Wireless devices with flexible monitors and keyboards

• US 9,442,563 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2014
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mullen Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey David Mullen
• Inventors: Mullen, Jeffrey David
• Primary Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US14/171,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20140347798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.21, 361/679.26, 361/679.3, 361/679.55, 361/679.56, 361/679.01, 361/679.02, 361/679.03, 345/8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 head-mounted device comprising:

a source of power;

a first head-mounted housing comprising;

a speaker;

a microphone;

a locating device;

a transparent display screen operable to cover a single user eye such that at least a portion of the user environment in front of said transparent display screen is operable to be perceived through said transparent display screen, wherein a virtual object is displayed on said transparent display; and

a camera, wherein information from said camera are displayed on said transparent display.

2. The head-mounted device of claim 1, wherein said first head-mounted housing further comprises a manual input interface.

3. The head-mounted device of claim 1, wherein said first head-mounted housing further comprises an accelerometer.

4. The head-mounted device of claim 1, wherein said first head-mounted housing further comprises a movement sensor.

5. The head-mounted device of claim 1, wherein said transparent display screen is non-flexible.

6. The head-mounted device of claim 1, wherein said virtual object is a web browser.

7. The head-mounted device of claim 1, wherein said virtual object is associated with a map.

8. The head-mounted device of claim 1, wherein said virtual object is a virtual email object.

9. The head-mounted device of claim 1, wherein said virtual object is a distance-locked virtual object.

10. The head-mounted device of claim 1, wherein a location-associated advertisement is displayed on said transparent display.

11. The head-mounted device of claim 1, further comprising a processor.

12. The head-mounted device of claim 1, wherein said virtual object is a virtual map indicator comprising an arrow pointing toward a location.

13. The head-mounted device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communications antenna.