Digitizer for flexible display

• US 20080158171A1
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Kwong, Wah Yiu, Wong, Hong W.
• Application Number:
  US11/648,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20080158171A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133305 Flexible substrates, e.g. plastics, organic film
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to provide a digitizer for a flexible display are described. In one embodiment, a pressure sensitive sensor array may be coupled to a flexible display to detect touch input data. Also, a storage device to store data that is to be displayed on the flexible display may be provided in a housing that is coupled to the flexible display. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a flexible display;

a pressure sensitive sensor array coupled to the flexible display to detect touch input data; and

a housing having a storage device to store data corresponding to one or more images that are to be displayed on the flexible display.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is to comprise one or more of:

a button, a pressure detection controller, or a display controller.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pressure detection controller is coupled to the pressure sensitive sensor array to detect the touch input data.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the button is to assist in browsing operations performed on the flexible display.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the display controller is coupled to the flexible display to cause one or more images to be displayed on the flexible display.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is to comprise a network interface device to communicate data through a computer network via a wired or wireless connection.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is to comprise a cellular interface device to communicate data through a cellular network.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is to comprise one or more of a processor, a port, or a roller.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the port is one or more of a network port, an input device port, a power source port, an infra-red port, a universal serial bus port, a FireWire port, an audio port, a video port, a flash memory port, or an antenna port.

10. A method comprising:

detecting touch input data via a pressure sensitive sensor array coupled to a flexible display; and

storing data corresponding to one or more images that are to be displayed on the flexible display.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving the data through a wired or wireless network.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising backlighting the flexible display.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing the backlighting through light emitting diodes coupled to a light pipe.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving the data through one or more ports.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting the touch input data comprises detecting activation of a transistor.