Control panel assemblies having rotatable input devices

According to examples, an apparatus may include a body and a control panel assembly coupled to the body. The control panel assembly may include a base plate coupled to the body, a display panel coupled to the base plate, and an input device coupled to the display panel. In some examples, the control panel assembly may move from a first position in which the display panel is at least partially retracted in the body to a second position in which the display panel and the input device are extended out from the body. The display panel may be positioned at a first predefined angle relative to the base plate and the input device may be positioned at a second predefined angle relative to the display panel.

BACKGROUND

Electronic devices, such as imaging devices, may have control panels that may be mounted on the electronic devices. In some instances, the control panels may be movable, which may allow display angles of the control panels to be changed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the principles of the present disclosure are described by referring mainly to examples thereof. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of the examples. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art, that the examples may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In some instances, well known methods and/or structures have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the description of the examples. Furthermore, the examples may be used together in various combinations.

Many types of imaging devices, such as multifunction printers, may include control panels. Control panels may provide, for instance, a graphical interface through which users may be provided with graphical information. The control panels may also provide the graphical interface to enable the users to interact with the printing devices, for instance, through touch input. In some examples, the control panels may be movable to, for instance, reduce the size, e.g., footprints, of the imaging devices. The sizes of the printing devices may be reduced to make shipping and/or movement of the printing devices simpler and more efficient. In some instances, retractable or “slide-out” control panel designs may provide improved aesthetics due to elimination of the relatively large “nosecones” that non-sliding control panel designs would be mounted to in certain multifunction printer designs.

In some examples, external hardware devices, such as physical keyboards, keypads, touch pads, network devices, a base for a hardware device, and/or the like, may be used in addition to the control panels. In some instances, the nosecones to which the control panels would be mounted may be used to house the external hardware devices. As such, a disadvantage in eliminating the nosecones may be that the storage space to house the external hardware devices is lost.

Disclosed herein are control panel assemblies that may be movable between retracted positions and extended positions. Also discussed herein are apparatuses, such as imaging devices, that include the control panel assemblies. Particularly, disclosed herein are control panel assemblies that include display panels and input devices connected directly to the display panels, such as keyboards, keypads, touch pads, network devices, a base for a hardware device, and/or the like.

As discussed herein, a control panel assembly may be coupled to a body of an electronic device, such as an imaging device. The control panel assembly may include a base plate coupled to the body and a display panel rotatably coupled to the base plate. An input device, such as a keyboard, may be rotatably coupled to the display panel. In some examples, the control panel assembly may move from a first position in which the display panel is retracted in the body to a second position in which the display panel and the input device are extended out from the body. The display panel may be rotatable relative to the base plate and the input device may be rotatable relative to the display panel.

Reference is first made toFIGS.1A to1D, which respectively show different positions of an example control panel assembly.FIG.1Ashows a perspective view of an example apparatus100having a control panel assembly104in a retracted state, in which a display panel106may be partially retracted in a body102, and an input device108coupled to the display panel106.FIG.1Bshows a perspective view of the example apparatus100depicted inFIG.1A, in which the control panel assembly104is in the retracted state and the input device108may be positioned at a first predefined angle relative to the display panel106.FIG.1Cshows a perspective view of the example apparatus100depicted inFIG.1A, in which the control panel assembly104is in an extended state, in which the display panel106and the input device108are extended out from the body102.FIG.1Dshows a perspective view of the example apparatus100depicted inFIG.1C, in which the control panel assembly104is in the extended state, and the display panel106may be positioned at a second predefined angle relative to the body102and the input device108may be positioned at the first predefined angle relative to the display panel106. It should be understood that the example apparatus100may include additional features and that some of the features described herein may be removed and/or modified without departing from the scope of the example apparatus100.

As shown inFIG.1A, the apparatus100may include the body102and the control panel assembly104, which may be in a retracted state. The control panel assembly104may be coupled to the body102. The control panel assembly104may include the display panel106, the input device108coupled to the display panel106, and a base plate110, which may support the display panel106and the input device108.

In some examples, the input device108may be an external hardware device, such as a keyboard, a keypad, a touch pad, a touch screen display panel, a network device, a base for a hardware device, and/or the like. In some examples, the base for a hardware device may be a frame or housing to which an external hardware device may be physically mounted. The base may have a recess having a predefined shape to receive a certain external hardware device. The base may include a data connection port, such as a USB port, a data cable, and/or the like, to electrically connect the external hardware device. The external hardware device may be mounted to the display panel106of the control panel assembly104via the base.

