Patent Abstract:
A device and method for arranging a display allows for the easy installation of a display in a home entertainment system. The flexibility of modern home entertainment/theater systems that include a digital display device permits many different installation options. Thus, the invention facilitates the installation of such a display by aligning a viewing screen with a projector device. Moreover, the invention allows the installation of a flat panel display, such as an LCD or PDP, at a proper viewing angle.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/640,085 filed Dec. 30, 2004 with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention relates to installing a flat panel display device. It also relates to aligning a component or components along a preferred plane to provide an optimal viewing experience.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Until fairly recently, a consumer only had the choice of using a typical cathode-ray tube television or an analog big screen projection television for use as a display in a home entertainment or home theater system. The advent of the many digital displays, which include flat panel displays like plasma display devices (PDPs) and liquid crystal displays (LCDs), as well as digital projection technologies, like digital light processing (DLP™), now provide may options for the home user.  
         [0006]     Normally, these new digital displays are much lighter and take up less space than their similarly sized analog predecessors. Accordingly, they can be installed in many different ways. For example, flat panel displays can be hung directly on a wall, while a DLP™ projector can be paired with a movie screen and be used like a slide projector or mounted from the ceiling. These installations ensure that the room where the home entertainment system is located is not cluttered with bulky equipment. On the other hand, these arrangements can be difficult to install and an a mistake by an unskilled installer or a do-it-yourselfer may result in a display that is slightly askew, i.e. not installed at a proper viewing angle.  
         [0007]     Thus, there is a need for making the installation easier to ensure a proper installation of these digital displays. That way, the user who has invested considerable time and money in acquiring and/or setting up a home entertainment or home theater system does not get stuck with a “crooked” display. Alternatively, there is a demand for providing a way of compensating for any mistakes in installing a digital display, so that the home entertainment system user may still enjoy a high-end multimedia experience.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     Accordingly, the invention may address these problems by facilitating the installation of a display at a proper angle. The invention can also facilitate the display of video at a proper alignment angle even if the installation of the display is improper. The invention may be suitable for the integrated multimedia system like the one described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/198,356 filed Aug. 8, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
         [0009]     The invention provides an adjustable bracket for mounting a display device that includes a faceplate having an interface corresponding to a mounting position on a display device; a plurality of holes adapted to receive a fastener disposed on the face plate; and a level device disposed on the face plate. The level device indicates that an edge of the faceplate is substantially level.  
         [0010]     The invention also provides a removable display device installation apparatus, which includes a floor stand surface that supports the installation stand on a supporting surface; and a display support surface coupled to the floor stand surface that supports a display device above the supporting surface. The display support surface is substantially parallel to the floor stand surface. The display support surface of the installation stand aligns a bottom surface of the display device on a plane substantially parallel to the supporting surface.  
         [0011]     Also, a method of mounting a display device is disclosed. The method includes placing an installation apparatus on a supporting surface to align the supporting apparatus on a plane substantially parallel to the supporting surface; providing a bracket structure adapted to receive the display device coupled with the installation apparatus; and mounting the display device onto the bracket to secure the display device to a mounting surface substantially perpendicular to the supporting surface. An edge of the display device is substantially parallel to the supporting surface.  
         [0012]     Moreover, the invention discloses a display device installation apparatus that includes a bracket adapted to receive a display device and a floor stand coupled to the bracket. The floor stand is substantially parallel to the bracket  
         [0013]     Additional features and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, while the invention was developed to solve certain problems related to installing digital displays, it may be used in other applications and with other devices where aligning components is desirable. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the detailed description serve to explain principles of the invention. No attempt is made to show structural details of the to invention in more detail than may be necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention and the various ways in which it may be practiced.  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a plan view illustrating the alignment of a projector and a viewing screen according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  illustrates a plan view of a leveling device included in a viewing screen.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a close-up view of the area “A” of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front elevational view of a leveling device included in a mounting bracket according to another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front elevational front view showing an operation of the mounting bracket from  FIG. 3 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side elevational view showing an image correction system according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a side elevational view of a vertical adjustment of a projector according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a plan view of a horizontal adjustment of the projector according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5C  illustrates a side elevational view of a vertical adjustment of a projector according to another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  illustrates a side elevational view of a removable installation apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0025]      FIGS. 6A, 6B ,  6 C, and  6 D illustrate perspective views of various stages of mounting a flat panel display against a wall using the removable installation apparatus of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  illustrates a front elevational view of the removable installation apparatus of  FIG. 6  and a plane associated therewith.  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  illustrates a front elevational view of a flat panel display disposed behind a lowered viewing screen according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 8A  illustrates a side elevational view of the flat panel display and lowered viewing screen of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  illustrates a front elevational view of a flat panel display and raised viewing screen disposed in a housing according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 9A  illustrates a side elevational view of the flat panel display and raised viewing screen of  FIG. 9 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0031]     The embodiments of the invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the appended claims and applicable law. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.  
