COMPACT PALMTOP COMPUTER SYSTEM AND WIRELESS TELEPHONE WITH FOLDABLE DUAL-SIDED DISPLAY

• US 20090061930A1
• Filed: 11/06/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Canova, Frank J. SR., Gioscia, Rich
• Granted Patent: US 8,204,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

The present invention is a compact personal digital assistant (PDA) and cellular telephone with foldable dual-sided display. By utilizing flexible display technology, both a PDA and a cellular telephone are incorporated into one device. In a closed state, in one embodiment, the present invention corresponds to the form used for typical cellular telephone use (e.g., candy bar size). In an open state, in one embodiment, the present invention corresponds to the form used for typical PDA use by providing an enlarged viewing area. The present invention provides the benefit of two distinct devices in one device by allowing for common operations and functionality without compromising the respective form factor of either device.

Claims

1-30. -30. (canceled)

31. An electronic device comprising:

a first housing element comprising a first surface and a second surface that is opposite said first surface;

a second housing element movably attached to said first housing element;

a first display screen mounted on said first surface;

a second display screen mounted on said second surface, wherein first information displayed on said first display screen is also displayable within a window on said second display screen, said window smaller than said second display screen.

32. The electronic device of claim 31 wherein said second display screen is larger than said first display screen and wherein said first display screen and said window are the same size.

33. The electronic device of claim 31 wherein said second display screen spans said first housing element and said second housing element.

34. The electronic device of claim 31 wherein said first housing element and said second housing element are configurable in a closed configuration in which said second display screen faces a surface of said second housing element, and in an open configuration in which said second display screen is viewable, wherein said first information is transferred from said first display screen to said second display screen as a result of changing from said closed configuration to said open configuration.

35. The electronic device of claim 31 wherein said first display screen and said second display screen comprise a dual-sided display.

36. The electronic device of claim 31 wherein second information in addition to said first information is displayable on said second display screen simultaneous with said window containing said first information.

37. The electronic device of claim 36 wherein said second information is selected from the group consisting of:

notes;

schedules; and

contacts.

38. The electronic device of claim 31 further comprising telephony hardware operable to provide wireless voice communication.

39. The electronic device of claim 31 wherein said first information is phone-related information.

40. The electronic device of claim 39 wherein said phone-related information is call information.

41. The electronic device of claim 31 wherein said first display screen and said second display screen are respectively associated with a wireless voice communication device and a handheld computing device that are both integrated within said electronic device.

42. An electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a memory unit coupled to said processor;

electronics coupled to said processor and operable for wireless communication;

a first display screen coupled to said processor;

a second display screen coupled to said processor and larger than said first display screen; and

a foldable housing that houses said processor, said memory unit, said electronics, said first display screen and said second display screen, wherein said first display screen is located on a first surface of said foldable housing and said second display screen is located on a second surface of said foldable housing that is opposite said first surface, wherein first information displayed on said first display screen is also viewable within a window on said second display screen.

43. The electronic device of claim 42 wherein said first display screen and said window are the same size.

44. The electronic device of claim 42 wherein said foldable housing comprise a first housing element and a second housing element, wherein said second display screen spans said first housing element and said second housing element.

45. The electronic device of claim 44 wherein said first housing element and said second housing element are configurable in a closed configuration in which said second display screen faces a surface of said second housing element, and in an open configuration in which said second display screen is viewable, wherein said first information is transferred from said first display screen to said second display screen as a result of changing from said closed configuration to said open configuration.

46. The electronic device of claim 42 wherein said first display screen and said second display screen comprise a dual-sided display.

47. The electronic device of claim 42 wherein second information in addition to said first information is displayable on said second display screen simultaneous with said window containing said first information.

48. The electronic device of claim 42 wherein said second information is selected from the group consisting of:

notes;

schedules; and

contacts.

49. The electronic device of claim 42 wherein said first information is phone-related information.

50. The electronic device of claim 49 wherein said phone-related information comprises call information that is displayed on said first display screen responsive to receiving an incoming call at said electronic device.