Abstract:
An apparatus and method of manufacturing is disclosed for an image display. Disclosed is a display body, having a docking station for accepting a computer; and a display screen coupled to the display body. The method of manufacturing discloses: selecting a display screen; selecting a display body; selecting a docking station; and integrating the screen, body and docking station within a single device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for minimally invasive computing, and more particularly to a configurable image display with integral docking station. 
     2. Discussion of Background Art 
     For computer users who desire a high degree of portability in their computers, who have a need to make presentations in conference rooms or to various audiences, or need more office space than they have, there aren&#39;t many options. In fact, such users typically have only one option, laptop computers. 
     When such users are at their main office, the laptop is typically ensconced within an expensive space consuming docking station, connected to a display screen which is much larger than that of a laptop&#39;s display screen. 
     Then when such users are called upon to make a presentation, the laptop is typically brought to a conference room and connected to an expensive projector, also taking up space on the conference room table, and which requires a separate projection screen for displaying the projected images to an audience. 
     Laptop&#39;s require such bulky and space consuming support hardware and image projection aids primarily due to efforts to intentionally make only the laptop computer itself as small, light-weight, and portable as possible. Such a focus on just the laptop&#39;s dimensions, weight and portability, however, tends to force users and enterprises into in to purchasing a great deal of additional hardware just to support these laptops in order to make them more useable when they are not being carried around. Such a narrow focus also limits the laptop&#39;s display screen size and forces a series of trade-offs between price and performance. 
     What is needed is a device which can offer a highest level of performance at low cost, meet the frequent desktop and presentation needs of a typical user, and still be portable enough so that information can be readily stored and accessed from multiple locations. 
     In response to the concerns discussed above, what is needed is computing hardware that overcomes the problems of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an image display with integral docking station. The present invention, includes a display body, having a docking station for accepting a computer; and a display screen coupled to the display body. Alternate embodiments of the present invention include a flat panel display screen; a wireless signal interface between the computer and image display; computers which are either network, personal, or laptop computers; display screens separated from the display body by a predetermined distance gap for transmitting sound; display screens which themselves transmit sound; and, wire legs for supporting, hanging or carrying the image display. 
     The method of the present invention includes the elements of: selecting a display screen; selecting a display body; selecting a docking station; and integrating the screen, body and docking station within a single device. Alternate embodiments of the present invention include the elements of: mounting a computer to the docking station; raising the display screen up from the display body by a predetermined distance gap and transmitting sound through the gap; positioning wire frame legs so as to support the image display on a surface; positioning wire frame legs so as to hang the image display on a wall; and positioning wire frame legs so as to carry the image display. 
     These and other aspects of the invention will be recognized by those skilled in the art upon review of the detailed description, drawings, and claims set forth below. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of an image display; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the image display; 
     FIG. 3 is a close-up side view of one embodiment of the image display in a tabletop configuration; 
     FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a computer; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the computer being mounted to the image display docking station; 
     FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the image display in a hanging configuration; and 
     FIG. 7 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for configuring the image display. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention presents a image display designed to conserve space and provide flexibility. First, to conserve space, the image display is preferably a slim flat-panel display; second, it is supported by very light minimalistic yet strong wire frame folding legs which can also function as a hanger; and third, the display has an integral docking station which can accept a computer riding piggyback behind the display. All these features together creates a space efficient, flexible, and clean design. 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of an image display  100 . The image display  100  includes a display body  102 , a display screen  104  coupled to, but raised up from the body  102 , a first wire frame leg  106 , and a second wire frame leg  108 . 
     By raising the screen  104  up from the body  102 , a sound conduit  10  is created. The conduit  110  enhances bass sound reproduction from a distributed mode loudspeaker buried inside the display  100 . The distributed mode loudspeaker is a device which uses modal vibration across a surface, such as thin polycarbonate, to generate sound, and eliminates a need for embedded speakers, such as those manufactured by NXT Inc. High-frequency sounds are transmitted by the display screen itself, and low frequencies are transmitted via the conduit. The conduit  108  can be a single continuous opening about the periphery of the display screen, or in alternate embodiments, a series of small sound carrying structures with multiple opening about the periphery of the display screen. 
     The wire frame legs  106  and  108  are shown supporting the display  100  on a flat surface, however, as will be discussed below, the legs  106  and  108  can be adjusted to a variety of positions for either different display height or angle, and so that the display  100  may be either carried like a briefcase or hung on a wall. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the image display  100 . A docking station  202  is integrated into the body  102  of the display  100 . The docking station  202  includes a set of connectors  204  which both support and provide a signal interface for a computer docked (e.g. “piggy-backed”) onto the display  100 . An adjustable hinge  206  connects the wire frame legs  106  and  108  to the body  102 . The hinge  206  permits the second wire frame leg  108  to rotate with respect to the first wire frame leg  106  so that the display  100  can be positioned at various angles with respect to a surface upon which the display  100  sits. The hinge  206  also permits the body  102  of the display  100  to translate, within a notch  208 , with respect to the legs  106  and  108  so that the display screen  104  can be positioned at various heights with respect to a surface upon which the display  100  sits. A handle  210  is formed at a top of the first display leg  106 . When the first leg  106  is translated with respect to the body  102 , the handle  210  allows the display  100  to be either carried by a person or hung on a wall. 