         [0032]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an alignment system  100  includes a viewing screen  105  and a display device  110 . Here, a typical viewing screen that is well-known to those having ordinary skill in the art is used for screen  105 , and a DLP™ projector mounted on a ceiling is used as display device  110 .  
         [0033]     The screen  105  includes an emitter  115 , which can be a laser, a radio transmitter, or other emission device. The emitter  115  may be located on a housing  107  of the screen  105  that comprises a motor (not shown) for raising and lowering the screen. The power supply could be a small battery or be a power source that drives the motor if the screen is motorized to draw up and down. The display device  110  may include a receptor  120  that receives the emission, also known as a medium, be it light, laser, or a radio signal, from emitter  115 . However, the display device  110  can be manually located using the signal coming from the emitter.  
         [0034]     After receiving the emission, receptor  120  delivers it to an alignment processor (not shown) that can determine if the display device  110  is properly aligned with the screen  105 . After processing the received emission, the invention can then provide feedback whether the screen  105  and display device  110  are aligned. Such feedback can be provided by sound, visually through an indicator light or a display screen located on the display device  110 , or other feedback mechanism known to those skilled in the art. Using such an alignment system  100 , it may be easily determined whether display device  110  is properly aligned with viewing screen  105 .  
         [0035]     The location of emitter and the receptor can be switched so that emitter  115  is included with display device  110  and the receptor  120  is included with screen  105 . In such a case, the screen could be manually located using the signal coming from the emitter of the display device  110 . The feedback mechanism could be easily provided on the housing  107  of screen  105 . Such a variation in the arrangement of alignment system  100  would not change the principles of operation thereof and such a modification would be understood by those persons having skill in the art.  
         [0036]     Looking at  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 2A , the invention also discloses a device that facilitates the level installation of a viewing screen  205 , which includes a level device  225 .  
         [0037]     Here, the screen  205  includes a housing  207 , which may or may not be motorized, on which the level device  225  is disposed. The level device  225  may comprise an indicator  230  and a pair of level lines  235 . The level device may operate like a typical level, wherein the level device indicates levelness by the location of the indicator  230  in relation to the level lines  235 . Generally, a level position is indicated when the indicator  230  is about centered between the level lines. Any other types of level devices, including but not limited to, laser level, could also be used.  
         [0038]     Accordingly, when hanging a screen with level device  225 , an installer will know the screen is level because of the indication of levelness provided by the level device.  
         [0039]      FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  show a similar approach to provide a level position indication when hanging a flat panel display on a wall.  
         [0040]     A mounting bracket  300  is provided that includes a level device  325 . The bracket  300  has an interface (not shown) that is coupled with a flat panel display (not shown) at a predetermined mounting position thereon, which is suitable for adequately supporting the flat display device on a wall, for example. One or more brackets may be used depending on a number of factors, like the size of the display or the desired bracket size. Like the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2A , the level device  325  includes an indicator  330  and level lines  335  that operate to indicate a level position similar to the level device  225 . Also, any types of level devices, including but not limited to a laser level, could be used.  
         [0041]     The bracket  300  also includes mounting holes  307  that are adapted to receive a fastener  311 , like a screw, to fasten the bracket faceplate  303  securely against a wall or other supporting surface to support the weight of a flat panel display.  
