Handheld electronic book reader device having dual displays

• US 7,748,634 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Whitehorn, Symon J., Zehr, Gregg
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thien M
• Application Number:
  US11/277,893
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/492, 455/566
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1664 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

A handheld electronic book reader device is equipped with dual displays. The device includes a first display for presenting visible representations of textual or graphic content related to the electronic book. The device also includes a second display positioned alongside the first display. The second display includes a plurality of graphic elements that correspond to portions of the first display. Also, the second display is responsive to user input to one of the graphic elements to perform an action on the content that is shown in the portion of the first display that corresponds to the one element.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic book reader device comprising:

a rectangular electronic paper display for presenting visible representations of electronic book content, wherein the rectangular display is divided into a plurality of elements that contain at least portions of the content;

an elongated narrow display positioned alongside the electronic paper display, wherein the elongated narrow display includes a plurality of graphic elements arranged in a vertical column, with respective graphic elements corresponding to the elements of the electronic paper display, and wherein the elongated narrow display includes a cursor that is movable within a plurality of positions alongside the vertical column; and

a thumbwheel for moving the cursor alongside one of the graphic elements to place the corresponding element in the rectangular display in focus, and for selecting the content corresponding to the element that is in focus.

2. The handheld electronic book reader device of claim 1, wherein the rectangular electronic paper display is for presenting textual content.

3. The handheld electronic book reader device of claim 1, wherein the rectangular electronic paper display is for presenting graphic content.

4. A handheld electronic book reader device comprising:

a rectangular display for presenting visible representations of electronic book content, wherein the rectangular display is divided into a plurality of elements that contain at least portions of the content, wherein the rectangular display has a first refresh rate;

an elongated narrow display positioned alongside the rectangular display, wherein the elongated narrow display includes a plurality of graphic elements arranged in a vertical column, with respective graphic elements corresponding to the elements of the rectangular display, and wherein the elongated narrow display includes a cursor that is movable within a plurality of positions alongside the vertical column, wherein the elongated narrow display has a second refresh rate that is faster than the first refresh rate; and

a thumbwheel for moving the cursor alongside one of the graphic elements to place the corresponding element in the rectangular display in focus, and for selecting the content corresponding to the element that is in focus.

5. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a first display for presenting visible representations of content, the first display comprising an electronic paper display; and

a second display positioned alongside the first display, wherein the second display includes a plurality of graphic elements that correspond to portions of the first display, and wherein the second display is responsive to user input to one of the graphic elements to perform at least one action on content shown in a portion of the first display that corresponds to the one graphic element.

6. The handheld electronic device of claim 5, wherein the first display is for presenting textual content.

7. The handheld electronic device of claim 5, wherein the first display is for presenting graphic content.

8. The handheld electronic device of claim 5, wherein the second display is adapted to indicate boundaries of the graphic elements.

9. The handheld electronic device of claim 5, wherein the second display includes a cursor that is positionable alongside the portions of the first display.

10. The handheld electronic device of claim 9, further comprising a selection tool for positioning the cursor selectably alongside the portions of the first display.

11. The handheld electronic device of claim 5, wherein the first display is for presenting a plurality of titles of the content, and wherein the second display is for presenting a plurality of corresponding graphic elements that enable selection of one of the titles of the content.

12. The handheld electronic device of claim 5, wherein the first display is for presenting a plurality of menu items relating to the content, and wherein the second display is for presenting a plurality of corresponding graphic elements that enable selection of one of the menu items.

13. The handheld electronic device of claim 5, wherein the second display is aligned to be parallel with one side of the first display.

14. The handheld electronic device of claim 5, wherein the second display has a height approximately equal to a height of the first display.

15. The handheld electronic device of claim 5, wherein the second display is relatively narrow and elongated relative to the first display.

16. The handheld electronic device of claim 5, wherein the second display is responsive to tactile commands entered using a stylus.

17. The handheld electronic device of claim 5, wherein the second display is responsive to tactile commands entered using a scroll wheel.

18. The handheld electronic device of claim 5, wherein the second display is responsive to tactile commands entered using a page turner.

19. The handheld electronic device of claim 5, further comprising

a keyboard including two pluralities of keys.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the first plurality of keys is arranged in a first arcuate configuration relative to a first point of reference, and wherein the second plurality of keys is arranged in a second arcuate configuration relative to a second point of reference that is spaced from the first point of reference.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein at least one of the first plurality of keys is a first radial distance from the first point of reference, and wherein at least one of the first plurality of keys is a second radial distance from the first point of reference.

22. The device of claim 19, wherein at least one of the second plurality of keys is a first radial distance from the second point of reference, and wherein at least one of the second plurality of keys is a second radial distance from the second point of reference.

23. The device of claim 19, wherein the first plurality of keys are positioned to be operable by a user using a first thumb, and wherein the second plurality of keys are positioned to be operable by the user using another thumb.

24. The device of claim 19, wherein the device is generally rectangular in shape, wherein the first point of reference is located generally in a first lower corner when the device is oriented for viewing the content display, and wherein the second point of reference is located generally in an adjacent lower corner when the device is oriented for viewing the content display.

