Method and system for deploying a display and keyboard in a rack

[0002] In recent years, industrial personal computers have become increasingly prevalent in many industries. It is not uncommon today to see rows of industrial PCs arranged in racks. Often these PC have associated with them displays so that a technician can walk among the rows of racks of PCs and can monitor and/or manipulate the status of such PCs. Recently, designers of industrial computers have created very thin computers which fit into a 1 U-sized opening.

[0003] In the past, PC engineers have devised computer display and keyboard units which fit into a 1 U slot or bay. Typically, these 1 U display and keyboard units have been designed in either of two ways. The first design is essentially a laptop computer mounted on a rail that slides in and out of a 1 U slot in a rack. The second design is similar, and it may be viewed as a laptop computer with a hinge between the keyboard and the display which permits the display to lie flat on the rail that supports the keyboard, which is the leading edge component when the unit is deployed using the rails.

[0004] While these 1 U keyboard and display units have been used extensively in the past, they do have some drawbacks.

[0005] First of all, the laptop on a rail or the keyboard and display clam shell model has two significant drawbacks. The display and the keyboard must be designed and manufactured as very thin components, so that when they are folded shut with the display on top of the keyboard, that the closed unit still fits within a 1 U slot in the rack. These design constraints add expense to the finished unit. Also, this display over keyboard clam shell design requires the keyboard to fully extend into the aisle between the racks even when the technician only wants to monitor the computers using the display and does not wish to use the keyboard.

[0006] Secondly, the “fully reclined” display design where the hinge or other connection between the display and the keyboard permits the display to fully recline and to lie flat against the rail suffers from the same aisle encroachment problem as the clam shell approach.

[0007] Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and systems for deploying personal computers or keyboard and display combination units in an efficient manner in a rack of industrial personal computers.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for deploying a display and keyboard combination for a rack-mounted industrial personal computer in an efficient manner.

[0009] It is a feature of the present invention to utilize a design having the display component leading during the deployment process.

[0010] It is another feature of the present invention to include an independently retractable keyboard.

[0011] It is an advantage of the present invention to achieve improved efficiency in stowing and deploying display and keyboard units for rack-mounted 1 U industrial personal computers.

[0012] The present invention is an apparatus and method for stowing and deploying 1 U display and keyboard units for rack-mounted industrial personal computers designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in a “wasted encroachment-less” manner in a sense that the space consumed by a keyboard during times when it is not in use has been greatly reduced.

[0013] Accordingly, the present invention is a system and method including a 1 U sized display and keyboard combination which provides for independent deployment of the keyboard after the display has been deployed.

[0014] The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art rack-mounted industrial computer system.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a system of the present invention, in which the display/keyboard combination is stowed.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a partially deployed system of the present invention, where the display is fully deployed and the keyboard remains concealed.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fully deployed system of the present invention.

[0019] Now referring to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout, and more specifically referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a system of the prior art, generally designated 100, including a first rack of industrial personal computers 102 and a second rack of industrial personal computers 104 with an aisle 106 disposed therebetween. First rack of industrial personal computers 102 is representative of second rack of industrial personal computers 104 and is shown in detail to include a plurality of columns of industrial computing components 110. A large industrial computing component 112 is shown disposed in first rack of industrial personal computers 102. A 1 U-sized industrial computing component 114 is shown disposed at an intermediate height of first rack of industrial personal computers 102. A technician may walk in the aisle 106 between first rack of industrial personal computers 102 and second rack of industrial personal computers 104 for various reasons, including installation or repair of components, monitoring or data entry into computers in first rack of industrial personal computers 102, etc.

