TOUCHSCREEN WITH A LIGHT MODULATOR

• US 20140347292A1
• Filed: 04/28/2014
• Published: 11/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BBY Solutions Incorporated (Best Buy Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BBY Solutions Incorporated (Best Buy Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Andrew Shane
• Granted Patent: US 9,244,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/023 Display panel composed of stacked panels

Abstract

A device with a touchscreen with a light modulator is disclosed herein. The device transitions from a netbook mode to a touchscreen mode. The device comprises a main unit and a touchscreen unit with a transparent display. The touchscreen unit is preferably separated from the main unit when in a netbook mode, and the touchscreen unit communicates wirelessly with the main unit. The touchscreen unit preferably has an outer screen display surface and an inner screen display surface on each side of a light modulating unit. The main unit preferably has a main unit display.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a first portion having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the exterior surface having a first touchscreen, the interior surface having a second touchscreen, the first portion also having a light modulator disposed between the first touchscreen and the second touchscreen, the light modulator in light communication with the first touchscreen and the second touchscreen; and

a second portion hingedly attached to the first portion, the second portion having an interior surface with a liquid crystal display;

wherein the device operates in a tablet mode when the first portion is in a closed position with the second portion, and the device operates in a netbook mode when the first portion is in an open position with the second portion.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the liquid crystal display is capable of displaying a touch screen keyboard.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first touchscreen is a transparent touchscreen modulated by an electrical signal.

4. The device according to claim 2 wherein the light modulator is one of the group comprising an embedded film, a cell, a twisted nematic liquid crystal cell, an interferometric modulator, an electrochromic glass, and an organic light emitting diode display.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first touchscreen utilizes one of the group comprising resistive touch technology, capacitive touch technology, proximity touch technology, surface acoustic wave touch technology and infrared touch technology.

6. A device architecture comprising:

an outer transparent touchscreen;

a light modulator positioned adjacent the outer transparent touchscreen;

an inner touchscreen positioned adjacent the light modulator;

a protective layer in light communication with the inner touchscreen;

a V polarizer adjacent the protective layer;

a LCD cell display adjacent the V polarizer;

a H polarizer adjacent the LCD cell display; and

a backlight and reflector component adjacent the H polarizer.

7. The device architecture according to claim 6 wherein an input polarization of the light modulator is aligned with the output polarization of the LCD cell display.

8. The device architecture according to claim 6 the light modulator is one of the group comprising an embedded film, a cell, a twisted nematic liquid crystal cell, an interferometric modulator, an electrochromic glass, and an organic light emitting diode display.

9. The device architecture according to claim 6 wherein the first touchscreen utilizes one of the group comprising resistive touch technology, capacitive touch technology, proximity touch technology, surface acoustic wave touch technology and infrared touch technology.

10. The device according to claim 6 further comprising means for providing haptic interactive feedback.

11. The device according to claim 6 further comprising means for providing auditory interactive feedback.

12. A device comprising:

a first portion having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the exterior surface having a first touchscreen, the interior surface having a second touchscreen, the first portion also having a light modulator disposed between the first touchscreen and the second touchscreen, the light modulator in light communication with the first touchscreen and the second touchscreen; and

a second portion slidingly attached to the first portion, the second portion having an interior surface with a liquid crystal display;

wherein the device operates in a tablet mode when the first portion is in a closed position with the second portion, and the device operates in a netbook mode when the first portion is in an open position with the second portion.

13. The device according to claim 12 wherein the second portion further comprises a battery and a circuit board.

14. The device according to claim 12 wherein the liquid crystal display is capable of displaying a touch screen keyboard.

15. The device according to claim 12 further comprising means for providing auditory interactive feedback.

16. The device according to claim 15 wherein the auditory interactive feedback is a clicking sound when a key of a keyboard is touched by a user.

17. The device according to claim 12 wherein the first touchscreen is a transparent touchscreen modulated by an electrical signal.

18. The device according to claim 12 wherein the light modulator is one of the group comprising an embedded film, a cell, a twisted nematic liquid crystal cell, an interferometric modulator, an electrochromic glass, and an organic light emitting diode display.

19. The device according to claim 12 wherein the first touchscreen utilizes one of the group comprising resistive touch technology, capacitive touch technology, proximity touch technology, surface acoustic wave touch technology and infrared touch technology.