In some examples, a single input device108or multiple input devices108may be connected to the display panel106. For instance, in case the input device108is a keyboard, a width of the keyboard may be similar to a width of the display panel106. In this instance, it may be difficult to connect additional input devices108in addition to the keyboard due to the limited space. In other instances, for input devices108that have widths that are less than the width of the display panel106, such as keypads, touch pads, a base for a hardware device, or the like, a sufficient amount of space may be available to accommodate another input device108. In these instances, multiple input devices108may be connected to the display panel106.

The base plate110may be slideably coupled to the body102. In some examples, the base plate110may include a sliding mechanism that allows the base plate110to slide in a direction indicated by the arrow112to retract into the body102. The display panel106may be coupled to a distal end of the base plate110to allow lateral movement of the display panel106in the direction of the arrow112. The body102may include a recess103to accommodate the base plate110and the display panel106in the retracted state. In some examples, the recess103may be an enclosed recess, which may include an opening having a shape that matches a shape of the control panel assembly. For instance, the shape of the opening may match a cross-sectional shape of the display panel106and the base plate110, through which the control panel assembly104may be inserted into the body102.

In some examples, in the retracted state, the display panel106may be retracted to a first position in which the display panel106is at least partially retracted in the body102. In the first position, a front surface111of the display panel106may face upwards such that at least a portion of the display panel106may be visible. The display panel106may display a modified graphical user interface based on a size of the visible area of the display panel106. As such, the display panel106may display information even when the display panel106is stowed in the retracted state. The modified graphical user interface that is displayed in the retracted state may, for instance, provide space savings, improved access to print outputs, a simplified user interface for commonly used features, and/or the like. In some examples, the display panel106may be partially retracted at various predefined depths, for instance, correlated to different sizes of the visible/active area of the display panel106, or the display panel106may be fully retracted into the body102, in which case the display panel106may be inactive.

The input device108may be coupled to the display panel106. The input device108may be coupled to a distal edge of the display panel106, such that the input device108may slide laterally together with the display panel106. The input device108may be positioned at a certain predefined angle relative to the base plate110. As shown inFIG.1B, the input device108may be rotatable relative to the display panel106in a direction indicated by the arrow114. In some examples, the input device108may be coupled to the front or leading edge of the display panel106, and may be rotated to be positioned at various angles relative to the display panel106. In some examples, the input device108may be fixed at a certain predefined angle relative to the base plate110.

As shown inFIG.1C, the control panel assembly104may be moved in a direction indicated by the arrow116to be in an extended state. The control panel assembly104may be moved from the first position in which the display panel106is at least partially retracted in the body102to a second position in which the display panel106and the input device108are extended out from the body102. In the extended state, the display panel106may be fully exposed and visible, and a full size graphical user interface may be displayed on the display panel106. The full size graphical user interface may provide access to features which may not be available in the modified graphical user interface depicted inFIGS.1A and1B, for instance, to provide a greater level of control over settings of the apparatus100, advanced editing functions, such as a preview function or an edit function displayed directly on the full size graphical user interface, and/or the like.

As shown inFIG.1D, the display panel106may be positioned at a first predefined angle relative to the base plate110and the input device108may be positioned at a second predefined angle relative to the display panel106. The angular positions of the display panel106and the input device108may be fixed at respective fixed angles, may be moved to a set of predefined angles, or may be moved within a range of angles. In some examples, in the extended state, both the display panel106and the input device108may be independently rotated, for instance, based on user preferences for viewing angles. As such, the display panel106and/or the input device108may be rotated to provide different viewing angles, for instance, for relatively tall users, for users in wheelchairs, and/or the like. The display panel106may be rotatable relative to the base plate110to change viewing angles of the display panel106, as indicated by the arrow118. In some examples, the display panel106may be rotatable to certain predefined angles relative to the base plate110and the body102. The display panel106may also be adjustable to any angle within a range of angles. The input device108may be rotatable to be positioned in an extended position, as indicated by the arrow114, in which the input device108may be extended at a certain angular range relative to the display panel106.

