Overlapping displays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9507376-B2
Application number	US-201113325294-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2011
Priority date	Dec 14, 2011
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

An apparatus including a first electrical display; and a second electrical display movably connected to the first electrical display between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration the first and second electrical displays generally face each other. In the second configuration the first and second electrical displays do not generally face each other and are viewable from a same direction. The first and second electrical displays are sized and shaped such that in the first configuration a portion of the second electrical display is visible.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
first engine block comprising first circuitry;
a first electrical display, where the first engine block is located against a first side of the first electrical display;
a second engine block comprising second circuitry; and
a second electrical display movably connected at a proximal end thereof at a single joint of rotation to a proximal end of the first electrical display between a first configuration and a second configuration, where the second engine block is located against a first side of the second electrical display,
the first configuration being a fully closed configuration with the first and second electrical displays facing each other,
where in the second configuration the first and second electrical displays do not generally face each other and are viewable from a same direction, and
where the first and second electrical displays are sized and shaped such that in the first configuration a portion of a distal end of the second electrical display is visible to a user,
where the first electrical display comprises a first display active area covered by a first window, where the first window is located against a second side of the first electrical display which is opposite the first side of the first electrical display,
where the second electrical display comprises a second display active area only partially covered by a second window such that a portion of the second display active area is not covered by the second window, where the second window is located against a second side of the second electrical display which is opposite the first side of the second electrical display, and
where the windows are located directly opposite each other in the first configuration, and where the first and second engine blocks prevent the first and second electrical displays from being viewed through the first and second engine blocks.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 where the first and second electrical displays are connected to each other by a connection comprising a pivot such that the second electrical display is adapted to pivot relative to the first electrical display between the first and second configurations.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 where in the first configuration the portion of the second display active area, which is not covered by the second window, is viewable.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1 where, in the fully closed configuration, the first electrical display covers a majority of the second electrical display.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 where the portion of the second display active area is covered by the first window in the second configuration.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 where the portion of the second display active area extends between a joint under the first and second windows in the second configuration.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 where end edges of the first and second display active areas are substantially aligned in the second configuration one beneath the other.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 where, in the first configuration, the portion of the second display active area extends at least partially under a joint between the first and second electrical displays.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 where, in the first configuration, the portion of the second electrical display is located in a plane beneath the first electrical display.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 where another opposite portion of the second electrical display is visible in the first configuration.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 where in the second configuration a portion of the first electrical display overlaps the portion of the second electrical display such that the portion of the second electrical display is viewable through the portion of the first electrical display.

12. An apparatus comprising:
a first section comprising a first engine block comprising first circuitry, and a first electrical display, where the first electrical display comprises a first display active area and a first window, where the first engine block is located against a first side of the first electrical display, and where the first window is located against a second side of the first electrical display which is opposite the first side of the first electrical display;
a second section comprising a second engine block comprising second circuitry, and a second electrical display, where the second electrical display comprises a second display active area and a second window, where the second engine block is located against a first side of the second electrical display, where the second window is located against a second side of the second electrical display which is opposite the first side of the second electrical display; and
a connection movably connecting respective proximal ends of the first and second sections to each other between a fully closed configuration and an open configuration, where the connection comprises a single joint of rotation between the first and second sections,
where in the fully closed configuration the first and second electrical displays are facing each other, a portion of a distal end of the second electrical display is viewable by a user, and the second electrical display is only partially viewable by the user,
where in the open configuration both the first and the second electrical displays are viewable from a same direction, and
where in the open configuration a portion of the first electrical display overlaps a portion of the second display active area such that the portion of the second display active area is viewable through the portion of the first electrical display, and
where the portion of the second display active area is viewable in the fully closed configuration through neither the first nor second windows, and where the first and second engine blocks prevent the first and second electrical displays from being viewed through the first and second engine blocks.

13. An apparatus as in claim 12 where, in the fully closed configuration, the first electrical display covers a majority of the second electrical display.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 where end edges of the first and second display active areas are substantially aligned in the open configuration one beneath the other.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 where, in the open configuration, the portion of the second display active area extends at least partially under a joint between the first and second electrical displays.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 where the portion of the second display active area is located proximate a joint forming the connection of the first and second sections.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 comprising means for viewing the portion of the second display active area in the closed configuration, and the connection comprises means for rotating the second section relative to the first section.

18. A method comprising:
moving a second section of an apparatus relative to a first section of the apparatus from a fully closed configuration,
where the first section is movably connected at a proximal end thereof to a proximal end of the second section by a single joint of rotation,
where the first section comprises a first engine block comprising first circuitry, and a first electrical display, where the first electrical display comprises a first display active area and a first window, where the first engine block is located against a first side of the first electrical display, and where the first window is located against a second side of the first electrical display which is opposite the first side of the first electrical display,

Assignees

• Kontkanen Mikael
• Ropo Jussi
• Kemppinen Pasi Tuomo Antero
• Alonso Vicente Calvo
• Nokia Technologies Oy

Inventors

• Kontkanen Mikael
• Ropo Jussi
• Kemppinen Pasi Tuomo Antero
• Alonso Vicente Calvo

Classifications

• G06F1/1624

  with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display · CPC title

• G06F1/1641

  the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components (G06F1/1647 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04M1/0216

  Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge · CPC title

• H04M1/0237

  Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom · CPC title

• H04M2250/16

  including more than one display unit · CPC title