Mounting system capable of adjusting viewing angle of a monitor

Abstract

A mounting system is adapted to couple to the back side of a flat panel monitor to adjust the viewing angle of the monitor. The mounting system includes a plurality of motorized arms that are communicably link to a processor. Based on an input signal from a remote control, the processor extends or retracts each of the plurality of motorized arms to adjust the viewing angle of the monitor.

1 . A mounting system capable of adjusting a viewing angle of a monitor relative to a mounting surface, the mounting system including: 
 a first arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the first arm mechanically coupled to a first motor such that actuation of the first motor causes the distal end of the first arm to extend or retract from the mounting surface, the distal end of the first arm adapted to pivotably couple to the monitor;    a second arm having a proximal end and a distal end, and a pivot point at a midpoint of the second arm, the proximal end of the second arm coupled to a second motor such that actuation of the second motor causes the distal end to extend or retract from the mounting surface in an arc movement;    a third arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the third arm mechanically coupled to a third motor such that actuation of the third motor causes the distal end of the third arm to extend or retract from the mounting surface; and    a processor capable of controlling the first, second, and third motors based on an input signal from a viewer to extend or retract the first, second, and third arms, respectively, to adjust the viewing angle of the monitor.    
     
     
         2 . The mounting system according to  claim 1 , including a remote control to provide the input signal to the processor.  
     
     
         3 . The mounting system according to  claim 1 , where the distal ends of the first arm, the second arm, and the third arm are adapted to couple to a backs side of the monitor in a triangular relationship relative to each other.  
     
     
         4 . The mounting system according to  claim 3 , where the distal end of the second arm is between the distal ends of the first and third arms.  
     
     
         5 . The mounting system according to  claim 1 , where the first arm includes a first beam and a second beam, a distal end of the second beam pivotably coupled to a midpoint of the first beam, a proximal end of the second beam capable of rotating about a longitudinal axis, a proximal end of the first beam adapted to move along the longitudinal axis such that moving the proximal end of the first beam causes the distal end of the first beam to extend or retract relative to the longitudinal axis, where the proximal end of the first beam represents the proximal end of the first arm and the distal end of the first beam represents the distal end of the first arm.  
     
     
         6 . The mounting system according to  claim 5 , where the length of the first beam is twice the length of the second beam so that the distal end of the first beam extends or retracts in a substantially perpendicular manner relative to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         7 . The mounting system according to  claim 5 , where the first motor is located between the proximal end of the first beam and the proximal end of the second beam and substantially along the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         8 . The mounting system according to  claim 5 , where the proximal end of the first beam is pivotably coupled to a sleeve adapted to receive a screw that is mechanically coupled to the first motor, where actuation of the first motor causes the screw to rotate to move the sleeve along the screw, and the screw is along the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         9 . The mounting system according to  claim 1 , including a rotatable joint at each of the distal ends of the first, second, and third arms, respectively, to pivot each of the distal ends relative to the monitor.  
     
     
         10 . A mounting system capable of adjusting a viewing angle of a monitor, the mounting system comprising: 
 a plurality of motorized arms adapted to couple to a monitor;    means for extending or retracting the plurality of motorized arms, where at least one of the plurality of motorized arms extend or retract in an arcing manner; and    a processor adapted to control the plurality of motorized arms to extend or retract the plurality of motorized arms independently relative to each other to adjust the viewing angle of the monitor based on an input signal from a viewer.    
     
     
         11 . The mounting system according to  claim 10 , including a remote control to provide the input signal to the processor.  
     
     
         12 . A method of adjusting a viewing angle of a monitor, the method comprising: 
 receiving an input signal from a viewer to move a monitor to a desired viewing angle; and    extending or retracting each of a plurality of motorized arms independently relative to a mounting surface to adjust the viewing angle of the monitor based on the input signal, where at least one of the plurality of arms extend or retract in an arcing manner relative to the mounting surface.    
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , including: 
 extending the monitor from the mounting surface from the retracted position before swiveling the monitor.    
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , including: 
 extending the monitor substantially along a horizontal plane.