Dish having display device and apparatus for charging the same

A dish having a display element installed therein includes a dish main body including a display element including a display portion and a circuit portion, a first side including a transparent material, and a second side, and a battery portion at the second side for supplying power to the display element.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Utility Model Application No. 20-2012-0002350 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Mar. 23, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a dish having a display element installed therein and a charging device of the same.

(b) Description of the Related Art

People buying a food dish or food plate may be more interested in designs of the dishes, such as prints on the surface of the dishes, than in functions such as durability and thermal conductivity. In addition, dishes might be used not only for serving the food, but may also be used for ornamental purposes.

The dishes may be designed by changing their shapes, or by printing images or patterns on the dish. However, such a design cannot be modified once it is applied to the dish.

An organic light emitting diode display includes a hole injection electrode, an electron injection electrode, and an organic emission layer formed between the hole and electron injection elements, and emits light as holes injected from an anode and, electrons injected from a cathode are recombined to cancel each other at the organic light emission layer. The OLED display device, having high quality properties such as low power consumption, high luminance, a high reaction speed, and the like, can be manufactured to be slim, and can be used in various devices including a portable electron device because of its flexible feature.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide a dish having a display element therein that is capable of changing a design in the dish by displaying various images and providing various functions.

A dish having a display element installed therein according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a dish main body including a display element including a display portion and a circuit portion, a first side including a transparent material, and a second side, and a battery portion at the second side for supplying power to the display element.

The dish main body may include a center area for accommodating food and including the display portion of the display element, and a periphery area around the center area, rising from the center area, and including the circuit portion of the display element.

The display element may include a flexible material, and an upper side of the dish main body may be concave.

The dish may further include a bottom side protection pad at a bottom side of the dish main body for sealing the battery portion.

The bottom side protection pad may include an impact cushioning member.

The dish may further include a battery terminal coupled to the battery portion and exposed through the bottom side protection pad, and a capping portion for sealing the battery terminal.

The battery portion may be configured to be charged using a wireless charging method or a solar light charging method.

The dish may further include an antenna portion using BLUETOOTH® wireless communication at an edge of the dish main body.

The dish may further include a touch screen for enabling control of the display element.

The dish may further include a detachable protection film for covering at least a portion of an upper side of the dish main body.

The dish may further include a controller coupled to the display element for controlling power to the display element and for controlling image displaying of the display element.

A charging device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can charge the dish having the display element installed therein, and the charging device includes a base for supporting the charging device, a plurality of supports extended upward from the base, and a plurality of dish mounting portions, each including a supporting portion coupling adjacent ones of the supports, a stand for supporting the dish, the stand extending from and perpendicular to the support, a fixing supporting portion extending from the stand and configured to affix the dish to the dish mounting portion, and a charging terminal for charging the battery portion of the dish.

A position of the supporting portion may be adjustable with respect to the supports.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a design of the dish can be changed depending on the food served in the dish by displaying various images, and the dish can emit light so that it can be used for ornamental purposes.

In addition, according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the dish can perform various functions using the display element installed therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a dish having a display element installed therein, and a charging device thereof, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Embodiments of the present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms, and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, same reference numerals will be used throughout to designate same or like components.

In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of other elements. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or plate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element, or one or more intervening elements may be present.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a dish having a display element installed therein, andFIG. 2is an exploded perspective view of the dish having the display element installed therein, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the present embodiment includes a dish having a display element installed therein10, a dish main body100, a display element110(FIG. 3), and a battery portion120.

The dish main body100is formed in the shape of a plate so that food can be put on an upper side thereof. The dish main body100is in the shape of a circular plate in the present exemplary embodiment, but may be formed in other shapes, such as the shape of a polygon like a triangle or a square, or may be a curved plate having the shape of, for example, a leaf or a water droplet. In addition, the upper side of the dish main body100may be flat or concave downward. As shown inFIG. 2, the dish main body100may include a center area100awhere food may be placed, and a periphery area100bthat is higher than the center area100a(e.g., uplifted from, or rising from, the center area100a) while surrounding the center area100a. Since the peripheral area100bis higher than the center area100a, food can be prevented from moving outside of the dish main body100. Since the display element110is installed in the dish main body100to display an image or emit light, the upper side of the dish main body100may be at least partially formed of a transparent material.

