RETRACTABLE DEVICE

• US 20120050075A1
• Filed: 08/23/2011
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: i-Blades Inc
• Original Assignee: i-Blades Inc
• Inventors: Salmon, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US13/215,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20120050075A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/20
• 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 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable

Abstract

A device includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory is encoded with instructions that are executable by the processor to provide content signals. The device also includes a display screen extendable to present an extended portion comprising display pixels configured to display content using the content signals. Extension of the display screen imposes a compound shape on the extended portion of the display screen characterized by a central region and a peripheral angled edge region.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory is encoded with instructions that are executable by the processor to provide content signals; and

a display screen extendable to present an extended portion comprising display pixels configured to display content using the content signals, wherein extension of the display screen imposes a compound shape on the extended portion of the display screen characterized by a central region and a peripheral angled edge region.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the central region comprises at least one of a flat region or a curved region.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the extended portion further comprises touch sensors for receiving touch input on a surface of the extended portion.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising an enclosure having at least one of a curved slot or a straight slot from which the extended portion extends while extended.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the display screen is secured within the enclosure in a retracted position, wherein the display screen is substantially flattened against a winding surface while secured within the enclosure.

6. The device of claim 4 further comprising a tab accessible for extending the display screen from the enclosure.

7. The device of claim 4 further comprising a crank, wherein rotation of the crank winds the display screen within the enclosure.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the display pixels comprises display circuits operable to emit or reflect light, wherein the display circuits are coupled to the processor.

9. The device of claim 8 further comprising wires or conductive traces coupling the display circuits to the processor.

10. The device of claim 8 further comprising an interface chip operable to provide for wireless communications under the control of the processor.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the display screen comprises a polymeric material having a thickness between 5 μ

m and 250 μ

m.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the display screen comprises a metallic material having a thickness between 5 μ

m and 250 μ

m.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein, when fully extended, the extended portion has a length to width ratio between 0.1 and 10.

14. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a motor or a spring configured to retract the display screen.

15. A device comprising:

an enclosure; and

an element extendable from the enclosure to present an extended portion comprising transducers, wherein the extended portion is characterized by a plurality of radii of curvature.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the enclosure comprises a curved slot having an arcuate cross-sectional shape.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein the transducers convert electrical signals originating from a processor to display a pixel-based electronic image.

18. The device of claim 15 wherein the transducers convert touch input on a surface of the extended portion to signals provided to a processor.

19. The device of claim 15 wherein the transducers produce sound, heat, or cooling.

20. A method of operating a retractable electronic device, the method comprising:

extending an element from within an enclosure to present an extended portion comprising transducers outside of the enclosure;

activating the transducers to output content via a surface of the extended portion of the element; and

retracting the element to a compact form within the enclosure.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein extending the element from within the enclosure comprises extending the element through a curved slot in the enclosure.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the extended portion is characterized by an arcuate cross-sectional shape.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the extended portion is characterized by a flat central portion and angled side-edges.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein activating the transducers comprises receiving input via a surface of the extended portion of the element.