The invention relates to a desk, and in particular, a high desk such as a lectern, having a flat display screen.
Desks are known in the art, particularly so-called high desks which allow a person to work whilst standing. In this case the desk usually serves for objects and documents to be placed on it.
A music stand with a flat display screen is known from US patent 5, 760,323.
In US patent 5,995, 179, an LCD device is described which consists of a plurality of LCD modules which can be coupled to one another.
The object of the invention is to make further developments to the possible uses of a desk.
This invention provides a desk equipped with a flat display screen and coupling means, so that flat screens of a plurality of desks can be coupled to one another to form a complete display screen.
In a preferred embodiment, the flat screen is constructed as a sensitive interactive display screen so that the displayed information can be influenced directly via the screen.
In order to ensure the most flexible possible handling of the desk, it is constructed so as to o-:be movable and it can therefore be put together with other desks in a simple manner. The desk advantageously has a central processing unit, particularly a computer, which is connected to the flat display screen. Furthermore, with an additionally installed power supply the desk can be used completely self-sufficiently over a certain period of time.
In a special embodiment, the display screen can be adjustable in height and inclination so that it is possible to work both sitting down and standing up. As a result it is also possible in the case of an arrangement with a plurality of desks to produce inclined complete .*display screen surfaces.
Further embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the subordinate claims.
-2 Further advantages and embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail with reference to the description and the drawings.
In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a side view of a desk in a first position of use, Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional representation of the desk in a second position of use, Figure 3 shows a three-dimensional representation of an arrangement with two desks in a third position of use, Figure 4 shows a three-dimensional representation of an arrangement with two desks in a fourth position of use, and Figure 5 shows a three-dimensional representation of an arrangement with four desks.
The desk shown in Figure 1 consists essentially of a flat display screen I which is fixed on a mounting frame. The desk also has coupling means 3 by which flat display screens of a plurality of desks can be coupled to one another to form a complete display screen (see Figures 3 to In the illustrated embodiment the coupling means are provided in the region of the flat display screen. However, other locations are also conceivable which ensure that an adjacent flat display screen to be connected is recognised and the coupling is suitable as the case may for exchange of data and information.
As can be seen in particular from Figures 1 and 2, means are provided in order to adjust the flat display screen 1 in height and/or inclination. Furthermore the flat display screen can be mounted so that it can be rotated and/or swivelled about one or more axes. For this purpose the mounting frame 2 has a telescopic arrangement with a first and second telescopic rod 2.1 and 2.2. Moreover the flat display screen 1 is mounted in an articulated manner on the second telescopic rod 2.2. The second telescopic rod 2.2 which is connected to the flat -3 display screen 1 is also mounted so as to swivel on the first telescopic rod 2.1. The telescopic arrangement is advantageously designed for infinite adjustment and therefore enables a very individual adaptation to the requirements of the user. The mounting frame and the height adjustment due to the telescopic arrangement is designed so that it is possible to work not only standing up but also sitting down. The flat display screen 1 can be oriented horizontally (Figure 2) and also inclined (Figure 1).
All further technical components, in particular a central processing unit 4 with a computer, are attached to the mounting frame 2 in the most compact manner possible.
The mounting frame is supported via four feet on a base, two feet being constructed with castors ensuring that the desk can be easily moved. The central processing unit 4 advantageously has, in addition to the computer 4.1, a suitable power supply 4.2 which is formed for example by a storage battery. As a result the desk can be used completely selfsufficiently, at least for a certain period of time, so it is possible to dispense with any cable connections. An optical display 4.3 can be provided in order to obtain a quick overview of the operating and/or charging status of the central processing unit.
In order to be able to use the desk in the most versatile way possible, it is also equipped with a transmitter unit 4.4 in order to transfer data to another system, for example another desk, a projection screen or another computer. In order to be able to receive date itself, a receiver unit 4.5 can be provided.
The flat display screen is constructed as a sensitive interactive display screen. In this case the sensitive surface can for example touch-sensitive, pressure-sensitive, heat-sensitive, motionsensitive, locally-resolving or also resistance-sensitive. Thus for the user it is possible to have a direct access via the display screen to the data displayed on the display screen.
The special feature of the desk resides in the fact that it can be used not only as a single desk but it is also possible to combine the flat display screens of a plurality of desks to form one complete display screen. By way of example arrangements are shown in Figures 3 to 5 with -4 two or four desks respectively. Thus due to the adjustability of the flat display screens in height and inclination it is possible to produce inclined complete display screens consisting of a plurality of flat display screens (Figures 4 and In order to form a complete display screen two or more desks are put together so that the display screens touch or almost touch and the display screens are disposed in one plane. For many applications, however, it is conceivable to put them together in arrangements whereby the display screens are not all disposed in one plane.
In order to be able to use the individual flat display screens as a complete display screen, coupling means are provided, whereby the coupling can be achieved as required by mechanical, electrical, optical, acoustic or magnetic means. Naturally, combinations of the possibilities described above are also possible, for example an electromagnetic coupling.
Finally it must be ensured that the central processing units (computers) connected to the respective flat display screens of an arrangement know which flat display screens are connected to one another. Moreover the coupling means must be designed so that the respective central processing units can recognise which edge regions of the flat display screens are connected to one another, i.e. they must be able to recognise whether for example two flat display screens are disposed laterally adjacent to one another or adjoin one another in the region of the upper or lower edges of the flat display screen.
Naturally, within the scope of the invention it is also possible to produce the coupling means by software, in that for example the desks which are coupled in are input via the individual display screens.
Since two or more desks can be "merged" to form a larger unit, spontaneous collaboration on a common interactive work surface is facilitated in this way. As a result it is possible to get to grips literally with the abstract step from the division of work to team networking.
Due to the sensitive interactive flat display screen it is possible to work on "digital paper" with a pen.
Due to the self-sufficient and mobile construction of the desks they can be quickly and easily arranged according to the particular requirements. Thus it is possible in particular for only one person to be working initially at the desks and for the results then to be able to be discussed in the group by putting a plurality of desks together.