U.S. patent application number 09/770447 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-09 for method for controlling screen direction of a video display stand.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc. Invention is credited to Jeong, Seog Yeong.
Application Number | 20010011696 09/770447 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19561888 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010011696 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jeong, Seog Yeong |
August 9, 2001 |
Method for controlling screen direction of a video display
stand
Abstract
A video display stand having dual panning axes suitable for
controlling a screen direction of appliances such as a TV set or a
personal computer without bumping against a wall even in a state
that it is positioned very closely to the wall, and its controlling
method for automatically controlling screen directions by using a
driving force, including two motors being installed having gear
driving shafts at one side of either a rotational base or a
rotation support member of the TV set; two movement guide toothed
slots each being formed along a circular arc centering a mutually
opposite gear driving shaft with a predetermined width and depth,
at the opposite side corresponding to the position of each motor,
and having a gear portion to be engaged with the gear driving shaft
at one side of each wall; and a controller for controlling driving
of the motors.
Inventors: |
Jeong, Seog Yeong; (Kumi,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc
|
Family ID: |
19561888 |
Appl. No.: |
09/770447 |
Filed: |
January 29, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09770447 |
Jan 29, 2001 |
|
|
|
09397138 |
Sep 16, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
248/415 ;
248/425; 348/E5.128 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16M 2200/08 20130101;
Y10T 74/1482 20150115; F16M 11/08 20130101; H04N 5/64 20130101;
F16M 11/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/415 ;
248/425 |
International
Class: |
F16M 013/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 8, 1998 |
KR |
53753-1998 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A video display stand having dual panning axes including a
rotation support member for supporting the TV set, comprising: two
rotational shafts formed with a predetermined space at one side of
either a lower surface of the TV set or the rotation support
member; and movement guide toothed slots formed at the mutually
opposite side of the two rotational shafts to receive the
rotational shafts, each movement guide toothed slot being formed
along a circular arc taken centering the relatively other
rotational shaft.
2. The video display stand according to claim 1, wherein the two
rotational shafts are formed to be symmetrical on a straight line
passing a center of gravity of the TV set.
3. The video display stand according to claim 1, wherein the
movement guide toothed slots are formed with a predetermined length
along an arc segment in a forward direction of the circular arc
from each rotational shaft taking a space between the two
rotational shafts as radius.
4. The video display stand according to claim 1, wherein the two
rotational shafts formed with thread grooves are threaded through
opening portions formed along the movement guide toothed slots by a
screw so as to be fixed.
5. The video display stand according to claim 1, wherein in case
that the rotational shafts are formed at the lower surface of the
TV set and the movement guide toothed slots are formed at the
rotation support member, the rotational shafts are positioned at a
rear end portion of the movement guide toothed slots in a state
that the TV set is directed to the front side.
6. The video display stand according to claim 1, wherein in case
that the movement guide toothed slots are formed at the lower
surface of the TV set and the rotational shafts are formed at the
rotation support member, the rotational shafts are positioned at a
front end portion of the movement guide toothed slots in a state
that the TV set is directed to the front side.
7. A video display stand having dual panning axes including a
rotational base incorporatively or separatively formed at a lower
surface thereof and a rotation support member for movably
supporting the rotational base, comprising: two motors being
installed with a predetermined space, having two gear driving
shafts at one side of either the rotational base or the rotation
support member, each being driven to be rotated in a normal
direction and in a reverse direction; two movement guide toothed
slots each being formed along an arc segment of a circular arc
centering a mutually opposite gear driving shaft with a
predetermined width and depth, at the opposite side corresponding
to the position of each motor, and having a gear portion to be
engaged with the gear driving shaft at one side of each wall; and a
controller means for controlling driving of the motor.
8. The video display stand according to claim 7, wherein the
driving shafts of the motor are positioned at a front end portion
of the movement guide toothed slots when they are engaged with the
gear portions of the movement guide toothed slots in a state that
the TV set is directed to the front side.
9. The video display stand according to claim 7, wherein a
combination groove with a predetermined size in a lengthy direction
is formed on the same line where the two motor are installed, a
combination hole is formed along the combination groove, a
combination protuberance having a thread groove to be received to
the combination groove with a predetermined margin forward and
backward direction is formed at the central portion where the
movement guide toothed slots are formed, all of which are threaded
through the combination hole.
10. The video display stand according to claim 9, wherein the
combination protuberance is formed at a position corresponding to
the center of gravity of the TV set.
