Integrated input and display device for a mobile computer

• US 20060114238A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Kwong, Wah Yiu, Lam, Hue V., Wong, Hong W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,486,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 1/1649 the additional display being independently orientable, e.g. for presenting information to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

A device and system are disclosed. In one embodiment the device comprises a primary display unit, a base unit coupled to the primary display unit, and a touch-sensitive secondary display unit, coupled to the base unit, operable to receive input from a user and display information for the user.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a primary display unit;

a base unit coupled to the primary display unit;

a touch-sensitive secondary display unit, coupled to the base unit, operable to receive input from a user and display information for the user.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the base unit further comprises an opening operable to house at least a portion of the secondary display unit in a recessed location.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the secondary display unit further comprises:

a touch-sensitive display screen located on the front side of the unit; and

a protective housing located on the back side of the unit.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising one or more pivot shafts, the one or more pivot shafts are operable to couple the secondary display unit to the base unit at one or more locations in the opening.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the one or more pivot shafts are further operable to allow at least a portion of the secondary display unit to rotate in the opening.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising one pivot shaft, wherein the pivot shaft couples the center of the top of the secondary display unit to the top of the opening.

7. The device of claim 5, further comprising two pivot shafts, wherein a first pivot shaft couples the center of the left side of the secondary display unit to the left side of the opening and a second pivot shaft couples the center of the right side of the secondary display unit to the right side of the opening.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the base unit further comprises:

a front side, the front side including a keyboard; and

a back side.

9. The device of claim 8, further operable to allow the secondary display unit to be operational when the display screen is facing the same direction as the front side of the base unit and when the display screen is facing the same direction as the back side of the base unit.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising a hinge, the hinge coupling the bottom of the primary display unit to the top of the base unit, to allow the primary display unit to close and attach to the front side of the base unit.

11. The device of claim 10, further operable to allow the secondary display unit to be operational when the display screen is facing the same direction as the back side of the base unit only if the primary display unit is closed and attached to the front side of the base unit.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the secondary display unit is further operable to provide movement input for a mouse cursor on the primary display unit.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive display screen is further operable to accept handwriting input.

14. A device, comprising:

a keyboard;

a touch-sensitive display screen; and

a bus, the bus operable to transmit information keyed into the keyboard and information input on the touch-sensitive display to an I/O bus in a computer system.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the touch-sensitive display screen is operable to provide cursor movement input for transmission across the bus.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the touch-sensitive display screen is operable to provide handwriting input for transmission across the bus.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the touch-sensitive display screen is operable to display information input on the device.

18. A system, comprising:

a bus;

a primary display unit;

a computer base unit coupled to the primary display unit and to the bus; and

a touch-sensitive secondary display unit, coupled to the bus, operable to receive input from a user and display information for the user.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the base unit further comprises an opening operable to house at least a portion of the secondary display unit in a recessed location.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the secondary display unit further comprises:

a touch-sensitive display screen located on the front side of the unit; and

a protective housing located on the back side of the unit.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising one or more pivot shafts, the one or more pivot shafts are operable to:

couple the secondary display unit to the base unit at one or more locations in the opening; and

house at least a portion of the bus.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more pivot shafts are further operable to allow at least a portion of the secondary display unit to rotate in the opening.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising one pivot shaft, wherein the pivot shaft couples the center of the top of the secondary display unit to the top of the opening.

24. The system of claim 22, further comprising two pivot shafts, wherein a first pivot shaft couples the center of the left side of the secondary display unit to the left side of the opening and a second pivot shaft couples the center of the right side of the secondary display unit to the right side of the opening.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the base unit further comprises:

a front side, the front side including a keyboard; and

a back side.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the system is further operable to allow the secondary display unit to be operational when the display screen is facing the same direction as the front side of the base unit and when the display screen is facing the same direction as the back side of the base unit.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein the secondary display unit is further operable to provide movement input for a mouse cursor on the primary display unit.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the secondary display unit is further operable to provide handwriting input.