Compact palmtop computer system and wireless telephone with foldable dual-sided display

• US 6,850,780 B1
• Filed: 01/16/2001
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Canova, Francis J. Jr., Gioscia, Rich
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US09/764,018
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.2, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/566, 455/95, 455/552.1, 455/556.1, 455/557, 379/433.04
• US Class Current: 455/566
• 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 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• 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 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

The present invention is a compact personal digital assistant (PDA) and cellular telephone with foldable dual-sided display. By utilizing flexible display technology, both a PDA and a cellular telephone are incorporated into one device. In a closed state, in one embodiment, the present invention corresponds to the form used for typical cellular telephone use (e.g., candy bar size). In an open state, in one embodiment, the present invention corresponds to the form used for typical PDA use by providing an enlarged viewing area. The present invention provides the benefit of two distinct devices in one device by allowing for common operations and functionality without compromising the respective form factor of either device.

Claims

1. A electronic device comprising:

a first element comprising a first side and a second side, said first side bearing an interface operable to be used as a wireless phone, said second side comprising a first part of a display of a portable computing device; and

a second element comprising a third side and a fourth side, said third side comprising a second part of said display of said portable computing device;

wherein

said first element is movably attached with said second element, and configurable in a first configuration for use as a wireless phone and configurable in a second configuration for use as a portable computing device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said first configuration is a closed configuration in which said second side and said third side face each other and are not user accessible, and in which said first side and said fourth side are user accessible.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said second configuration is an open configuration in which said second side and said third side are user accessible and fully visible as a complete display.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said portable computing device is a personal digital assistant.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein while converting from said first configuration to said second configuration, said electronic device places wireless communication on hold until said second configuration is achieved.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said electronic device automatically places wireless communication on hold in response to a conversion from said first configuration to said second configuration.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 wherein wireless communications are placed off hold in response to a user operating a feature on said electronic device.

8. The electronic device of claim 6 wherein wireless communications are placed off hold in response to a user operating an earbud.

9. The electronic device of claim 6 wherein said electronic device automatically places wireless communication off hold once said electronic device is returned to said first configuration.

10. The electronic device of claim 6 wherein said display indicates that said wireless communications are on hold.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said display is comprised of a flexible dual-sided display.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein said flexible dual-sided display implements electronic ink technology.

13. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein said first element further comprises a display window such that when said first element and said second element are operable in said first configuration, a portion of said flexible dual-sided display is visible through said display window.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein said flexible dual-sided display is for showing phone-related information through said display window during operation while in said first configuration.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 wherein said phone-related information is displayed on the side of said flexible dual-sided display lying atop the surface of said second side and said third side upon converting from said first configuration to said second configuration.

16. An electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a memory unit coupled to said processor;

electronics coupled to said processor for wireless communication; and

a foldable housing that houses said processor, said memory unit and said electronics, said foldable housing comprising a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, and a fourth surface, said first surface bearing an interface operable to be used as a wireless phone, said second surface comprising a first part of a display, said third surface comprising a second part of said display, wherein said foldable housing is configurable in a first configuration for use to allow wireless communication and configurable in a second configuration for use as a portable computing device.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 wherein said first configuration is a closed configuration in which said second surface and said third surface face each other and are not user accessible, and in which said first surface and said fourth surface are user accessible.

18. The electronic device of claim 16 wherein said second configuration is an open configuration in which said second surface and said third surface are user accessible and fully viewable as a complete display.

19. The electronic device of claim 16 wherein said portable computing device is a personal digital assistant.

20. The electronic device of claim 16 wherein said electronic device automatically places wireless communication on hold in response to a conversion from said first configuration to said second configuration.

21. The electronic device of claim 20 wherein wireless communications are placed off hold in response to a user operating a feature on said electronic device.

22. The electronic device of claim 20 wherein wireless communications are placed off hold in response to a user operating an earbud.

23. The electronic device of claim 20 wherein said electronic device automatically places wireless communication off hold once said electronic device is returned to said first configuration.

24. The electronic device of claim 20 wherein said display indicates that said wireless communications are on hold.

25. The electronic device of claim 16 wherein said display is comprised of a flexible dual-sided display.

26. The electronic device of claim 25 wherein said flexible dual-sided display implements electronic ink technology.

27. The electronic device of claim 25 wherein said first element further comprises a display window such that when said first element and said second element are operable in said first configuration, a portion of said flexible dual-sided display is visible through said display window.

28. The electronic device of claim 27 wherein said flexible dual-sided display is for showing phone-related information through said display window during operation while in said first configuration.

29. The electronic device of claim 28 wherein said phone-related information is displayed on the side of said flexible dual-sided display lying atop said second surface and said third surface upon converting from said first configuration to said second configuration.

30. An electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a memory unit coupled to said processor;

electronics coupled to said processor for wireless communication; and

a foldable housing that houses said processor, said memory unit and said electronics, said foldable housing comprising a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, and a fourth surface, said first surface bearing an interface operable to be used as a wireless phone, said second surface comprising a first part of a display, said third surface comprising a second part of said display, wherein said foldable housing is configurable in a first configuration for use as a wireless phone and configurable in a second configuration for use as a personal digital assistant.