DISPLAY FOR HAND-HELD ELECTRONICS
The invention disclosed here is a display system for managing power and security for a plurality of hand-held electronic devices sold to consumers in a retail location. The display includes features that allow power to be supplied to individual devices and security sensors without continuous hard wiring or multi-conductor retractor cables. The display also allows for individual security alarms to be triggered when a theft occurs. Security alarm conditions are preferably triggered via wireless signals.
1 . A cable management apparatus for use in mounting an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
a post assembly, the post assembly comprising:
a puck assembly adapted to receive an electronic device for display via the post assembly;
a base assembly; and
a tether assembly adapted to connect the puck assembly with the base assembly;
wherein the puck assembly is adapted to be moveable between (1) a rest position in which (i) the puck assembly is in engagement with the base assembly and (ii) the puck assembly and the base assembly are connected to the tether assembly, and (2) a lift position in which (i) the puck assembly is disengaged from the base assembly and (ii) the puck assembly and the base assembly are connected to the tether assembly;
wherein the base assembly further comprises (1) base assembly circuitry configured to receive power from a power source, and (2) a base assembly electrical contact connected to the base assembly circuitry;
wherein the puck assembly comprises (1) a puck assembly electrical contact, (2) a power storage device, and (3) puck assembly circuitry connected to the puck assembly electrical contact and the power storage device;
wherein the base assembly contact and the puck assembly contact are adapted to contact each other when the puck assembly is in the rest position to form an electrical connection between the puck assembly circuitry and the base assembly circuitry;
wherein the puck assembly circuitry is configured to, when the puck assembly is in the rest position, draw power from the power source through the electrical connection and provide the drawn power to the power storage device to charge the power storage device;
wherein the base assembly contact and the puck assembly contact are adapted to lose contact with each other when the puck assembly is in the lift position to thereby break the electrical connection; and
wherein the post assembly is configured to detect a lift of the puck assembly in response to the electrical connection break.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the puck assembly is further configured to detect the lift of the puck assembly in response to the electrical connection break.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the puck assembly circuitry is further configured to generate a signal indicative the detected lift.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the puck assembly is further configured to wirelessly communicate the signal indicative of the detected lift.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:
a media player and associated display, wherein the media player is configured to select media content for presentation to a customer via the display in response to the wirelessly communicated signal indicative of the detected lift.
6 . The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the post assembly has an associated post position, and wherein the signal is uniquely identifiable to the post assembly's associated post position.
7 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the puck assembly is further configured to wirelessly communicate data indicative of the number of lifts for the puck assembly that occurred during a period of time.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the puck assembly further comprises (1) a cable for detachable connection to the electronic device, and (2) a security sensor;
wherein the puck assembly circuitry is further configured to, when the puck assembly is in the lift position, draw power from the power storage device for delivery to the cable to provide the electronic device with operating power;
wherein the puck assembly circuitry, in cooperation with the security sensor, is further configured to generate a security condition signal in response to a detection by the security sensor of an event relating to a removal of the electronic device from the puck assembly;
wherein the puck assembly is further configured to wirelessly communicate the security condition signal;
wherein the tether assembly further comprises (1) a tether, (2) a fitting, and (3) a swivel, wherein the fitting is rotatable around the tether, wherein the fitting is adapted to detachably connect the puck assembly with the tether assembly, and wherein the swivel is adapted for cooperation with the fitting to allow the puck assembly to rotate relative to the tether in response to the detachable connection between the fitting and the puck assembly;
wherein (1) the puck assembly contact comprises a plurality of puck assembly contacts, (2) the base assembly contact comprises a plurality of base assembly contacts, and (3) the puck assembly contacts and the base assembly contacts are located at a plurality of positions around the puck assembly and the base assembly, respectively, to allow for the puck assembly to be rotatable to a plurality of orientations when the puck assembly is in the rest position while still forming the electrical connection when the puck assembly is in the rest position at the orientations;
wherein the base assembly contacts comprise a plurality of spring contacts; and
wherein the tether assembly is a retractable tether assembly.
