ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT READING DEVICES

• US 20080297496A1
• Filed: 02/06/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FlexEnable Limited (Plastic Logic JSC)
• Original Assignee: Plastic Logic Limited (Plastic Logic JSC)
• Inventors: Barclay, Duncan, Nirmalananthan, Anusha, Fisher, David, Sandham, Nick, Hayton, Carl, Jones, Simon, Watson, Ben
• Granted Patent: US 8,203,546 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/901 Electronic book with display

Abstract

This invention generally relates to an electronic document reading device, that is to a device such as an electronic book which presents a document to a user on a display to enable the user to read the document. A portable flex-tolerant electronic document reading device, the device including a flex-tolerant display coupled to a flex-tolerant layer of pixel driver circuitry, and wherein said device has a physical configuration comprising a planar display surface and a rear surface having a frame around its outer perimeter to stiffen the device, the frame defining a central region of relatively reduced thickness compared with a thickness of said frame.

Claims

1. A portable flex-tolerant electronic document reading device, the device comprising a flex-tolerant display coupled to a flex-tolerant layer of pixel driver circuitry, and wherein said device has a physical configuration comprising a planar display surface and a rear surface having a frame around its outer perimeter to stiffen the device, the frame defining a central region of relatively reduced thickness compared with a thickness of said frame.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said display surface comprises a sheet of transparent material behind which said display is attached, and wherein said transparent sheet mechanically supports said display in a flex-tolerant planar configuration.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said transparent material comprises perspex.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein in said central region of said device said device has a neutral surface lying within the thickness of the device.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein in said central region of said device said neutral surface is within 500 μ

m, more preferably 300 μ

m, most preferably 200 μ

m of said layer of pixel driver circuitry.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a tape carrier package (TCP) on at least two edges of said display, and wherein electrical connections of said TCP to said display are on or adjacent to said neutral surface.

7. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein in said central region of said device said display has a layered structure comprising said sheet of transparent material, said display, said layer of pixel driver circuitry and at least a moisture barrier layer behind said layer of pixel driver circuitry.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said moisture barrier layer includes a layer of metal.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein layers of said layered structure are joined by adhesive without a through-hole fastener.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a tape carrier package (TCP) on at least two edges of said display, and one or more circuit boards comprising control electronics for said device, wherein said one or more circuit boards are located laterally outside at least two edges of said display, and wherein a said TCP is not bent by more than 60 degrees.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said display, said TCPs and said one or more circuit boards are all in substantially the same plane.

12. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said one or more circuit boards are located in said frame

13. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said one or more circuit boards provide a circuit board outside each edge of said display.

14. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame incorporates a flex-limiting structure.

15. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame includes a torsion-limiting structure.

16. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a rib on said rear surface.

17. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises an overmoulding.

18. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said display comprises an electrophoretic display.

19. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pixel driver circuitry comprises organic pixel driver circuitry on a plastic substrate.

20. A flex-tolerant electronic document reading device having a picture frame configuration comprising a flat, thin display area stiffened by a surrounding frame.

21. A device as claimed in claim 20 wherein control electronics of said device are located in said frame.

22. A device as claimed in claim 21 having an electronic display coupled to said control electronics by a flexible film bearing a plurality of interconnects and wherein edges of said display are within at least outside edges of said control electronics such that said film is not folded back on itself.

23. A flex-tolerant electronic document reading device comprising an electronic display with associated pixel driver circuitry attached to a transparent front panel, and wherein a neutral surface of said device lies within a front-to-back thickness of the device.

24. A device as claimed in claim 23 wherein said neutral surface lies within 300 μ

m of a plane of said pixel driver circuitry.

25. A flex-tolerant electronic document reading device comprising an electronic display and a housing, and wherein a rear surface of said housing includes one or both of a flex-limiting and a torsion-limiting structure to limit bending of edges of the device towards the rear.

26. A flex-tolerant electronic document as claimed in claim 25 wherein a said structure comprises a plurality of grooves.