector device (s) are supported by a structure, each screen and / or each projector device being against a portion of the window covering it And is configured in such a way that the seated user can place his legs under the structure at least when the window is horizontal. Workstations, characterized by that.   2. A workstation as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the display zone (A) occupies most of the window, which occupies most of the work surface available to the user.   A workstation according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the structure (2) supports a plurality of screens (5), preferably arranged in a rectangular matrix.   A workstation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display zone (A) is square or rectangular and has a diagonal equal to or greater than 144 cm, preferably 166 cm.   A controller (17) for the screen (s) and / or projector device (s), which allows the image displayed in the display zone to rotate or 5. A workstation according to claim 1, wherein the workstation is configured to display images at a plurality of positions in a display zone and to orient each image in a desired direction.   6. A workstation according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the structure is pivotable relative to a stand so that the window can be oriented in a vertical position.   A workstation according to claim 6, characterized in that it has at least one locking element (19) for locking the structure in a given angular position with respect to the stand.   A workstation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a part of the window is adapted to be lifted, in particular to access the internal compartment (30).   9. A workstation according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plotter (20) secured to a stand behind the structure.   10. Workpiece according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising one or more shelves (16) or compartments for receiving a controller for controlling the screen (s). station.

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