Wireless devices with flexible monitors and keyboards

• US 7,667,962 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2005
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mullen Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey D. Mullen
• Inventors: Mullen, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/208,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20060061555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,646 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680, 361/681, 361/679.26, 361/679.3, 361/679.56, 361/679.08, 361/679.09, 361/679.15, 361/679.16, 455/90.3, 455/145, 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 455/575.9, 455/566, 455/556, 455/575, 455/344, 455/90, 313/511, 345/87, 345/88, 359/460, 359/461
• US Class Current: 361/679.56
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• 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 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1639 the display being based on projection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1666 Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F1/1664 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03541 Mouse/trackball convertible devices, in which the same ball is used to track the 2D relative movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/301 : flexible foldable or roll-able electronic displays, e.g. thin LCD, OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/86 : characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/052 : reductible in size, e.g. for transportation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 : including a flexible display panel
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 : specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 : Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 : Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 : including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/18 : including more than one keyboard unit

Abstract

A portable device (e.g., a wireless device such as a cell phone) is provided with a flexible keyboard and a flexible display screen. Such flexible components may be stored in the housing of the portable device when not in use. The flexible display screen and flexible keyboard may be expanded from the housing when the flexible components are utilized by a user.

Non-flexible display and input components may be provided on the exterior of the portable device such that the device may be used, in some form, while the flexible components are stored. In one embodiment, a portion of the flexible display (or flexible keyboard) may be utilized when the flexible display (or flexible keyboard) is stored in said first housing.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing;

a flexible keyboard comprising;

a first keyboard portion coupled to a first component, wherein said first component is located in the interior of said first housing;

a second keyboard portion operable to be stored in, and expanded from, said first housing and said second keyboard portion includes a plurality of buttons that are operable to be activated via mechanical distortion;

a third keyboard portion coupled to said second housing;

a fourth keyboard portion operable to be stored in, and expanded from, said second housing;

a flexible display comprising;

a first display portion coupled to said first housing;

a second display portion operable to be stored in, and expanded from, said first housing;

a third display portion coupled to said second housing;

a forth display portion operable to be stored in, and expanded from, said second housing; and

a processor electrically coupled to said flexible keyboard and said flexible display.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said first component is an axle and said second keyboard portion is operable to roll around said axle.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said first component is a portion of the interior of said first housing.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a non-flexible display located on the exterior of said first housing, wherein said non-flexible display screen is electrically coupled to said processor.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a non-flexible keyboard located on the exterior of said first housing, wherein said non-flexible keyboard is electrically coupled to said processor.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a support structure coupled to, and extendable from, said first housing, wherein said support structure provides structural support to at least one of said second keyboard portion or second display portion wherein said second keyboard or second display portion is extended from said first housing.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a fifth keyboard portion of said flexible keyboard operable to be stored in, and expanded from, said first housing, wherein said fifth keyboard portion is operable from the exterior of said first housing when said fifth keyboard portion is stored in said first housing.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said fifth keyboard portion is operable through a gap in said housing.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a fifth display portion of said flexible display operable to be stored in, and expanded from, said first housing, wherein said fifth display portion is viewable from the exterior of said first housing when said fifth display portion is stored in said first housing.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said fifth display portion is viewable through a gap in said housing.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein a piece of transparent material is located in said gap.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is a wireless telephonic device.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising a locating receiver located in said first housing.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising an inertial movement sensor located in said first housing.

15. A wireless phone comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing;

a flexible keyboard, wherein at least a first portion of said flexible keyboard is operable to be stored in, and expanded from, the interior of said first housing and at least a second portion of said flexible keyboard is operable to be stored in, and expanded from, the interior of said second housing and said flexible keyboard includes a plurality of buttons that are operable to be activated via mechanical distortion;

a flexible display, wherein at least a first portion of said flexible display is operable to be stored in, and expanded from, the interior of said first housing and at least a second portion of said flexible display is operable to be stored in, and expanded from, the interior of said housing; and

at least one processor.

16. The wireless phone of claim 15, further comprising an accelerometer located in said first housing.

17. The wireless phone of claim 15, further comprising a locating receiver located in said first housing.