U.S. patent application number 11/216734 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-22 for display device.
Invention is credited to Steven S. Homer, Kevin Massaro, Earl Moore.
Application Number | 20070062089 11/216734 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37882643 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070062089 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Homer; Steven S. ; et
al. |
March 22, 2007 |
Display device
Abstract
A display device comprises a housing adapted to support a
display screen. The display device also comprises a kickstand
support positionable to support the housing in at least two
different viewing modes.
Inventors: |
Homer; Steven S.; (Tomball,
TX) ; Massaro; Kevin; (Houston, TX) ; Moore;
Earl; (Cypress, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HEWLETT PACKARD COMPANY
P O BOX 272400, 3404 E. HARMONY ROAD
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ADMINISTRATION
FORT COLLINS
CO
80527-2400
US
|
Family ID: |
37882643 |
Appl. No.: |
11/216734 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
40/754 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1626 20130101;
G06F 1/1654 20130101; G06F 1/1637 20130101; G06F 2200/1614
20130101; G06F 1/1616 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
040/754 |
International
Class: |
A47G 1/16 20060101
A47G001/16 |
Claims
1. A display device, comprising: a computer display screen housing;
and a kickstand support positionable to support the housing in at
least two different viewing modes, the kickstand support comprising
a rotator element and a support member extending from a unitary
location of the rotator element.
2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the support member is
pivotably coupled to the rotator element.
3. The display device of claim 1, wherein the kickstand support is
coupled to a side of the housing opposite a computer display
screen.
4. The display device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a
recessed portion adapted to facilitate storage of the kickstand
support therein.
5. The display device of claim 1, wherein the kickstand support is
adapted to be stored in a flush position relative to at least a
portion of the housing.
6. The display device of claim 1, wherein the support member
comprises a unileg support member.
7. The display device of claim 1, wherein the kickstand support is
positionable to support the housing in at least two different
viewing angles.
8. The display device of claim 1, wherein the kickstand support is
rotatably coupled to the housing to enable positioning of a
computer display screen in at least portrait and landscape viewing
modes.
9. The display device of claim 1, wherein the rotator element is
rotatably coupled to the housing and the support member is
pivotally coupled to the rotator element.
10. The display device of claim 1, wherein the housing is
configured to enable flush storage of the kickstand support
relative to at least a portion of a side of the housing opposite a
computer display screen.
11. A method for manufacturing a display device, comprising:
coupling a kickstand support to a computer display screen housing
of the display device, the kickstand support adapted to position
the housing in at least two different viewing modes, the kickstand
support comprising a rotator element and support member extending
from a unitary location of the rotator element.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein coupling the kickstand support
comprises rotatably coupling the kickstand support to the
housing.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing the
kickstand support having the support member pivotally coupled to
the rotator element.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing the
kickstand support having a unileg support member pivotally coupled
to the rotator element.
15. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing the
housing having a recessed portion adapted to facilitate storage of
the kickstand support therein.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing the
housing configured to enable flush storage of the kickstand support
relative to at least a portion of a side of the housing opposite a
computer display screen.
17. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing the
kickstand support configured to enable positioning of a computer
display screen in at least portrait and landscape viewing
modes.
18. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing the
kickstand support configured to enable positioning of a computer
display screen in at least two different viewing angles.
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
21. An electronic display device, comprising: a housing disposed
about a display screen; and a kickstand support positionable to
support the display screen in at least two different viewing modes,
the kickstand support comprising a rotator element and a support
member pivotally coupled to the rotator element.
22. The device of claim 21, wherein the electronic display device
is usable with at least one peripheral device.
23. The device of claim 21, wherein the display screen is
configured to receive user input.
24. The device of claim 21, wherein the electronic display device
comprises a tablet portable computer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Display devices are configured to enable viewing by a user
of graphical content displayed thereby and/or to enable input of
information by the user to the display device (e.g., via a touch
screen and/or pen input method). In some instances, the display
device includes a support member to enable positioning the display
device in a vertical or near-vertical orientation. However, the
number of viewing positions and/or modes desired by a user to
facilitate viewing and/or input of information to the display
device exceeds those supported by such support members.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] For a more complete understanding of the present invention
and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following
descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0003] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a display
device in accordance with the present invention; and
[0004] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an enlarged view of a
portion of the display device illustrated in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The preferred embodiments of the present invention and the
advantages thereof are best understood by referring to FIGS. 1 and
2 of the drawings, like numerals being used for like and
corresponding parts of the various drawings.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a display
device in accordance with the present invention. In the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 1, display device 10 comprises a tablet
portable computer 12 usable with peripheral device(s) such as, but
not limited to, a keyboard 9 and mouse 11. However, it should be
understood that display device 10 may comprise other types of
computer devices such as, but not limited to, a personal digital
assistant, detachable display element of a notebook or laptop
computer, or any other type of device having a display screen 14
for displaying image content to a user thereof and/or for enabling
a user to input information thereto (e.g., via a touch screen
display element and/or pen device).