The dish main body100may further include a protection film140covering the upper side of the dish main body100, and capable of being detached from the dish main body100. The protection film140can prevent, or reduce the likelihood of, an image displayed in the display element110from being unclear due to scratches caused by a fork or a knife, or scratches in the dish main body100resulting from washing. Since the protection film140is attachable/detachable, the protection film140may be attached during meal time, and the protection film140may be detached when the dish10is used for ornamental purposes. In addition, when scratches are generated in the protection film140, the scratched protection film140can be replaced with another protection film140. The protection film140may be a film used for surface protection, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyethylene, although the present invention is not restricted to these materials. Various protection films formed of various components that are known to a person skilled in the art, which are not harmful to humans, can be used as the protection film.

FIG. 3is a cross-sectional side view of the dish having the display element installed therein according to the present exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The battery portion120is connected with the display element110to supply power to the display element110, and is disposed in a bottom side of the dish main body110. The battery portion120is formed in the shape of a plate and is disposed in the bottom side of the dish main body110, and in the present exemplary embodiment, the battery portion120is formed in the shape of a square plate having a hole therein, although the present invention is not restricted to the battery portion120of the present embodiment. The battery portion120can have any shape that allows it to be connected with the display element120and supply power to the display element110.

The battery portion120may be charged by a wireless charging method or a solar charging method. When the battery portion120is charged by the wireless charging method, it may be charged through an antenna portion150, and when the battery portion120is charged by the solar charging method, a solar light panel may be partially provided in an upper or bottom side of the dish main body100in a manner that will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The battery portion120may further include a bottom side protection pad130at a bottom side120of the dish main body100to seal the battery portion120. Permeation of moisture into the battery portion120can be reduced or prevented by sealing the battery portion120. The bottom side protection pad130is also provided as an impact cushioning member that can absorb impact, and thus not only the battery portion120but also the dish10can be protected from external impact. The impact cushioning material may be elastic rubber or urethane, but it is not limited thereto. Any material having elastic force to absorb external impact can be used.

When the bottom side protection pad130is provided, as shown inFIG. 3, a battery terminal (e.g., a charging terminal of the battery portion)122is connected to one side of the battery portion120and is exposed through the bottom side protection pad130, and a capping portion124sealing the exposed battery terminal122may be further provided. The battery portion120may be connected with an external power source through the externally exposed battery terminal122, and thus the battery portion120can be charged. In addition, the capping portion124seals the exposed battery terminal122to prevent the battery terminal122from being exposed to moisture and the like.

The antenna portion150of the present embodiment may, for example, wirelessly connect the display element110with an external device using BLUETOOTH® wireless communication (BLUETOOTH® is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG. Inc., Kirkland, Wash.). The antenna portion150of the present embodiment is formed along the edge of the dish main body100. For example, when the dish main body150is formed in the shape of a circle, the antenna portion150is formed in the shape of a circular ring. The antenna portion150may also wireless charge the battery portion120. When the display element110is connected with the external device using BLUETOOTH® wireless communication, the display element110may receive a signal of an image stored in the external device, and may display the corresponding image, or may be controlled by the external device.

In the present embodiment, a touch sensor formed as a touch film, a touch sheet, or a touch pad is provided in the upper side of the dish main body100where the display portion of the display element110is located to sense touch such that the display element10can be driven by a touch screen method.

The display element110may include a controller (not shown) provided at the bottom side of the dish main body100and connected with the display element100, and the controller may turn on and turn off the power of the display element110. In addition, as shown in (a) and (b) ofFIG. 1, the controller may change an image displayed in the display element110.

In the above-description, an additional coupling member is provided for coupling or access between different elements or access. In addition, an additional sealant may be further provided to reduce or prevent leakage in an accessing portion. Further, a protrusion or groove may be formed in a fitted manner for convenience in a coupling process and reduction or prevention of a leak.