[0020] Now referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a 1 U-sized display/keyboard unit 116, of the present invention which may be inserted into a slot or bay in first rack of industrial personal computers 102, which is similar to that holding 1 U-sized industrial computing component 114. 1 U-sized display/keyboard unit 116 is shown having a display 120, with a display leading edge 122 and a display trailing edge 124 disposed in front of a keyboard housing 130 disposed in a display/keyboard rail system 140. 1 U-sized display/keyboard unit 116 is a data I/O unit for both receiving information via the keyboard and for displaying information. Display 120 can be any type of display, such as an LCD or other known flat panel display. Keyboard housing 130 has a keyboard housing leading edge 132 and a keyboard housing trailing edge 134. Display/keyboard rail system 140 has a display/keyboard rail system front end 142 and a display/keyboard rail system rear end 144. Display/keyboard rail system front end 142 could be disposed in first rack of industrial personal computers 102, so that it is exposed to aisle 106. Display/keyboard rail system 140 could use any type of mechanism to permit the display 120 and the keyboard housing 130 to translate in and out of a slot in an industrial PC rack. A simple drawer or slider mechanism or more elaborate systems could be employed depending upon the particular needs for any particular implementation. Keyboard housing 130 is shown as a cover over keyboard 230; however, this is not a necessary feature of keyboard housing 130. Keyboard housing 130 could be a simple drawer or slider mechanism similar to display/keyboard rail system 140 or it could be a shielding dust cover to protect the keyboard 230 from dust and any falling debris. The interface between display trailing edge 124 and keyboard housing leading edge 132 of keyboard housing 130 can be any structure suitable for carrying out variable positioning of display 120. A hinge, such as a piano hinge, side hinges or any type of device to facilitate variable pivoting of display 120 with respect to keyboard housing 130 could be used. Keyboard 230 can be any alphanumeric type of keyboard, numeric keypad or data entry device such as a touch pad, track ball, or other cursor controller.

[0021] A more detailed understanding of the present invention can be achieved by now referring to FIG. 3, which shows the 1 U-sized display/keyboard unit 116 of FIG. 2 in a partially deployed arrangement. Display 120 has moved outwardly past display/keyboard rail system front end 142, so that it would extend into aisle 106 if 1 U-sized display/keyboard unit 16 were disposed in first rack of industrial personal computers 102. Display 120 is shown deployed in a position for use. Display 120 has been pivoted from a horizontal position as it is when stowed in FIG. 2, past a vertical position where display leading edge 122 is directly above display trailing edge 124. This tilting of display 120 backwards or upward beyond a vertical arrangement facilitates viewing by a technician whose eyes are above a midpoint between display leading edge 122 and display trailing edge 124 when display 120 is in a vertical arrangement. When the technician's eyes are at the exact same level as such a midpoint, then a vertical arrangement of display 120 may be preferred. When the technician's eyes are below this level, then the display 120 can be pivoted a shorter angular distance so that it is directed downward. When the display 120 is either vertical or directed downward, the display 120 can be retracted back into display/keyboard rail system 140 to limit the amount of encroachment into the aisle 106.

[0022] An even more detailed understanding of the present invention may be achieved by now referring to FIG. 4, which shows the 1 U-sized display/keyboard unit 116 of the present invention in a fully deployed arrangement. Keyboard 230 is shown extending outward so that keyboard trailing edge 234 approaches keyboard housing leading edge 132. When keyboard 230 is not needed, it can be stowed by pushing the keyboard leading edge 232 back toward the keyboard housing leading edge 132.

[0023] Of course, variations of the pivoting of display 120 could be done as well. For example, display 120 could be made to pivot downward, and the viewing surface of display 120 would be on the opposite side from that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0024] In operation, the apparatus and method of the present invention as described in FIGS. 1-4, could function as follows:

[0025] The 1 U-sized display/keyboard unit 116 is disposed in a 1 U sized slot in first rack of industrial personal computers 102 similar to that which houses 1 U-sized industrial computing component 114. Display/keyboard rail system rear end 144 is disposed internal to first rack of industrial personal computers 102. Display/keyboard rail system front end 142 is adjacent to the aisle 106. When a technician desires to use the display 120, the display 120 can be pulled into the aisle 106. Display 120 can be pivoted about display trailing edge 124, so that display leading edge 122 moves upward. If the technician is viewing from below, the amount of pivoting is limited and the display leading edge 122 never is disposed vertical of display trailing edge 124. If the technician is viewing from above, then display leading edge 122 can be moved past a vertical alignment with display trailing edge 124, so that display 120 is directed upward. In such cases, display 120 will need to be pulled further into the aisle 106 to create space between the backwardly tilted display 120 and the face plates of large industrial computing component 112 or other components disposed above 1 U-sized display/keyboard unit 116. If a keyboard or portions of a keyboard are needed, it can be pulled further into aisle 106.

[0026] Throughout this description, reference is made to an industrial PC because it is believed that the beneficial aspects of the present invention would be most readily apparent when used in connection with industrial; however, it should be understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to industrial PCs and should be hereby construed to include other non-industrial PCs as well.

[0027] It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps, and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.