Multiple display panels for different modes of operation for conveying personality

• US 20020183099A1
• Filed: 05/30/2001
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Man Wei
• Application Number:
  US09/867,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20020183099A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

A hybrid portable device utilizing separate display panels pre-assigned to respective operation mode for displaying associated information and selected cross-operation information is provided. The hybrid device typically provides mobile communication and PDA features. The device typically includes two display panels and a movable cover. The movable cover selectively overlays or exposes the display panels through a cut-away portion on the cover, or through an equivalent viewing means. The two display panels may be simultaneously visible to a user when the cover is flipped to expose a second display panel.

Claims

1. A portable device having separate display panels pre-assigned to respective operation modes for displaying associated information and selected cross-operation information, comprising:

a cover attached to the device, movable to selectively overlay or expose at least a second display panel, wherein a first display panel is consistently visible, and the first and the second display panels are simultaneously visible to a user when the second display panel is exposed.

2. The portable device recited in claim 1, wherein each display panel is separately powered up when its respective pre-assigned operation mode is activated.

3. The portable device recited in claim 2, wherein the first display panel is consistently visible through a viewing means on the cover.

4. The portable device recited in claim 3, wherein the viewing means is one of a cut-away portion and a transparent surface.

5. The portable device recited in claim 4, wherein the cover is removably attached to the device.

6. A user presentation in a portable device having separate display panels pre-assigned to respective operation modes for displaying associated information and selected cross-operation information, wherein each display panel is separately powered up when its respective operation mode is activated, and at least two display panels are arranged for simultaneous viewing by a user.

7. The user presentation recited in claim 6, wherein at least a first display panel is consistently visible and at least a second display panel is selectively overlain.

8. The user presentation recited in claim 7, wherein a cover attached to the device, moves to selectively overlay or expose at least the second display panel, wherein the first display panel is consistently visible.

9. The user presentation recited in claim 8, wherein the cover is removably attached to the device.

10. A method of implementing a user presentation in a portable device having separate display panels pre-assigned to respective operation modes for displaying associated information and selected cross-operation information, comprising the steps of:

arranging at least two display panels for simultaneous viewing by a user; and

separately powering up each of the display panels when its respective operation mode is activated.

11. The method recited in claim 10 further comprising:

consistently exposing at least a first display panel; and

selectively overlaying at (east a second display panel.

12. The method recited in claim 11 further comprising:

providing a cover attached to the device, which moves to selectively overlay or expose at least the second display panel, wherein the first display panel is consistently visible.

13. The method recited in claim 12, wherein the cover is removably attached to the device.