A Guide to Monitor Mounts

by Stewart Beck, Global Product Manager, Southco, Inc. In the age of the Internet of Things (IoT), OEMs are incorporating monitors and screens into equipment to provide better user experiences more customer value. Different types of monitor mounting arms are used in a variety of applications, from self-service kiosks and mobile medical equipment, to manufacturing and packaging to provide enhances ergonomics and user convenience. Engineers with no previous experience working with monitors are now tasked with developing innovative ways to mount monitors in order to drive product and application improvements. One important aspect of incorporating monitor design into an application is deciding how and where the monitor will be mounted. This critical step of the design process can greatly impact the ease-of-use and overall product quality that the end user experiences when operating a monitor. User needs should be carefully considered when choosing a monitor mount. There are various types of monitor mount designs, which may create a choice paralysis situation for an engineer tasked with designing a proper monitor mounting system. Understanding how monitor mounts work, what should be considered, and other important aspects can help engineers develop a proper mounting system for their end user. But first, a basic definition of a monitor mount should be discussed. What Is a Monitor Mount? Most engineers have interacted with multiple monitor mounts, though they may be unaware of this interaction. Monitor mounts have been around since the early 2000s when the price of monitors began to hit a point where they could be integrated into more applications. Engineers found that they needed a way to easily secure a monitor to a surface in a way that the user could still adjust the monitor for their needs. In its simplest form, a monitor mount is a method of connecting a monitor, touchscreen, or other display interface to a certain surface. The surfaces can range from everything from a bedside table to the dashboard of a construction vehicle cab. A successful monitor mount will enable the end user to easily move and adjust the monitor until it is in the desired position. End users should be easily able to adjust the monitor to the correct angle without much effort or thought. When the monitor is in the desired position, the monitor mount should also resist any unwanted movements to ensure that the monitor stays in the user’s desired position. How Does a Monitor Mount Work? Monitor mounts work by controlling the torque at each rotating joint within the mount, which defines the forces that are required by the user to adjust the monitor to their desires viewing location. This also allows the monitor to resist unwanted movements, such as gravity, that ensures that the monitor stays secure in place. Users would be able to easily maneuver the monitor in order to avoid sun glare and reflections caused by overhead lighting. Typically, there are three ways that torque is achieved in a monitor mount: Applying Torque to Each Individual Moving Joint The simplest method to allow users to control torque is by applying torque to each moving joint through a simple screw or clamp mechanism. The end user would need to adjust the joint each time that they needed to adjust the monitor. The ideal application for this product would be monitors that are moved infrequently, or if a joint in the monitor mount would need to be adjusted for resistance. Applying Torque via a Controlled Torque Device Another option would be to use a controlled torque device, which applies the torque to the rotating joint without any adjustment to the joint itself from the end user. This method allows the user to easily move the monitor to the correct position, while still resisting unwanted movement. Applying Torque via Stored Energy The third option is to use stored energy through a mechanism, such as a spring or gas strut, to apply torque. The stored energy can help the user adjust the m…