11. The video display stand according to claim 7, wherein the
motors are formed to be symmetrical with a predetermined space on a
straight line passing the center of gravity of the TV set.
12. The video display stand according to claim 7, wherein the
movement guide toothed slots are formed with a predetermined length
along a circular arc formed backward from each driving shafts
taking the space between the two driving shafts of the motors as
radius.
13. The video display stand according to claim 7, wherein switches
are respectively installed at a front end portion of the movement
guide toothed slots so that a screen direction of the TV set can be
judged according to the state whether or not the switches are
touched by motors relying on the rotation of the movement guide
toothed slots.
14. The video display stand according to claim 13, wherein when the
switches are touched by both of the two of the motors, the TV set
is directed to the front side, while the switches are touched by
only one of the motors, the TV set is directed to the left side or
right side.
15. The video display stand according to claim 7, wherein the
controller means includes: a key input unit operated by a user;
detecting means for detecting the directions of the front, right
and left side of the TV set and detecting a signal for informing
each direction; motor driving means for respectively driving the
motors; and a controlling means for controlling each part to enable
the motor driving means to selectively drive the motor upon
receiving the data of input signal from the key input unit and the
signal from the detecting means.
16. A method for controlling screen direction of the video display
stand having dual panning axes for which two motors are selectively
driven in a normal direction (clockwise) and in a reverse direction
according to a key operation by a user so that a TV set can be
turned in the rightward direction or in the leftward direction
centering driving shafts of each motor, comprising the steps of:
judging whether the key input by the user is a left turn command or
right turn command, and the current screen direction of the TV set;
driving a motor positioned at the opposite side to the key input
command, of the two motors, in the normal direction or in the
reverse rotation direction until the key input is released, in case
that the current TV set is directed to the front side or is placed
in the same direction as the judged turn command; and rotating a
motor positioned at the side corresponding to the key input
command, of the two motors, in the normal direction or in the
reverse direction until the key input is released, in case that the
TV set is placed in a different direction to the judged turn
command.
17. The method according to claim 16, further includes a step for
stopping the rotation of the motor positioned at the side
corresponding to the key input and then rotating the other motor in
the same rotation direction as that of the corresponding motor
until the key input is released, in case that the key input has not
released yet even when the current TV set is already directed to
the front side.
18. The method according to claim 16, wherein in the step of
judging whether the key input is right turn command or left turn
command, and the screen direction of the TV set, in case that the
key input is a left turn command, when the TV set is directed to
the same side as the judged command or to the front side, the right
side motor is driven in the normal direction until the left turn
command is released, while when the TV set is directed to the
different side to the judged turn command, the left side motor is
driven in the normal direction until the left turn command is
released; in case that the key input is a right turn command, when
the TV set is directed to the same side as the judged command or to
the front side, the left side motor is driven in the reverse
direction until the right turn command is released, while when the
TV set is directed to the different side to the judged turn
command, the right side motor is driven in the reverse direction
until the right turn command is released.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein when the TV set is
directed to the different side to the judged turn command, in case
that the left turn command or right turn command is being kept even
when the TV set is already turned to be directed to the front side
after either the left side motor was driven in the normal direction
or the right side motor was driven in the reverse direction, the
driving of the motor corresponding to the command is stopped and
then the other motor is driven in the same direction as that of the
corresponding motor until the turning command is released.
20. The method according to claim 16, further includes a step for
judging whether the key input is a power disconnection command
besides the turn commands, according to which when it is the power
disconnection command and the TV set is directed to the left side
or to the right side, a normal position mode is performed to enable
the two motors to be selectively driven so as to turn the TV set to
be directed to the front side, and then the power is turned
off.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the normal position
mode is performed in that when the TV set is directed to the left
side, the right side motor is driven in the reverse direction,
while the TV set is directed to the right side, the left side motor
is driven in the normal direction.
22. The method according to claim 16, wherein two switches are
provided in the step for judging the current screen direction of
the TV set by combining touch signals of the two switches in a
manner that the switches are touched with both the two motors when
the TV set is directed to the front side, while being touched by
only one motor of them when the TV set is directed to the right or
left side.
23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the switches are
touched only by the left side motor when the TV set is directed to
the left side, while they are touched only to the right side motor
when the TV set is directed to the right side.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a video display stand, and
more particularly to a video display stand having dual panning axes
which is suitable for controlling a screen direction of appliances
such as a TV set or a personal computer without bumping against a
wall even in a state that it is positioned very closely to the
wall, and its controlling method for automatically controlling
screen directions by using a driving force.