9 . A cable management apparatus for use in mounting an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
a post assembly, the post assembly comprising:
a puck assembly adapted to receive an electronic device for display via the post assembly;
a base assembly; and
a tether assembly adapted to connect the puck assembly with the base assembly;
wherein the puck assembly is adapted to be moveable between (1) a rest position in which (i) the puck assembly is in engagement with the base assembly and (ii) the puck assembly and the base assembly are connected to the tether assembly, and (2) a lift position in which (i) the puck assembly is disengaged from the base assembly and (ii) the puck assembly and the base assembly are connected to the tether assembly;
wherein the base assembly further comprises (1) base assembly circuitry configured to receive power from a power source, and (2) a base assembly electrical contact connected to the base assembly circuitry;
wherein the puck assembly comprises (1) a puck assembly electrical contact, (2) a power storage device, and (3) puck assembly circuitry connected to the puck assembly electrical contact and the power storage device;
wherein the base assembly contact and the puck assembly contact are adapted to contact each other when the puck assembly is in the rest position to form an electrical connection between the puck assembly circuitry and the base assembly circuitry;
wherein the puck assembly circuitry is configured to, when the puck assembly is in the rest position, draw power from the power source through the electrical connection and provide the drawn power to the power storage device to charge the power storage device;
wherein the base assembly contact and the puck assembly contact are adapted to lose contact with each other when the puck assembly is in the lift position to thereby break the electrical connection; and
wherein the post assembly is configured to wirelessly communicate data indicative of a number of lifts for the puck assembly.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the puck assembly is further configured to wirelessly communicate data indicative of a number of lifts for the puck assembly.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the puck assembly is further configured to wirelessly communicate data indicative of the number of lifts for the puck assembly that occurred during a period of time.
12 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the puck assembly is further configured to detect the puck assembly lifts in response breaks in the electrical connection.
13 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the post assembly has an associated post position, and wherein the wirelessly communicated data is uniquely identifiable to the post assembly's associated post position.
14 . The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:
a media player and associated display, wherein the media player is configured to select media content for presentation to a customer via the display in response to the wirelessly communicated signal indicative of the detected lift.
15 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the tether assembly includes a tether that is configured as an antenna, and wherein the puck assembly is further configured to wirelessly communicate the data indicative of the number of lifts via the antenna.
16 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the puck assembly is further configured to wirelessly communicate the data indicative of the data indicative of the number of lifts as an optical signal for receipt by the tether assembly.
17 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the post assembly is further configured to wirelessly communicate data indicative of the number of lifts for the puck assembly that occurred during a period of time.
18 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the puck assembly further comprises (1) a cable for detachable connection to the electronic device, and (2) a security sensor;
wherein the puck assembly circuitry is further configured to, when the puck assembly is in the lift position, draw power from the power storage device for delivery to the cable to provide the electronic device with operating power;
wherein the puck assembly circuitry, in cooperation with the security sensor, is further configured to generate a security condition signal in response to a detection by the security sensor of an event relating to a removal of the electronic device from the puck assembly;
wherein the puck assembly is further configured to wirelessly communicate the security condition signal;
wherein the tether assembly further comprises (1) a tether, (2) a fitting, and (3) a swivel, wherein the fitting is rotatable around the tether, wherein the fitting is adapted to detachably connect the puck assembly with the tether assembly, and wherein the swivel is adapted for cooperation with the fitting to allow the puck assembly to rotate relative to the tether in response to the detachable connection between the fitting and the puck assembly;
wherein (1) the puck assembly contact comprises a plurality of puck assembly contacts, (2) the base assembly contact comprises a plurality of base assembly contacts, and (3) the puck assembly contacts and the base assembly contacts are located at a plurality of positions around the puck assembly and the base assembly, respectively, to allow for the puck assembly to be rotatable to a plurality of orientations when the puck assembly is in the rest position while still forming the electrical connection when the puck assembly is in the rest position at the orientations;
wherein the base assembly contacts comprise a plurality of spring contacts; and
wherein the tether assembly is a retractable tether assembly.
