DISPLAY WORKSTATION

Abstract: A display workstation comprises a control point, for example a keyboard (2) and a concave display, for example a data display (1) being designed as a part of a cylinder surface and having the keyboard arranged at the extension of the cylinder surface. Between the keyboard (2) and the display (1) there is arranged a draft holder (3) with a manuscript (4) being illuminated by a lamp (5). By positioning the workstation in such a manner in relation to the user that the user's eyes are close to the common axis of curvature of the data display (1) and the keyboard (2) it is possible with this display workstation to avoid that the operator's eyes become tired by great differences in focusing distance between the data display (1) and the keyboard (2) at the same time while the cylinder shaped data display (1) will reflect light coming from above in a downwards direction so that this will not bother the operator.

Description: DISPLAY WORKSTATION The invention relates to a display workstation of the kind described in the introduction to claim 1. Such display workstations are gradually finding use in many different applications. Examples are word processors, book-keeping systems, industrial plants and process control systems and generally in connection with all forms of electronic data processing. Since the use computers is becoming more widespread, it is to be expected that in future a relatively large number of people will work every day with display stations. There are numerous problems in connection with station work for any longer period of time. The user will often feel pains or fatigue in his eyes and/or his head. This is partly due to the fact that the display will often emit bothering reflections from surrounding sources of light or from windows. It is also believed, however, that the cause of eye problems may be that in connection with station work the eyes will change focusing, distance very often. Moreover, it is often a question of quite different focusing distances. The accomodation of the eye is relatively slow and is reduced with age. The eyes are therefore under a heavy strain when working with an ordinary display station. A user will typically focus on the display, the control panel and the draft or a manual, respectively, several times a minute. Furthermore, there will often be substantial differences in distance between the objects that are brought into focus. The object of- the invention is therefore to provide a display workstation where the number of bothering reflections is relatively small and where the eyes are much less tired than by the known display workstations. This is achieved according to the invention by arranging the display workstation as disclosed in the characterising part of claim 1. In case of light slanting in on the display from above which is normally the case with light emitted by lamps or passing through windows, no bothering reflections will occur in the visual field of the operator in connection with concave displays. This is contrary to the well-known convex display which will often reflect light directly towards the operator's eyes. By a display screen according to the invention it will moreover be possible to place same in such a manner in relation to the operator that the focusing distance over the entire area of the display is substantially constant. This is of course of particular importance by very large displays as is for example the case with supervision equipment. "BUREA OMPI When the draft holder and the control panel are moreover designed and placed as disclosed in claim 1, it is ensured that the focusing distance over the entire display, over the draft and over the ' control panel is the same without giving the display workstation a complicated structural design. Furthermore, under all operational conditions a very high degree of user comfort is achieved in that it has turned out that even operators familiar with touch typing are after all often looking at the control panel when typing. With this design of the invention it is therefore possible to arrange control panel, display as well as draft holder on a cylinder surface in such a manner that the distance to these three service means from the eyes of the operator will always range between 50 and 70 cm which for most people will be the optimum. If the display workstation is designed as disclosed in the characterising part of claim 2 there is obtained- a workstation that is particularly suitable for e.g. word processors or as a data terminal. It is moreover possible to provide good prevention of reflections coming form above in that they will be reflected in a downwards direction and outside the visual field of the operator. If, however, the display workstation is designed as disclosed in the characterising part of claim 3 there is obtained a workstation which is particularly suitable in connection with large displays such as supervision panels, industrial -BU RE Λ OMPI plants and the like where the operator is not sitting in a chair but moves around in the room for example for serving other panels or control means. A display workstation according to the invention can be adjusted individually if the display is displaceable as further disclosed in claim 4. The display workstation according to the invention can moreover be used as a "cabinet" if as disclosed in claim 5, the draft holder is arranged between control panel and display and if the display in its lowest position is adapted to cover the draft holder. Finally, there may be obtained a really good individual adjustment of the display workstation if same is designed as disclosed in claim 6, where the display, the control panel and perhaps the draft holder as a whole may be turned on the axis of curvature of the display. Any person may find a working position without any reflections at the same time while the focusing distances are substantially the same. The invention will be further described in the following with reference to the drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a display workstation according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a front view of another display workstation according to the invention, W EA OMPI Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the display workstation in Fig. 2 seen in the direction of the arrows along line III-III, Fig. 4 is the display workstation in Fig. 2 in its compact position, and Fig. 5 is a section of the display workstation in Fig. 4 seen in the direction of the arrows along line V-V. Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a display workstation according to the invention. At its upper end the workstation is provided with a display, for example a data display in the form of an electrooptical display 1 being designed as part of a horizontal cylinder. The display 1 proper may for instance be produced by plasma, light diode or lighting wiring techniques in that in practice it has proved even very difficult to produce such a display in the form of a cathode-ray tube. By its lower end the workstation is provided with a control panel, for example a keyboard 2, forming an extension of the cylinder surface provided by display 1. Between data display 1 and keyboard 2 there is provided a draft holder 3 on which there is shown a manuscript 4 being illuminated by a lamp 5. The display workstation advantageously has a radius of curvature ranging between 50 and 70 cm and therefore the operator is unable to focus his OΛiPI eyes on anything falling outside this interval. This interval has been determined on the basis of the fact that most people will regard this as a normal and "relaxed" visual distance. Even if the operator's eyes are moved just as often as by conventional workstations, important differences will nevertheless occur. Data display 1, keyboard 2 as well as manuscript 4 will be situated in more or less the same distance from the radius of curvature of the cylinder surface. It is moreover possible to adjust the workstation in such a manner that the operator's eyes will be on this axis thereby avoiding big focusing changes. Furthermore, light falling from above will be reflected in a downwards direction from the upper half of the data display and will therefore not be visible to the operator. If desired, the draft holder may naturally be designed in such a manner that the manuscript is substantially at the same visual distance from the operator as keyboard 2 and data display 1. A somewhat different embodiment of the invention is shown on Figs. 2 to 5, the reference numerals, however, being used of the same parts shown in Fig. 1. This display workstation is provided with a displacable display 1 which as will particularly appear from Figs. 3 and 5 may be displaced to abut on the keyboard section. This feature perhaps coupled with a likewise displaceable keyboard 2 offers good possibilities of an individual adjustment of the workstation to the requirements of the individual operator. It is of course obvious that the entire display workstation will have to be mounted in a suitable frame. The workstation may also be adapted for placement on a table. It is advantageous if keyboard 2 and display 1 as a whole can be adjusted for example in such a manner that the whole structure is pivotable around the axis of curvature of display 1. A display workstation according to the invention also has the advantage that the operator can have the least possible angular differences between keyboard 2 and display 1. It is therefore possible to move one's eye from for example keyboard 2 to display 1 by making a comparatively small movement of one's head. This will not tire the motor muscles of the head to such a degree as for example a sideways movement. The invention can also find use by large displays, for example in supervision installations, where it may be highly advantageous if a data display is built into a display workstation curving on a vertical axis. The keyboard may be of a generally known structure but it is also possible to use special keyboards curving with the workstation. The embodiment shown in the drawing is therefore merely an embodiment that is particularly suitable for work of the same nature as electronic data processing etc. OMPI