[0003] 2. Description of the Conventional Art
[0004] Generally, regarding a TV stand, for example, its screen
direction is frequently desired to be changed according to viewing
positions of a viewer.
[0005] Accordingly, if the TV stand would not be rotatable, the
viewer should move the TV set whole to change its screen direction
to desired positions for viewing, causing much inconvenience.
[0006] In an attempt to settle such inconvenience, a rotatable TV
stand has been proposed.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional TV set. As
shown in the drawing, the TV set main body 1 is combined with a
rotational support 2 which rotatably supports the TV from the
bottom, so that the TV set can be rotated on the rotational support
2.
[0008] Such a general rotating apparatus has a single support,
details of which will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2
and 3.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the rotational support rotatably
supporting the conventional TV set having a single support, and
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a rotating support structure of
the conventional TV set having the single support.
[0010] In the conventional TV set, as described above, a circular
groove 3 is formed at a central portion of the rotational support
2. A combination hole 4 is formed at the center of the groove 3,
and a circular rotation guide hole 5 having a constant radius
centering the groove 3 is formed.
[0011] Corresponding to the rotational support 2, at a lower
surface of the TV set main body 1, a rotational shaft 7 having a
thread groove (not shown) is protrusively formed to be inserted
into the groove 3 of the rotational support 2 and to be rotatably
combined by being threaded with a screw 6 from the lower portion of
the combination hole 4. A circular slide rib 8 is protrusively
formed having a predetermined radius from the rotational shaft 7
and being inserted to the rotation guide groove 5 of the rotational
support 2 so as to be slidably rotated centering the rotational
shaft 7.
[0012] The TV set having such construction is rotatable 360.degree.
centering the rotational shaft 7, of which the slide rib 8 is
slidably rotated along the rotation guide groove 5 when the screen
direction of the TV set is desired to be changed by the viewer.
[0013] In this respect, as shown in FIG. 4, in most cases, the TV
set is positioned near the wall.
[0014] Thus, when the TV set is rotated to change its screen
direction, since the right and left edges 9a and 9b of the rear
portion of the receiver main body 1 touch the wall, its rotation
range is much limited.
[0015] In addition, when the TV set is inadvertently turned while
being laid near the wall, as shown in a dotted line of FIG. 4, the
edges 9a and 9b of the rear portion 9 of the TV set main body 1 are
readily bumped against the wall 10, possibly causing a breakdown to
the main body or a damage to its internal components due to the
impact.
[0016] Meanwhile, in view of rotating the TV set in desired
directions as well as preventing such a damage to the main body,
the TV set needs to be enough distanced from wall, which, however,
would occupy much space, resulting in a problem of efficiency in
space utilization.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide a video display stand having dual panning axes which can be
suitably adopted for controlling screen directions of a TV set, or
a personal computer as required to be changed at its own position,
without bumping against a wall even when they are placed closely
near the wall, and its controlling method for automatically
controlling screen directions by using a driving force.
[0018] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with
the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly
described herein, there is provided a video display stand having
dual panning axes having a rotational base incorporatively or
separatively formed at a lower surface of the video display stand
and a rotation support member for supporting the rotational base,
including: two motors being installed at a predetermined space,
having a gear driving shaft at one side of either the rotational
base or the rotation support member, each being driven to be
rotated in a normal direction and in a reverse direction; two
movement guide toothed slots each being formed along a circular arc
centering a mutually opposite gear driving shaft with a
predetermined width and depth at the opposite side corresponding to
the position of each motor, and having a gear portion to be engaged
with the gear driving shaft at one side of each wall; and a
controller for controlling the driving of the motor.