25. The handheld electronic device of claim 5, further comprising

a housing having a generally asymmetrical configuration and having a generally wedge-shaped cross-sectional profile, in which one side is comparatively thicker than an opposing side.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the one side is a left hand side of the device.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the one side is a right hand side of the device.

28. The device of claim 25, wherein the housing includes first, second, third, and fourth portions, and wherein:

the first and the second portions form a first angle therebetween;

the second portion and the third portion form a second angle therebetween;

the third portion and the fourth portion form a third angle therebetween; and

the fourth portion and the first portion form a fourth angle therebetween; and

wherein the first, second, third, and fourth portions and the first, second, third, and fourth portions angles therebetween are arranged so that the cross-sectional profile of the device is generally wedge-shaped.

29. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a first display for presenting visible representations of content;

a second display positioned alongside the first display, wherein the second display includes a plurality of graphic elements that correspond to portions of the first display, and wherein the second display is responsive to user input to one of the graphic elements to perform at least one action on content shown in a portion of the first display that corresponds to the one graphic element; and

wherein the first display is implemented with technology having a slow rate of refresh relative to the second display.

30. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a first display for presenting visible representations of content; and

a second display positioned alongside the first display, wherein the second display includes a plurality of graphic elements that correspond to portions of the first display, wherein the second display is responsive to user input to one of the graphic elements to perform at least one action on the content shown in the portion of the first display that corresponds to the one graphic element, and wherein the first and second displays have different refresh rates.

31. The handheld electronic device of claim 30, wherein the first display is for presenting textual content.

32. The handheld electronic device of claim 30, wherein the first display is for presenting graphic content.

33. The handheld electronic device of claim 30, wherein the second display is adapted to indicate boundaries of the graphic elements.

34. The handheld electronic device of claim 30, wherein the second display includes a cursor that is positionable alongside the portions of the first display.

35. The handheld electronic device of claim 34, further comprising a selection tool for positioning the cursor selectably alongside the portions of the first display.

36. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a first display for presenting visible representations of content; and

a second display positioned alongside the first display, wherein the second display is divided into a plurality of graphic elements that correspond to portions of the first display, wherein the second display is responsive to user input to one of the graphic elements to perform at least one action on the content shown in the portion of the first display that corresponds to the one graphic element, and wherein the first display has a first refresh rate, and wherein the second display has a second refresh rate faster than the first refresh rate.

37. The handheld electronic device of claim 36, wherein the first display is for presenting textual content.

38. The handheld electronic device of claim 36, wherein the first display is for presenting graphic content.

39. The handheld electronic device of claim 36, wherein the second display is adapted to indicate boundaries of the graphic elements.

40. The handheld electronic device of claim 36, wherein the second display includes a cursor that is positionable alongside the portions of the first display.

41. The handheld electronic device of claim 40, further comprising a selection tool for positioning the cursor selectably alongside the portions of the first display.

42. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a housing;

an electronic paper display disposed in the housing and having a first surface area; and

a liquid crystal display (LCD) disposed in the housing proximate the electronic paper display, the LCD having a second surface area that is smaller than the first surface area of the electronic paper display.

43. The handheld electronic device of claim 42, wherein the LCD has a rate of refresh that is faster than a rate of refresh of the electronic paper display.

44. The handheld electronic device of claim 42, wherein the LCD is substantially rectangular and is disposed below the electronic paper display.

45. The handheld electronic device of claim 42, wherein the LCD is touch-sensitive and is responsive to touch input.

46. The handheld electronic device of claim 42, wherein the electronic paper display and the LCD comprise a single structural element, with logically separate control systems for driving the electronic paper display and the LCD.

47. An electronic book reader device comprising:

an electronic paper display to present visible representations of electronic book content, the electronic paper display providing a first surface area; and

a second display positioned alongside the electronic paper display, the second display providing a second surface area that is less than half that of the first surface area of the electronic paper display.

48. The electronic book reader device of claim 47, wherein the electronic paper display is substantially rectangular, having a first height and a first width, and the second display is substantially rectangular, having a second height and a second width, the second width of the second display being less than half of the first width of the electronic paper display.

49. The electronic book reader device of claim 47, wherein the electronic paper display is substantially rectangular, having a first height and a first width, and the second display is substantially rectangular, having a second height and a second width, the second height of the second display being less than half of the first height of the electronic paper display.

50. The electronic book reader device of claim 47, wherein the second display is positioned adjacent to, and to the side of, the electronic paper display.

51. The electronic book reader device of claim 47, wherein the second display is positioned adjacent to, and beneath, the electronic paper display.

52. The electronic book reader device of claim 47, wherein the second display comprises one of an organic LED display, a TFT display, or an LCD display.

53. The electronic book reader device of claim 47, wherein the electronic paper display has a first refresh rate and the second display has a second refresh rate that is faster than the first refresh rate.

54. The electronic book reader device of claim 47, wherein the second display is touch-sensitive and is responsive to user input registered using at least one of a human finger, a stylus, or a pointing device.

55. An electronic book reader device comprising:

a housing;

an electronic paper display disposed in the housing, the electronic paper display being configured to present visible representations of electronic book content; and

a second display disposed in the housing adjacent to, and beneath, the electronic paper display.

56. The electronic book reader device of claim 55, wherein the second display comprises one of an organic LED display, a TFT display, or an LCD display.