Abstract:
An apparatus for a multi-directional display that includes a first surface situated in an electronic equipment cabinet, wherein the first surface is capable of extending out of at least two sides of the electronic equipment cabinet. A first electronic display is mechanically coupled to a first mount, such that the first electronic display is capable of rotating independently from the first mount. The first mount is coupled to the first surface, such that the first electronic display is viewable when the first surface is separately extended out of the at least two sides.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates generally to display consoles, and in particular, to housing a multi-directional display console. 
         [0002]    In a typical data center, electronic equipment cabinets (i.e., racks) are common pieces of equipment to house servers, storage units, network devices, and other Information Technology (I/T) devices. Electronic equipment cabinets generally have designated units to store the common pieces of equipment. In order to manage all of the electronic equipment being housed in the cabinets, each cabinet often has a monitoring station also known as an administrative console. The administrative console is a work station typically consisting of a display, a keyboard, and mouse, which is used to monitor the operability of the electronic equipment housed in the cabinet. The administrative console can switch between the multiple pieces of electronic equipment in the cabinet housing and, as a result, one administration console can be used per cabinet to reduce costs. 
         [0003]    Typical administrative consoles are designed to fit into a single rack unit (RU) in the cabinet housing allowing more space for the electronic equipment to be stored in the cabinet housing. The administrative console is accessed by a sliding mechanism in a “drawer” type of design, where it can slide out from the single rack unit in the electronic equipment cabinet. The administrative console is typically only accessed from the front of the electronic equipment cabinet where a technician (i.e., user) can view status indicators on equipment, power on and off various pieces of equipment, and insert portable media. 
         [0004]    However, there are situations where the technician can be working from behind the electronic equipment cabinet adjusting cables, installing additional components, or doing other tasks relating to the electronic equipment. Accessing the administrator console to confirm outcome of these tasks can become an issue if there are multiple long rows of electronic equipment cabinets and the technician has to walk back and forth between the front and rear of the rack as changes are made to the electronic equipment from the rear of the electronic equipment cabinet. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Embodiments in accordance with the present invention disclose an apparatus for a multi-directional display that includes a first surface situated in an electronic equipment cabinet, wherein the first surface is capable of extending out of at least two sides of the electronic equipment cabinet. A first electronic display is mechanically coupled to a first mount, such that the first electronic display is capable of rotating independently from the first mount, and the first mount is coupled to the first surface, such that the first electronic display is viewable when the first surface is separately extended out of the at least two sides. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The following detailed description, given by way of example and not intended to limit the disclosure solely thereto, will best be appreciated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  depicts an isometric front view of a multi-directional display console situated in an electronic equipment cabinet in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  depicts an isometric rear view of the multi-directional display console situated in the electronic equipment cabinet of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  depicts an enlarged isometric view of the multi-directional display console of  FIG. 1  extended to the front of the electronic equipment cabinet. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  depicts an enlarged view of a side view of the multi-directional display console of  FIG. 1  extended to the front of the electronic equipment cabinet. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  depicts an enlarged view of a side view of the multi-directional display console of  FIG. 1  retracted into the electronic equipment cabinet. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  depicts an enlarged view of a side view of the multi-directional display console of  FIG. 1  extended to the back of the electronic equipment cabinet. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  depicts an enlarged view of a side view of the multi-directional display console of  FIG. 1  utilizing a height adjustable feature. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Embodiments in accordance with the present invention are disclosed herein with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of potential embodiments in accordance with the invention and may take various forms. In addition, each of the examples given in connection with the various embodiments is also intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. This description is intended to be interpreted merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the various aspects of the present disclosure. In the description, details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presented embodiments. 
