Field of the invention
This invention relates to an auto swiveling system for a display device and a method for auto swiveling of a display device. More particularly this invention relates to a system and a method for auto swiveling of a computer monitor or any other display device like television with reference to the user movement.
Background of the invention
In today's busy world generally people do not get time to sit constantly in one place to watch a program. They prefer to view the program even when they are moving from place to place for accomplishing their task.
A computer monitor particularly the LCD monitor has a viewing angle. If the user changes his seat with reference to the monitor, the contents of the monitor will not be viewed from the front. Therefore, a display device, which would automatically position itself in accordance with the position of the viewer, would certainly be a welcome addition to the art.
Conventionally, a certain image display device is known to control the direction of an image displayed on its display screen such that the bottom of the displayed image is positioned at a vertically lower position of the display screen even if the display screen is rotated.
JP-2003-60940-A and JP-2003-274366-A each describe an electronic camera for controlling the direction of an image displayed on a display screen.
The electronic camera detects the posture of the gravity sensor. The electronic camera records the detected posture together with an image captured by the electronic camera. Upon reproduction of the recorded image on a display screen, the electronic camera controls the direction of the image displayed on the display screen based on the detected
posture that is recorded together with the image. However the gravity sensor which detects the posture of an image display device has the following problems: namely, when an image display device is installed such that its display screen is substantially horizontal to the ground surface, the result that is detected by the gravity sensor doesn't indicate the position of the user who is viewing the display screen. Therefore, the gravity sensor cannot always correctly detect the position of the user who is viewing the display screen. Accordingly, when the image display device is installed such that the display screen is substantially horizontal to the ground surface, the image display device cannot rotate a displayed image so that the user can easily watch the displayed image. In addition, the gravity sensor cannot detect the posture of the image display device in a weightless environment such as a space station.
JP-09-37187-A provides a flat-screen television set comprising an electronic motion sensor, which orients the screen in accordance to the motion of the viewer. The electronic sensors are connected to a servo-motor, and depending on the response from the sensor, the servo-motor is activated or the like to move the screen. The television screen is mounted for swivel movement and is capable of movement in all directions and predetermined angles. However, this system uses an electric motion sensor and does not deal with thermal change. Also, the present invention uses both an IR sensor and an ultrasonic sensor.
DE 10335766 provides a system for auto swiveling of a screen and uses an external camera, which is connected to the computer, which selects the position of the eyes from the image. Figure 1.1 shows a system according to this invention and Figure 1.2 represents a system as shown in Fig. 1.1 and a user in a side view. The computer monitor panel (1) is mounted adjustably on a frame (6) and has a camera (5) fixed at the top. The camera monitors the position of the eyes (7) of the user (8) and provides an input to the computer. This generates commands to electrical actuator (10) to provide optimum positioning of the screen. The panel (1) with the associated keyboard (2) are connected with a computer housing inter-wirings. The panel swivels around its vertical and transverse axis. The camera is aligned in such a way that it seizes a person working to the
screen and the keyboard. However, this system needs a camera attached to the computer and imaging software to locate the eyes of the user.
US20050237346 describes an image display device which includes a display unit, a frame, a plurality of detectors mounted on the frame, and a controller for controlling the image being displayed on the display screen based on the detection signals generated from the respective detectors. A signal response is generated by each detector depending on an object positioned outside the frame. Accordingly, the image, on the display screen, rotates based on the result of detecting the object that exists beside the display screen. The image displayed on the display screen can automatically change depending on the user position, even when the image display device is installed such that the display screen is substantially horizontal to the ground surface. The detectors can be preferably radiant heat sensors, which detect the amount of heat radiated from an object in order to generate a signal. However, this device requires extra hardware to accomplish the objective like frame is used along with the display device.
Object and summary of the invention
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages and provide a simple and a cost effective auto swiveling system for a display device and a method for auto swiveling of a display device.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for automatically swiveling the display unit of a display device in any direction such as a vertical, horizontal or angular direction according to the user's movement.