Hereinafter, a charging device20that charges the dish of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawing.

FIG. 4is a perspective view of the charging device20of the dish having the display element installed therein according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 4, the charging device20according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a bracket (e.g., a base)210, a support220, and a dish mounting portion230.

The bracket210acts as a base of the charging device20, and may be coupled to the ground, and may have a flat-plate shaped bottom side to stably support the charging device20. A cross-section of the bracket210of the present exemplary embodiment may be rectangularly-shaped, although the present invention is not limited thereto. The bottom side of the bracket210may be realized in various shapes. In addition, an inner space of the bracket210may have a space (e.g., a predetermined space) to install devices and wires for charging.

Further, a plurality of supports220extended upward from the bracket210are formed at an upper side of the bracket210. The support220is supported by the bracket210, and the plurality of supports220may be formed in the shape of a plurality of parallel bars. In the present exemplary embodiment, three supports220are provided, but a different number of supports220(e.g., two or more) may be selected and provided according to the number of dishes10to be mounted and/or charged. In addition, the support200may have a space (e.g., a predetermined space) for installation of charging-related wires along the inner space.

The dish mounting portion230for mounting and charging the dish10having the display element installed therein includes a supporting portion232, a stand234, and a fixing support portion236, and a charging terminal238that charges the dish10having the display element installed therein is formed in one side of the dish mounting portion230. The dish mounting portion230is provided as a plurality of separate dish mounting portions230to mount a plurality of dishes10, each having a display element installed therein.

The supporting portion232functions to fix, or provide additional stability to, the supports220by connecting adjacent supports220. In the present exemplary embodiment, the supporting portion232is formed in the shape of a bar connecting bar-shaped supports220extended upward in a vertical direction.

The stand234at least partially protrudes outwardly from the supporting bar232to support the dish10having the display element installed therein. In the present exemplary embodiment, the stand234is extended downward in the supporting bar232, and ends of the stand234are formed into two parts such that the ends may protrude to a direction crossing the up and down direction. In addition, the fixing support portion236is formed protruding from an end of the stand234and affixes the dish10(e.g., affixes the dish10to the fixing support portion236or to the dish mounting portion230) such that an upper side of the dish10faces frontward. The inner space of the dish mounting portion230preferably has a predetermined space for installation of charging-related wires along the inner space.

The height of the dish mounting portion230may be controlled by lifting or lowering the supporting bar232that connects between the supports220. As shown inFIG. 4, the dish mounting portion230may be alternately disposed with an adjacent dish mounting portion230in the horizontal direction, and may be disposed in a row direction with the dish mounting portion230adjacent thereto in the horizontal direction by controlling the height thereof. In addition, a gap between adjacent dish mounting portions230may be adjusted as the dish mounting portions230are moved in the up and down direction depending on the size of the dish10having the display element installed therein.

The dish10having the display element installed therein may be mounted to the dish mounting portion230, and may be charged through the charging terminal238formed in one side of the dish mounting portion230. The dish mounting portion230may be charged by combination of the charging terminal238of the dish mounting portion230and the battery terminal122of the battery portion120of the dish10having the display element installed therein.

In addition, the bracket210, the support220, and the dish mounting portion230can install configuration such as charging-related devices such as a charging adapter and wires connecting the charging-related device and the charging terminal therein, and therefore space utilization can be simplified and a good appearance can be provided.

FIG. 5is a view illustrating a state in which the dish10having the display element installed therein is mounted to the charging device10to be charged.

The dish10having the display element installed therein may be charged while being mounted to the dish mounting portion230, and, as shown inFIG. 5, the upper side of the dish10faces frontward, the bottom side of the dish10is leaned on the dish mounting portion232, and the edge of the dish10is fixed by the fixing support portion236.

The dish10having the display element installed therein can be mounted to the charging device20, allowing external power to be connected through contact of the charging devices122and128, and the dish10can be used as an ornament.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME OF THE REFERENCE CHARACTERS

100: dish main body110: display element120: battery portion130: bottom side protection portion140: protection film150: antenna portion