Electronic paper display unit and mobile communication terminal having the same

• US 20090082067A1
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Song, Sung-Hoon
• Granted Patent: US 8,996,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• 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 3/3611 Control of matrices with row and column drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate

Abstract

An electronic paper display unit includes a protective case, which is made of a transparent material, a display, which is installed in the protective case, is powered to display desired image information, and includes a plurality of divided regions, and a control module, which is electrically connected with the display, and includes a first mode transmitting a divided mode signal such that many pieces of image information are independently displayed on the respective divided regions and a second mode transmitting an integrated mode signal such that one piece of image information is displayed throughout the overall divided regions. Further, a mobile communication terminal can visually display various pieces of image information thereon according to selection of a user.

Claims

1. An electronic paper display unit comprising:

a protective case, which is made of a transparent material;

a display, which is installed in the protective case, is powered to display a desired image information, and includes a plurality of divided regions; and

a control module, which is electrically connected to the display, includes a first mode transmitting a divided mode signal such that a plurality of pieces of an image information are independently displayed on the divided regions and a second mode transmitting an integrated mode signal such that one piece of an image information is displayed throughout the divided regions.

2. The electronic paper display unit according to claim 1, wherein the protective case further includes a base member on one side thereof.

3. The electronic paper display unit according to claim 1, wherein the protective case is made of one of a transparent plastic material and a transparent elastic material.

4. The electronic paper display unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the divided regions has a curved region.

5. The electronic paper display unit according to claim 1, wherein an outermost ones of the divided regions further includes a plurality of sub-regions that are curved on an outer circumference of the divided regions, each curved sub-region being powered to display the image information, a contrast of which is gradually increased from a first end to a second end of the curved sub-region.

6. The electronic paper display unit according to claim 5, wherein each sub-region includes a plurality of divided sub-regions.

7. A mobile communication terminal having an electronic paper display unit, comprising:

a main body, on which a first circuit board and a liquid crystal display connected electrically with the first circuit board are installed;

a sub-body, which is coupled with the main body, on which a second circuit board connected electrically with the first circuit board is installed, and on which a battery supplying power to the first and second circuit board is mounted;

a protective case, which is installed on outer faces of the main body and the sub-body within a predetermined thickness, and is made of a transparent material;

a display, which is installed in the protective case, is powered to display a desired image information, and includes a plurality of divided regions; and

a control module, which is installed in the sub-body so as to be electrically connected with the display, and includes a first mode transmitting a divided mode signal such that a plurality of pieces of the desired image information are independently displayed on the divided regions and a second mode transmitting an integrated mode signal such that one piece of the desired image information is displayed throughout the divided regions.

8. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 7, wherein:

the protective case is coupled to the outer face of the main body or the sub-body through a coupling means; and

the coupling means includes sliding ridges, which are formed on opposite sides of the main body and the sub-body, and sliding holes, which are formed on opposite sides of the protective case and are slidably coupled with the sliding ridges.

9. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 7, wherein the protective case is made of one of a transparent plastic material and a transparent elastic material.

10. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the divided regions has a curved region.

11. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 7, wherein an outermost ones of the divided regions further includes a plurality of sub-regions that are curved on an outer circumference of the divided regions, each curved sub-region being powered to display the desired image information, a contrast of which is gradually increased from a first end to a second end of the curved sub-region.

12. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein each sub-region includes a plurality of divided sub-regions.

13. A method of operating an electronic paper display unit comprising:

providing a display in a transparent protective case, the protective case for installing on an outer face of a mobile communication terminal within a predetermined thickness; and

transmitting a mode signal to the display such that an image information is displayed on a plurality of divided regions of the display.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the mode signal is a divided mode signal such that a plurality of pieces of the image information are independently displayed on the plurality of divided regions of the display.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the mode signal is an integrated mode signal such that one piece of the image information is displayed throughout the divided regions of the display.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the protective case further includes a base member on one side thereof.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the protective case is made of one of a transparent plastic material and a transparent elastic material.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the divided regions has a curved region.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein an outermost ones of the divided regions further includes a plurality of sub-regions that are curved on an outer circumference of the divided regions, each curved sub-region being powered to display the image information, a contrast of which is gradually increased from a first end to a second end of the curved sub-region.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein each sub-region includes a plurality of divided sub-regions.