         [0015]    In general, an electronic equipment cabinet (e.g., server rack) contains an administrative console for managing all the electronic equipment within the given server rack. Administrative consoles are usually comprised of a display, a keyboard, and a mouse. The server rack is divided into multiple units, wherein a single unit is designated for a single piece of electronic equipment. Components housed in the units can be interchanged and configured according to preferences. Typically, the administrative console has a foldable display so it can be extended and retracted into a single unit in the server rack. The administrative console can extend out of and retract into the unit with the help of rollers that guide the administrative console. The administrative console typically extends in a single direction, towards the front of the server rack where a user (i.e., technician) can access information through the administrative console. However, it is common for the technician to work in the rear of the server rack where the administrative console cannot be readily accessed. 
         [0016]    An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides an administrative console capable of being accessed on multiple sides of a server rack. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  depicts an isometric front view of a multi-directional display console situated in an electronic equipment cabinet in an embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0018]    In this embodiment, enclosure  100  is a server rack. In other embodiments, enclosure  100  may be any enclosure designed to contain various electronic equipment or devices. Enclosure  100  is divided into units, where a single unit is designated for a single piece of electronic equipment. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , multi-directional display console  102  is situated in a single unit of enclosure  100 . Multi-directional display console  102  is retracted into enclosure  100  as an example of how multi-directional display console  102  is positioned in enclosure  100  when not being used by a technician. 
         [0019]    Multi-directional display console  102  has front handle  104  which the technician can use to slide multi-directional display console  102  to the front of enclosure  100 . Multi-directional display console  102  can be positioned in any unit of enclosure  100 . It shall be noted that there maybe multiple enclosures on either side of enclosure  100  limiting the accessibility to the rear of enclosure  100 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  depicts an isometric rear view of the multi-directional display console situated in the electronic equipment cabinet of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0021]    In this example, the rear of enclosure  100  has various cables extending from the units containing various pieces of electronic equipment. In the event the technician needs to make adjustments to the various pieces of electronic equipment from the rear of enclosure  100 , the technician may need to monitor the changes being made. In order to monitor the changes being made, the technician has to have access to multi-directional display console  102 . Multi-directional display console  102  has rear handle  202  which the technician can use to slide multi-directional display console  102  to the rear of enclosure  100 . Sliding multi-directional display console  102  to the rear of enclosure  100  allows for the technician to monitor changes being performed at the rear of enclosure  100  without having to walk around the multiple enclosures to the front of enclosure  100  to use multi-directional console  102 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  depicts an enlarged isometric view of the multi-directional display console of  FIG. 1  extended to the front of the electronic equipment cabinet. 
         [0023]    As depicted in  FIG. 3 , multi-directional display console  102  is comprised of base tray component  302 , rear tray component  304 , and front tray component  306 . A single side of base tray component  302  is connected to a single side of rear tray component  304  through hinge  308 . Hinge  308  allows for an angle variation between the connected base tray component  302  and rear tray component  304 . Hinge  308  is lockable at any position according to a preference of the technician. For example, as depicted in  FIG. 3 , hinge  308  can be locked in a position where base tray component  302  and rear tray component  304  form a 90 degree angle. 
         [0024]    Another single side of base tray component  302 , opposite to the side of base tray component  302  connected to rear tray component  304 , is connected to a single side of front tray component  306  through hinge  310 . Similar to hinge  308 , hinge  310  allows for an angle variation between the connected base tray component  302  and front tray component  306 . Hinge  310  is also lockable at any position according to a preference of the technician. For example, as depicted in  FIG. 3 , hinge  310  can be locked in a position where base tray component  302  and front tray component  306  form a 180 degree angle. In another embodiment, hinge  308  and  310  can have an indicator displaying the position of hinge  308  and  310  with a corresponding adjustable height of multi-directional display console  102 . Depending on a desired height position of multi-directional display console  102 , the indicator can display the angle position of hinge  308  and  310  accordingly. 
