Portable computer for dual, rotatable screens

• US 20080062625A1
• Filed: 05/18/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Armada Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Armada Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Batio, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US11/804,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20080062625A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/680
• 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 1/1616 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 1/1632 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 1/1649 the additional display being independently orientable, e.g. for presenting information to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode

Abstract

A portable computer having a independently mounted screen sections, whereby the screen sections may be used to provide a larger overall screen, to provide screens mirroring each other for presentation and display, for use by different users, and the like. The screen sections are foldable and collapsible into the main housing of the portable computer for storage and transport.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. In a portable, notebook or portable computer having a main frame and display-screen means,

the improvement comprising:

said display-screen means comprising pivot-mounting means operatively connected to a portion of said main frame;

said display-screen means further comprising at least one independently pivotal display screen rotatably coupled to said main frame via said pivot-mounting means;

said pivot-mounting means mounting said display screen for rotation in at least two planes, said at least two planes being perpendicular to each other;

said pivot-mounting means comprising a mounting arm having a first end connected to a portion of said main frame, and a second end connected to a portion of said display-screen, and further comprising a first pivot mount at said first end for pivotally mounting said display-screen to said main frame for movement in one said plane, and a second pivot mount at said second end for pivotally mounting said display-screen for movement in both said planes;

said second pivot mount allowing rotation of said display-screen in the other of said planes so that said display screen may assume one of a portrait orientation and landscape orientation.

3. The portable, notebook or portable computer according to claim 2, wherein each of said planes is a vertical plane.

4. The portable, notebook or portable computer according to claim 2, wherein said main frame comprises a hollow compartment in which said display-screen may be stored;

each of said first and second pivot mounts allowing said mounting arm to rotate in said one plane in order to position said display-screen over said hollow compartment of said main frame for storage and transport.

5. The portable, notebook or portable computer according to claim 4, wherein said at least two planes are vertical planes.

6. The portable, notebook or portable computer according to claim 2, wherein said main frame comprises a bottom surface, and angular support means connected to said bottom surface;

said angular support means being movable for providing a support to said main frame for positioning said bottom surface of said main frame in an upwardly-tilted orientation, whereby said display-screen may be oriented for display during use.

7. The portable, notebook or portable computer according to claim 4, wherein said display screen serves as a top cover to said hollow compartment and, therefore, also to said main frame, when said display screen is positioned over said hollow compartment during storage.

8. The portable, notebook or portable computer according to claim 7, wherein further comprising a keyboard, said keyboard being stored in said hollow compartment of said main frame during storage and transport before said display screen is rotated over said hollow compartment.

9. In a portable, notebook or portable computer having a main frame and display-screen means,

the improvement comprising:

said display-screen means comprising pivot-mounting means operatively connected to a portion of said main frame;

said display-screen means further comprising at least one independently pivotal display screen rotatably coupled to said main frame via said pivot-mounting means;

said pivot-mounting means mounting said display screen for rotation in at least one plane, and comprising a pivot mount providing at least 180 degrees of movement to said display-screen;

said main frame comprising a horizontal hollow compartment;

said pivot mount allowing said display-screen said at least 180 degree of movement in order to position said display-screen over said hollow compartment, in order to position said display-screen at least one of an acute angle and an obtuse angle with respect to said horizontal hollow compartment, and in order to position said display-screen at a 180-degree angle with respect to said horizontal hollow compartment;

said main frame also comprising a bottom surface, and angular support means connected to said bottom surface;

said angular support means being movable for providing a support to said main frame for positioning said bottom surface of said main frame in an upwardly-orientated orientation when said display screen has been rotated to said 180-degree position relative to said hollow compartment, whereby said display-screen and said hollow compartment are substantially coplanar when in said upwardly-orientated orientation;

said hollow compartment, when in said upwardly-orientated orientation serving as a stand for holding paper, and the like, for use with desk-top computers.

10. The portable, notebook or portable computer according to claim 9, wherein said display screen serves as a top cover to said hollow compartment and, therefore, also to said main frame, when said display screen is not being used.

11. The portable, notebook or portable computer according to claim 10, further comprising a removable keyboard, said removable keyboard being stored in said hollow compartment of said main frame during storage and transport, before said display screen is rotated over said hollow compartment to serve as a cover.

12. In a portable, notebook or portable computer having a main frame, a keyboard, and display-screen means, the improvement comprising:

said display-screen means comprising pivot-mounting means operatively connected to a portion of said main frame;

said display-screen means further comprising at least one independently-pivotal display screen rotatably coupled to said main frame via said pivot-mounting means;

said pivot-mounting means mounting said display screen for rotation in at least one plane, and comprising a pivot mount providing at least one degree of freedom of motion to said display-screen;

said main frame comprising a hollow compartment;

said pivot mount allowing said display-screen to be over said hollow compartment in order for said display-screen to serve as a cover to said hollow compartment, and, therefore, to said main frame;

said pivot mount also allowing said display-screen to be positioned at least one of an acute angle, an obtuse angle, and an approximately 180-degree angle with respect to said hollow compartment;

said main frame also comprising a bottom surface, and angular support means connected to said bottom surface;

said angular support means being movable for providing a support to said main frame for positioning said bottom surface of said main frame in an upwardly-orientated orientation when said display screen has been rotated to said approximately 180-degree position relative to said hollow compartment.

13. The portable, notebook or portable computer according to claim 12, further comprising a removable keyboard, said removable keyboard being stored in said hollow compartment of said main frame during storage and transport.

14. In a portable, notebook or portable computer having a main frame, and display-screen means, the improvement comprising:

said display-screen means comprising first pivot-mounting means operatively connected to a portion of said main frame;

said display-means comprising an upper and a lower display-screen, each said display-screen having a lower edge-surface and an upper edge-surface;

said lower display-screen having mounted to its said lower edge-surface said first pivot mounting means;

said first pivot mounting said first lower display-screen for at least partial rotation relative to said portion of said main frame;

said display-screen means further comprising second pivot-mounting means connected to said lower edge-surface of the upper display-screen and said upper edge-surface of said lower display-screen;

said second pivot-mounting means allowing rotation of said upper display-screen relative to said lower display-screen in one direction and preventing rotation in the other, opposite direction, whereby said upper display-screen may be oriented with said lower display-screen in the same plane in order to provide an enlarged display area, and whereby said upper display-screen may be oriented facing away from said lower display-screen so that visual displays may be viewed from either side;

said upper edge-surface of said upper display-screen serving as a support resting on a support-surface therebelow for said upper and lower display-screens when said display-screens are oriented facing away from each other.

15. The portable, notebook or portable computer according to claim 14, wherein said first pivot-mounting means mounts said lower display-screen to said portion of said main frame for approximately 180 degrees rotation, whereby said main frame may serve as the support-surface upon which rests said upper edge-surface of said upper display-screen.