         [0042]     Here, the width of hole  307  is narrower than the head of fastener  311  and substantially the same width as the fastener body, but the height of hole  307  is elongated. The fastener  311  can be used with other structures, like a washer or a bolt, as well as other structures that are well-known in the fastening art, to assist the securing of the bracket. This arrangement allows the fastener  311  to securely fasten bracket  300  when the head of the fastener  311  is in contact with faceplate  303  to secure the bracket against the wall. This arrangement also allows the position of bracket  300  to be adjusted when the fastener  311  is loosened. Any other mechanisms that could make a small adjustment, including but not limited to, a bracket, a latch, or a hinge could be used.  
         [0043]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the level device shows a non-level position. Because the mounting position on the display is designed to fit the bracket, then if the bracket  300  is level then the mounted display should also be substantially level. Thus, an installer may loosen a fastener  311  to adjust the bracket into a level position. One or more fasteners  311  may be loosened to allow the installer to adjust the faceplate  303  until the indicator  330  is between level lines  335  to indicate a level position. Subsequently, the installer may tighten the fasteners  311  to secure bracket  300  in a level position.  
         [0044]     Accordingly, by providing a level position indicator with an adjustment mechanism, an installation of a flat display panel in a level position is facilitated. Once the bracket is installed level, the flat panel display could be attached to the bracket, using the attachment mechanism between the flat panel display and the bracket.  
         [0045]      FIG. 5  illustrates a system for providing an adjustment for a display projector, wherein the adjustment aligns the projected display onto a viewing screen similar to the one illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Here, the adjustment system  400  comprises a screen  405  and a display projector  410 , which comprises an image capture device  415 .  
         [0046]     The image capture device  415  is mounted on the projector, which may be mounted from the ceiling or placed on a table top or located in a console. The angle of projection shown here is from the table top/console position. The angle of projection is inverted when projector is mounted from the ceiling. The dotted line illustrates the optical center of the projection lens of projector  410 . Here, projector  410  has a primary projection angle θ of 30 degrees in relation to the lens is shown, as wells as a secondary angle α of 5 degrees. These angles may vary and are used only for illustrative purposes.  
         [0047]     The image capture device  415 , which is a camera here, captures the screen image and provides this image to an adjustment processor (not shown). The adjustment processor may process the screen image, as well as the actual image projected by projector  410 , and provide a signal adjustment to a lens shifter that will center the image in relation to the screen  405  both along a vertical axis (floor-to-ceiling) and a horizontal axis (wall-to-wall). The image capture device  415  and adjustment processor can be either an integral part of the projector  410  or added later.  
         [0048]     Looking at  FIGS. 5A, 5B , and  5 C, a separate device may also be provided in lieu or a lens shifter that moves the entire projector  410  so that the projected image is centered on screen  405 . For example a pod  420  on a table top/console could raise and lower the projector  410  using a projecting portion  425  to provide an adjustment along the vertical axis, and the pod could rotate or tilt (not shown) the projector  410  to provide an adjustment along the horizontal axis.  FIG. 5A  shows the projector  410  adjusted to a raised position  410 ′ (outlined by a broken line) to make a vertical adjustment. In addition,  FIG. 5B  shows the projector adjusted to as rotated position  410 ″ (outlined by a broken line) to make a horizontal adjustment.  
         [0049]     For a projector  410  mounted from the ceiling, a telescopic post  430  could raise and lower the projector  410  using a telescopic portion  435  to provide the vertical axis adjustment, and the telescopic post could rotate the projector  410  to provide the horizontal axis adjustment.  FIG. 5C  shows the projector  410  adjusted to a lowered position  410 ′″ (outlined by a broken line) to make a vertical adjustment.  
         [0050]     Moreover, as would be known to those of skill in the art, a combination of these elements could be used wherein, for example, the pod/post  420  or  430  is used for vertical axis adjustment and a lens shifter is used for horizontal axis adjustment. Also, user input such as a remote control device, for example, could be used to manually adjust the projected image to fit the screen.  
         [0051]     Accordingly, using adjustment system  400  facilitates the orientation of a projected display on a viewing screen  405 .  
         [0052]      FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  illustrate a removable installation apparatus  515  for installing a viewing screen or a flat panel display  505  at the same angle as the floor.  FIG. 6A  through  FIG. 6D  illustrate mounting a flat panel display using the removable installation apparatus.  