Reference is now made toFIGS.2A and2B.FIG.2Adepicts an enlarged perspective view of the example apparatus100depicted inFIG.1A, in which the input device108is stowed adjacent to the front surface111of the display panel106.FIG.2Bdepicts an enlarged perspective view of the example apparatus100depicted inFIG.1A, in which the input device108is stowed adjacent to a rear surface120of the display panel106. It should be understood that the example apparatus100as depicted inFIGS.2A and2Bmay include additional features and that some of the features described herein may be removed and/or modified without departing from the scope of the example apparatus100.

As shown inFIG.2A, the input device108may be stowed on the front surface111of the display panel106. The input device108may be stowed while the display panel106is in the extended state or in the retracted state. For instance, the input device108may be positioned outside of the body102of the apparatus100when stowed on the front surface111. In some instances, a size of the input device108may correlate to a size of the exposed portion of the display panel106, such that the input device108may cover the partially visible area of the display panel106in the retracted state.

In some instances, a size of the input device108may be larger than the exposed portion of the display panel106. In these instances, when the input device108is stowed on the front surface111of the display panel106, the amount in which the control panel assembly104may be retracted into the body102may be limited by the size of the input device108.

In some examples, at least a portion of the input device108may be retracted into the body102of the apparatus100, together with the display panel106, when the input device108is stowed on the front surface111. For instance, the opening of the recess103may be able to accommodate both the display panel106and the input device108. When the input device108is stowed on the front surface111to cover the display panel106, the display panel106may be made inactive, such as being placed in a sleep mode or powered off.

As shown inFIG.2B, the input device108may be stowed adjacent to a rear surface120(FIG.3) of the display panel106. The input device108may be rotated downward, for instance, such that the input device108is positioned under the display panel106, substantially parallel to the display panel106.

Reference is now made toFIGS.3,4A,4B, and4C.FIG.3depicts a bottom perspective view of a portion of the control panel assembly104, which may include a first hinge assembly302and the base plate110, the first hinge assembly302to rotatably couple the display panel106to the base plate110.FIG.4Adepicts a bottom perspective view of an example display panel106, which may include a cover402that covers a recess404on the rear surface120of the display panel106to mount the input device108.FIG.4Bdepicts a bottom perspective view of the display panel depicted inFIG.4A, which may include the cover402and the recess404on the rear surface120of the display panel106, in which the cover402is removed to expose the recess404.FIG.4Cdepicts a bottom perspective view of the display panel106depicted inFIG.4B, which may include a second hinge assembly408that includes a mounting plate414to be removably attached to the display panel106at the recess404. It should be understood that the example control panel assembly104depicted inFIG.3and the example display panel106depicted inFIGS.4A,4B, and4Cmay include additional features and that some of the features described herein may be removed and/or modified without departing from the scope of the example control panel assembly104or the example display panel106.

As shown inFIG.3, the control panel assembly104may include the base plate110to support the display panel106. The base plate110may be slideably coupled between the body102and the display panel106to allow lateral movement of the control panel assembly104. In some examples, the base plate110may include a slide mechanism that includes a fixed plate304to be fixed to the body102and a slide plate306that may be positioned in a sliding arrangement relative to the fixed plate304. A distal end of the slide plate306may be connected to the display panel106.

The base plate110may be removably coupled to the display panel106. In some examples, the base plate110may be connected to the display panel106via a connector308. The connector308may include various types of connectors, such as spring loaded pins, which may allow installation and removal of the display panel106without tools, screws, friction fit connectors, notch/tab connector pairs, and/or the like.

The control panel assembly104may include the first hinge assembly302connected between the rear surface120of the display panel106and the base plate110. In some examples, a distal end of the slide plate306of the base plate110may be coupled to the first hinge assembly302.

The first hinge assembly302may rotatably couple the display panel106to the base plate110. In some examples, the first hinge assembly302may include a first hinge310to control rotational movement of the display panel106relative to the base plate110and a mounting assembly312rotatably coupled to the first hinge310. The body of the first hinge310may be fixed to the rear surface120of the display panel106or may be an integral part of the rear surface120.

In some examples, the mounting assembly312may have a predefined shape that matches a shape of the slide plate306, such that a distal end of the mounting assembly312may be inserted into a distal end of the slide plate306. In some examples, the mounting assembly312may include the connector308to removably mount the base plate110to the display panel106.

