Patent Application
20060290812
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an entertainment station, and more particularly to an all-in-one multi media center which combines a wide variety of multi media hardware for providing optimal entertainment to the user of the present invention.
2. Description of Related Arts
With the advance of information technology, domestic computers have been under dramatic development with faster and faster computing speed, and wider and wider fields of applications. As a result, more and more peripheral devices are incorporated with conventional computers so as to enhance their applications. For example, back to 1990s, hardware which produced sound effect and music were incorporated with the conventional computers so as to allow generating of sound during various applications, such as when the user is playing computer games.
More recently, there exist some types of computers which comprise a wide variety of peripheral devices, such as DVD players, MP3 players, mini hi-fi system, computer games joysticks, and the likes. While these technologies have effectively enhanced the range of application of conventional computers, and eventually fostered scientific and technological development of mankind as a whole, but this does not mean that those computers have no disadvantage and discrepancy in view of their applications.
The most pressing problem is that the more function the computer system has, the bigger the size it is. For example, if one is trying to watch DVD by his computer, he has to incorporate a DVD drive, whether it be an externally incorporated or internally built-in, into the computer system in order to perform the required function. As a result, the general size of the computer system would inevitably increase as compared with conventional computer systems.
On the other hand, there is another problem which concerns the relationship between a conventional display unit, such as a CRT monitor or a LCD monitor, and a conventional central control unit in a conventional computer system. Specifically, for a conventional computer system, the monitor, whether it be a CRT or a LCD, is very often structurally separated from the central control unit, wherein their connection is accomplished by means of a plurality of easily-tangled transmission cables.
Thus one is facing a pressing problem characterized by the difficulty in separately allocating the two most bulky elements in a conventional computer system, i.e. the monitor and the central control unit, with adequate space. As a mater of fact, there exist a number of furniture or computer desks which are specifically designed to support a conventional computer system, wherein the computer desk usually has a main deck and a monitor deck for supporting the central control unit and the monitor respectively. However, it must be conceived that such computer decks or furniture are itself very bulky.
This problem is not that severe when the user has a really big room or office, so that a bigger structure is even more desirable. Moreover, for those who even need to struggle about an adequate space for sleeping or for dining, the huge space requirement for installing even a conventional computer system would mean that it is a luxury. At the same time however, being in this era of information and knowledge, a computer system is indeed more or less a necessity in even a developing country, not to mention the well-developed United States.
Finally, even though space is not a problem for a particular user, there involves an inevitable inconvenience for those who want a wide variety of multi-media entertainment or computer applications.
A main object of the present invention is to provide an all-in-one multi-media center which combines a wide variety of multi media hardware, including an LCD monitor, in a single unit for providing optimal entertainment to the user of the present invention.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an all-in-one multi-media center comprising a housing which has a minimal depth wherein the plurality of multi-media hardware is fittedly disposed therein so as to minimize an occupying space of the present invention.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an all-in-one multi-media center which is adapted to be easily and conveniently carried and transported so as to substantially overcome the hassle in carrying and transporting bulky conventional computer systems.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an all-in-one multi-media center which is not only capable of performing sophisticated computing tasks but also providing a wide range of multi-media support in one single unit. In other words, the present invention substantially combines conventional computer systems and a wide variety of multi-media devices in a convenient, user-friendly and economical manner.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an all-in-one multi-media center which is capable of substituting domestic multi-media devices so that a user of the present invention no longer needs to install different multi-media devices separately so as to minimize his/her entertainment expense yet with a greater satisfaction.
Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides an all-in-one multi-media center, comprising:
a media housing having a front side, a rear side, and a functional rim extended between a peripheral edge of the front side and a peripheral edge of the rear side to form a receiving compartment within the front side, the rear side and the functional rim, wherein the receiving compartment has a thickness between the front and the rear side;
a LCD screen provided at the front side of the media housing to define a planar direction;
a central control unit supported within the receiving compartment to electrically connect to the LCD screen at the planar direction;
a multi-media arrangement comprising a TV device and a computer device;
wherein the TV device comprises a television-tuner hardware, which is supported within the receiving compartment to electrically connected with the central control unit for processing television signal such that the central control unit is adapted for converting the television signal into an image signal to be displayed on the LCD screen, and two speakers supported at two side portions of the receiving compartment to electrically connect with the central control unit for converting the television signal into a sound signal;
wherein the computer device comprises a hard drive supported at a mid-bottom portion of the receiving compartment to electrically connect with the central control unit and a removable memory drive supported on one of the side portion of the receiving compartment to electrically connect with the central control unit, wherein removable memory drive has an access slot formed on the functional rim for allowing a memory disc communicating with the removable memory drive through access slot; and
a supporting frame supported within the receiving compartment at a position between the LCD screen and the central control unit to substantially support the TV device and the computer device within the receiving compartment in a compact unit so as to minimize the thickness of the media housing between the front and rear sides thereof.
