Electronic device

• US 10,546,545 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2017
• Issued: 01/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Shunpei, Miyaguchi, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chatly, Amit
• Application Number:
  US15/499,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20170316750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13318 Circuits comprising a photodetector
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13324 Circuits comprising solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 Transflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133626 providing two modes of illumination, e.g. day-night
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/44 Arrangements combining different electro-active layers, e.g. electrochromic, liquid crystal or electroluminescent layers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/10 semiconductor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/188 Mounting of power supply units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/32 semiconductive, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3611 Control of matrices with row and column drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/00 Hybrid capacitors, i.e. capacitors having different positive and negative electrodes; Electric double-layer [EDL] capacitors; Processes for the manufacture thereof or of parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/14 Arrangements or processes for adjusting or protecting hybrid or EDL capacitors emergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for capacitors, and effecting automatic switching in the event of an undesired change from normal working conditions H02H7/16; emergency protective circuit arrangements for limiting excess current or voltages without disconnection H02H9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 : Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 : using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 : with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 : Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 : Energy storage using capacitors

Abstract

The electronic device includes a first housing including a solar battery, a first display device, and a first structure body and a second housing including a second display device, a coil, an electric double-layer capacitor, a signal processing circuit, a charge and discharge control circuit, and a second structure body. The electronic device can be folded so that display surfaces of the first housing and the second housing face each other and the first structure body and the second structure body face each other. The solar battery is provided on a surface of the first housing on the rear side of the first display device. A pixel included in the first display device and a pixel included in the second display device each include a liquid crystal element, a first pixel circuit, a light-emitting element, and a second pixel circuit. The liquid crystal element includes a reflective electrode having an opening and can perform display by reflecting external light. The light-emitting element can perform display by emitting light toward the display surface through the opening.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a first housing, the first housing comprising a solar battery and a first display device; and

a second housing, the second housing comprising a second display device, a coil, an electric double-layer capacitor, a signal processing circuit, and a charge and discharge control circuit,

wherein the electronic device is folded so that a display surface of the first display device and a display surface of the second display device face each other,

wherein the charge and discharge control circuit comprises a reverse current prevention circuit, a rectifying and smoothing circuit, and a monitor circuit,

wherein the solar battery is configured to be electrically connected to the electric double-layer capacitor through the reverse current prevention circuit,

wherein the coil is configured to be electrically connected to the electric double-layer capacitor through the rectifying and smoothing circuit,

wherein the coil is configured to obtain power from an outside by contactless power feeding,

wherein the solar battery is positioned on a surface of the first housing on a rear side of the display surface of the first display device,

wherein the monitor circuit is configured to monitor a voltage output from the electric double-layer capacitor and estimate remaining capacity of the electric double-layer capacitor,

wherein the monitor circuit is configured to output the voltage from the electric double-layer capacitor to the signal processing circuit,

wherein the signal processing circuit is configured to change a period during which data for performing display is held in accordance with the remaining capacity,

wherein the first display device and the second display device each comprise a pixel,

wherein the pixel comprises a liquid crystal element, a first pixel circuit for driving the liquid crystal element, a light-emitting element, and a second pixel circuit for driving the light-emitting element,

wherein the liquid crystal element comprises a reflective electrode comprising an opening and is configured to perform display by reflecting external light,

wherein the light-emitting element of the first display device is configured to perform display by emitting light toward the display surface of the first display device through the opening, and

wherein the light-emitting element of the second display device is configured to perform display by emitting light toward the display surface of the second display device through the opening.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1,

wherein the first pixel circuit and the second pixel circuit each comprise a transistor, and

wherein the transistor comprises a metal oxide in a semiconductor layer in which a channel formation region is formed.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the coil, the electric double-layer capacitor, the signal processing circuit, and the charge and discharge control circuit are positioned in the second housing.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor,

wherein the sensor is configured to measure illuminance, and

wherein the signal processing circuit is configured to switch between, in accordance with the illuminance, a first mode for performing display with the liquid crystal element, a second mode for performing display with the liquid crystal element and the light-emitting element, and a third mode for performing display with the light-emitting element.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first display device and the second display device each comprise a touch sensor.