[0019] There is also provided a method for controlling screen
directions of a TV set for which two motors are selectively driven
in a normal direction (clockwise) and in a reverse direction in
accordance with a key operation by a user so that the TV set can be
rotated rightward or leftward centering the driving shaft of each
motor, including the steps of: judging whether the key input by the
user is right turn command or left turn command, and a current
screen direction of the TV set; driving a motor positioned at the
opposite side to the key input command, of the two motors, in the
normal direction or in the reverse rotation direction until the key
input is released in case that the current TV set is directed to
the front side or is placed in the same direction as the judged
turn command; rotating a motor positioned at the side corresponding
to the key input command, of the two motors, in the normal
direction or in the reverse direction until the key input is
released, in case that the TV set is placed in a different
direction to the judged turn command; and stopping the rotation of
the motor positioned at the side corresponding to the key input and
then rotating the other motor in the same rotation direction as
that of the corresponding motor until the key input is released, in
case that the key input has not released yet even when the current
TV set is already directed to the front side.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
[0021] In the drawings:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional Video display
stand;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a rotational support supporting the
conventional Video display stand;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a structure of the
rotational support of the conventional Video display stand;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a turning state when the
conventional Video display stand is placed closely near a wall;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective of a Video display stand with a
rotation support member as separated having dual panning axes in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the Video display stand main body
having dual panning axes in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0028] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the rotation support member of the
Video display stand having dual panning axes in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a turning support
structure of the Video display stand having dual panning axes in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 9a is a plan view showing a state that the Video
display stand having dual panning axes placed near the wall is
turned centering a shaft of one side in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention
[0031] FIG. 9b is a plan view showing a state that the Video
display stand having dual panning axes placed near the wall is
turned centering a shaft of the other side in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 10 is a view showing a combined state of the Video
display stand having dual panning axes in accordance with a
modification of one embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the Video display stand and
the rotation support member as separated having the dual panning
axes by using a driving force in accordance with another embodiment
of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view showing a combined state
of the Video display stand having dual panning axes in accordance
with another embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 13a is a plan view of major portion showing a state
that a gear driving shaft at one side is touched by a position
detecting micro-switch of the Video display stand having dual
panning axes in accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0036] FIG. 13b is a plan view of major portion showing a state
that the gear driving shaft at one side is separated from the
position detection micro-switch of the Video display stand having
dual panning axes in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0037] FIG. 14a is a view showing that the Video display stand
having dual panning axes is directed to the front side in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 14b is a view showing a state that the Video display
stand having dual panning axes is turned to the left side in
accordance with the another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0039] FIG. 14c is a view showing a state that the Video display
stand having dual panning axes is turned to the right side in
accordance with the another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0040] FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of a control circuit
controlling the screen direction of the Video display stand having
dual panning axes in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0041] FIG. 16 is a flow chart of operations of the Video display
stand having dual panning axes under the control of the control
circuit in accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0042] FIG. 17 is a flow chart of a left turn mode in the
operations of the Video display stand having dual panning axes in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
[0043] FIG. 18 is a flow chart of a right turn mode in the
operations of the Video display stand having dual panning axes
under the control of the control circuit in accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0044] FIG. 19 is a flow chart of a normal position mode in the
operations of the Video display stand under the control of the
control circuit in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0045] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0046] FIG. 5 is a perspective of a Video display stand with a
rotation support member as separated having dual panning axes in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is
a bottom view of the Video display stand main body having dual
panning axes in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention; FIG. 7 is a plan view of the rotation support member of
the Video display stand having dual panning axes in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 8 is a sectional
view showing a turning support structure of the Video display stand
having dual panning axes in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0047] As shown in the drawings, in a video display stand having
the dual panning axes in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention, two rotational shafts 110 and 110' each having a
thread groove are protrusively formed at a bottom surface of a TV
set main body 100. In this respect, the two rotational shafts 110
and 110' are disposed to be symmetrical right and left on a
straight line 130 passing the center of gravity 120 of the TV set
main body 100, so that the distance therebetween is the same as the
width D of a rear portion 140 of the TV set main body 100 or can be
wider.
[0048] On a rotation support member 200 supporting the TV set main
body 110, two arcuate movement guide toothed slots 210 and 210' are
formed to receive the two rotational shafts 110 and 110', in which
opening portions 220 and 220' are formed along the circular arc,
through which each screw 90 is engaged with the two rotational
shafts 110 and 110' as shown in FIG. 8. in a manner that the two
rotational shafts 110 and 110' are movable in the movement guide
toothed slots 210 and 210'.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 7, the movement guide toothed slots 210 and
210' are formed on a predetermined portion along an arc segment of
the circular arc in the forward direction taken from each central
point of two circles 99 and 99' overlapped with the interval D of
the two rotational shafts 110 and 110' as the radius.
[0050] The operation of right-turning and left-turning of the Video
display stand having dual panning axes in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention constructed as described above
will now be explained.
[0051] The two rotational shafts 110 and 110' of the TV set main
body 100 can be rotated centering the mutually opposite rotational
shaft only when they are positioned in rear end portion 210a and
210a' of the movement guide toothed slots 210 and 210' of the
rotation support member 200.
[0052] When the two rotational shafts 110 and 110' are positioned
at the rear end portions 210a and 210a' of the movement guide
toothed slot 210 and 210', the TV set main body is directed to the
front side.