     FIG. 3 is a close-up side view  300  of one embodiment of the image display  100  in a tabletop configuration. As discussed with respect to FIG. 2, the hinge  206  permits the wire frame legs  106  and  108  to rotate and translate with respect to each other and the body  102  of the display  100 , permitting the display  100  to be positioned at various angles with respect to various surfaces and walls. In the embodiment shown, the notch  208  permits the hinge  206  to translate from a top position  302  to a bottom position  304 . Such hinge  206  in conjunction with the body  102  of the image display  100  greatly increases the display&#39;s  100  ability to be configured in a variety of useful ways. 
     FIG. 4 is a front perspective view  300  of one embodiment of a computer  402 . The computer  402  is designed to function with the display  100 , both of which may either be in communication using physical (e.g. cables, connectors) or wireless technologies. The computer  402  preferably contains a processing unit, memory, a storage device, and various input and output ports. Alternatively, the computer  402  can include a display screen. The computer  402 , by itself, can function either as a network computer (w/only a minimal configuration), a standard personal computer (w/full performance configuration), or as a laptop computer (w/a display screen). The computer  402  preferably is designed to be highly portable in all of its configurations, even though in FIG. 4 the computer  402  is shown on a support stand  404 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view  500  of the computer  402  being mounted to the image display  100  docking station  202 . When the computer  402  is mounted on the image display  100 , such combination functions as a full performance computer, having a minimal footprint, and when hung on a wall, saving a considerable amount of desk surface space. Even with the computer  402  docked, the computer&#39;s  402  thin profile still permits the combined unit to be easily be hung on a wall or carried by the handle  210 . When carried, the combined unit is very similar to that of a laptop computer. 
     Such a design also affords easy interchangeability between a variety of different computers while still using the same display. Thus it&#39;s like having a whole new computer system each time a different computer  402  is docked on the back of the image display  100 . The integral docking station also eliminates many of the cables and wires required to hook current docking stations to current computer displays, as well as the cable and wires required to hook up laptop computers to conference room projection equipment. 
     Using the present invention, enterprises can reserve expenditure of significant resources in very large display  100  for only a few common areas such as conference rooms and theaters. This obviates a need for expensive projection and projection screen equipment in such areas. Less expensive smaller image displays  100  can be used for individual employee offices, obviating a need for expensive docking stations. The computer  402  can be easily carried between one&#39;s office and a conference room and easily mounted to either image display  100  as necessary. 
     The present invention also provides a way to upgrade the computer  402  while avoiding a need to replace an otherwise separate and expensive flat panel display. This could be a quite popular use, since flat panel display technology tends not to advance as quickly as processor, memory and storage technologies. 
     FIG. 6 is a front perspective view  600  of the image display in a hanging configuration. A user grasps the handle  210 , carrying the display  100  as well as the computer  402 , if docked. In this way the present invention functions as a portable computer, which may be covered with a carrying case of some sort for further protection. Alternatively, as discussed, the handle  210  permits the display  100  and computer  402  to be hung on a conference room or cubical wall, providing enhanced visibility and/or conserving desk space. 
     FIG. 7 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method  700  for configuring the image display. In step  702 , the first support leg  106  is positioned at an angle with respect to the second support leg  108  so that image display  100  can rest on a surface. Next, in step  704 , the first support leg  106  is positioned generally parallel with respect to the second support leg  108  so that image display  100  can hang on a wall. In step  706 , the first support leg  106  is positioned generally parallel with respect to the second support leg  108  so that image display  100  can be carried like a briefcase. 
     In step  708 , high frequency sounds are transmitted using modal vibration across the display screen  104 . In step  710 , the display screen  104  is separated from the display body  102  by a predetermined distance gap, whereby lower frequency sound reproduction is enhanced. In step  712 , sound conduits arc instantiated between the display screen  102  and the body  102 , providing an alternative way to enhance low frequency sound reproduction. 
     In step  714 , the docking station  202  is integrated with an image display. Then in step  716 , the computer  402  is mounted to the docking station  202 . In step  718 , commands and data are exchanged between the image display  100  and the computer  402  using either a physical or wireless communications link. Finally, in step  720 , the computer  402  is detached from the docking station  202 . 
     While one or more embodiments of the present invention have been described, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications may be made. Variations upon and modifications to these embodiments are provided by the present invention, which is limited only by the following claims.