These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
Referring to
The media housing 10 has a front cover 11, a rear cover 12, and a functional rim 13 extended between a peripheral edge of the front and the rear covers 11, 12 to form a receiving compartment within the front cover 11, the rear cover 12 and the functional rim 13, wherein the receiving compartment has a minimal thickness T between the front and the rear covers 11, 12.
The LCD screen 20 is provided at the front cover 11 of the media housing 10 to define a planar direction which is the transverse direction of the media housing 10.
Moreover, the central control unit 30 is supported within the receiving compartment to electrically connect to the LCD screen 20 at the respective planar direction.
The multi-media arrangement comprises a TV device 41 and a computer device 42, wherein the TV device 41 comprises a television-tuner hardware 411, which is supported within the receiving compartment to electrically connect with the central control unit 30 for processing television signal such that the central control unit 30 is adapted for converting the television signal into an image signal to be displayed on the LCD screen 20. The TV device 41 further comprises two speakers 412 supported at two side portions of the receiving compartment to electrically connect with the central control unit 30 for converting the television signal into a sound signal, and deliver the sound signal to an outside of the multi-media center 1 so as to produce a sound effect for the respective multi-media application.
According to the preferred embodiment, the computer device 42 comprises a hard drive 421 supported at a mid-bottom portion of the receiving compartment to electrically connect with the central control unit 30, and a removable memory drive 422 supported on one of the side portion of the receiving compartment to electrically connect with the central control unit 30, wherein the removable memory drive 422 has an access slot formed on the functional rim 13 for allowing a memory disc, such as a DVD (Digital Video Disc) or a VCD (Video Compact Disc), to communicate with the removable memory drive 422 through the access slot.
The multi media arrangement further comprises an integrated media card reader 431 supported on one of the side portion of the receiving compartment to electrically connect with the central control unit 30, wherein the integrated memory card reader 431, such as seven-in-one card reader (MS, MSPro, SD, MMC, CF, SM, Micro Drive), has a card passing slot formed on the functional rim 13 for allowing most of the typical memory cards communicating with the integrated media card reader 431 through the card passing access slot.
The supporting frame 50 is supported within the receiving compartment at a position between the LCD screen 20 and the central control unit 30 to substantially support the TV device 41 and the computer device 42 within the receiving compartment in a compact unit so as to minimize the thickness T of the media housing 10 between the front cover 11 and rear cover 12 thereof.
The front cover 11 of the media housing 10 further has a front screen opening formed thereon wherein the LCD screen 20 is supported in the receiving compartment and visually communicated with an exterior of the media housing 10 through the screen opening. According to the preferred embodiment, the LCD screen 20 is provided at the front cover 11 in such a manner that the LCD screen 20 is substantially aligned with a front side of the front cover 11 so as to minimize a thickness of the present invention.
According to the preferred embodiment, as an illustration, the LCD screen 20 is embodied as having a matrix view angle of 130v/140h, contrast of 450 to 1, brightness of 400 lumens, response of less than 25, and that the height and the tilt of the images shown are adjustable. The resolution of the LCD screen 20 is preferably 1280×768 for a 17″ LCD screen 20, having maximum color depth of 16.7 millions colors.
Referring to
The central control unit 30 further comprises a video processing unit 33 electrically connected with the main board 31 and is preferably embodied as a video display card for enabling an image to be displayed on the LCD screen 20. According to the preferred embodiment, the video processing unit 33 is preferably embodied as a typical display card of an Intel Integrated Graphics with 64 MB shared memory buffer, or ATI RADEON 9200 AGP Graphics with 128 MB independent memory buffer.
The TV-turner hardware 411 of the TV device 41 is preferably embodied as a TV turner card electrically connected with the central control unit 30, wherein the TV device 41 further comprises a TV receiver 413 extended on the media housing 10 and electrically connected with the TV turner hardware for wirelessly receiving a TV broadcast signal through wireless board-casting network provided by at least one local TV service provider. According to the preferred embodiment, the TV receiver 413 is preferably embodied as a regular TV antenna adapted for receiving TV broadcast signal of a predetermined range of frequency. Moreover the TV device 41 further has a plurality of signal ports 414 provided on the media housing 10 for receiving and outputting TV signal from and to an external source, such as a another television.
Furthermore, the two speakers 412 of the TV device 41 are mounted on the media housing 10 for delivering sound. They are preferably embodied as two typical speakers with Sub-5 Watts per channel supporting Windows Volume control.
