US20080017747A1

US20080017747A1 - Support mechanism for electronic paper

Info

Publication number: US20080017747A1
Application number: US11/777,933
Authority: US
Inventors: Wen Ching Hsieh; Wei Shin Shiu
Original assignee: BenQ Corp
Current assignee: BenQ Corp
Priority date: 2006-07-17
Filing date: 2007-07-13
Publication date: 2008-01-24
Also published as: TW200807126A

Abstract

A support mechanism for an electronic paper comprises a base, a fixing module and a supporting element. The electronic paper is installed on the fixing module. The supporting element is connected to the base and the fixing module.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a support mechanism for electronic paper.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic paper has been developed by research organizations. Power consumption of electronic paper is one percent of the liquid crystal display. In order to save power, the electronic paper is efficient. Moreover, the electronic paper is a thin display with thickness is limited to a 0.03 mm minimum. In the future, the electronic paper may replace the liquid crystal display. Electronic paper can be updated wirelessly.
Development of the design of the supporting mechanism for the electronic paper is also important. A conventional supporting mechanism for a liquid crystal display is not suitable for electronic paper. An ideal electronic paper supporting mechanism for the electronic paper can be rotated and has adjustable angle and height. Most importantly, the supporting mechanism must be portable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention provides an electronic paper support mechanism, comprising a base, a fixing module and a supporting element. The fixing module comprises a holder. The supporting element comprises two ends, wherein the ends respectively connect to the base and the fixing module.
Note that the supporting element comprises flexible plastics.
Note that the supporting element comprises flexible metal.
Note that the base comprises a clamping apparatus.
The invention further provides another electronic paper support mechanism comprising a base, a fixing module and a supporting element: The fixing module comprises a holder and a connecting element. The supporting element is connected to the base. The connecting element is movably installed on the supporting element.
A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a support mechanism for an electronic paper of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a lateral view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of another embodiment of an electronic paper support mechanism;

FIG. 3A shows a enlarged view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a lateral view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of another embodiment of an electronic paper support mechanism; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of another embodiment of an electronic paper of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the support mechanism 10 comprises a base 11, a fixing module 12 and a supporting element 13. The fixing module 12 comprises a holder 121. The holder 121 comprises a flat surface 128. The flat surface 128 connects to and holds an electronic paper (not shown). The electronic paper can be fixed on the holder 121 via an adhesive or other mechanical joint, for example, a protrusion is installed on the holder 121 for hanging the electronic paper or a clip is installed on the holder 121 for clipping the electronic paper. In this embodiment, the supporting element 13 is flexible. The supporting element 13 comprises flexible plastics or flexible metal. Thus, the supporting element 13 supports the electronic paper, further, the supporting element 13 can be bent to adjust angle for a user who can keep a comfortable visual angle. Thus, the support mechanism of the invention can be comfortably used.
FIGS. 3, 3A and 4 show another embodiment of the support mechanism 10 a. The support mechanism 10 a comprises a base 11 a, a fixing module 12 a and a supporting element 13 a. The fixing module 12 a comprises a holder 121 a and a connecting element 122 a. The holder 121 a comprises a flat surface 128 a. The flat surface 128 a connects to and holds an electronic paper (not shown). The electronic paper can be fixed on the holder 121 a via an adhesive or other mechanical joint, for example, a protrusion is installed on the holder 121 a for hanging the electronic paper or a clip is installed on the holder 121 a for clipping the electronic paper. The supporting element 13 a is connected to the base 11 a. The connecting element 122 a is movably installed on the supporting element 13 a. The connecting element 122 a comprises two clips 123 a and 124 a, a sliding element 125 a, two holes (FIG. 3A shows only one hole 126 a on the clip 123 a) and a fixing member 127 a. The sliding element 125 a slides on the supporting element 13 a. The clips 123 a and 124 a provide a clipping force to fix the connecting element 122 a to the supporting element 13 a. The fixing member 127 a passes through the hole 126 a of the clips 123 a and 124 a for adjusting the distance between the clips 123 a and 124 a, thereby controls the connecting element 122 a to fix or slide on the supporting element 13 a. In this embodiment, the supporting element 13 a is rigidity, thus not be bend to deformation. Thus, the connecting element 122 a slides on the supporting element 13 a for adjusting the holder 121 a position.
The support mechanism 10 a supports the electronic paper, further, the position of the support mechanism 10 a can be adjusted. Because the supporting element 13 a is rigid, the connecting element 122 a slides on the supporting element 13 a for adjusting the holder 121 a position. Thus, the support mechanism 10 a can be comfortably used.
FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a support mechanism 10 b of the invention. The support mechanism 10 b structure is approximately similar to the embodiment of FIG. 3. The difference between FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 is the supporting element 13 b comprises a bending portion 131 b, a first portion 132 b and a second portion 133 b. The bending portion 131 b is connected to the first portion 132 b and the second portion 133 b. Note that the first portion 132 b is approximately perpendicular to the second portion 133 b. In this embodiment, the first portion 132 b is horizontal and the connecting element 122 b slides thereon between the front direction and the rear direction (along an arrow shown in FIG. 5) thereby adjusts the distance between the holder 121 b and a user. Thus, support mechanism 10 b can be comfortably used.
FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a support mechanism 10 c of the invention. The support mechanism 10 c structure is approximately similar to the embodiment of FIG. 3. The difference between FIG. 3 and FIG. 6 is the base 11 c comprises a clamping apparatus 111 c. The clamping apparatus 111 c can be clamped to the side of a table 20. Thus, the support mechanism 10 c is stably installed on the table 20.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

Claims

1. A support mechanism for an electronic paper, comprising:

a base;

a fixing module; and

a supporting element, comprising two ends;

wherein the ends respectively connect to the base and the fixing module.

2. The support mechanism for an electronic paper as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the supporting element comprises flexible plastics.

3. The support mechanism for an electronic paper as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the supporting element comprises flexible metal.

4. The support mechanism for an electronic paper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing module comprises a holder, the holder comprises a flat surface to support the electronic paper.

5. The support mechanism for an electronic paper as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the base comprises a clamping apparatus.

6. A support mechanism for an electronic paper, comprising:

a base;

a fixing module, comprising a holder and a connecting element; and

a supporting element connected to the base;

wherein the holder support the electronic paper; and

the connecting element is movably installed on the supporting element.

7. The support mechanism for an electronic paper as claimed in claim 6,

wherein the connecting element comprises two clips and a sliding element, the sliding element slides on the supporting element, the clips provide a clipping force to make the connecting element to fix to the supporting element.

8. The support mechanism for an electronic paper as claimed in claim 7, wherein the connecting element comprises two holes and a fixing member, the fixing member passes through the holes on the clips.

9. The support mechanism for an electronic paper as claimed in claim 6,

wherein the supporting element comprises a bending portion, a first portion and a second portion, the bending portion is connected to the first portion and the second portion.

10. The support mechanism for an electronic paper as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first portion is approximately perpendicular to the second portion.

11. The support mechanism for an electronic paper as claimed in claim 6,

wherein the base comprises a clamping apparatus.