Integrated input and display device for a mobile computer

• US 7,486,279 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Kwong, Wah Yiu, Lam, Hue V., Wong, Hong W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Henry N
• Application Number:
  US11/001,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20060114238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-173, 345/179, 345 11- 13, 463 36- 38, 361725-727, 361/741, 361/756, 361/786, 361680-683
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 1/1649 the additional display being independently orientable, e.g. for presenting information to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

A device and system are disclosed. In one embodiment the device comprises a primary display unit, a base unit coupled to the primary display unit, and a touch-sensitive secondary display unit, coupled to the base unit, operable to receive input from a user and display information for the user.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a primary display unit;

a base unit coupled to the primary display unit, the base unit comprising a front side, a back side, and an opening, the front side including a keyboard;

a touch-sensitive secondary display unit comprising a touch sensitive display screen located on a front side of the secondary display unit and a protective housing located on a back side of the secondary display unit, the secondary display unit coupled to the base unit, the touch sensitive display screen operative to receive a first input from a user comprising movement input and display a mouse cursor on the primary display unit, or a second input from a user comprising handwriting input and display a character on the primary display unit;

one or more pivot shafts, the one or more pivot shafts operative to couple the secondary display unit to the base unit at one or more locations in the opening and to allow at least a portion of the secondary display unit to rotate in the opening;

wherein the opening is operative to house at least a portion of the secondary display unit in a recessed location, the secondary display unit has at least a first orientation and a second orientation, the first orientation being when the display screen is facing the same direction as the front side of the base unit, the second orientation being when the display screen is facing the same direction as the back side of the base unit, and the secondary display unit to be operational in the first orientation and in the second orientation.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising one pivot shaft, wherein the pivot shaft couples the center of the top of the secondary display unit to the top of the opening.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising two pivot shafts, wherein a first pivot shaft couples the center of the left side of the secondary display unit to the left side of the opening and a second pivot shaft couples the center of the right side of the secondary display unit to the right side of the opening.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a hinge, the hinge coupling the bottom of the primary display unit to the top of the base unit, to allow the primary display unit to close and attach to the front side of the base unit.

5. The device of claim 4, further operable to allow the secondary display unit to be operational when the display screen is facing the same direction as the back side of the base unit only if the primary display unit is closed and attached to the front side of the base unit.

6. A device, comprising:

a keyboard;

a base unit comprising a front side, a back side, and an opening, the front side including a keyboard;

a touch-sensitive display screen located on a front side of a secondary display unit and a protective housing located on a back side of the secondary display unit, the touch-sensitive display screen operative to provide cursor movement input or handwriting input for transmission across a bus, the bus operable to transmit information keyed into the keyboard and information input on the touch-sensitive display to an I/O bus in a computer system;

one or more pivot shafts, the one or more pivot shafts operative to couple the secondary display unit to the base unit at one or more locations in the opening and to allow at least a portion of the secondary display unit to rotate in the opening; and

wherein the opening is operative to house at least a portion of the secondary display unit in a recessed location, the touch-sensitive display screen has at least a first orientation and a second orientation, the first orientation being when the display screen is facing the same direction as the keyboard, the second orientation being when the display screen is facing the opposite direction as the keyboard, and the touch-sensitive display screen to be operational in the first orientation and in the second orientation.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the touch-sensitive display screen is operable to display information input on the device.

8. A system, comprising:

a bus;

a primary display unit;

a computer base unit coupled to the primary display unit and to the bus, the computer base unit comprising a front side, a back side, and an opening, the front side including a keyboard;

a touch-sensitive secondary display unit comprising a touch sensitive display screen located on a front side of the secondary display unit and a protective housing located on a back side of the secondary display unit, the secondary display unit coupled to the bus, the touch sensitive display screen operative to receive a first input from a user comprising movement input and display a mouse cursor on the primary display unit, or a second input from a user comprising handwriting input and display a character on the primary display unit; and

one or more pivot shafts, the one or more pivot shafts operative to couple the secondary display unit to the base unit at one or more locations in the opening, to house at least a portion of the bus, and to allow at least a portion of the secondary display unit to rotate in the opening;

wherein the opening is operative to house at least a portion of the secondary display unit in a recessed location, the secondary display unit has at least a first orientation and a second orientation, the first orientation being when the display screen is facing the same direction as the front side of the base unit, the second orientation being when the display screen is facing the same direction as the back side of the base unit, and the secondary display unit to be operational in the first orientation and in the second orientation.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising one pivot shaft, wherein the pivot shaft couples the center of the top of the secondary display unit to the top of the opening.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising two pivot shafts, wherein a first pivot shaft couples the center of the left side of the secondary display unit to the left side of the opening and a second pivot shaft couples the center of the right side of the secondary display unit to the right side of the opening.