It is another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism to enable/disable an auto swiveling system for a computer monitor, using the existing display data channel (DDC) lines.
Still another object of the present invention is to track the user movement and to adjust/orient the monitor /display unit to face the user and provide a mechanism to automatically swivel the display unit according to user's movement.
Yet another object is to use the present invention especially in seminar/conference so that the display unit swivels as the user changes position. This is also useful in the LCD monitor where the viewing angle effects the image clarity perception. This invention can be used in any display device including televisions and it will automatically swivel to adjust to the user movement and also in display devices, which have a lesser viewing angle. This will change the display device to face the user and the directionality of the device coming in line with the user which makes the other attached devices with the display device also align accordingly.
To meet the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention provides an auto swiveling system for a display device having a display unit comprising at least one thermal sensor for sensing the heat radiation from the user due to the user movement and generates triggering signals based on the user position; a processing circuit connected to said sensor for generating an enabling signal responsive to said triggering signals; at least one motor for swiveling the display unit; a controller for receiving said enabling signal from the processing circuit, activating the said motor and adjusting the display unit in accordance with the user movement; and an enabling/disabling means for enabling and disabling said auto swiveling system.
The present invention further provides a method for auto swiveling of a display device comprising the steps of enabling the auto swiveling system; sensing the heat radiated due to the user movement and generating triggering signals based on the user position by thermal sensors; generating an enabling signal responsive to said triggering signals by a processing circuit; receiving said enabling signal from the processing circuit, processing the said signal by the controller and activating the motor to adjust the display unit of said display device in accordance with the user movement by a controller.
Brief description of the accompanying drawings:
These and other aspects of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like designations are used to designate substantially identical elements.
Figures 1.1 and 1.2 represent a system and a setup for said system respectively according to the prior art.
Figures 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 depict a basic setup of the system according to the present invention.
Figure 3 shows a block diagram of the system according to the present invention. Figure 4 illustrates a flow chart for performing the method of the present invention. Detailed description of the invention
Figures 1.1 and 1.2 illustrates a system and a setup for said system respectively according to the prior art as illustrated in the background section.
Figure 2.1 shows the basic structure of the invention. The sensor (D) in the display device senses the user and the display device is swiveled/ moved up/down corresponding to the user movement. Figure 2.2 shows the arrangement of the display device and the motor (A, B), which is activated by the controller according to the direction of user movement. Figure 2.3 shows the sensor (D) and one of the motors (C).
Figure 3 shows a block diagram of the system according to the present invention. The auto swiveling system contains the following parts:
at least one IR / Thermal Sensor(s) (302) for detection of user movement
a processing circuitry (303) for processing the sensor information
a least one mechanical assembly / motor(s) (304) to swivel the display and move
the display in vertical direction
a controller (305) to control the motor and make other adjustments and
means for enabling/ disabling for enabling and disabling said auto swiveling
system.
The said system further includes a display device (301) to which the said system is integrated as a consequence of which the movement of the display device will work independently of the computer. The enabling/disabling means includes a switch / software program for enabling / disabling the auto swiveling mechanism.
The thermal / IR sensors (302) are fixed in the front of the display device (301). The thermal sensor can also be placed in the proximity to sense the user movement. Lens made of an IR transmission material having a range of 8 to 14 micrometer wavelength corresponding to human body radiation can be placed on the sensor to detect only the user movement. The sensor senses the heat radiation from the human body and when there is a change in it, triggers the corresponding processing circuitry (303). This information is processed by the controller/ electronic circuitry (305) and the corresponding motor (304) is activated in the desired direction. When the user moves to the right the display device / monitor will swivel correspondingly and thus the monitor will be aligned straight to the user. Similarly, the movement of the user in the left as well as vertical direction can be sensed and the corresponding motor is activated in the desired direction so as to adjust the display device in line with the user. The output of the sensor can be adjusted to a particular level and be compared to a configuration value so as to detect movement in the proximity of the sensor. The auto swiveling can be enabled using a mechanism which comprises switch or can be optionally enabled the feature computer using the existing DDC channel in the case of a monitor.