19 . The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the retractable tether assembly comprises a modular retractable tether assembly, wherein the modular retractable tether assembly further comprises a mechanical retractor and rectractor housing that are adapted to provide retractability for the tether.
20 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the base assembly comprises a first base assembly portion and a second base assembly portion;
wherein the first base assembly portion is adapted to (1) engage with the puck assembly when the puck assembly is in the rest position and (2) disengage from the puck assembly when the puck assembly is in the lift position;
wherein the second base assembly portion is adapted as a pedestal for the post assembly;
wherein the first and second base assembly portions are further adapted for detachable engagement with each other such that the first base assembly portion can engage with the base assembly portion a plurality of display angles.
21 . The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising the power source, and wherein the power source is a single source power supply that receives power from a power outlet.
22 . The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising the electronic device.
23 . An apparatus for use in mounting an electronic device to a display, the apparatus comprising:
a puck assembly to mount the electronic device; and
a base assembly to receive at least a portion of the puck assembly;
wherein the puck assembly is to be movable between a rest position in which the puck assembly electrically engages with the base assembly and a lift position in which the puck assembly electrically disengages from the base assembly;
wherein the base assembly comprises base assembly circuitry to receive power from a power source and a base assembly electrical contact electrically connected to the base assembly circuitry;
wherein the puck assembly comprises a puck assembly electrical contact and puck assembly circuitry electrically connected to the puck assembly electrical contact;
wherein the puck assembly electrical contact and the base assembly electrical contact are to contact each other while the puck assembly is in the rest position to form an electrical connection between the puck assembly circuitry and the base assembly circuitry;
wherein the puck assembly electrical contact and the base assembly electrical contact are to lose contact with each other while the puck assembly is in the lift position to thereby break the electrical connection; and
wherein the puck assembly circuitry is to generate an informational signal uniquely identifiable to the display responsive to a detection that the puck assembly is electronically disengaged from the base assembly via a break in the electrical connection.
24 . The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the informational signal is to provide a notification relating to a change in a location of the electronic device relative to the display.
25 . The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the informational signal is to allow for a determination of a brand or model of the electronic device.
26 . The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the puck assembly is further to communicate the informational signal.
27 . The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the puck assembly is further to wirelessly communicate the informational signal.
28 . The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the informational signal is to allow for mapping of a particular brand or model of the electronic device to the display.
29 . A method for tracking use of a post assembly, the post assembly comprising (1) a puck assembly adapted to receive an electronic device for display via the post assembly, (2) a base assembly, and (3) a tether assembly adapted to connect the puck assembly with the base assembly, the method comprising:
the base assembly receiving power from a power source;
the puck assembly receiving power from the base assembly via an electrical connection between a plurality of base assembly contacts and a plurality of puck assembly contacts that contact each other when the puck assembly is in the rest position;
the puck assembly providing power received via the electrical connection between the base assembly contacts and the puck assembly contacts to a power storage device in the puck assembly;
detecting a break of the electrical connection in response to the puck assembly being lifted from the rest position to a lift position in which the puck assembly does not rest on the base assembly, wherein the tether assembly remains connected to the puck assembly and the base assembly when the puck assembly is in the lift position;
determining that a lift of the puck assembly has occurred in response to the detecting;
wirelessly communicating data indicative of the determined puck assembly lift; and
repeating the detecting, determining, and wirelessly communicating steps a plurality of times in order to track lifts of the puck assembly.
30 . The method of claim 29 wherein the puck assembly performs the detecting, determining, and wirelessly communicating steps, the method further comprising:
the puck assembly operating from power stored by the power storage device when the puck assembly is in the lift position.