Electronic paper display unit and mobile communication terminal having the same

• US 8,996,068 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Song, Sung-Hoon
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US12/284,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20090082067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,385 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 4555561-557, 455/556, 4555751-5758, 455/566, 455/575.4, 345/99, 345/103, 345/210, 345/182, 345/173, 715/790, 715/807, 348/14.2
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/026 Video wall, i.e. juxtaposition of a plurality of screens to create a display screen of bigger dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3611 Control of matrices with row and column drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate

Abstract

An electronic paper display unit includes a protective case, which is made of a transparent material, a display, which is installed in the protective case, is powered to display desired image information, and includes a plurality of divided regions, and a control module, which is electrically connected with the display, and includes a first mode transmitting a divided mode signal such that many pieces of image information are independently displayed on the respective divided regions and a second mode transmitting an integrated mode signal such that one piece of image information is displayed throughout the overall divided regions. Further, a mobile communication terminal can visually display various pieces of image information thereon according to selection of a user.

Claims

1. An electronic paper display unit comprising:

a protective case, which is made of a transparent material;

a display installed in the protective case and configured to display a desired image information, the display divided into a plurality of divided regions configured to function as independent units; and

a control module electrically connected to the display and configured to operate in a first mode for transmitting a divided mode signal such that a plurality of pieces of an image information are independently displayed on the divided regions and a second mode for transmitting an integrated mode signal such that one piece of an image information is displayed throughout the divided regions, wherein an outermost one of the divided regions includes a plurality of sub-regions that are curved on an outer circumference of the divided regions, each curved sub-region being powered to display at least a portion of the image information, a contrast of which is gradually increased from a first end to a second end of the curved sub-region.

2. The electronic paper display unit according to claim 1, wherein the protective case includes a base member on one side thereof.

3. The electronic paper display unit according to claim 1, wherein the protective case is made of one of a transparent plastic material and a transparent elastic material.

4. The electronic paper display unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the divided regions has a curved region.

5. The electronic paper display unit according to claim 1, wherein each sub-region includes a plurality of divided sub-regions.

6. A mobile communication terminal having an electronic paper display unit, comprising:

a main body, on which a first circuit board and a liquid crystal display connected electrically with the first circuit board are installed;

a sub-body coupled with the main body on which a second circuit board connected electrically with the first circuit board is installed, and on which a battery configured to supply power to the first and second circuit board is mounted;

a protective case installed on outer faces of the main body and the sub-body within a predetermined thickness and made of a transparent material;

a display installed in the protective case and configured to display a desired image information, the display comprising a plurality of divided regions configured to function as independent units; and

a control module installed in the sub-body so as to be electrically connected with the display and configured to operate in a first mode for transmitting a divided mode signal such that a plurality of pieces of the desired image information are independently displayed on the divided regions and a second mode for transmitting an integrated mode signal such that one piece of the desired image information is displayed throughout the divided regions, wherein an outermost one of the divided regions includes a plurality of sub-regions that are curved on an outer circumference of the divided regions, each curved sub-region being powered to display at least a portion of the desired image information, a contrast of which is gradually increased from a first end to a second end of the curved sub-region.

7. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein:

the protective case is coupled to at least one of the outer face of the main body and the sub-body through a coupling means, and

the coupling means includes sliding ridges formed on opposite sides of the main body and the sub-body and sliding holes formed on opposite sides of the protective case and slidably coupled with the sliding ridges.

8. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein the protective case is made of one of a transparent plastic material and a transparent elastic material.

9. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the divided regions has a curved region.

10. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein each sub-region includes a plurality of divided sub-regions.

11. A method of operating an electronic paper display unit comprising:

providing a display in a transparent protective case, the protective case for installing on an outer face of a mobile communication terminal within a predetermined thickness; and

transmitting a mode signal to the display such that an image information is displayed on each of a plurality of divided regions of the display that function independently,

wherein the mode signal corresponds to one of a first mode for transmitting a divided mode signal such that a plurality of pieces of the desired image information are independently displayed on the plurality of divided regions of the display and a second mode for transmitting an integrated mode signal such that one piece of the desired image information is displayed throughout the plurality of divided regions of the display, and wherein an outermost one of the divided regions includes a plurality of sub-regions that are curved on an outer circumference of the divided regions, each curved sub-region being powered to display at least a portion of the image information, a contrast of which is gradually increased from a first end to a second end of the curved sub-region.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the protective case includes a base member on one side thereof.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the protective case is made of one of a transparent plastic material and a transparent elastic material.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the divided regions has a curved region.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein each sub-region includes a plurality of divided sub-regions.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of regions comprises the plurality of divided regions are arranged in a grid.

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising selecting at least a portion of the image information to be displayed each of the plurality of divided regions of the display.