6. An electronic device comprising:

a first housing, the first housing comprising a solar battery, a first display device, and a first structure body; and

a second housing, the second housing comprising a second display device, a coil, an electric double-layer capacitor, a signal processing circuit, a charge and discharge control circuit, and a second structure body,

wherein the electronic device is folded so that a display surface of the first display device and a display surface of the second display device face each other,

wherein the electronic device is folded so that the first structure body and the second structure body face each other,

wherein the charge and discharge control circuit comprises a reverse current prevention circuit, a rectifying and smoothing circuit, and a monitor circuit,

wherein the solar battery is configured to be electrically connected to the electric double-layer capacitor through the reverse current prevention circuit,

wherein the coil is configured to be electrically connected to the electric double-layer capacitor through the rectifying and smoothing circuit,

wherein the coil is configured to obtain power from an outside by contactless power feeding,

wherein the solar battery is positioned on a surface of the first housing on a rear side of the display surface of the first display device,

wherein the monitor circuit is configured to monitor a voltage output from the electric double-layer capacitor and estimate remaining capacity of the electric double-layer capacitor,

wherein the monitor circuit is configured to output the voltage from the electric double-layer capacitor to the signal processing circuit,

wherein the signal processing circuit is configured to change a period during which data for performing display is held in accordance with the remaining capacity,

wherein the first display device and the second display device each comprise a pixel,

wherein the pixel comprises a liquid crystal element, a first pixel circuit for driving the liquid crystal element, a light-emitting element, and a second pixel circuit for driving the light-emitting element,

wherein the liquid crystal element comprises a reflective electrode comprising an opening and is configured to perform display by reflecting external light,

wherein the light-emitting element of the first display device is configured to perform display by emitting light toward the display surface of the first display device through the opening, and

wherein the light-emitting element of the second display device is configured to perform display by emitting light toward the display surface of the second display device through the opening.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the first structure body and the second structure body each comprise natural rubber or synthetic rubber.

8. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the first structure body and the second structure body each have Young'"'"'s modulus greater than or equal to 1 MPa and less than or equal to 1 GPa.

9. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the first structure body and the second structure body each comprise a magnetic material.

10. The electronic device according to claim 6,

wherein the first pixel circuit and the second pixel circuit each comprise a transistor, and

wherein the transistor comprises a metal oxide in a semiconductor layer in which a channel formation region is formed.

11. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the coil, the electric double-layer capacitor, the signal processing circuit, and the charge and discharge control circuit are positioned in the second housing.

12. The electronic device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a sensor,

wherein the sensor is configured to measure illuminance, and

wherein the signal processing circuit is configured to switch between, in accordance with the illuminance, a first mode for performing display with the liquid crystal element, a second mode for performing display with the liquid crystal element and the light-emitting element, and a third mode for performing display with the light-emitting element.

13. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the first display device and the second display device each comprise a touch sensor.

14. An electronic device comprising:

a first housing, the first housing comprising a solar battery and a first display device; and

a second housing, the second housing comprising a second display device, a coil, an electric double-layer capacitor, a signal processing circuit, and a charge and discharge control circuit,

wherein the electronic device is folded so that a display surface of the first display device and a display surface of the second display device face each other,

wherein the solar battery is positioned on a surface of the first housing on a rear side of the display surface of the first display device,

wherein the charge and discharge control circuit comprises a reverse current prevention circuit, a rectifying and smoothing circuit and a monitor circuit,

wherein the solar battery is configured to be electrically connected to the electric double-layer capacitor through the reverse current prevention circuit,

wherein the coil is configured to be electrically connected to the electric double-layer capacitor through the rectifying and smoothing circuit,

wherein the coil is configured to obtain power from an outside by contactless power feeding,

wherein the monitor circuit is configured to monitor a voltage output from the electric double-layer capacitor and estimate remaining capacity of the electric double-layer capacitor,

wherein the monitor circuit is configured to output the voltage from the electric double-layer capacitor to the signal processing circuit, and

wherein the signal processing circuit is configured to change a period during which data for performing display is held in accordance with the remaining capacity.

15. The electronic device according to claim 14,

wherein the first display device and the second display device each comprise a pixel,

wherein the pixel comprises a first display element and a second display element,

wherein the first display element overlaps with the second display element,

wherein the first display element has an opening,

wherein the second display element of the first display device is configured to perform display by emitting light toward the display surface of the first display device through the opening, and

wherein the second display element of the second display device is configured to perform display by emitting light toward the display surface of the second display device through the opening.

16. The electronic device according to claim 15,

wherein the pixel further comprises a first pixel circuit for driving the first display element and a second pixel circuit for driving the second display element,

wherein the first pixel circuit and the second pixel circuit each comprise a transistor, and

wherein the transistor comprises a metal oxide in a semiconductor layer in which a channel formation region is formed.

17. The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein the coil, the electric double-layer capacitor, the signal processing circuit, and the charge and discharge control circuit are positioned in the second housing.

18. The electronic device according to claim 15, further comprising:

a sensor,

wherein the sensor is configured to measure illuminance, and

wherein the signal processing circuit is configured to switch between, in accordance with the illuminance, a first mode for performing display with the first display element, a second mode for performing display with the first display element and the second display element, and a third mode for performing display with the second display element.

19. The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein the first display device and the second display device each comprise a touch sensor.