Computer controlled display device

Claim 2

A computer controlled display device, comprising: a flat panel display having an input for receiving display data; a moveable assembly coupled to said display, said moveable assembly providing at least three degrees of freedom of movement for said flat panel display device and having a cross-sectional area which is substantially less than a cross-sectional area of a display structure of said flat panel display, wherein said moveable assembly comprises a plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies, wherein a ball-and-socket assembly includes a substantially spherical socket, said socket having a cavity defining an inner surface of said socket, and a substantially spherical ball within said cavity; and a brake device within said ball-and-socket assembly, said brake device comprising a bladder within said ball and coupled to an actuation device to provide a pressure to said bladder, said bladder being expandable, said bladder to suspend movement of said ball within said cavity when said bladder is in an expanded state, wherein said actuation device suspending movement of said moveable assembly when a pressure is applied within said actuation device and permitting said movement when said pressure is lessened, wherein said actuation device includes flexible tubing within said ball-and-socket assembly, said flexible tubing coupled to said bladder, and wherein said brake device comprises a structural member disposed within said bladder, said structural member to provide support for said bladder.

Claim 3

The computer controlled display device of claim 1 , wherein said pressure is hydraulic pressure.

Claim 4

The computer controlled display device of claim 1 , wherein said pressure is pneumatic pressure.

Claim 5

The computer controlled display device of claim 1 , wherein said brake device comprises a first seal plate and a second seal plate, said bladder disposed between said first and second seal plates, said first and second seal plates to axially constrain said bladder when said bladder is in said expanded state.

Claim 6

The computer controlled display device of claim 1 , wherein said bladder is substantially toroidal.

Claim 7

The computer controlled display device of claim 1 , wherein said bladder is substantially spherical.

Claim 8

The computer controlled display device of claim 1 , wherein said flexible tubing substantially coiled.

Claim 9

The computer controlled display device of claim 1 , wherein said ball comprises a leaf said leaf being capable of flexing outward from said ball when said bladder is in said expanded state.

Claim 10

The computer controlled display device of claim 8 , wherein said leaf includes a friction pad to apply a force against said inner surface of said socket when said bladder is in said expanded state.

Claim 11

The computer controlled display device of claim 1 , wherein said actuation device includes a pump to generate said pressure.

Claim 12

The computer controlled display device of claim 1 , wherein disposed within said moveable assembly is one of a data cable and a power cable.

Claim 13

The computer controlled display device of claim 1 , wherein said ball-and-socket assembly is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a ceramic, a plastic, and combinations thereof.

Claim 14

A computer controlled display system, comprising: a flat panel display having a display surface and an input for receiving display data to be displayed on said display surface; a moveable assembly coupled mechanically to said flat panel display, said moveable assembly having a cross-sectional area which is substantially less than an area of said display surface, said moveable assembly being moveable to allow said flat panel display to be selectively positioned in space relative to a user of said computer controlled display system, said moveable assembly including a plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies, wherein a ball-and-socket assembly includes a substantially spherical socket, said socket having a cavity defining an inner surface of said socket, and a substantially spherical ball within said cavity; a brake device within said ball-and-socket assembly, said brake device comprising a bladder within said ball and coupled to an actuation device to provide a pressure to said bladder, said bladder being expandable, said bladder to suspend movement of said ball within said cavity when said bladder is in an expanded state; and a base coupled mechanically to said moveable assembly and to said flat panel display through said moveable assembly, said base housing computer components comprising a microprocessor, a memory, a bus, an I/O (input/output) controller, and an I/O port, wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said input of said flat panel display, wherein said actuation device suspending movement of said moveable assembly when a pressure is applied within said actuation device and permitting said movement when said pressure is lessened, wherein said actuation device includes flexible tubing within said ball-and-socket assembly, said flexible tubing coupled to said bladder, and wherein said brake device comprises a structural member disposed within said bladder, said structural member to provide support for said bladder.

Claim 15

A computer controlled display system, comprising: a flat panel display having a display surface and an input for receiving display data to be displayed on said display surface; a moveable assembly coupled mechanically to said flat panel display, said moveable assembly having a cross-sectional area which is substantially less than an area of said display surface, said moveable assembly being moveable to allow said flat panel display to be selectively positioned in space relative to a user of said computer controlled display system, said moveable assembly including a plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies, wherein a ball-and-socket assembly includes a substantially spherical socket, said socket having a cavity defining an inner surface of said socket, and a substantially spherical ball within said cavity; a brake device within said ball-and-socket assembly, said brake device comprising a bladder within said ball and coupled to an actuation device to provide a pressure to said bladder, said bladder being expandable, said bladder to suspend movement of said ball within said cavity when said bladder is in an expanded state; and a base coupled mechanically to said moveable assembly and to said flat panel display through said moveable assembly, said base housing computer components comprising a microprocessor, a memory, a bus, an I/O (input/output) controller, and an I/O port, wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said input of said flat panel display, wherein said actuation device suspending movement of said moveable assembly when a pressure is applied within said actuation device and permitting said movement when said pressure is lessened, wherein said actuation device includes flexible tubing within said ball-and-socket assembly, said flexible tubing coupled to said bladder, and wherein said brake device comprises a structural member disposed within said bladder, said structural member to provide support for said bladder.

Claim 16

The computer controlled display system of claim 13 , wherein said pressure is hydraulic pressure.

