Multi-sectioned arm for portable electronic devices

Abstract

One or more multi-sectioned arms are used as a basic mechanism to couple the display and the base of a portable electronic device. With this mechanism, a single portable electronic device can support all or a selected subset of the following capabilities. The display unit can move up, down, backward, forward, and left and right, relative to the base. The viewing angle of the display can be tilted, up and down, and sideway; and the display can be set to portrait and landscape viewing orientations. The base can be lifted and tilted forward for improved heat dispersion and better typing comfort. When the device is either in a close position, or in a conventional open position in which the display is not elevated above the base and is about perpendicular to the base, each arm can be folded and parked alongside the device in a closed position; and each folded arm can also be turned away from the side of the device. Each arm can also be detached from the base and the display. It is also possible to control how the base and the display face each other when they are stacked together, enabling multiple configurations.

1 . A portable electronic device comprising: 
 (a) a base having one or more input surfaces; wherein said base has a predefined usage orientation;    (b) a display having a screen for viewing;    (c) one or more arms, each said arm including a plurality of arm sections linked together; and    (d) at least one said arm having at least one of its sections connected to said base and at least one of its sections connected to said display;    wherein with the arm support, said display can open from and fold against said base; and said base can be tilted forward.    
     
     
         2 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein said display can be set to a portrait viewing orientation or a landscape viewing orientation; and optionally said display can be set a slanted viewing orientation.  
     
     
         3 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , further supporting at least one feature selected from the following group: 
 (a) the forward tilting angle of said base can be adjusted; and    (b) at least one said arm can be used for preventing said device from tipping over.    
     
     
         4 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein when said display is open for viewing, the viewing angle of said display can be tilted; and wherein with the arm support, said device supports at least one capability selected from the following group: 
 (a) Said display can move up and down in elevation relative to said base;    (b) Said display can move left and right relative to said base in usage orientation; and    (c) Said display can move forward and backward relative to said base in usage orientation.    
     
     
         5 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following conditions is true: 
 (a) Wiring between said display and said base runs inside said at least one arm;    (b) Said at least one arm is controllably detachable from said base or said display; and    (c) There is locking mechanism for preventing said arm sections from leaving their chosen relative positions.    
     
     
         6 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , further supporting at least one feature selected from the following group: 
 (a) when said base and said display are folded together, each said input surface of said base can be arranged to face away from said display;    (b) said display is allowed to overly said base, with said screen facing away from said base;    (c) in a conventional open viewing position in which said display is not elevated above said base and is about perpendicular to said base, each said input surface of said base can be arranged to face upward;    (d) when said display and said base are folded together said arm can be folded alongside said display and base, and optionally said folded arm can be turned away from said display and base;    (e) in a conventional open viewing position in which said display is not elevated above said base and is about perpendicular to said base, said arm can be folded alongside said display and base, and optionally said folded arm can be turned away from said display and base.    
     
     
         7 . A portable electronic device comprising: 
 (a) a base having one or more input surfaces; wherein said base has a predefined usage orientation;    (b) a display having a screen for viewing;    (c) at least one arm, each said arm including a plurality of arm sections linked together; and    (d) at least one said arm having at least one of its sections connected to said base and at least one of its sections connected to said display;    wherein with the arm support, said display can open from and fold against said base, and said display can be set to a portrait viewing orientation.    
     
     
         8 . The portable electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein said display can be set to a landscape viewing orientation, and optionally a slanted viewing orientation.  
     
     
         9 . The portable electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein said base can be tilted forward; and optionally the forward tilting angle can be adjusted.  
     
     
         10 . The portable electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein at least one said arm can be used for preventing said device from tipping over.  
     
     
         11 . The portable electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein when said display is open for viewing, the viewing angle of said display can be tilted; and wherein with the arm support, said device supports at least one capability selected from the following group: 
 (a) Said display can move up and down in elevation relative to said base;    (b) Said display can move left and right relative to said base in usage orientation; and    (c) Said display can move forward and backward relative to said base in usage orientation.    
     
     
         12 . The portable electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the following conditions is true: 
 (a) Wiring between said display and said base runs inside said at least one arm;    (b) Said at least one arm is controllably detachable from said base or said display; and    (c) There is locking mechanism for preventing said arm sections from leaving their chosen relative positions.    
     
     
         13 . The portable electronic device of  claim 7 , further supporting at least one feature selected from the following group: 
 (a) when said base and said display are folded together, each said input surface of said base can be arranged to face away from said display;    (b) said display is allowed to overly said base, with said screen facing away from said base;    (c) in a conventional open viewing position in which said display is not elevated above said base and is about perpendicular to said base, each said input surface of said base can be arranged to face upward;    (d) when said display and said base are folded together said arm can be folded alongside said display and base, and optionally said folded arm can be turned away from said display and base;    (e) in a conventional open viewing position in which said display is not elevated above said base and is about perpendicular to said base, said arm can be folded alongside said display and base, and optionally said folded arm can be turned away from said display and base.    
     
     
         14 . A portable electronic device comprising: 
 (a) a base having one or more input surfaces; wherein said base has a predefined usage orientation;    (b) a display having a screen for viewing;    (c) at least one arm, each said arm including a plurality of arm sections linked together;    (d) at least one of said arm sections is elongated; and    (e) at least one of said arm sections is connected to said base and at least one of said arm sections is connected to said display;    wherein the arm motion is capable of opening and folding said display from and against said base, moving said display up and down in elevation relative to said base, and when said display is open for viewing, the viewing angle of said display can be tilted.    
     
     
         15 . The portable electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein said display can be set to a portrait viewing orientation or a landscape viewing orientation; and optionally said display can be set a slanted viewing orientation.  
     
     
         16 . The portable electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein said base can be tilted forward; and optionally the forward tilting angle can be adjusted.  
     
     
         17 . The portable electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein at least one said arm can be used for preventing said device from tipping over.  
     
     
         18 . The portable electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein when said display is open for viewing, the viewing angle of said display can be tilted; and wherein with the arm support, said device supports at least one capability selected from the following group: 
 (a) Said display can move left and right relative to said base in usage orientation; and    (b) Said display can move forward and backward relative to said base in usage orientation.    
     
     
         19 . The portable electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the following conditions is true: 
 (a) Wiring between said display and said base runs inside said at least one arm;    (b) Said at least one arm is controllably detachable from said base or said display; and    (c) There is locking mechanism for preventing said arm sections from leaving their chosen relative positions.    
     
     
         20 . The portable electronic device of  claim 14 , further supporting at least one feature selected from the following group: 
 (a) when said base and said display are folded together, each said input surface of said base can be arranged to face away from said display;    (b) said display is allowed to overly said base, with said screen facing away from said base;    (c) in a conventional open viewing position in which said display is not elevated above said base and is about perpendicular to said base, each said input surface of said base can be arranged to face upward;    (d) when said display and said base are folded together said arm can be folded alongside said display and base, and optionally said folded arm can be turned away from said display and base;    (e) in a conventional open viewing position in which said display is not elevated above said base and is about perpendicular to said base, said arm can be folded alongside said display and base, and optionally said folded arm can be turned away from said display and base.