Display-input apparatus for a multi-configuration portable device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A display-input apparatus for a portable electronic device, comprising:
- a first cholesteric display layer for displaying a first character set, and having top and bottom electrode elements made of transparent conductor, wherein the first character set comprises a plurality of character-shaped conductor elements formed in either the top or bottom electrode elements of the first cholesteric display layer; and
a second cholesteric display layer for displaying a second character set, wherein at least a portion of the first character set and the second character set are coincident, and having a top electrode made of transparent conductor, wherein the second character set comprises a plurality of character-shaped conductor elements formed in either the top or bottom electrode elements of the second cholesteric display layer;
wherein the first cholesteric display layer is operated in a transparent mode when the display-input apparatus is displaying the second character set to allow a user of the portable electronic device to see the second character set through the first cholesteric display layer.
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Abstract
A portable electronic device includes a display-input apparatus (108) for displaying alternate character sets, in correspondence with a selected mode of operation of the device. The display-input apparatus uses first and second cholesteric display layers (302, 304) to display the different character sets. Each cholesteric display layer displays a different character set when active. When not active, the cholesteric display layer is rendered transparent.
24 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A display-input apparatus for a portable electronic device, comprising:
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a first cholesteric display layer for displaying a first character set, and having top and bottom electrode elements made of transparent conductor, wherein the first character set comprises a plurality of character-shaped conductor elements formed in either the top or bottom electrode elements of the first cholesteric display layer; and a second cholesteric display layer for displaying a second character set, wherein at least a portion of the first character set and the second character set are coincident, and having a top electrode made of transparent conductor, wherein the second character set comprises a plurality of character-shaped conductor elements formed in either the top or bottom electrode elements of the second cholesteric display layer; wherein the first cholesteric display layer is operated in a transparent mode when the display-input apparatus is displaying the second character set to allow a user of the portable electronic device to see the second character set through the first cholesteric display layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A multi-configuration portable electronic device, comprising:
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a first body portion; a second body portion hingeably connected to the first body portion; wherein the first and second body portions are moveable relative to each other so as to allow configuration of the multi-configuration portable electronic device into at least a first configuration and a second configuration, and wherein the first configuration is used when the multi-configuration portable electronic device is operated in a first mode of operation, and the second configuration is used when the multi-configuration portable electronic device is operated in a second mode of operation; and a display-input apparatus disposed on the second body portion, the display-input apparatus comprising; a first cholesteric display layer for displaying a first character set when the multi-configuration portable electronic device is operated in the first mode of operation, wherein the first character set comprises a plurality of character-shaped conductor elements formed in either a top or a bottom electrode element of the first cholesteric display layer; and a second cholesteric display layer for displaying a second character set when multi-configuration portable electronic device is operated in the second mode of operation, wherein the first character set comprises a plurality of character-shaped conductor elements formed in either a top or a bottom electrode element of the first cholesteric display layer, wherein at least a portion of the first character set and the second character set are coincident wherein the first cholesteric display layer is operated in a transparent mode when the display-input apparatus is displaying the second character set to allow a user of the portable electronic device to see the second character set through the first cholesteric display layer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification