Portable, folding and separable multi-display computing system

• US 20070182663A1
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Grant Biech
• Original Assignee: Grant Biech
• Inventors: Biech, Grant
• Application Number:
  US11/628,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182663A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/1.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• 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 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer

Abstract

The present invention provides a coupling mechanism between a primary computing device and a secondary computing device, wherein each computing device may be physically separated from each other while continuing to communicate with each other. The primary computing device has the minimum functionality of a complete computing system such as a Tablet PC™, for example, and the secondary computing device has the minimum functionality of a hand-held computer monitor. The secondary computing device may also however, have the functionality of a complete computing system, or other level of functionality therebetween. The primary computing device may act as a master and control the functionality of the secondary computing device via a network or data bus connection, for example. The secondary computing device may be toggled between computer monitor functionality and secondary computer functionality regardless of whether or not the two computers are physically connected.

Claims

1. A portable, foldable and separable multi-display electronic computing system comprising:

a) a primary computing device including a first display;

b) a secondary computing device including a second display;

c) a coupling mechanism adapted for pivotally and separably connecting said primary computing device and said secondary computing device; and

d) a communication means adapted for providing data transfer between said primary computing device and said secondary computing device, said communication means providing data transfer in connected and separated configurations of the primary computing device and secondary computing device.

2. The multi-display electronic computing system according to claim 1, wherein the primary computing device functions as a complete computing system.

3. The multi-display electronic computing system according to claim 2, wherein the secondary computing device functions as a thin client.

4. The multi-display electronic computing system according to claim 2, wherein the secondary computing device functions as a complete computing system.

5. The multi-display electronic computing system according to claim 2, wherein the secondary computing device functions as a display device.

6. The multi-display electronic computing system according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the primary computing device is a master device and the secondary computing device is a slave device.

7. The multi-display electronic computing system according to claim 1, wherein the communication means is a hardwired communication mechanism.

8. The multi-display electronic computing system according to claim 1, wherein the communication means is wireless communication mechanism.

9. The multi-display electronic computing system according to claim 1, wherein in a coupled configuration the primary computing device and secondary computing device communicate using a hardwired communication mechanism and in a decoupled configuration the primary computing device and secondary computing device communicate using a wireless communication mechanism.

10. The multi-display electronic computing system according to claim 9, wherein switching between the hardwired communication mechanism and the wireless communication mechanism occurs automatically.

11. The multi-display electronic computing system according to claim 9, wherein switching between the hardwired communication mechanism and the wireless communication mechanism is user initiated.

12. The multi-display electronic computing system according to claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism is adapted to enable 360 degree relative rotation between the primary computing device and the secondary computing device.

13. The multi-display electronic computing system according to claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a damping means for maintaining a desired orientation between the primary computing device and the secondary computing device when in a coupled configuration.

14. The multi-display electronic computing system according to claim 13, wherein the damping means is a tensile/compressive damping system or a frictional damping system.

15. The multi-display electronic computing system according to claim 1, wherein the communication means is integrated into the coupling mechanism.

16. The multi-display electronic computing system according to claim 1, wherein the secondary computing device includes a configuration sensor, wherein the configuration sensor is adapted to determine second display orientation, thereby enabling modification of image orientation displayed by the second display.

17. The multi-display electronic computing system according to claim 1, wherein the primary computing device includes a configuration sensor, wherein the configuration sensor is adapted to determine first display orientation, thereby enabling modification of image orientation displayed by the first display.

18. The multi-display electronic computing system according to claim 1, wherein in a coupled configuration, the coupling mechanism, the first display and the second display are adapted to provide a visual effect of a single display.

19. The multi-display electronic computing system according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the first display and the second display is a touch screen thereby enabling keyless entry.