Claim 17

The computer controlled display system of claim 13 , wherein said pressure is pneumatic pressure.

Claim 18

The computer controlled display system of claim 13 , wherein said brake device comprises a first seal plate and a second seal plate, said bladder disposed between said first and second seal plates, said first and second seal plates to axially constrain said bladder when said bladder is in said expanded state.

Claim 19

The computer controlled display system of claim 13 , wherein said bladder is substantially toroidal.

Claim 20

The computer controlled display system of claim 13 , wherein said bladder is substantially spherical.

Claim 21

The computer controlled display system of claim 13 , wherein said flexible tubing substantially coiled.

Claim 22

The computer controlled display system of claim 13 , wherein said ball comprises a leaf, said leaf being capable of flexing outward from said ball when said bladder is in said expanded state.

Claim 23

The computer controlled display system of claim 20 , wherein said leaf includes a friction pad to apply a force against said inner surface of said socket when said bladder is in said expanded state.

Claim 24

The computer controlled display system of claim 13 , wherein said actuation device includes a pump to generate said pressure.

Claim 25

The computer controlled display system of claim 13 , wherein disposed within said moveable assembly is one of a data cable and a power cable.

Claim 26

The computer controlled display system of claim 13 , wherein said ball-and-socket assembly is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a ceramic, a plastic, and combinations thereof.

Claim 27

A computer controlled display system, comprising: a flat panel display having a display surface and an input for receiving display data to be displayed on said display surface; a moveable assembly coupled mechanically to said flat panel display, said moveable assembly having a cross-sectional area which is substantially less than an area of said display surface, said moveable assembly being moveable to allow said flat panel display to be selectively positioned in space relative to a user of said computer controlled display system, said moveable assembly including a plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies, wherein a ball-and-socket assembly includes a substantially spherical socket, said socket having a cavity defining an inner surface of said socket, a substantially spherical ball within said cavity, and a seal disposed between said socket and said ball, wherein said socket and said ball are coupled such that movement of said ball within said cavity is capable of being suspended by increasing a pressure within said cavity, said pressure provided by an actuation device coupled to said moveable assembly; and a base coupled mechanically to said moveable assembly and to said flat panel display through said moveable assembly, said base housing computer components comprising a microprocessor, a memory, a bus, an I/O (input/output) controller, and an I/O port, wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said input of said flat panel display, wherein said actuation device suspending movement of said moveable assembly when said pressure is applied within said actuation device and permitting said movement when said pressure is lessened, wherein said actuation device includes flexible tubing within said ball-and-socket assembly, said flexible tubing coupled to said bladder, and wherein said brake device comprises a structural member disposed within said bladder, said structural member to provide support for said bladder.

Claim 28

A computer controlled display system, comprising: a flat panel display having a display surface and an input for receiving display data to be displayed on said display surface; a moveable assembly coupled mechanically to said flat panel display, said moveable assembly having a cross-sectional area which is substantially less than an area of said display surface, said moveable assembly being moveable to allow said flat panel display to be selectively positioned in space relative to a user of said computer controlled display system, said moveable assembly including a plurality of stacked ball-and-socket assemblies, wherein a ball-and-socket assembly includes a substantially spherical socket, said socket having a cavity defining an inner surface of said socket, a substantially spherical ball within said cavity, and a seal disposed between said socket and said ball, wherein said socket and said ball are coupled such that movement of said ball within said cavity is capable of being suspended by increasing a pressure within said cavity, said pressure provided by an actuation device coupled to said moveable assembly; and a base coupled mechanically to said moveable assembly and to said flat panel display through said moveable assembly, said base housing computer components comprising a microprocessor, a memory, a bus, an I/O (input/output) controller, and an I/O port, wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said input of said flat panel display, wherein said actuation device suspending movement of said moveable assembly when said pressure is applied within said actuation device and permitting said movement when said pressure is lessened, wherein said actuation device includes flexible tubing within said ball-and-socket assembly, said flexible tubing coupled to said bladder, and wherein said brake device comprises a structural member disposed within said bladder, said structural member to provide support for said bladder.

Claim 29

The computer controlled display system of claim 25 , wherein said ball comprises a leaf, said leaf being capable of flexing outward from said ball when said pressure within said cavity is increased.

Claim 30

The computer controlled display system of claim 26 , wherein said leaf includes a friction pad to apply a force against said inner surface of said socket when said pressure within said cavity is increased.

Claim 31

The computer controlled display system of claim 25 , comprising: a ball of a first ball-and-socket assembly coupled to a socket of a second ball-and-socket assembly; and a bore between said ball of said first ball-and-socket assembly and said socket of said second ball-and-socket assembly, said bore to fluidly interconnect said ball of said first ball-and-socket assembly and said socket of said second ball-and-socket assembly.

Claim 32

The computer controlled display system of claim 25 , wherein said pressure is hydraulic pressure.

Claim 33

The computer controlled display system of claim 25 , wherein said pressure is pneumatic pressure.

Claim 34

The computer controlled display system of claim 25 , wherein said actuation device includes a pump to generate said pressure.

Claim 35

The computer controlled display system of claim 25 , wherein disposed within said moveable assembly is one of a data cable and a power cable.

Claim 36

The computer controlled display system of claim 25 , wherein said ball-and-socket assembly is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a ceramic, a plastic, and combinations thereof.