[0053] In a state that the TV set main body is directed to the
front side, as shown in FIG. 9a, when the right side rotational
shaft 110' is moved centering the left side rotational shaft 110
along the right side movement guide toothed slot 210', the screen
of the TV set is turned leftward, conversely, as shown in FIG. 9b,
when the left side rotational shaft 110 is moved centering the
right side rotational shaft 110' along the left side movement guide
toothed slot 210, the screen of the TV set is turned rightward.
[0054] In this respect, the maximum turning radius of the right and
left edge portions of the rear end portion 140 of the TV set
corresponding to the two rotational shafts 110 and 110' is obtained
inside the wall 800, and the two rotational shafts 110 and 110' are
restrained from moving backward from the rear end portions 210a and
210a' of the movement guide toothed slots 210 and 210', so that
there is no possibility that the rear portion 140 of the TV set
main body 110 would bump against the wall 800.
[0055] FIG. 10 is a view showing a combined state of Video display
stand having dual panning axes in accordance with a modification of
one embodiment of the present invention, where the rotational
shafts 110 and 110' and the movement guide toothed slots 220 and
220' are formed mutually in the opposite side to that according to
one embodiment of the present invention.
[0056] In detail, the two rotational shafts 110 and 110' are
protrusively formed on the rotation support member 200, while
movement guide toothed slots 210 and 210' having the same shape as
in one embodiment of the present invention are formed at the bottom
surface of the TV set main body 100 so as to receive the two
rotational shafts 110 and 110'. The rotational shafts 110 and 110'
are positioned at a front end portion of the movement guide toothed
slots 210 and 210' of the main body 100 in a state that the TV set
main body 100 is directed to the front side.
[0057] The operations of the Video display stand having dual
panning axes according to the modification of one embodiment of the
present invention to turn the TV set rightward or leftward are the
same as the operations of the above-described embodiment, thus,
descriptions of which are omitted.
[0058] Meanwhile, as is known, the TV set is mostly controlled by a
remote-controller for viewers' convenience.
[0059] Accordingly, the video display stand having dual panning
axes for automatically rotating two shafts by using the driving
force and its controlling method in accordance with another
embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0060] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the Video display stand and
the rotation support member as separated having the dual panning
axes by using the driving force in accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention.
[0061] Reference 300 denotes a TV set main body, reference 400
denotes a rotational base incorporatively formed or separatively
combined with the bottom surface of the TV set main body 300, and
reference numeral 500 is a rotation support member for supporting
the rotational base 400.
[0062] The video display stand having dual panning axes in
accordance with another embodiment includes arcuate movement guide
toothed slots 420 and 420' being symmetrically formed at a
predetermined space with a predetermined width and depth on the
rotational base and having gear portions 410 and 410' at one side
(outer side) of a wall thereof; protrusions 430 and 430' formed
along an opening of the movement guide toothed slots 420 and 420';
and a circular combination protuberance 440 having a thread groove
441 formed between the two movement guide toothed slots 420 and
420' on the rotational base.
[0063] The rotation support member 500 corresponding to the
rotational base includes motor installing grooves 510 and 510' each
formed with a predetermined space on the same line as taken so as
for the two motors 520 and 520' to be installed; a combination
groove 530 formed at a central portion of the same line taken for
the two motor installing grooves 510 and 510' in a lengthy
direction to movably receive the combination protuberance 440 of
the rotational base 400 with a predetermined margin forward and
backward; and a combination hole 540 formed within the combination
groove 530 in a lengthy direction.
[0064] For the motors 520 and 520', a spline-shaped driving shafts
521 and 521' are provided to be engaged with the gear portions 410
and 410' of the toothed slots 420 and 420' so as to turn the
rotational base 400. Flange-shaped supports 522 and 522' are formed
around the driving shafts 521 and 521' at its lower end portion, on
which washers 91 made of a material having a low friction force are
mounted. The reason for this is to reduce a friction resistance in
turning or moving by minimizing the contact area between the
protrusions 430 and 430' of the movement guide toothed slots and
the corresponding rotational base 400.
[0065] The rotational base 400 and the rotation support member 500
are combined in a manner that a combination screw 90 is threaded
with the combination protuberance 440 of the rotational base
through a combination hole 540 at a state that the washer 92 is
inserted from the lower portion of the rotation support member 500.
In this combination, the combination protuberance 440 of the
rotational base 400 is a bit movable forward and backward for the
predetermined margin within the combination groove 530.
