Television – Video display – Cabinet or chassis
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-19
2002-11-05
Mai, Lanna (Department: 3637)
Television
Video display
Cabinet or chassis
C348S836000, C312S319600, C312S007200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06476879
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to improvements in retractable flat panel monitors particularly of the type intended for overhead passenger use in commercial aircraft.
2. Description of Related Art
In the field of video monitors used in the passenger compartment of commercial aircraft, it has been the practice to employ full-size fixed CRT monitors or to utilize liquid crystal display monitors which pivot down from an overhead compartment, when in use, and at other times are retracted and stowed in an overhead compartment near the passenger seats. These monitors are dispersed throughout the passenger compartment of the aircraft. Typically, one monitor is provided for each two or three rows of seats. The monitors are typically stored in the overhead compartment with the LCD screen facing down or up. The monitors are typically pivotally mounted to a housing that is fixed in the overhead compartment of the aircraft or at some other desired location. A motor is attached to the housing. A power supply for both the motor and the housing is mounted to the housing. The motor is mechanically coupled to the monitor for pivoting it to an open position. Some prior art systems utilize a spring mechanism to return the monitor to its retracted stowed position. The spring mechanism is typically flexed when the monitor is pivoted to its open position. The energy stored in the spring is used to retract the monitor when desired. The coupling mechanism between the motor and the monitor is typically a compound pivot linkage or some other convenient linkage mechanism. Other video monitor deployment mechanisms are more mechanical. The monitor is moved in both directions by a spring drive rather than utilizing a motor to drive the monitor to an open position.
All these prior are devices rely on the energy stored in the spring to return the monitor to its closed or stowed position during normal power operation and in a power loss situation. The problem presented by these prior art systems is they tend to be bulky and the springs tend to be erratic in operation and need frequent replacement because of fatigue and abuse. The very tight quarters of these retractable monitors make servicing of the unit difficult and expensive. The present invention overcomes these problems by providing for the retraction of the monitor into its stowed position during power on and power off conditions without the use of any springs or systems that need frequent replacement, while taking very little space compared to the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A flat panel monitor is pivotally mounted in a frame that can be positioned in the overhead compartment of an aircraft. A motor is mounted to the pivoting flat panel monitor. A controller circuit with a supply of positive and negative power is mounted to the frame. The motor is mounted directly to the monitor with the shaft connected directly to the frame, or the motor is mounted directly to the frame with the shaft connected directly to the monitor. Either way, activation of the motor in one direction, by a voltage having a first polarity causes the monitor to pivot to an open position, and activating the motor in the other direction, by a voltage having a second polarity, causes the monitor to pivot to its closed position. The motor shaft carries a flywheel. Whenever the controller circuit senses a power failure, it causes a voltage pulse to be sent to the motor to spin it at high speed causing energy to be stored in the flywheel. When power is completely cut off during pivoting of the monitor to its stowed position, the spinning flywheel will bring the monitor back to its fully stowed position.
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Ho Chung Lin
Hubbs John W.
Airshow, Inc.
Anderson Jerry A.
Mai Lanna
Price and Gess
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