Device Mount with Hinged Support Panel to Electrically Connect Display Device and Input Mechanism Upon Orientation Change
One embodiment of a device mount establishes an electrical connection between a display device and an input mechanism. The device mount comprises a backplate that couples a display device and a support panel for supporting the backplate. A conductive pin of the backplate contacts a complementary receptacle the coupled display device to establish an electrical connection between the display device and electronics in the backplate. A conductor connects the device electronics in the backplate to a first conductive plate. The support panel comprises a second conductive contact and a conductor connecting the second conductive contact to a controller coupled to the bottom plate that encoding inputs received at the input mechanism into instructions for the display device and transmits the instructions to the display device. Rotation of the support panel moves the second conductive contact into contact with the first conductive contact to establish an electrical connection between the two.
1 . A device mount comprising:
a bottom plate coupled to an input mechanism;
a backplate having a first face for removably coupling a display device and a second face, the backplate comprising a first conductive contact coupled to the second face of the backplate; and
a support panel for supporting the backplate at upright orientations, the support panel comprising a second conductive contact coupled to a face of the support panel;
wherein transitioning the backplate to an upright orientation causes the support panel to rotate, the rotation moving the second conductive contact into contact with the first conductive contact to establish an electrical connection between the first conductive contact and the second conductive contact.
2 . The device mount of claim 1 , wherein the backplate further comprises one or more conductive pins that electronically couple the display device to the first face of the backplate.
3 . The device mount of claim 2 , wherein each conductive pin comprises a body at least partially housed within the backplate and a terminal extending through the backplate.
4 . The device mount of claim 3 , wherein the terminal of each conductive pin contacts a complementary receptacle on a surface of the coupled display device.
5 . The device mount of claim 3 , wherein the terminal extends through the first face of the backplate at an angle perpendicular to the first face, the terminal contacting a receptacle on a rear surface of the coupled display device.
6 . The device mount of claim 3 , wherein the terminal extends through a bottom edge of the backplate at an angle parallel to the first face, the terminal contacting a receptacle on a bottom edge of the coupled display device.
7 . The device mount of claim 3 , wherein the terminal of each conductive pin comprises at least one of:
a spring-loaded pin;
a torsion spring; and
electrically conductive foam.
8 . The device mount of claim 1 , further comprising a first conductor connecting device electronics in the backplate to the first conductive contact.
9 . The device mount of claim 8 , wherein the conductor comprises at least one of:
a conductive wire;
a conductive fabric; or
a flexible circuit board.
10 . The device mount of claim 6 , further comprising a second conductor connecting the second conductive contact to a controller coupled to the bottom plate, the controller encoding inputs received at the input mechanism into signals comprising instructions for the display device.
11 . A device mount comprising:
a bottom plate coupled to an input mechanism;
a backplate having a first face for removably coupling a display device and a second face, the backplate comprising a first conductive contact coupled to the second face of the backplate; and
a support panel for supporting the backplate at upright orientations, the support panel comprising a second conductive contact coupled to a face of the support panel,
wherein the support panel is coupled to the backplate at a first hinge and coupled to the bottom plate at a second hinge;
wherein transitioning the backplate to an upright orientation causes the support panel to rotate, the rotation moving the second conductive contact into contact with the first conductive contact to establish an electrical connection between the first conductive contact and the second conductive contact.
12 . The device mount of claim 11 , wherein the backplate further comprises one or more conductive pins that electronically couple the display device to the first face of the backplate.
13 . The device mount of claim 11 , wherein each conductive pin comprises a body at least partially housed within the backplate and a terminal extending through the backplate.
14 . The device mount of claim 13 , wherein the terminal of each conductive pin contacts a complementary receptacle on a surface of the coupled display device.
15 . The device mount of claim 13 , wherein the terminal extends through the first face of the backplate at an angle perpendicular to the first face, the terminal contacting a receptacle on a rear surface of the coupled display device.
16 . The device mount of claim 13 , wherein the terminal extends through a bottom edge of the backplate at an angle parallel to the first face, the terminal contacting a receptacle on a bottom edge of the coupled display device.
17 . The device mount of claim 13 , wherein the terminal of each conductive pin comprises one or more of:
a spring-loaded pin;
a torsion spring; and
electrically conductive foam.
18 . The device mount of claim 11 , further comprising a first conductor connecting device electronics in the backplate to the first conductive contact.
19 . The device mount of claim 18 , wherein the conductor comprises one or more of:
a conductive wire;
a conductive fabric; or
a flexible circuit board.
20 . The device mount of claim 18 , further comprising a second conductor connecting the second conductive contact to a controller coupled to the bottom plate, the controller encoding inputs received at the input mechanism into signals comprising instructions for the display device.