The XOOT System went through many revisions during development. Each revision was a chance to be bold and create new and unique approaches to solving problems that current technology did not adequately address.
These solutions form the base of the intellectual property portfolio below.
(US8570723B2, CN103582854B) US and China granted
This patent allows the screen to be weightlessly pivoted between monitor to touch mode. A big heavy screen can be easily moved around by the light touch of a single finger.
The patent requires the screen be attached to a cam on the end of the pivoting arm. A chain wraps the cam and attaches to an anchor point near the bottom of the arm. As the arm rotates downward the chain pulls on the cam and forces the screen to rotate outward.
Weightless operation is achieved by balancing several forces. The weight of the screen wants to fall down to the desk. This is balanced by the upward forces of a spring and the pull of the chain on the cam. The whole system is dynamic and changes relative to tilt of the arm and the rotation of the screen. By varying the radius of the cam, it’s possible to control the upward force and keep the arm always in balance.
A software package was written to:
- solve the balancing of forces
- ensure the screen operates within the ergonomic and physical constraints of the system
- auto generate CAD parts for the XOOT System.
(US10208891B2) US Granted, international patents pending Europe and China
Good ergonomic operation requires that the screen be remote and vertical when in monitor mode and close and horizontal when in touchscreen mode. Additionally, the screen should travel over the mouse and keyboard when transitioning between modes. This operation cantilevers the screen far out from the base of the arm. To keep the base from falling forward. A set of pivoting arms attach the base to the back of the desk.
The concept is simple and it’s better at stabilizing the screen than traditional monitor arms. With traditional monitor arms support for the entire weight of the screen is at one point on the back of the desk. This inevitably leads to a screen that wobbles when touched.
Support Feet for Cantilevered Screen
(US9250650B2) granted
A common problem when pulling the screen out and down to desk level is that the back of the screen can press keys on the keyboard (depending on where the keyboard’s location and its height). A simple way to prevent this is to add feet to the back of the screen to ensure the back of the screen does not touch the keyboard.
Electromagnetic Braking System
(US 11137795 B2) US Patented
Touching zones around the screen can cause an electromagnetic brakes to dis-engage from a pivoting arm system making it easy to reposition the screen.
The XOOT system Intellectual property is available for licensing. Please contact us for further details.