Interface for interaction with display visible from both sides

• US 7,142,195 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2001
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Cardozo, John, Northway, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIMNHUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/874,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20020180767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,003 Days
• Field of Search: 345/905, 345/156, 345/169, 345/102, 345/121, 345/901, 361/681
• US Class Current: 345/169
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/02 Composition of display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0492 Change of orientation of the displayed image, e.g. upside-down, mirrored
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/901 Electronic book with display
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A portable viewing and computing apparatus. In one embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a bus, a memory unit coupled to the bus, and a processor coupled to the bus. The memory unit is for storing data and instructions. The processor is for processing data and instructions. The portable viewing and computing apparatus is further comprised of a display device coupled to the bus. The display device is comprised of a viewing panel viewable from a front side and a back side. The portable viewing and computing apparatus is further comprised of a display device controller coupled to the bus. The display device controller is for sensing the orientation and rotation of the display device, and in response thereto, for controlling and rendering data on the display device.

Claims

1. A portable viewing and computing apparatus comprising:

a bus;

a memory unit coupled to said bus for storing data and instructions;

a processor coupled to said bus for processing said data and instructions;

a display device coupled to said bus and comprising a viewing panel viewable from a front side and a back side; and

a display device controller coupled to said bus and for sensing orientation and rotation of said display device, and in response thereto for controlling said display device to display a given portion of information on a given side facing a user, and in response to each of a plurality of rotations in a first direction displaying a corresponding next portion of said information on the given side facing said user.

2. The portable viewing and computing apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said display device is transparent.

3. The system as recited in claim 2 wherein said display device of said portable viewing and computing apparatus is transparent.

4. The portable viewing and computing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said display device controller is also for controlling said display device in response to each of a plurality of rotations in a second direction to display a corresponding previous portion of said information on the given side facing said user.

5. The portable viewing and computing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said data, stored in said memory, is of an amount greater than can be displayed on a single side of said display device.

6. The portable viewing and computing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said rotation of said display device is about a vertical axis and about a horizontal axis.

7. The portable viewing and computing system as recited in claim 1 is further comprising a communication device coupled to said bus, said communication device for providing communication enablement to said portable viewing and computing apparatus.

8. The portable viewing and computing apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said communication device is a wireless modem.

9. The portable viewing and computing apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said wireless modem is Bluetooth enabled.

10. The portable viewing and computing system as recited in claim 1 is further comprising a data storage device adapted to receive SD (secure digital) cards and MMC (multimedia card) and memory sticks.

11. The portable viewing and computing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said display device controller is also for controlling said display device to display said given portion of information on said given side facing said user in a first viewing orientation, and in response to a change from a first orientation to a second orientation of said display controlling said display device to display said given portion of information on said given side facing said user in a second viewing orientation.

12. A system of portable computers comprising:

a portable computer system comprising a receiving slot configured with a first hinge interface connector disposed therein and adapted to receive a second hinge interface connector; and

a portable viewing and computing apparatus comprising;

a bus;

a memory unit coupled to said bus for storing data and instructions;

a processor coupled to said bus for processing said data and said instructions;

a display device coupled to said bus and comprising a viewing panel viewable from a front side and a back side;

a display device controller coupled to said bus, said display device controller for sensing orientation and rotation of said display device and for displaying a given portion of information on a given side facing a user, and displaying a corresponding next portion of said information on a corresponding side facing said user in response to each of a plurality of rotations from one side to the other of said viewing panel in a first direction; and

said second hinge interface connector adapted to provide communicative coupling of said portable viewing and computing apparatus with said portable computer system, provided said second hinge interface connector is inserted in said receiving slot of said portable computer system, such that said first hinge interface connector is contacted with said second hinge interface connector.

13. The system as recited in claim 12 wherein said display device controller is also for displaying a corresponding previous portion of said information on a corresponding side facing said user in response to each of a plurality of rotations from one side to the other of said viewing panel in a second direction.

14. The system as recited in claim 12 wherein said data, stored in said memory of said portable viewing and computing apparatus, is of an amount greater than can be displayed on a single side of said display device.

15. The system as recited in claim 12 wherein said rotation of said display device of said portable viewing and computing apparatus is about a vertical axis and about a horizontal axis.

16. The system as recited in claim 12 wherein said portable viewing and computing system further comprises a data storage device adapted to receive SD (secure digital) cards and MMC (multi-media) cards and memory sticks.

17. The system as recited in claim 12 wherein said portable viewing and computing system further comprises a communication device coupled to said bus, said communication device for providing communication enablement to said portable viewing and computing apparatus.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein said communication device is a wireless modem.

19. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said wireless modem is Bluetooth enabled.

20. A method for displaying data on a display device of a portable viewing and computing apparatus, said method comprising:

displaying a given portion of said data on a given one of a first and a second side of said portable viewing and computing apparatus;

sensing each of a plurality of rotations of said display device, from one of said first and second sides to the other of said first and second sides, in a first direction; and

displaying a corresponding next portion of said data on a corresponding one of said first and a second sides facing a user, in response to each of said plurality of rotations in said first direction.

21. The method for displaying data as recited in claim 20 further comprises:

sensing each of a plurality of rotations of said display, from one of said first and second sides to the other of said first and second sides, in a second direction; and

displaying a corresponding previous portion of said data on a corresponding one of said first and said second sides facing said user, in response to each of said plurality of rotations in said second direction.

22. The method for displaying data as recited in claim 20 wherein said first and second directions of rotation are about a vertical axis.

23. The method for displaying data as recited in claim 20 wherein said first and second directions of rotation are about a horizontal axis.

24. The method for displaying data as recited in claim 20 wherein said data, stored in said memory of said portable viewing and computing apparatus, is of an amount greater than can be displayed on a single side of said display device of said portable viewing and computing apparatus.

25. The method for displaying data as recited in claim 20 further comprising:

sensing each of a plurality of rotations of said display device, from one of said first and second sides to the other of said first and second sides, in a third direction;

displaying a corresponding next portion of said information on a corresponding one of said first and second sides facing said user, in response to each of said plurality of rotations in said third direction;

sensing each of a plurality of rotations of said display, from one of said first and second sides to the other of said first and second sides, in a fourth direction; and

displaying a corresponding previous portion of said data on a corresponding one of said first and said second sides facing said user, in response to each of said plurality of rotations in said fourth direction; and

wherein an axis of said first and second directions of rotation are substantially perpendicular to an axis of said third and fourth directions of rotation.

26. The method for displaying data as recited in claim 20 further comprising:

sensing an orientation of said display device;

displaying said data in a landscape orientation when said display device is in a substantially horizontal orientation; and

displaying said data in a portrait orientation when said display device is in a substantially vertical orientation.