Figure 4, shows the flow chart of the working of the said auto swiveling system. The auto swiveling system is enabled in step (401) by a mechanism, which comprises switch or can optionally be enabled by a computer feature using the existing DDC channel in the case of a monitor. The sensitivity of the thermal sensors is manually or automatically adjusted in step (402). Thereafter, the change in the position of the user or the movement of the user is checked (403). The user movement changes the temperature and the output of the sensor is processed by the processing circuitry 405. A controller connected to the processing circuitry enables the motor to move in the particular direction and adjusting the display unit in accordance with the user movement (406). On the other hand, if the user does not change his/her position, then the auto swiveling system will continually checks the user movement (404). In step 407, the status of the auto swiveling system is checked, i.e. whether the auto swiveling system is enabled or disabled. The operation of auto swiveling continues till the auto swiveling system is disabled or the monitor swiveling reaches its extreme (409). On the other hand, when the auto swiveling system is disabled, the auto swiveling mechanism stops working (408).
All documents cited in the description are incorporated herein by reference. The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments and examples, which are intended as illustrations of a number of aspects of the invention and any embodiments which are functionally equivalent are within the scope of this invention. Those skilled in the art will know, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. These and all other equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

We claim:
1. An auto swiveling system for a display device having a display unit comprising:
at least one thermal sensor for sensing the heat radiation from the user due to
the user movement and generates triggering signals based on the user position;
a processing circuit connected to said sensor for generating an enabling signal
responsive to said triggering signals;
at least one motor for swiveling the display unit;
a controller for receiving said enabling signal from the processing circuit,
activating the said motor and adjusting the display unit in accordance with the
user movement; and
an enabling/disabling means for enabling and disabling said auto swiveling
system.
2. An auto swiveling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal sensor
comprises a lens made of IR transmission material having a range of wavelength
corresponding to human body radiation to detect the user movement.
3. An auto swiveling system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wavelength range of
IR transmission material is 8 to 14 micrometer.
4. An auto swiveling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enabling/disabling
means comprises a switch.
5. An auto swiveling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal sensor is
mounted either on the display unit or in the proximity of the display unit.
6. An auto swiveling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of sensors
varies depending upon the sensitivity and precision of said system.

7. An auto swiveling system as claimed in any of the preceding claims further
comprising of a display device having a display unit.
8. An auto swiveling system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the display unit is a
computer monitor or a television screen.
9. An auto swiveling system as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said
processing circuit includes a software for adjusting the computer monitor in
accordance to the user movement responsive to said input signal and enabling and
disabling said auto swiveling system .
10. An auto swiveling system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the processing circuit is
enabled by an existing display data channel (DDC).
11. A method for auto swiveling of a display device comprising the steps of:
enabling the auto swiveling system;
sensing the heat radiated due to the user movement and generating triggering
signals based on the user position by thermal sensors;
generating an enabling signal responsive to said triggering signals by a
processing circuit;
receiving said enabling signal from the processing circuit,
processing the said signal by the controller and activating the motor to adjust
the display unit of said display device in accordance with the user movement
by a controller.
12. A method for auto swiveling of a display device as claimed in claim 11 wherein
the output of the sensor is adjusted to a particular level and compared to a
configuration value to detect the user movement in the proximity of the sensor.
13. A method for auto swiveling of a computer monitor in an auto swiveling system, wherein said method comprising the steps of: enabling the auto swiveling system;
sensing the heat radiated due to the user movement and generating an input signal based on the user position by thermal sensors;
adjusting the computer monitor in accordance to the user movement responsive to said input signal by a processor including software.
13. A method for auto swiveling of a display device as claimed in claim 12, wherein
the processor is configured for:
enabling and disabling said auto swiveling system; controlling the sensitivity of the thermal sensors.
14. An auto swiveling system for a display device substantially as herein described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
15. A method for auto swiveling of a display device in an auto swiveling system
substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
16. A method for auto swiveling of a computer monitor in an auto swiveling system
substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.