[0066] In this respect, the construction elements formed at the
rotational base 400 and the rotation support member 500 may be
changed to be formed on the mutually opposite side, for which the
combination protuberance 440, the combination groove 530 and the
combination hole 540 may not be formed.
[0067] The video display stand having dual panning axes and a
position detection micro-switches in accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention, and a method for judging
screen direction thereof will now be described with reference to
FIGS. 12, 13a and 13b.
[0068] FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view showing a combined state
of the Video display stand having dual panning axes in accordance
with another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13a is a
plan view of major portion showing a state that a gear driving
shaft at one side is touched by a position detecting micro-switch
of the Video display stand having dual panning axes in accordance
with another embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 13b is a
plan view of major portion showing a state that the gear driving
shaft at one side is separated from the position detection
micro-switch of the Video display stand having dual panning axes in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
[0069] As shown in FIG. 12, end portions of the gear driving shafts
521 and 521' are protruded from the upper surface of the rotational
base 400, and as shown in FIGS. 13a and 13b, a micro-switch 600 and
600' having contact plates 610 and 610' each being touched by the
end portion of the gear driving shafts 521 and 521' are installed
at an upper surface of the rotational base 400, that is, the front
end portion of the movement guide toothed slots 420 and 420', and
controlling electric signals to inform of touching state as the
contact plate 610 and 610' are touched or separated according to
the movement position of the movement guide toothed slots 420 and
420' which are moved as being engaged with the gear driving shafts
521 and 521' of the motors 520 and 520'.
[0070] By combining the signals informing whether the
micro-switches 600 and 600' installed at the front end portion of
the movement guide toothed slots 420 and 420' are touched or not,
the screen direction of the TV set main body 300 can be judged as
being classified to front, right and left sides.
[0071] The screen direction of the TV set main body 300 to the
front, right or left side will now be described with reference to
FIGS. 14a, 14b and 14c.
[0072] FIG. 14a is a view showing that the video display stand
having dual panning axes is directed to the front side in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; FIG.
14b is a view showing a state that the Video display stand having
dual panning axes is turned to the left side in accordance with the
another embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 14c is a view
showing a state that the Video display stand having dual panning
axes is turned to the right side in accordance with the another
embodiment of the present invention.
[0073] First, as shown in FIG. 14a, in case that the TV set main
body 300 is directed to the front side, the two gear driving shafts
521 and 521' are all positioned at the front end portion of the
movement guide toothed slots 420 and 420', being touched by the
contact plate 610 and 610' of the micro-switches 600 and 600', and
the combination protuberance 440 of the rotational base 400 is
positioned at the front end portion of the movement guide toothed
slots 530.
[0074] Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 14b and 14c, in case that the
TV set main body 300 is directed to the right side or to the left
side, the driving shafts 521 and 521' are touched only by one of
either the contact plate 610 or the contact plate 610' of the
micro-switches 600 and 600', while the other being separated
therefrom regardless of the turning angle, and at this time, the
combination protuberance 440 of the rotational base 400 is
positioned at the rear end portion of the movement guide toothed
slot 530.
[0075] Accordingly, on the basis of the signals according to the
touching state between the driving shafts 521 and 521' and the
micro-switches 600 and 600', the screen direction of the TV set can
be judged whether it is directed to the front side, or right or
left side.
[0076] The operation of driving the motor for the desired direction
from the current direction of the TV will now be explained in
detail.
[0077] First of all, in the following description on the rotation
of the driving shafts, the driving of the motor driving shaft
clockwise is defined as a normal direction while the driving the
motor driving shaft counterclockwise is defined as a reverse
direction.
[0078] In a state that the screen of the TV set is directed to the
front side as shown in FIG. 14a, the screen direction can be turned
leftward by driving the right side motor 520 in the normal
direction centering the gear driving shaft 521 as shown in FIG.
14b, and conversely, the screen direction can be turned rightward
by driving the left side motor 520 in the reverse direction
centering the gear driving shaft 521' as shown in FIG. 14c.
[0079] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 14b, when the TV set is desired
to be turned rightward from a state that it is directed to the left
side, the right side motor 520' is first driven in the reverse
direction centering the left side driving shaft 521, and as the
driving shaft 521' is touched by the contact plate 610' of the
right side micro-switch 600', its driving is stopped, and the left
side motor 520 is driven in the reverse direction centering the
right side driving shaft 521', by which the screen direction is
turned in the rightward direction.