[0007] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, display device 10
comprises a housing 20 adapted to support display screen 14 and/or
electronic components therein and a kickstand support 22 coupled to
a unitary location 23 of a side 24 opposite display screen 14. In
operation, kickstand support 22 enables variable positioning of
display device 10 in a plurality of viewing angles relative to a
user and a plurality of viewing modes relative to a user (e.g.,
landscape and/or portrait mode). In the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 1, kickstand support 22 comprises a unileg support member 30
(e.g., a single leg and/or support member) pivotally and
rotationally coupled to side 24 at location 23 of housing 20 to
enable variable positioning of display device 10. In the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 1, kickstand support 22 also comprises a
non-skid element 32 disposed and/or otherwise coupled to a distal
end 34 of unileg support member 30 relative to housing 20. In
operation, non-skid element 32 prevents and/or substantially
reduces the likelihood of slipping of unileg support member 30
relative to a support surface 36 for display device 10 (e.g., a
desk, table, or other type of working surface). In operation,
unileg support member 30 is pivotally coupled to location 23 of
housing 20 to enable display device 10 to be positioned in a
plurality of viewing angles as indicated generally by arrow 40.
Further, in operation, unileg support member 30 is rotatably
coupled to side 24 of housing 20 to enable rotation of unileg
support member 30 relative to housing 20 in the direction indicated
generally by arrow 42 to enable variable positioning of display
device 10 into each of a plurality of different viewing modes such
as, but not limited to, portrait and landscape mode. In the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, device 10 is illustrated as being
manufactured such that kickstand support 22 comprises a single
member (e.g., unileg 30) extending from unitary location 23 to
support surface 36. However, it should be understood that kickstand
support 22 may comprise other configurations (e.g., a support
member attached to a single location of housing 20 (e.g., unitary
location 23) and branching or extending into a plurality of support
elements (e.g., a "forked" configuration and/or a plurality of
support elements extending in a parallel and/or angular direction
relative to each other to support surface 36)).
[0008] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an enlarged view of a
portion of display device 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. In embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 2, unileg support member 30 is pivotally
coupled to a rotator element 50 to enable variable angular
positioning of unileg support member 30 relative to housing 20 in
the direction indicated generally by arrow 40. In the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 2, rotator element 50 is rotatably coupled to
housing 20 to enable rotatable movement of rotator element 50
relative to housing 20 in the direction indicated generally by
arrow 42. Thus, in operation, to dispose display device 10 in a
desired viewing mode and/or viewing angle, unileg support member 30
is positioned and/or otherwise moved in the direction indicated by
arrow 40 and rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 42 to a
desired position. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, unileg
support member 30 is pivotally coupled to rotator element 50 to
accommodate pivotal movement of unileg support member 30 in a
single plane relative to rotator element 50. However, it should be
understood that unileg support member 30 may be otherwise coupled
to housing 20 (e.g., via a ball and socket-type of coupling method
or other arrangement).
[0009] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, housing 20 is
configured to enable storage of kickstand support 22 to facilitate
placement of side 24 of display device 10 against support surface
36 (FIG. 1). For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2,
side 24 of housing 20 comprises a recessed portion 60 for receiving
unileg support member 30 at least partially therein such that
unileg support member 30 is disposed flush (flush or substantially
flush) with at least a portion of side 24 of housing 20. In the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, recessed portion 60 comprises a
recessed channel 62 for receiving unileg support member 30. In the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, recessed channel 62 is
illustrated as being slightly elevated relative to a surface 64 of
side 24 corresponding to slightly elevated support element(s) 66
(FIG. 1) disposed on side 24 of housing 20 such that when unileg
support member 30 is disposed within channel 62, support elements
66 are used to support display device 10 against support surface 36
without interference from unileg support member 30. However, it
should be understood that housing 20 may be otherwise configured to
facilitate storage of unileg support member 30 (e.g., in a position
at least flush or slightly below surface 64 of side 24 of housing
20).
[0010] Thus, embodiments of the present invention enable variable
positioning of display device 10 (e.g., viewing angle(s) and/or
display mode(s)) to facilitate viewing thereof (e.g., to reduce
glare and/or change a viewing angle) and/or to facilitate input of
information thereto (e.g., by enabling variable angular and/or
rotational positioning of device 10 to accommodate use of a touch
display screen 14 of device 10 and/or the use of an input pen or
other device configured to cooperate with display screen 14 for
inputting information to device 10).
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