         [0053]     Often floors are not level. Thus, if the display is truly “level,” it will not be level to the user&#39;s viewing angle because the viewer is standing or sitting on furniture resting on the non-level supporting surface like a floor. The installation device  515  addresses this by providing a reference to the floor angle during installation.  
         [0054]     The removable installation apparatus  515  comprises a display supporting surface  517  and a floor stand  519 , which are parallel to one another. The floor stand  519  rests on floor  520  to align the display supporting surface  517  on the same angle as the floor  520 . Then the display  505  or bracket  503  can rest on the display supporting surface  517  during installation of display  505  onto a mounting surface like a wall  530  using bracket  503 . The bracket  503  may include a similar arrangement as the bracket illustrated in  FIG. 3  to permit an adjustment of the display&#39;s  505  mounting position.  
         [0055]      FIG. 6A  shows bracket  503  resting on display supporting surface  517  of installa, while bracket  503  is secured to the wall  530  using fasteners  511  inserted through bracket holes  507 . The display supporting surface  517  has a very narrow depth so that the installation apparatus  515  does extend too far from the wall  530 .  FIG. 6B  shows the bracket  503  secured in place, wherein a bottom surface of the bracket  503  is arranged on a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the display supporting surface  517 , the portion of floor stand  519  resting on floor  520 , and the floor itself. In an integrated structure, the brackets are fixed to the wall in parallel with the floor surface, once the integrated structure stands again the wall. Then, the lower part can be removed except for the bracket. The lower part may also be left place and used for shelving and other purposes.  FIG. 6C  shows that the removable installation apparatus  515  can be removed because the bracket  503  is secured to wall  530  by fasteners  511 .  FIG. 6D  shows the display device  505  mounted on the bracket  503  using a pre-set mounting position of the display  505  adapted for the bracket  503 . The bottom edge of the display  505  is substantially parallel to the bottom edge of the bracket  505 , and thus is substantially parallel to the floor  520 .  
         [0056]     Alternatively, the bracket  503  can be coupled to the installation apparatus  515 , or formed integrally therewith, to form a unitary bracket/installation apparatus. In this arrangement, the display supporting surface  517  can be eliminated but the reference angle to floor  520  is still provided because the bracket is coupled to the floor stand  519  resting on the floor. As a result, the bracket portion is disposed at an angle substantially the same as the angle of the floor, which orients the display device at the angle of the floor as well.  
         [0057]     As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , the level plane is designated at a plane L. But display supporting surface  517  or display bracket  503  is disposed on a plane L″ that is at the same angle as the plane L′ of floor  520  and floor stand  519 . The bottom of display  505  will also be disposed along L″ when it is supported on the installation stand  515  or attached to the bracket  503 . After the display  505  is mounted on wall  530 , the installation apparatus  515  can either be removed or left in place as furniture to hold other multimedia components, home decor, or the like. The apparatus  515  is no longer needed to support the display  505  since it is mounted on the wall  530  with brackets  503 . Because the display supporting surface  517  or the bracket  503  is on the same angle as the floor  520 , the display will be oriented at the same angle as the user&#39;s viewing angle.  
         [0058]      FIG. 8  and  FIG. 8A  show a lowered viewing screen  205  used with a flat panel display  505 , while  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 9A  illustrate a raised viewing screen  205  disposed in motorized housing  207  used with a flat panel display  505 . The viewing screen  205  may have a level device  225  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0059]     A user may want to use different types of displays depending on the video source and the viewing conditions. For example, a viewer may want to use the viewing screen  205  at night or for movies, while the user may want to use the flat panel display  505  during the day or for television programs.  FIG. 8  shows that the flat panel display  505  (outlined by the broken line) can sit behind the viewing screen  205  when a projection display device is used,  FIG. 8A  shows a clearance between the viewing screen  205  and flat panel display  505 .  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 9A , show the screen  205  can be easily raised when the user wishes to view the flat panel display  505 .  
         [0060]     As noted above the installation apparatus  515  requires a narrow depth so as to not extend too far from the wall  530 . This may be necessary so that it will not interfere with screen  205  if the removable installation apparatus  515  is not removed after installation of the flat panel display  505 .  
         [0061]     While the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and substitutions can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7