The input device108may be removably attached to the display panel106. In some examples, the input device108may be mounted to the rear surface120of the display panel106. In some examples, the rear surface120of the display panel106may have connections to mount the display panel106. For instance, a mounting surface406may be disposed on the rear surface120of the display panel106. In some instances, the mounting surface406may be hidden inside the recess404, and the cover402may be disposed to cover the recess404when the mounting surface406is not being used.

In some examples, the control panel assembly104may include the second hinge assembly408connected between the display panel106and the input device108. The second hinge assembly408may rotatably couple the input device108to the display panel106. In some examples, the second hinge assembly408may include a first hinge410, at least one second hinge412, and the mounting plate414rotatably coupled to the input device108via the first hinge410and the second hinge412.

The first hinge410may control rotational movement of the input device108relative to the display panel106. In some examples, the first hinge410may be a friction hinge. The first hinge410may exert asymmetric forces, for instance, in a downward rotational direction of the input device108and an upward rotational direction of the input device108. For instance, to account for the weight of the input device108, the first hinge410may exert a force against the downward rotational direction of the input device108, where the force may be stronger than a force against the upward rotational direction of the input device108.

The second hinge412may be disposed a predetermined distance from the first hinge410. The second hinge412may align the input device108relative to the display panel106, for instance to prevent twisting and misalignment between the input device108and the display panel106. In some examples, at least one second hinge412may be disposed. For instance, a pair of second hinges412may be disposed at opposite sides of the first hinge410.

The mounting plate414may be rotatably coupled to the input device108via the first hinge410and the second hinge412. The mounting plate414may be attached to a body416of the input device108, for instance, on a rear surface418of the input device108. The mounting plate414may be mounted to the mounting surface406. In some examples, the mounting plate414may have a shape that may be substantially the same as a shape of the cover402. The mounting plate414may be disposed over the recess404, in lieu of the cover402, and removably attached to the display panel106at the recess404. In some examples, the mounting plate414may be fixed in place at the recess404via connectors420. The connectors420may be screws, pins, and/or the like. The connectors420may be used to attach the cover402to cover the recess404, for instance, in cases in which an input device108is not coupled to the display panel106.

According to examples, a control panel assembly, such as the control panel assembly104depicted inFIGS.1A to4C, may include the base plate110, the display panel106, the first hinge assembly302, the input device108, and the second hinge assembly408. The base plate110may be retractable from the body102of an electronic device, such as the apparatus100depicted inFIGS.1A to2B. In some examples, the first hinge assembly302may rotatably couple the display panel106to the base plate110. The second hinge assembly408may rotatably couple the input device108to the display panel106. The display panel106may move from a first position in which the display panel106is at least partially retracted in the body102to a second position in which the display panel106and the input device108are extended out from the body102of the electronic device. In some examples, the display panel106may be rotatable relative to the base plate110and the input device108may be rotatable relative to the display panel106.

In some examples, the input device108may include the mounting plate414that may be rotatably coupled to the body416of the input device108. The display panel106may include the recess404to accommodate the mounting plate414. The mounting plate414may be removably attached to the display panel106at the recess404. The recess404may be covered by the cover402when the input device108is not coupled to the display panel106. In some examples, the input device108may be an external hardware device, such as a physical keyboard, a keypad, a touch pad, a touch screen display panel, a network device, a base for a hardware device, or a combination thereof.

According to examples, an imaging device, such as the apparatus100depicted inFIGS.1A to1D and2A to2B, may include the body102having the recess103and the control panel assembly104slideably coupled to the body102. The control panel assembly104may include the base plate110, the display panel, and the input device108.

The base plate110may be slideably coupled to the body102to extend from the recess103of the body102. The display panel106may be rotatably coupled to the base plate110. In some examples, the display panel106may include the mounting assembly312rotatably coupled to the display panel106via the first hinge310. The display panel106may be removably attached to the base plate110via the mounting assembly312.

The input device108may be rotatably coupled to the display panel106. In some examples, the input device108may include the mounting plate414rotatably coupled to the input device108via the second hinge412. The input device108may be removably attached to the display panel106via the mounting plate414.

The input device108may be rotatable to be positioned in an extended position, in which the input device108is extended at a certain angular range relative to the display panel106, and a retracted position, in which the input device108may be stowed adjacent to the front surface111of the display panel106or the rear surface120of the display panel106.

The display panel106may include the recess404to accommodate the mounting plate414. The mounting plate414may be removably attached to the display panel106at the recess404. In some instances, the recess404may be covered by a cover402when the input device108is not coupled to the display panel106.