Claims: 1 PATENT CLAIMS 1. Display workstation of the kind comprising a concave display (1), a draft holder (3) and 5 a control panel (2) c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the display (1) is designed as a part of the curved surface of a cylinder, that in continuation of the display (1) there is provided a draft holder (3) also having the shape of the 0 curved surface of a cylinder, that the draft holder (3) has substantially the same radius of curvature as the display (1), and that the axes of curvature of the draft holder (3) and the display (1) are substantially congruent, and that a control panel 5 (2) is arranged in such a manner -in relation to the display (1) that it is situated on the curved surface determined by the display (1). 2. Display workstation according to claim 1, 0 c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the display (1) has a horizontal axis of curvature. 3. Display workstation according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the display 5 (1) has a vertical axis of curvature. 4. Display workstation according to any one of claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the display (1) is displaceable in relation to C the control panel (2) the display (1) being adapted to be turned on its axis of curvature. 5. Display workstation according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the draft holder OMPI Wii-O (3) is arranged between the control panel (2) and the display (1), and that in its lowest position the display is adapted to cover the draft holder (3). 6. Display workstation according to claims 2-5, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the display (1), .the control panel (2) and if desired the draft holder (3) as a whole are adapted to be turned on the axis of curvature of the display (1). ' BU E O PI

Inventors: BRUHN OLE, JENSEN LEIF, RIX TORBEN, BRUHN, OLE, JENSEN, LEIF, RIX, TORBEN
Applicants: BRUHN OLE, JENSEN LEIF, RIX TORBEN, BRUHN, OLE, JENSEN, LEIF, RIX, TORBEN
Application year: 1984
Main classification: G06F3
IPC codes: G06F1