[0080] Reversely, as shown in FIG. 14c, when the screen of the TV
set is desired to turn leftward from a state that it is directed to
the right side, the left side motor 520 is first driven in the
normal direction centering the right side driving shaft 521', and
as the driving shaft 521 is touched by the contact plate 610 of the
left side micro-switch 600, its driving is stopped, and then the
right side motor 520' is driven in the normal direction centering
the left side driving shaft 521, by which the screen direction is
turned to the leftward direction.
[0081] With respect to the FIGS. 14a to 14c, reference numeral 800
denotes a wall inside a room. Even in case that the TV set main
body 300 is positioned very near the wall 800, when the TV set main
body 300 is turned centering one of either shaft, the maximum
turning radius of the right and left edge portions at the rear side
of the TV set corresponding to the two rotational shafts 521 and
521' is obtained inside the wall surface and the combination
protuberance 440 of the rotational base 400 is moved a bit forward
within the movement guide toothed slot 530, so that there is no
possibility for the rear portion of the main body 300 to be bumped
against the wall 800.
[0082] The construction of the control circuit for automatically
controlling the screen directions of the TV set by operating the
driving motor will now be described with reference to FIG. 15.
[0083] FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of the control circuit
for controlling the screen direction of Video display stand having
dual panning axes in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention. As shown in the drawing, the control circuit
includes a controller 700 controlling each part; a key input unit
710 operated by a user; a remote control transmitting unit 729 and
a remote control receiving unit 730 as substitutive wireless input
units; a right side and left side detection units 740' and 740 each
for detecting turning direction of the TV set by using the
micro-switches 600 and 600'; and right side and left side motor
driving units 750' and 750 for driving the motors 520 and 520'.
[0084] The controller 700 includes a microcomputer.
[0085] That is, under the control of the microcomputer performing a
predetermined program control function, the operation command
inputted through the key input unit 710 by the user is detected by
the right side and the left side detection units 740' and 740, and
based on the current screen direction as detected, the right side
and the left side driving motors 750' and 750 are selectively
driven, details of which will be described later.
[0086] The key input unit 710 includes a switch button key for turn
command newly added in the present invention as well as a button
key such as a power switch normally provided at the TV set. The
remote control transmitting unit 720 refers to the usual
remote-controller including a switch button key for turn
command.
[0087] The operation of automatically controlling the screen
direction of the video display stand having dual panning by using
the driving force in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention constructed as described above will now be
explained with reference to FIGS. 16 through 19.
[0088] FIG. 16 is a flow chart of operations of the Video display
stand having dual panning axes under the control of the control
circuit in accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention; FIG. 17 is a flow chart of a left turn mode in the
operations of the Video display stand having dual panning axes in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; FIG.
18 is a flow chart of a right turn mode in the operations of the
Video display stand having dual panning axes under the control of
the control circuit in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention; and FIG. 19 is a flow chart of a normal position
mode in the operations of the Video display stand under the control
of the control circuit in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention.
[0089] First, as shown in FIG. 16, when the TV is switched on, the
controller 700 of FIG. 15 judges whether there is a key input by a
user directly from the key input unit 710 or from the remote
control transmitting unit 720 wirelessly in the step S1.
[0090] When there is a key input by the user, the controller 700
sequentially judges whether the input command is a right turn
command or left turn command, or power disconnection (power-OFF)
command in the steps S2-S4 to perform left turn mode in the step
S10 or right turn mode in the step S20 according to the judged
command if the command relates to the screen direction turning mode
in each step, while performing a normal position mode in the step
S30 to switch off the TV set for ending if the command relates to a
power disconnection command, or performing a normal TV control mode
if the command is neither the turning mode nor the power
disconnection command.
[0091] Detailed descriptions for each mode are as follows.
[0092] In case that the left turn mode in the step S10 is selected
according to the user's key input:
[0093] As shown in FIG. 17, first, it is judged whether the left
side micro-switch 600 is touched ON by means of the left side
detection unit 740 in the step S11.
[0094] When the left side micro-switch 600 is touched ON, which
signifies that the TV set main body 300 is directed to the front
side as shown in FIG. 14a, or is directed to the left side as shown
in FIG. 14b, thus, the right side motor 520' is driven in the
normal direction in the step S12 to turn the TV set main body 300
in the leftward direction.
[0095] Subsequently, after the right side motor 520' started to be
driven in the normal direction, it is judged whether the key input
is released in the step S13, and if the key input is not released,
the driving is kept on, while if the key input is released, the
driving is stopped in the step S14 and returns to the step S1.
