Additional thin display device for supplementing a primary display

• US 20060214871A1
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Iwamura, Ryuichi
• Application Number:
  US11/088,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20060214871A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/1.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• 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 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• 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 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/026 Video wall, i.e. juxtaposition of a plurality of screens to create a display screen of bigger dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving

Abstract

A display system for a computer includes a primary display and a secondary thin display that is selectively activated to supplement the primary display. In some examples, the thin display panel includes an organic electroluminescent display. A method of supplementing a primary display for a computer includes integrating the secondary thin display with the primary display, where the secondary thin display is selectively activated to supplement the primary display.

Claims

1. A display system for a computer comprising:

a primary display; and

a secondary thin display that is selectively activated to supplement said primary display.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein said secondary thin display is an organic electroluminescent display.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein said secondary thin display slides in and out of a recess in a housing for said primary display.

4. The display system of claim 3, wherein said secondary thin display pivots, when extended, with respect to said primary display.

5. The display system of claim 3, further comprising a switch in said recess for automatically activating said secondary thin display when said secondary thin display is extended from said recess.

6. The display system of claim 3, further comprising a drive mechanism for extending said thin display panel from said recess and retracting said thin display panel into said recess.

7. The display system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of secondary thin display devices that can be selectively activated to supplement said primary display.

8. The display system of claim 1, wherein said primary display is a desk-top flat panel display.

9. The display system of claim 1, wherein said primary display is a portable computer screen.

10. The display system of claim, 1, wherein said primary display is a cathode ray tube display.

11. A portable computer comprising:

a primary display; and

a secondary thin display that is selectively activated to supplement said primary display.

12. The computer of claim 11, wherein said secondary thin display is an organic electroluminescent display.

13. The computer of claim 11, wherein said secondary thin display slides in and out of a recess in a housing for said primary display.

14. The computer of claim 13, wherein said secondary thin display pivots, when extended, with respect to said primary display.

15. The computer of claim 13, further comprising a switch in said recess for automatically activating said secondary thin display when said secondary thin display is extended from said recess.

16. The computer of claim 13, further comprising a drive mechanism for extending said thin display panel from said recess and retracting said thin display panel into said recess.

17. The computer of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of secondary thin display devices that can be selectively activated to supplement said primary display.

18. A display system for a computer comprising:

a primary display; and

a secondary organic electroluminescent display, integrated with said primary display, that is selectively deployed and activated to supplement said primary display.

19. The display system of claim 18, wherein said secondary display slides in and out of a recess in a housing for said primary display.

20. The display system of claim 19, wherein said secondary display pivots, when extended, with respect to said primary display.

21. The display system of claim 19, further comprising a switch in said recess for automatically activating said secondary display when said secondary display is extended from said recess.

22. The display system of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of secondary organic electroluminescent displays that can be selectively deployed and activated to supplement said primary display.

23. A method of supplementing a primary display for a computer comprising integrating a secondary thin display with said primary display, wherein said secondary thin display is selectively activated to supplement said primary display.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said secondary thin display is an organic electroluminescent display.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising slidably housing said secondary thin display slides in a recess in a housing for said primary display, wherein said secondary thin display is extended from said recess for use.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising pivoting said secondary thin display, when extended, with respect to said primary display.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising activating said secondary thin display with a switch in said recess, said switch being actuated by movement of said secondary thin display with respect to said recess.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising deactivating said secondary thin display by further actuation of said switch resulting from movement of said secondary thin display into said recess.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprising a selectively deploying any of a plurality of secondary thin display devices that are integrated with said primary display and can be selectively activated to supplement said primary display.

30. The method of claim 23, further comprising selectively activating said secondary thin display in response to user input on said computer.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising prompting a user to deactivate said secondary thin display.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising prompting said user to deactivate said secondary thin display based on a lack of activity on said secondary thin display for a predetermined period of time.

33. The method of claim 23, further comprising mechanically extending and retracting said secondary thin display.

34. A system for supplementing a primary display for a computer comprising:

a secondary thin display integrated with said primary display;

means for selectively deploying said secondary thin display from a storage position to a viewable position; and

means for selectively activating said secondary thin display to supplement said primary display.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising means for driving said primary display and said secondary thin display as if a single display device.