Display device and electronic appliance

• US 20050040753A1
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Osame, Mitsuaki, Anzai, Aya, Yamazaki, Shunpei
• Granted Patent: US 7,355,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/500
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• 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 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

A dual light emission panel (panel capable of displaying images on both screens) is mounted in a display device or a portable information terminal to achieve a module with a small volume. The display device of the invention comprises a display screen, a first housing and a second housing that are connected to each other, and a dual light emission panel including display screens each on the front side and the back side. The dual light emission panel is connected to the first housing, disposed between the first housing and the second housing when overlapping the first housing, and rotated around a connecting point of the dual light emission panel and the first housing.

Claims

1. A display device comprising a display screen including a plurality of pixels arranged in matrix,

wherein the display device comprises a plurality of panels;

and

at least one of the plurality of panels is a dual light emission panel including a display screen [[each]] on a front side and on a back side.

4. The display device according to claim 1 [[or 2]], further comprising:

a first display screen as a display screen on one side of the front side and the back side of the dual light emission panel;

a second display screen as a display screen on the other side; and

a third display screen as a display screen other than the first display screen and the second display screen,

wherein the display device has a first display state in which the first display screen is used, and a second display state in which the second display screen and the third display screen are used.

5. The display device according to claim 4, wherein, in the second display state, one of two divided images is a first image and the other is a second image;

and

the first image is displayed on the second display screen and the second image is displayed on the third display screen.

6. The display device according to claim 4, wherein, in the second display state, a different image is displayed each on the second display screen and the third display screen.

7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device is a portable information terminal.

8. The display device according to claim 7, wherein the portable information terminal is a foldable type.

9. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the dual light emission panel uses an EL element as a display element.

10. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the dual light emission panel comprises a flat surface or a curved surface.

11. An electronic appliance using the display device according to claim 1.

12. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device is incorporated into at least one selected from the group consisting of a laptop computer, a PDA and an electronic book.

2. A display device comprising:

a display screen including a plurality of pixels;

a first housing and a second housing that are connected to each other; and

a dual light emission panel including a display screen on a front side and on a back side,

wherein the dual light emission panel is connected to the first housing, disposed between the first housing and the second housing when overlapping the first housing, and rotated around a connecting point of the dual light emission panel and the first housing.

3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein, when the display device is folded at a connecting point of the first housing and the second housing, the first housing and the second housing overlap with the dual light emission panel interposed therebetween.

13. The display device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a first display screen as a display screen on one side of the front side and the back side of the dual light emission panel;

a second display screen as a display screen on the other side; and

a third display screen as a display screen other than the first display screen and the second display screen,

wherein the display device has a first display state in which the first display screen is used, and a second display state in which the second display screen and the third display screen are used.

14. The display device according to claim 13, wherein, in the second display state, one of two divided images is a first image and the other is a second image;

and

the first image is displayed on the second display screen and the second image is displayed on the third display screen.

15. The display device according to claim 13, wherein, in the second display state, a different image is displayed each on the second display screen and the third display screen.

16. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the display device is a portable information terminal.

17. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the display device is a portable information terminal.

18. The display device according to claim 16, wherein the portable information terminal is a foldable type.

19. The display device according to claim 17, wherein the portable information terminal is a foldable type.

20. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the dual light emission panel uses an EL element as a display element.

21. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the dual light emission panel uses an EL element as a display element.

22. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the dual light emission panel comprises a flat surface or a curved surface.

23. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the dual light emission panel comprises a flat surface or a curved surface.

24. An electronic appliance using the display device according to claim 2.

25. An electronic appliance using the display device according to claim 3.

26. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the display device is incorporated into at least one selected from the group consisting of a laptop computer, a PDA and an electronic book.

27. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the display device is incorporated into at least one selected from the group consisting of a laptop computer, a PDA and an electronic book.