Detachable expandable flexible display

• US 20070290989A1
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Lee, Kevin, Gettemy, Shawn, Oliver, Mark, Fraser, Sherridythe, Wong, Yoon, Hanson, William
• Application Number:
  US11/809,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20070290989A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 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 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/18 Use of a frame buffer in a display terminal, inclusive of the display panel
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04

Abstract

A display system for a handheld computing device is disclosed. The display system includes a processing unit having a first communication port, and a visual display unit separable from the processing unit. The visual display unit further includes a visual display, and a second communication port. The display unit can be expanded from an initial or storage state to present a larger visual display size. Further, the first communication port providing communication with the second communication port.

Claims

1-24. -24. (canceled)

25. A handheld computing device, comprising:

a housing configured to be held in a hand;

a flexible, rollable display coupled to the housing;

a memory configured to store data to be displayed;

a processing unit configured to receive the stored data and to provide the stored data to the flexible display for display; and

a retracting apparatus configured to retract and roll the flexible, rollable display.

26. The handheld computing device of claim 25, further comprising a second housing, wherein the housing and second housing are configured to be held in a hand when in a closed position, wherein the flexible, rollable display is coupled to the second housing.

27. The handheld computing device of claim 26, wherein the housing and second housing are configured to be locked into place to support the flexible, rollable display.

28. The handheld computing device of claim 25, wherein the retracting apparatus comprises a spring and roller inside a casing to facilitate retracting the flexible, rollable display.

29. The handheld computing device of claim 25, wherein the retracting apparatus is configured to completely store the flexible, rollable display within the retracting apparatus.

30. The handheld computing device of claim 25, wherein the flexible display comprises e-paper.

31. The handheld computing device of claim 25, further comprising a solid surface to support the flexible, rollable display in an expanded state.

32. The handheld computing device of claim 31, further comprising a touch screen coupled to the flexible, rollable display.

33. The handheld computing device of claim 25, wherein the data to be displayed on the flexible display can be viewed in a folded state and in an expanded state.

34. The handheld computing device of claim 25, further comprising a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a network.

35. The handheld computing device of claim 34, wherein the wireless transceiver comprises a wireless cellular digital phone circuit.

36. A handheld computing device, comprising:

a housing configured to be held in a hand;

a flexible display coupled to the housing;

a memory configured to store data to be displayed; and

a processing unit disposed within the housing configured to receive the stored data and to provide the stored data to the flexible display for display, wherein the flexible display is configured to be protected within the housing in a closed position; and

a wireless transceiver coupled to the processing unit and configured to communicate with a network.

37. The handheld computing device of claim 36, further comprising a second housing coupled to the housing, wherein the housing and second housing are configured to be held in a hand when in a closed position, wherein the flexible display is coupled to the second housing.

38. The handheld computing device of claim 37, wherein the housing is hingedly coupled to the second housing.

39. The handheld computing device of claim 36, wherein the flexible display comprises e-paper.

40. The handheld computing device of claim 36, wherein the data to be displayed on the flexible display can be viewed in a folded state and in an expanded state.

41. The handheld computing device of claim 36, wherein the wireless transceiver comprises a wireless cellular digital phone circuit.

42. The handheld computing device of claim 36, wherein the processing unit is configured to operate a daily planner application.

43. The handheld computing device of claim 36, further comprising a device configured to move through data displayed on the flexible display in response to user input.

44. The handheld computing device of claim 36, wherein the device comprises a touch screen.

45. The handheld computing device of claim 36, wherein in a fully expanded state the second housing is configured to be locked into place to support the flexible display and the flexible display is configured to be larger than the first housing.

46. The handheld computing device of claim 36, wherein, in the folded state, the flexible display is configured to be folded to a size roughly equivalent to the size of the handheld computing device when in a closed position.

47. A handheld computing device, comprising:

first and second housings, wherein the first and second housings are configured to be held in a hand when in a closed position;

a flexible display comprising e-paper coupled to the first and second housings, wherein in a fully expanded state the flexible display is configured to be larger than the first housing;

a memory configured to store data to be displayed;

a processing unit configured to receive the stored data and to provide the stored data to the flexible display for display;

a user input device configured to move through data displayed on the flexible display in response to user input; and

a wireless transceiver coupled to the processing unit and configured to communicate with a network.