Apparatus and method for an improved electronic display

• US 20040080682A1
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Dalton, Dan L.
• Application Number:
  US10/283,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20040080682A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/58
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/181 using a programmable display, e.g. LED or LCD

Abstract

The invention consists of a visual display mounted to a mechanism pivoting about a single point such that the visual display may be rocked to active switches located inside the edges of the visual display. Electronic devices where this invention may be used include, but are not limited to, digital cameras, cell phones, wristwatches, and GPS devices.

Claims

1. ) An electronic display comprising:

a) a visual display pivoting about a point;

b) switches located under each edge of said visual display;

c) wherein said visual display is used to activate said switches.

2. ) The electronic display of claim 1, wherein:

a) said visual display is a LCD and;

b) said switches are mechanical switches.

3. ) The electronic display of claim 1, wherein:

a) said visual display is a LCD and;

b) said switches are electronic switches.

4. ) The electronic display of claim 1, wherein:

a) said visual display is an OLED and;

b) said switches are mechanical switches.

5. ) The electronic display of claim 1, wherein:

a) said visual display is an OLED and;

b) said switches are electronic switches.

6. ) The electronic display of claim 1, wherein:

said electronic display is used on a digital camera.

7. ) The electronic display of claim 1, wherein:

said electronic display is used on a cell phone.

8. ) The electronic display of claim 1, wherein:

said electronic display is used on a wristwatch.

9. ) The electronic display of claim 1, wherein:

said electronic display is used on a GPS.

10. ) An electronic display comprising:

a) a visual display;

b) a transparent flexible cover affixed to said visual display, said cover extending beyond the edges of said visual display;

c) switches located beyond each edge of said visual display and under said transparent flexible cover;

d) wherein said transparent flexible cover is used to activate said switches located under said transparent flexible cover.

11. ) The electronic display of claim 10, wherein:

a) said visual display is a LCD and;

b) said switches are mechanical switches.

12. ) The electronic display of claim 10, wherein:

a) said visual display is a LCD and;

b) said switches are electronic switches.

13. ) The electronic display of claim 10, wherein:

a) said visual display is an OLED and;

b) said switches are mechanical switches.

14. ) The electronic display of claim 10, wherein:

a) said visual display is an OLED and;

b) said switches are electronic switches.

15. ) The electronic display of claim 10, wherein:

said electronic display is used on a digital camera.

16. ) The electronic display of claim 10, wherein:

said electronic display is used on a cell phone.

17. ) The electronic display of claim 10, wherein:

said electronic display is used on a wristwatch.

18. ) The electronic display of claim 10, wherein:

said electronic display is used on a GPS.

19. ) An electronic display comprising:

a) a visual display;

b) a transparent cover extending beyond the edges of said visual display;

c) compressible mechanisms;

d) switches located beyond each edge of said visual display and under said transparent cover;

e) wherein said compressible mechanisms are located under said transparent cover and beyond the edges of said visual display;

f) wherein said transparent cover is used to compress said compressible mechanisms and activate said switches.

20. ) The electronic display of claim 19, wherein:

a) said visual display is a LCD and;

b) said switches are mechanical switches.

21. ) The electronic display of claim 19, wherein:

a) said visual display is a LCD and;

b) said switches are electronic switches.

22. ) The electronic display of claim 19, wherein:

a) said visual display is an OLED and;

b) said switches are mechanical switches.

23. ) The electronic display of claim 19, wherein:

a) said visual display is an OLED and;

b) said switches are electronic switches.

24. ) The electronic display of claim 19, wherein said compressible mechanisms are springs.

25. ) The electronic display of claim 19, wherein:

said electronic display is used on a cell phone.

26. ) The electronic display of claim 19, wherein:

said electronic display is used on a wristwatch.

27. ) The electronic display of claim 19, wherein:

said electronic display is used on a GPS.

28. ) An electronic display comprising:

a) a visual display pivoting about a point;

b) at least one switch located under an edge of said visual display;

c) wherein said visual display is used to activate at least one switch under an edge of said visual display.

29. ) An electronic display comprising:

a) a visual display;

b) a transparent flexible cover affixed to said visual display, said cover extending beyond the edges of said visual display;

c) at least one switch located beyond an edge of said visual display;

d) wherein said transparent flexible cover is used to activate at least one switch located under said transparent flexible cover and beyond an edge of said visual display.

30. ) An electronic display comprising:

a) a visual display;

b) a transparent cover extending beyond the edges of said visual display;

c) at least one compressible mechanism;

d) at least one switch located beyond an edge of said visual display and under said transparent cover;

e) wherein at least one compressible mechanism is located under said transparent cover and beyond an edge of said visual display.

31. ) An electronic display comprising:

a) a visual display;

b) switches located under each edge of said visual display;

c) wherein said visual display is used to activate said switches.

32. ) An electronic display comprising:

a) a means for visually displaying electronic data, said means pivoting about a point;

b) a means for switching an electrical signal on and off;

c) wherein said means for visually displaying electronic data is used to activate said means for switching an electrical signal on and off.

33. ) A method for making an electronic display comprising:

a) mounting a visual display on a pivotal mechanism;

b) affixing switches under said visual display.

34. ) The method of claim 33, wherein:

said visual display is a LCD.

35. ) The method of claim 33, wherein:

said visual display is an OLED.

36. ) The method of claim 33, wherein:

said switches are mechanical switches.

37. ) The method of claim 33, wherein:

said switches are electronic switches.

38. ) A method for making an electronic display comprising:

a) affixing a transparent flexible cover to a visual display, said cover extending beyond the edges of said visual display;

b) positioning switches such that said switches are located beyond the edges of said visual display and under the edges of said cover;

c) wherein said transparent flexible cover is used to activate said switches located under said transparent flexible cover.

39. ) The method of claim 38, wherein:

a) said visual display is a LCD and;

b) said switches are mechanical switches.

40. ) The method of claim 38, wherein:

a) said visual display is a LCD and;

b) said switches are electronic switches.

41. ) The method of claim 38, wherein:

a) said visual display is an OLED and;

b) said switches are mechanical switches.

42. ) The method of claim 38, wherein:

a) said visual display is an OLED and;

said switches are electronic switches.