Spheroidal Pivot for Flexible Display Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
All-in-one (AIO) computers are bulky and suffer from power and heat limitations due to the integration of a computing system with another electronic device, and their orientation is limited by a stationary stand, making touch screen features infeasible.
Innovation Solution
A spheroidal pivot system that includes a roller base with system circuitry and I/O ports, allowing the display panel to be oriented in multiple positions via a track on the panel, with a removable arm that couples the roller base to the display, enabling separate housing for the computing system and display, and incorporating sensors for automatic mode transitions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a computing system is integrated with another electronic device (e.g., display panel), then the device becomes compact and saves space, but the device becomes bulky and has power and heat limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate components: a display panel and a computing system housed in a separate spherical pivot unit. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the display remains thin and compact while the computing system has dedicated space for power and heat management, eliminating the bulkiness and thermal constraints of integrated AIO designs.
2Volume of moving object
If a computing system is integrated with another electronic device, then the device becomes compact, but power and heat limitations are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The computing system is extracted from the display panel and housed in a separate spherical pivot unit. This extraction provides dedicated space for power supply and heat dissipation components, allowing the display to remain thin and compact while the computing system has adequate thermal management capacity without space constraints.
3Device complexity
If a stationary stand is used to support the display, then the device structure is simple, but the display orientation is limited and touch screen features become infeasible
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical pivot mechanism enables the display to be rotated and tilted to multiple positions, transforming the static support structure into a dynamic one. This allows the display to adapt between different orientations (e.g., portrait, landscape, tilted) to accommodate various use cases including touch screen operation, while maintaining relatively simple structural components.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a removable arm mechanism is used to couple the roller base with the display panel, then the display can be oriented in multiple positions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical pivot mechanism uses a curved spherical surface that allows the display to be rotated and tilted to multiple positions through simple rolling motion. This spherical geometry provides versatile orientation capability while keeping the mechanical design relatively simple compared to more complex articulated linkages, as the sphere naturally accommodates multiple angles of rotation.
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
The solution provides a compact, ergonomic AIO computer that eliminates power and heat limitations, allowing for flexible display orientation and touch mode operation, while maintaining accessibility to peripherals and reducing bulkiness.
Implementation Method 1
The arm couples the roller base with the display panel, and allows the roller base to roll along a path located on the display panel
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-positionable computer comprises a user interface portion and a processing portion. The user interface portion includes a path along its back surface. The user interface portion can include a slot for receiving computer peripherals. The processing portion includes a connecting member for slidably coupling the processing portion to the user interface portion, and a rolling surface for contacting an external surface. The processing portion allows the user interface portion to be oriented in one of a plurality of positions along the path. In one orientation of the user interface portion, content is automatically displayed to align with the orientation of the user interface portion. In some embodiments, a virtual keyboard is displayed when the user interface portion is oriented in a predetermined position. The processing portion includes sides adjacent to the rolling surface. In some embodiments, ports and/or connections are accessible from at least one of the sides.