Support and adjustment apparatus for a data processing device display

[0001] This application claims priority from the provisional application entitled SUPPORT AND ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS FOR A DATA PROCESSING DEVICE DISPLAY, Ser. No. 60/641,319 filed, Jan. 3, 2005.

[0002] This application relates generally to the field of data processing devices, and more particularly, to a support and adjustment apparatus for a data processing device display.

[0003] Portable data processing devices such as Personal Digital Assistants (“PDAs”) and programmable wireless telephones are becoming more powerful every day, providing users with a wide range of applications previously only available on personal computers. At the same time, due to advances in silicon processing technology and battery technology, these devices may be manufactured using smaller and smaller form factors. Accordingly, users no longer need to sacrifice processing power for portability when selecting a personal data processing device.

[0004] Although processing devices with small form factors tend to be more portable, users may find it increasingly difficult to interact with them. For example, entering data may be difficult due to the absence of a full-sized keyboard and reading information may be difficult due to a small, potentially dim Liquid Crystal Display (“LCD”).

[0005] To deal with this problem, the assignee of the present application developed a data processing device which adjusts from a first position, in which a first set of input elements are exposed, to a second position, in which a full-sized alphanumeric keyboard is exposed. One embodiment of this data processing device 100 which includes an adjustable display 102 is illustrated in FIGS. 1a-b (which correspond to FIGS. 1a and 1, respectively, in Duarte, U.S. Pat. No. 6,636,419, also assigned to the assignee of the present application). FIG. 1a shows the adjustable display 102 in the second position in which a full-sized alphanumeric keyboard 104 is exposed and FIG. 1b shows the adjustable display 102 in the first position in which a limited number of the keys are exposed. Thus, the user may enter data and perform control functions in both the first and second display positions.

[0006] The sides of the data processing device 100 include tracks 110 that guide the display 102 between the first and second positions. The display 102 includes a complimentary pins or other engagement elements 114 to engage the tracks 110. Latches may also be included in the tracks 110 and/or in the track engagements 114 so that the display is latched in the open and/or closed position.

[0007] An apparatus is described comprising: a data processing device comprising a base with a plurality of input elements configured thereon, and an adjustable display having a display screen for displaying text and graphics, the display cooperatively engaged with the base to move from between a first position, in which none, or only a subset of the input elements are accessible, to a second position, in which all of the input elements are accessible; and a first support arm having a first end and a second end, the first support arm pivotally coupled to the base at the first end at a pivot point, and engaged with a first track on the display at the second end, wherein during movement of the display from the first position to the second position, the first support arm pivots around the pivot point at the first end and runs along the first track at the second end, thereby guiding and supporting the display during the movement.

[0014] In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the support and adjustment apparatus for a data processing display device. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the techniques may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the underlying principles of the present invention.

[0015] One problem associated with the type of adjustable display mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 1a-c is the travel distance of the display is limited because the display must be adequately supported by the body of the data processing device. As illustrated generally in FIG. 1c, even when the display is in the second or “open” position, the bottom surface of the display must overlap with the top surface of the body by a certain distance 150 to provide support for the display, thereby obscuring significant portions of the top surface of the body (i.e., portions where additional keys might be placed).

[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the invention which solves the foregoing problems. Like the embodiments described above, the data processing device 200 of this embodiment includes a display 201 moveably coupled to a data processing device body 203. Unlike prior embodiments, however, the display of this embodiment is capable of moving a significantly greater distance, thereby exposing more of the front surface of the body 203 when in an “open” position. The body includes a keyboard 202 with a plurality of alphanumeric keys and/or other types of input elements through which the user may enter data and/or perform control functions on the data processing device 200. Although an alphanumeric keyboard is illustrated in FIG. 2, the underlying principles of the invention are not limited to any particular type of keyboard.

[0017] In one embodiment, the display 201 includes rails 206 on each of its sides which engage with corresponding tracks 205 on each of the sides of the data processing device body 203 to guide the display from a first or “closed” position to a second or “open” position (which is illustrated in FIG. 2). However, various different mechanisms may be employed to guide the display between the two (or more) positions while still complying with the underlying principles of the invention.

