Display Mount Torque Curve for Safe Orientation Changes

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional computing devices are limited in facilitating collaborative work due to cumbersome and hazardous processes when switching between vertical and horizontal orientations, disrupting user experience and limiting device functionality.

Innovation Solution

A device with a base and a display mount connected by a connection mechanism that rotates and translates according to a torque curve, featuring a discovery stage, initiation stage, approach stage, and balanced stage, with dampening and counterbalance forces to ease orientation changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional display support is used to rotate the display between vertical and horizontal orientations, then the display can be repositioned, but the process becomes cumbersome and hazardous requiring multiple adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of orientation changeVSAvoidsafety of orientation change
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connection mechanism incorporates a counterbalance system that applies an upward force to offset the weight of the display during rotation. This counterbalancing allows the display to be repositioned between vertical and horizontal orientations with minimal effort, eliminating the need for multiple manual adjustments and reducing the risk of accidents during repositioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the display is oriented vertically for web-conference interaction, then user interaction is improved, but presenting information to local users becomes less intuitive and comfortable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay orientation adaptabilityVSAvoidintuitiveness of information presentation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display support system enables dynamic reconfiguration of the display orientation based on the task at hand. The connection mechanism allows smooth transitions between vertical orientation (optimized for web-conference interaction) and horizontal orientation (optimized for information presentation), making the system adaptable to different collaborative scenarios without compromising ease of use in either mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Area of stationary object

If the display is oriented horizontally for information presentation, then more information is visible to the room, but interaction with remote users in web-conference becomes less natural

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisible information areaVSAvoidnaturalness of remote user interaction
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts the display orientation to match the current usage scenario. When information presentation is the primary task, the display is positioned horizontally to maximize visible area. When web-conference interaction is needed, the display transitions to vertical orientation to provide a more natural viewing experience for remote users, thus maintaining versatility across different collaborative modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables smooth and safe rotation between orientations with reduced torque requirements, maintaining user interaction and device functionality across different orientations.

Implementation Method 1

The connection mechanism is configured to rotate and translate the display mount from the first position to the second position according to a torque curve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTorque: Torque

Implementation Method 2

The device further includes a dampening device providing dampening during rotation of the connection mechanism between the first position and the second position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDampening: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3762642B1A device for supporting an electronic display
Publication Date: 2023.05.17 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3762642B1 patent drawingFigure 1-1~1-2
  • EP3762642B1 patent drawingFigure 1-3~1-5
  • EP3762642B1 patent drawingFigure 2-1~2-2

AI summary

A device for supporting an electronic display includes a base, a display mount having a first position and a second position relative to the base, and a connection mechanism positioned between the base and the display mount. The connection mechanism is configured to rotate and translate the display mount from the first position to the second position according to a torque curve. The torque curve includes a discovery stage adjacent the first position, an initiation stage rotationally after the discovery stage, and an approach stage rotationally after the initiation stage. The connection mechanism applies a force toward the first position in the discovery stage. The connection mechanism having an initiation force applied toward the first position that is greater than the force in the discovery stage. The approach stage having an approach force applied toward the second position.