         [0025]    In the event multi-directional display console  102  is extended to the rear of enclosure  100 , the position of hinge  308  and hinge  310  is reversed according to the depiction in  FIG. 3 . Hinge  308  is locked in a position where base tray component  302  and rear tray component  304  form a 180 degree angle. Hinge  310  is locked in a position where base tray component  302  and front tray component  306  form a 90 degree angle. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  depicts an enlarged view of a side perspective of the multi-directional display console of  FIG. 1  extended to the front of the electronic equipment cabinet. 
         [0027]    In this embodiment, display  402  is coupled to base tray component  302  through display mount  404 . Display  402  may be a computer screen, a television screen, a tablet screen, or any electronic display capable of displaying monitoring information of the electronic equipment contained in enclosure  100 . Display mount  404  can be secured to base tray component  302  in an immovable manner through the use of fasteners or bolts. Display  402  connects to display mount  404  through hinge  406 . Hinge  406  allows for display  402  to rotate in any direction on the axis of hinge  406  and is lockable at any position according to the preference of the technician. In this example, display  402  faces away from enclosure  100 . Input device  408  can also be secured to base tray component  302  and as depicted in  FIG. 4 , two input devices  408  can be used depending on the direction (i.e., front or rear) multi-directional display console  102  is extended out of enclosure  100 . Input device  408  may be an electronic keyboard, an electronic mouse, an electronic stylus, or any electronic device capable of communicating with the content on display  402 . In other embodiments, a single input device  408  can be used along with display  402 . The single input device  408  can move along base tray component  302  to the side where multi-directional display console  102  is extracted from. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  depicts an enlarged view of a side perspective of the multi-directional display console of  FIG. 1  retracted into the electronic equipment cabinet. 
         [0029]    In this example, multi-directional display console  102  is retracted inside enclosure  100 . Rear tray component  304  and front tray component  306  are secured in a 90 degree angle to base tray component  302  to ensure multi-directional display console  102  does not extrude from enclosure  100  when not in use by the technician. Display  402  is rotated in a manner and hinge  406  is secured in a position such that display  402  is parallel to base tray component  302 . Display  402  secured in a position parallel to base tray component  302  optimizes the space of the single unit for multi-direction display console  102  to be stored in enclosure  100 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  depicts an enlarged view of a side perspective of the multi-directional display console of  FIG. 1  extended to the back of the electronic equipment cabinet. 
         [0031]    In this example, multi-directional display console  102  is extended to the rear of enclosure  100 . As previously mentioned in the discussion of  FIG. 3 , hinge  308  is locked in a position where base tray component  302  and rear tray component  304  form a 180 degree angle. Hinge  310  is locked in a position where base tray component  302  and front tray component  306  form a 90 degree angle. Since hinge  406  is lockable at any position, hinge  406  maybe locked into a position such that display  402  faces away from enclosure  100 . 
         [0032]    In this embodiment, display  402  can receive an input from either one of the two input devices  408 . Display  402  is automatically able to display content in the correct direction based on the orientation imposed on it by the technician. A sensor can be used to determine the orientation of display  402  and adjust the orientation of the displayed content accordingly. In another embodiment, the technician can manually select the orientation of display  402  through input device  408  so the displayed content is oriented accordingly. 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  depicts an enlarged view of a side perspective of the multi-directional display console of  FIG. 1  utilizing a height adjustable feature. 
         [0034]    Multi-directional display console  102  can exploit the lockable properties of hinges  308 ,  310  and  406  for height adjustability. In this embodiment, multi-directional display console  102  is extended to the rear of enclosure  100  and adjusted to a lower height. By increasing the angle between front tray component  306  and base tray component  302  through lockable hinge  310 , base tray component  302  is able to tilt lower when extended out of enclosure  100 . By decreasing the angle between rear tray component  304  and base tray component  302  through lockable hinge  308 , rear tray component  304  can be tilted level for use of input device  408  by the technician. 
         [0035]    The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting to the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
         [0036]    Having described various embodiments of a multi-directional display console (which are intended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted that modifications and variations may be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments disclosed which are within the scope of the invention as outlined by the appended claims.