[0018] FIGS. 3a-d illustrate the underside of the data processing device as the display 201 is moved from the first or “closed” position to the second or “open” position. Two deployable support arms 301 and 302 couple the display 201 to the body 203 and provide support for the display 201 as it moves from the first position to the second position. The support arms 301 and 302 are pivotally coupled to the body 203 at pivot points 331 and 332, respectively. In one embodiment, the support arms 301, 302 include pins which engage with holes formed on the body 203 at the pivot points. However, various alternate techniques may be employed to pivotally couple the arms to the body.

[0019] In one embodiment, the arms 301 and 302 also include pins 305 and 306 which engage with tracks 307 and 308, respectively, on the under surface of the display, as shown. As the display is moved from the first or “closed” position (FIG. 3a) to the second or “open” position (FIG. 3b), the pins 305 and 306 are guided through the tracks 307, 308 from a first position (i.e., towards the sides of the display) to a second position (i.e., towards the center of the display). In one embodiment, the pins 305, 306 include heads (not shown) to secure the support arms in place within the tracks 307, 308. That is, the pins 305, 306 extend through the tracks 307, 308 into small chambers formed in the display beneath the tracks and the pin heads, which are larger in size than the width of the tracks, reside within the chambers, thereby securing the support arms to the tracks.

[0020] In addition, in one embodiment, springs 303 and 304 are positioned within the chambers in the display 201 to apply a force directing the display to the second or “open” position. Specifically, the springs 303, 304 are coupled to respective ends of each of the arms 301, 302 (i.e., the ends with pins 305, 306). The other ends of the springs 303, 304 are anchored to an internal surface within the display 201, thereby generating a force on the end of each of the arms 301, 302 towards the center of the display.

[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of the support arms and the manner in which the support arms are retracted within the data processing device body 203. In this embodiment, the support arms 301 and 302 include dual meshed gears 403 and 404, respectively, surrounding each of the points at which the arms pivot in relation to the body 203. The meshed gears are cooperatively engaged to ensure that the support arms 301 and 302 move from the first position to the second position at substantially the same rate. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 4, two elongated open volumes 401 and 402 are formed on the surface of the body to accommodate the support arms 301 and 302, respectively, when they are retracted to the “closed” position (i.e., when the display covers the keyboard 202). In one embodiment, the gears 403 and 404 are positioned completely within the volumes 401 and 402, respectively (i.e., so they do not break the plane defined by the back surface of the body as they are shown in FIG. 4).

[0022] In operation, when the display is in the first or “closed” position, as illustrated in FIG. 3a, the support arms 301, 302 are stowed within the two volumes 401, 402 and are substantially parallel to the length of the body 203 and display 201. In this position, the force applied by the springs 303, 304 is substantially parallel to the length of the display and the support arms. As such, no force is applied to move the display to the “open” position. In addition, in this position, a latching mechanism may be used to secure the display in the “closed” position.

[0023] A force applied by the user directing the display towards the “open” position unlatches the display and causes the display to move as shown in FIGS. 3b-d. In these positions, the force applied by the springs is no longer parallel to the length of the support arms. As such, the display is automatically forced to the “open” position shown in FIG. 3d.

[0024] FIGS. 5a-b illustrate the data processing device from a side view. In FIG. 5a the display 201 is in the “closed” position and in FIG. 5b the display is in the “open” position. Several beneficial features of the embodiments of the invention described herein can be seen from this perspective. Because the display is supported by the support arms 301, 302 (and not merely the base 203) the distance traveled by the display 201 is significantly greater than in prior adjustable display configurations. As such, additional keys or other input elements may be placed on the top surface of the body 203. Moreover, a relatively small volume 401, 402 is required to stow the support arms 301, 302 when the display is in a “closed” position, thereby leaving more space for other functional components within the body 203 (e.g., additional circuitry).

[0025] Throughout the foregoing description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details were set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without some of these specific details. For example, while the embodiments described above employ dual support arms for supporting the display, a single arm may be used under certain conditions. Moreover, although the support arms described above are pivotally coupled to the base and run through a track on the display, alternate embodiments may employ support arms which are pivotally coupled to the display and run through tracks on the base. Accordingly, the scope and spirit of the invention should be judged in terms of the claims which follow.