Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PORTABLE DISPLAY MOI~TITOR
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of provisional application number
60/294,738 filed May
30, 2001.
TECI~TICAL FIELD
This invention relates to visual displays generally, and, more particularly,
to portable visual
display monitors.
BACKGROUND
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.
1 S 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.
Many 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. Thus, 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.
Typically, 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
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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. Typically, during large meetings with many
attendees or lectures, 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.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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. One suitable
form of 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. To hold the two portions in appropriate positions with
respect 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. When so held in place, 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings show a particular embodiment of the invention as an
example,
and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
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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.
Figure 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.
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.
Figure 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.
Figure 6A~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.
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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
l0A shows the embodiment in one position, while Figures lOB and lOC show the
same
embodiment in a partially open position but from different angles.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Because the invention may be considered and defined as a system, or as a
method, and in a
variety of embodiments, this disclosure should be understood to describe the
invention in such
terms even if only one particular embodiment is described in detail at any
given point. Thus, for
convenience only, the following description tends to focus on a system
embodiment to disclose the
1 S preferred embodiment of the invention, but this is by way of example only
and not a limitation on
the scope of the invention.
Similarly, this disclosure should be understood to include either analog or
digital data or
video or other signals, in accordance with principles known in the art. Thus,
the terms "signal,"
"data" and the like may be used interchangeably, and should be understood to
apply to either analog
or digital representations of information.
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). However, there
are many situations in
which 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
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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.
A variety of "multiple-monitor" computer configurations are known, but none
have
achieved commercial success. Examples include US Patents 5,128,662 (composite
flat panel
monitor comprising hingedly connected multiple flat panel sections); 5,590,021
(pivotably mounted
secondary flat panel display); 5,796,577 (two oppositely facing flat panel
monitors incorporated
into laptop cover); 6,094,341 (pivotably folded half sized dual flat panel
monitors that may face in
opposed directions); and 6,295,038 (secondary flat panel monitor slides
upward, then pivots
downward to face oppositely from the primary monitor). The entirety of each of
these patents is
incorporated by reference; the techniques they disclose for movably connecting
flat panel monitors
to other portions of a computer system are within the scope of the invention
depending on the
embodiment chosen.
When another display monitor is not available, the presentation of audio and
video or
multimedia information must therefore be made from the portable computer
itself. This requires the
1 S 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.
Various computer systems are known which allow for removable and detached use
of
various components, including those in which the LCD display portion of the
portable computer
may be disconnected from its host computer, or be oriented in a different
viewing angle from the
viewing angles available when the display and portable computer are embodied
together in their
normal "notebook" configuration. Although such a system enables the viewing
angle of the display
to be adjusted when the display is detached from the computer system, there
are several problems
with such a system.
One of the problems with current display technology in general is its lack of
portability. One
of the benefits of the portable computer is that the computer is readily
transportable. With the
exception of personal digital assistants (PDAs) or other handheld computers,
in order to use most
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portable computers one need only unlatch the clamshell display housing, rotate
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.
There are many other examples in which 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.
As illustrated throughout the Figures, 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.
Referring to Figure 1, 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.
Referring also to Figures 4 and 9, the two portions are connected together in
any suitable
manner provided the required range of motion is provided, i.e, relative motion
of the display
portion to the base/cover portion between the open and closed positions. For
example, a suitable
form of compound hinge 9 (or equivalent) 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. For example, Figures 10A, l OB, and l OC show the range
of motion possible
with a double action hinge suitable for some embodiments of the invention, and
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. Similarly,
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the connection between the base/cover and display portions may comprise two
linked features in a
planetary gear relationship to each other.
To hold the two portions in appropriate positions with respect 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. When so held in place, the angle B 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. In the former
case, the two portions open in a conventional "clamshell" or "book" manner as
do commercially
available laptop computers. In the latter case, the display portion may
undergo a 180 degree twist
about its rotational axis 10 (Figure 1) to achieve the fully open position. 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).
In a preferred embodiment, 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. Depending on the size of the hinge sections, it
may be advisable for the
compound hinge to 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.
Examples of potentially suitable hinges are disclosed in US Patents 5,283,862
(notably
Figure 15); 5,555,157 (notably Figures 3, 4, and 5); 5,666,694; 5,737,183; The
entireties of all these
patents are incorporated by reference; the techniques they disclose for
incorporating hinges into
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computer systems are within the scope of the invention depending on the
embodiment chosen. It
may be necessary to provide recessed features in the display portion to
accommodate a portion of
the hinge during rotation.
Regardless of the manner in which they are physically connected to provide the
desired
range of motion, 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. Alternatively, 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.
Typically the 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. If necessary or desirable, the system may further comprise at least
one latch to temporarily
keep the base/cover portion and the display portion in the closed position.
Similarly, it is possible
but not required to have at least one handle 20 attached to the system either
the base/cover portion,
or the display portion, or both.
Also, the 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. Provided that sufficient adjustability is provided, the system
may further comprise a
feature to lock the display portion into the open position. For example,
referring to Figure 8, 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 fizrther
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.
Because the display panel of the system will typically need some source of its
own electrical
power, either a conventional external or internal 120VAC (or equivalent) power
supply may be
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included, or a battery may be located within either or both of the base/cover
portion and the display
portion. As is well known in the art, 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.
There are many possible alternative embodiments of the invention that vary
from each other
in the nature of the operative electronic signal connection between the
graphic display panel and the
display driver apparatus. As illustrated in Figure 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. As
illustrated in Figure 3, for
handheld computers 13, including personal digital assistants (PDAs), a
possible technology is
available from the same company under the trade name PRESENTER-TO-GO in models
compatible with a variety of interfaces 14 in the handheld computer, including
SD Card, PC Card,
Compact Flash Types I and II, and Springboard. Other types of plug-based
interfaces to the display
driver apparatus are within the scope of the invention.
Similarly, 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.
Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, it is possible but not required to include
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). Alternatively,
because many types of separate display driver apparatus have audio sources and
output connections
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(e.g., multimedia laptop computers), the controls for the audio channels on
the inventive system
may be manually adjustable on the separate display driver apparatus.
It is preferred to include controls 17 for the visual quality of the image on
the display
monitor in the inventive system. As with the audio channel, controls for
various parameters related
to the quality of the display (color balance, hue, intensity, and the like)
may be manually adjustable
on the system (e.g., physical knobs or switches, or an electronic control of
any appropriate sort).
Typically some sort of software-based application program within the
electronics associated with
the graphic display panel (including its driver software and hardware) 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.
In another alternative embodiment, 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. This enables the system to act as an auxiliary data processing device as
desired.
As illustrated in Figures 5, 6, and 7, in the particular case in which the
display driver
apparatus is a handheld computer 13, 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 fizrther 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.
It will be understood that various firmware, software, and other miscellaneous
electronic
components may be dictated by a particular embodiment of the invention,
especially the particular
choice made for electronic components, connections, signal types and/or
graphic display panels. For
example, Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram indicating a possible
functional design in which
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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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