[0096] Meanwhile, when the left side micro-switch 600 is not
touched ON, which signifies that the TV set is directed to the
right side as shown in FIG. 14c. Thus, in this case, the left side
motor 520 is driven in the normal direction in the step S15, and it
is judged whether the key input is released in the step S16. If the
key input is released, the driving of the left side motor 520 in
the normal direction is stopped in the step S17. Meanwhile, if the
key input is not released, it is judged whether the left side
micro-switch 600 is touched ON again in the step S18, and if it is
not touched ON, the above steps are repeatedly performed while the
left side motor 520 is kept driving in the normal direction, and if
the left side micro-switch 600 is touched ON, the driving of left
side motor 520 is simultaneously stopped and the right side motor
520' is driven in the normal direction so as to go to the step
Sl3.
[0097] In case that the right turn mode in the step S20 is selected
according to the user's key input:
[0098] As shown in FIG. 18, first, it is judged whether the right
side micro-switch 600' is touched ON by means of the right side
detection unit 740' in the step S21.
[0099] When the right side micro switch 600 is touched ON, which
signifies either that the TV set main body 300 is directed to the
front side as shown in FIG. 14a, or that the TV set main body 300
is directed to the right side as shown in FIG. 14c. Thus, the left
side motor 520 is driven in the reverse direction in the step S22
to turn TV set main body 300 in the rightward direction.
[0100] After the left side motor 520 is driven to be rotated in the
reverse direction, it is judged whether the key input by the user
is released in the step S23, and if the key input is not released,
the driving is kept on, while, if the key input is released, the
driving is stopped in the step S24 to return to the step S1.
[0101] Meanwhile, when the right side micro-switch 600' is not
touched ON, which signifies that the TV set is directed to the left
side as shown in FIG. 14b. Thus, in this case, the right side motor
520' is driven in the reverse direction in the step S25, and it is
judged whether the key input is released in the step S26. If the
key input is released, the driving of the right side motor 520' in
the reverse direction is stopped in the step S27. Meanwhile, if the
key input is not released, it is judged whether the right side
micro-switch 600' is touched ON again in the step S28, and if it is
not touched ON, the above steps are repeatedly performed while the
right side motor 520' is kept driving in the reverse direction, and
if the right side micro-switch 600' is touched ON, the driving of
right side motor 520' is simultaneously stopped and the left side
motor 520 is driven in the reverse direction so as to go to the
step S23.
[0102] In case that the normal position mode S30 is selected
according to the key input by the user:
[0103] As shown in FIG. 19, first, it is judged whether the left
side micro-switch 600 is touched OFF in the step S31.
[0104] As shown in FIG. 14c, if the left side micro-switch 600 is
touched OFF, the left side motor 520 is driven in the normal
direction in the step S23 to judge whether the left side
micro-switch 600 is touched ON in the step S33, and if it is
touched ON, the driving of left side motor 520 is stopped.
[0105] Meanwhile, if the left side micro-switch 600 is not touched
OFF, it is judged whether the right side micro-switch 600' is
touched OFF in the step S35. As shown in FIG. 14b, if the right
side micro-switch 600' is touched OFF, the right side motor 520' is
driven in the reverse direction in the step S36 to judge whether
the right side micro-switch 600' is touched ON, and if it is
touched ON, the driving of the right side motor 520' is stopped in
the step S38.
[0106] Of course, in case that both the right side and left side
micro-switches 600' and 600 are not touched OFF, as shown in FIG.
14a, which signifies that the screen direction of the TV set is
directed to the front side, thus, the normal position mode is
ended.
[0107] The normal position mode S30 is always performed even in the
power disconnection (power-OFF) command, for which an additional
key may be provided to the key input unit 710 or at the remote
control transmitting unit 730, so that the normal position mode can
be performed by the key operation conveniently.
[0108] In addition, in the video display stand having dual panning
axes according to another embodiment of the present invention,
since a free-wheel of the motor is possible, the motor can be
manually controlled directly.
[0109] As so far described, the video display stand having dual
panning axes of the present invention is suitably applied to
appliances such as a TV set or a personal computer, of which
directions are desired to be changed at its own position, by which
they can be turned without bumping against the wall even in case
that they are placed very near the wall, having an effect of
increasing the space utilization.
[0110] In addition, with the video display stand having dual
panning axes of the present invention, the screen direction can be
both automatically and manually controlled by using the driving
force, having an effect of increasing the users' convenience.
[0111] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications
and variations provided they come within the scope of the appended
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *