Multiple display portable computing devices

• US 6,643,124 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2000
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter J. Wilk
• Original Assignee: Peter J. Wilk
• Inventors: Wilk, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US09/635,103
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 361/681, 361/683, 361/682, 361/679, 361/680, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/265.6, 248/535, 248/536, 248/917, 345/169, 345/905, 345/101, 345/173, 455/556, 455/566
• US Class Current: 361/679.04
• 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 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

A portable computing device is equipped with multiple display panels. The display panels and hinged, jointed or otherwise disposed to rotate or slide with respect to one another in a transition from a compact configuration to an expanded configuration. In a basic embodiment three output screens take a form of a triptych for which an input panel forms a base. The output panels are deployed with a bend when opened and images angled in towards an observer. The display panels comprise a main panel and two auxiliary panels. In a variation a forth display panel is rotatably or foldably joined to the central display panel so that a total of four display panels may be deployed in a hub and petal configuration. The side panels may be eliminated from the four panel embodiment so that the input panel and two remaining display panels form a vertically orientable triptych with the input panel serving as base.

Claims

1. A portable computing device comprising;

an input panel;

a functional panel;

a first output panel; and

two slidingly deployable side display panels on opposite sides of the output panel,

wherein the input panel is rotatably connected to the functional panel along a first common edge, and the output panel is rotatably connected to the functional panel along a second common edge substantially parallel to and opposite from the first common edge along the functional panel,

further comprising a second output panel rotatably connected to the output panel along a third common edge substantially parallel and opposite to the second common edge along the first output panel.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the input, functional and first output panels are mounted so as to be alternatively arrangeable into a substantially flat closed configuration and in an open configuration in a form of two substantially vertical panels disposed above a horizontal base.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the input, functional and first and second output panels are mounted so as to be alternatively arrangeable into a substantially flat closed configuration and in an open configuration in a form of two substantially vertical panels disposed above two substantially horizontal panels forming a base.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the functional panel is an output panel.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the functional panel is an input panel.

6. A hand-holdable telecommunication device, comprising:

an input panel;

an output panel; and

a first display panel;

wherein the input panel is contiguous with the output panel and the display panel is movably mounted to at least one of the input panel and the output panel,

wherein the output panel includes a second display panel, and the telecommunication device can be configured to present two contiguous display panel faces,

further comprising a third display panel,

wherein the telecommunication device can be configured to present two contiguous display panel faces.

7. The telecommunication device of claim 6 wherein the output panel is rotatably mounted to the input panel.

8. The telecommunication device of claim 6 wherein the first display panel is an extensible flexible display.