Retractable flexible digital display apparatus

• US 7,463,238 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2004
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Virtualblue LLC
• Original Assignee: Virtualblue LLC
• Inventors: Utz, Wayne, Moultrie, Bill, Funkhouser, Phillip
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kevin M
• Application Number:
  US10/916,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20050040962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 345/30, 345/55, 345/905, 345/901, 345/107, 361/681, 242/67.3, 242/67.4, 242/188
• US Class Current: 345/107
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/301 flexible foldable or roll-able electronic displays, e.g. thin LCD, OLED
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

The present invention provides a flexible digital display retractable into a portable housing. Electronic components are contained within the housing to provide for portable storage, viewing and markup of digital documents, such as full-size architectural drawings, on the digital display device.

Claims

1. A flexible display device comprising:

a portable tubular housing;

a retracting reel rotatably mounted in the portable tubular housing;

a flexible display support tray retractably connected to the retracting reel for protectively supporting behind a flexible electronic display that is retractable into the portable tubular housing with the flexible display support tray; and

a roller clutch, wherein the roller clutch is operable to oppose movement of the retracting reel to limit the speed of the retracting reel during retraction of the flexible electronic display.

2. The flexible display device of claim 1 wherein the flexible electronic display includes an active matrix circuit layer with addressable matrix points within a viewing area.

3. The flexible display device of claim 1 further comprising a display sizing sensor to provide screen dimensions to a central processing unit in the portable tubular housing based on the distance the flexible display support tray extends out of the portable tubular housing.

4. The flexible display device of claim 1 further comprising a sensor for receiving a signal from an electronic marking device used with the flexible electronic display.

5. The flexible display device of claim 4 wherein the electronic marking device is a wireless pen.

6. The flexible display device of claim 1 wherein the portable tubular housing includes a shoulder strap.

7. The flexible display device of claim 1 wherein the portable tubular housing includes one or more extendible legs for supporting the flexible display device upright for viewing.

8. The flexible display device of claim 1 wherein the retracting reel is mounted in a removable display cartridge.

9. The flexible display device of claim 1 wherein the portable tubular housing includes a manual winding wheel operably connected to the retracting reel.

10. The flexible display device of claim 1 further comprising a spring assembly in the portable tubular housing to drive the retracting reel to retract the flexible display support tray and the flexible electronic display.

11. The flexible display device of claim 1 further comprising a motor in the portable tubular housing for driving the retracting reel to retract the flexible display support tray and the flexible electronic display.

12. A flexible display device comprising a retracting reel rotatably mounted in a housing, wherein the retracting reel is connected to a roller clutch, wherein the roller clutch is operable to enable extraction of a flexible electronic display connected to a power source and a data source in the housing, and wherein the roller clutch is further operable to oppose movement of the retracting reel to limit speed of the retracting reel during retraction of the flexible electronic display.

13. The flexible display device of claim 12 further comprising a flexible tray containing the flexible electronic display.

14. The flexible display device of claim 13 wherein the flexible tray includes a user interface for controlling display of images on the flexible electronic display.

15. The flexible display device of claim 14 further comprising a display sizing sensor.

16. The flexible display device of claim 12 further comprising a marking device sensor for receiving a signal from an electronic writing instrument used with the flexible display device.

17. The flexible display device of claim 12 further comprising a network connector for receiving data from a computer.

18. The flexible display device of claim 12 further comprising an active matrix circuit operatively connected to the flexible display device for generating images on the flexible electronic display based on addressable points in a matrix.

19. The flexible display device of claim 12 further comprising a position transceiver for calculating device position.

20. A flexible display device comprising a housing with a flexible electronic display that is retractable into the housing by a winding reel connected to a roller clutch, wherein the roller clutch is operable to enable extraction, and wherein the roller clutch is further operable to oppose movement of the winding reel to limit the speed of the winding reel during retraction of the flexible electronic display, and wherein the flexible electronic display is at least 22 inches wide and 17 inches tall.

21. The flexible display device of claim 20 wherein the flexible electronic display is at least 42 inches wide and 30 inches tall.

22. The flexible display device of claim 20 including a winding controller selected from the group consisting of a manual wheel, a motor, and a spring.

23. The flexible display device of claim 20 further comprising a sensor for detecting a marking device interface to images on the flexible electronic display.

24. The flexible display device of claim 23 wherein the marking device interface is wireless.

25. The flexible display device of claim 20 further comprising sizing means for determining the size of a partially extracted flexible electronic display.

26. The flexible display device of claim 20 further comprising one or more impact bumpers on the housing.

27. The flexible display device of claim 20 further comprising a flexible data cable having an interface to the flexible electronic display, wherein the flexible data cable is configured to wind with the flexible electronic display.

28. The flexible display device of claim 21 wherein the housing includes a plurality of removable casings for servicing or replacing components.