On the other hand, the hard drive 421 of the computer device is preferably embodied as a typical hard disk for computers, a desirable example being standard 3.5″ desktop form-factor (up to 7200 RPM).
The removable memory drive 422 is preferably embodied as a DVD drive or a CD drive or a CD-RW drive which is installed along the functional rim 13 of the media housing 10 and is adapted to communicate with an outside thereof in such a manner that a user of the present invention is able to retrieve or to load a particular CD or DVD into or out of the removable memory drive 422.
Referring to
Alternatively, the network device 423 may be embodied as a Local Area Network (LAN) card for connecting with the Internet through broadband cable connected to the network port. An example of this LAN card is Integrated Intel 10/100 and option for integrated 802.111 g wireless Ethernet.
Yet another alternative is that the network device 423 may comprises both the LAN card and the transmission modem for connecting the multi-media center 1 with a predetermined network in a freely selectable manner. In other words, depending on the circumstances in question, the user of the present invention may be free to choose either the transmission modem or the LAN card for network or Internet connection.
Referring to
Specifically, the supporting stand 60 comprises a stand base 61, a supporting arm 62 transversely extended therefrom, and a pivotal hinge 63 connecting between the media housing 10 and the supporting arm 62 in a pivotally movable manner so as to suspendedly support the media housing 10 in the above-mentioned pivotally movable manner.
As shown in
According to the preferred embodiment, the supporting stand 60 may also be electrically connected with the central control unit 30 wherein the plurality of signal ports 414, may be instead provided on a rear side of the supporting stand 60 for connecting with an external multi media device, such as another TV or a microphone, for signal sharing or transmission, as shown in
Furthermore, the network port of the network device 423 may also be extended to form on the supporting stand 60 instead of the media housing 10.
Referring to
The hand-carrying device 70 is foldably mounted to the supporting stand 60, wherein the supporting stand 60, which is embodied to form a portable compact unit, has a receiving slot 101 to receive the hand-carrying device 70 such that the hand-carrying device 70 is adapted to move between a receiving position that the hand-carrying device 70 is totally received in the receiving slot 101 in a hidden manner and a carrying position that the hand-carrying device 70 is upwardly extended above the media housing from the receiving cavity.
In other words, in the receiving position, the hand carrying device 60 is movably received in the supporting stand 60 so as to minimize the occupying space of the present invention, and in the carrying position, the hand-carrying device 70 is fully extended to longitudinally erect on the supporting stand 60 so that a user may be able to carry the multi-media center 1 conveniently by the hand-carrying device 70.
Furthermore, referring to
Accordingly, the wireless receiver 4241 is embodied as a remote sensor provided on the media housing 10 to electrically connect with the central control unit 30, and the wireless controller 4242 is embodied as a wireless keyboard and/or a wireless mouse wirelessly communicated with the central control unit 30 via the remote sensor of the wireless receiver 4241 to operate the TV device 41 and the computer device 42 in a wireless manner.
Referring to
Specifically, the cooling device 43 comprises at least one heat removal fan mounted at a top portion of the media housing and at a position adjacent to the central control unit 30 and the hard drive 421 which are typically identified as generating substantial amount of heat during normal operation. Thus in other words, the heat removal fan is adapted to remove the heat generated by them to an outside of the media housing. Accordingly, the rear cover 12 of the media housing 10 may further has a plurality of ventilating openings formed thereon for allowing the heat to be removed by convective heat transfers between the computer device 42 and the central control unit 30.
As an obvious alternative, the cooling device 43 may be embodied as at least one heat sink mounted on the media housing 10 and thermally communicated with the central processing unit 32 and the hard drive 421 for removing heat therefrom to an outside of the media housing 10.
Referring to
According to the preferred embodiment, the supporting frame 50 has a predetermined number of supporting slots formed thereon wherein each component are supported at a predetermined support slot for forming the compact structure of the present invention. As shown in
It is worth mentioning that the hard drive 421 is supported at the mid-bottom portion of the receiving compartment to electrically connect with the central control unit 30 so as to lower a center of gravity of the present invention, for the hard drive 421 is expected to be the heaviest electronics components in the receiving compartment.
Moreover, it is also important to point out that each of the components are overlappedly arranged and assembled in the media housing 10 in such a manner that they are oriented in a same planer direction so as to form the minimum thickness T of the media housing 10. Therefore, the present invention is capable of being neatly and compactly erected for operation, as well as lightly and conveniently carried or transported.
Preferably, the present invention should have a weight of approximately 30 lbs and a size of approximately 21″×16″×10″, which should be substantially smaller than conventional desktop computers or TVs.
One skilled in the art would then appreciate that the above-mentioned invention is capable of performing a wide variety of multi-media tasks for bring the user maximum entertainment effect.
One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
