Detachable flexible and expandable display with touch sensor apparatus and method

• US 20030098857A1
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Gettemy, Shawn R., Wong, Yoon Kean, Hanson, William R., Lee, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US09/996,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20030098857A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 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 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display

Abstract

A handheld computer is disclosed. The handheld computer includes a housing, and an expandable display assembly supported by the housing. The expandable display assembly provides a viewing area when the display assembly is stored and provides a larger viewing area when the expandable display assembly is expanded. A touch sensor is disclosed that is associated with the expandable display. The touch sensor is enlarged along with the display, when the expandable display is expanded.

Claims

1. A display system, detachable from a host device, the display system, comprising:

a power source;

a processor coupled to the power source;

a memory coupled to the power source and the processor;

a flexible electronic display coupled to the processor and the power source;

a coupler for coupling the flexible electronic display to the host device; and

a flexible touch sensor movable with the flexible electronic display.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the flexible electronic display is electronic paper (e-paper).

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein the flexible display is foldable.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein the host device is a handheld computer.

5. The display system of claim 1, wherein the flexible touch sensor includes a transparent coating.

6. The display system of claim 1, wherein the flexible touch sensor includes an electrotextile.

7. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a coupler connected to the housing; and

a flexible display screen assembly, the flexible display screen assembly being viewable when coupled to the coupler and expandable to provide a larger viewing area, at least when decoupled from the coupler, the flexible display screen assembly including,

a power source;

a processor coupled to the power source;

a memory coupled to the power source and the processor;

a flexible electronic display coupled to the processor and the power source; and

a flexible touch sensor movable with the flexible electronic display, providing an enlarged touch sensor area when the viewing area of the flexible display screen assembly is enlarged.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the flexible electronic display is electronic paper (e-paper).

9. The portable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the flexible display is foldable.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the portable electronic device is a handheld computer.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the flexible touch sensor includes a transparent coating.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the flexible touch sensor includes an electrotextile.

13. A foldable display assembly, comprising:

a power source;

a processor coupled to the power source;

a memory coupled to the power source;

a foldable electronic display coupled to the processor and the power source;

a coupler for coupling the foldable electronic display to a host device; and

a foldable touch sensor foldable with the foldable electronic display.

14. The foldable display of claim 13, wherein the foldable electronic display is electronic paper (e-paper).

15. The foldable display of claim 13, wherein coupler includes a coupler for coupling to a handheld computer.

16. The foldable display of claim 13, wherein the flexible touch sensor includes a transparent coating.

17. The foldable display of claim 13, wherein the flexible touch sensor includes an electrotextile.

18. A handheld computer, comprising:

a housing;

an expandable display assembly supported on the housing, providing a viewing area when the expandable display assembly is folded and providing a larger viewing area when the expandable display assembly is expanded; and

a touch sensor associated with the expandable display, the touch sensor being enlarged when the expandable display is expanded.

19. The handheld computer of claim 18, wherein the expandable display assembly is electronic paper (e-paper).

20. The handheld computer of claim 18, wherein the expandable display assembly is foldable.

21. The handheld computer of claim 18, wherein the portable electronic device is a handheld computer.

22. The handheld computer of claim 18, wherein the touch sensor includes a transparent coating.

23. The handheld computer of claim 18, wherein the touch sensor includes an electrotextile.

24. A method of using a handheld computer, comprising:

viewing an image on an unenlarged viewing area of a flexible display;

providing input to the handheld computer via a touch sensor having an unenlarged sensing area associated with the flexible display;

enlarging the flexible display to provide an enlarged viewing area;

viewing an image in the enlarged viewing area;

providing input to the handheld computer via a touch sensor having an enlarged sensing area associated with the flexible display.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

decoupling the flexible display from the handheld computer.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

providing input using a fingertip.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

providing input using a stylus.