Portable multi-display device

Abstract

A separable portable multi-display device is provided. A portable multi-display device includes a main body panel housing having a first display, a sub-panel housing having a second display, and a coupling device for coupling the main body panel housing to the sub-panel housing such that at least one sides of the first display and the second display can contact each other. The panel housings are separable from and connectable to each other, a range of a border between the displays when the panel housings are interconnected being minimized so that the displays can be shown as if it is driven as a single screen.

1 . A portable multi-display device comprising: 
 a main body panel housing having a first display;    a sub-panel housing having a second display; and    coupling means for coupling the main body panel housing to the sub-panel housing such that at least one sides of the first display and the second display can contact each other.    
     
     
         2 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 1  wherein a side portion of the main body panel housing and a side portion of the first display are disposed on a same plane.  
     
     
         3 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 1  wherein a separable or foldable cover is formed on the main body panel housing.  
     
     
         4 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 3  wherein the cover is provided with an input key.  
     
     
         5 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 1  wherein when the main body panel housing is coupled to the sub-panel housing, at least one of the main and sub displays slides to be disposed adjacent to another display.  
     
     
         6 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 1  wherein the panel housings comprise outer coupling means to which electronic devices can be coupled.  
     
     
         7 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 1  wherein the sub-panel housing is coupled to and stacked on a front or rear side of the main body panel housing.  
     
     
         8 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 1  further comprising protecting means for protecting side portions of the displays, which are exposed through side portions of the panel housings.  
     
     
         9 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 8  wherein the protecting means comprises a foldable protecting cover.  
     
     
         10 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 8  wherein the panel housings are provided with a cover receiving space in which the protecting means is received.  
     
     
         11 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 8  further comprising a sealing cap for protecting the coupling means of side portions of the panel housings.  
     
     
         12 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 8  wherein when the protecting means is folded, a height of the protecting means is greater than the display.  
     
     
         13 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 1  wherein the displays are disposed on tops of side portions of the panel housings.  
     
     
         14 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 13  wherein an opening is formed on a side portion of a joint portion of the panel housings, and the displays are disposed on the side portion where the opening is formed.  
     
     
         15 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 13  wherein the display is fixed on the panel housing by a chassis enclosing the display and a display drive circuit, and the chassis is provided with a fixing member.  
     
     
         16 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 15  wherein the chassis is formed in an integral type which encloses a side portion of the display at the joint portion of the panel housing.  
     
     
         17 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 13  wherein the display and the display drive circuit are mounted on a support, and the support is mounted on the side portion of the joint portion of the panel housing.  
     
     
         18 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 15  or  17  wherein a distance from a display side portion of the joint portion to the fixing member is identical to that from a panel housing side portion of the joint portion to fixing member hooking means.  
     
     
         19 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 1  wherein a non-display area formed by two displays contacting each other at their one side portion is less than 3.2 mm.  
     
     
         20 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 13  or  19  wherein the display comprises upper and lower substrates and sealant for sealing the upper and lower substrates, the sealant being disposed adjacent to electrodes at the joint portion.  
     
     
         21 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 1  further comprising coupling detecting means for detecting a coupling state of the panel housings and a central process unit for selectively driving the displays according to a signal from the coupling detecting means or a mode selection signal.  
     
     
         22 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 21  wherein a cover is mounted on at least one of the panel housings, and further comprises a cover sensor for detecting a closing/opening state of the cover.  
     
     
         23 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 22  further comprising a sub-display controlled by the central process unit according to a signal from the cover sensor.  
     
     
         24 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 1  further comprising fixing means for securely maintaining the coupling state of the panel housings.  
     
     
         25 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 24  wherein the fixing means is provided with a locking device.  
     
     
         26 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 24  wherein the fixing means is formed in an elevated wall.  
     
     
         27 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 24  wherein the fixing means is a projection member.  
     
     
         28 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 24  wherein the fixing means is a step formed on a coupling surface of the panel housing.  
     
     
         29 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 9  and  24  wherein a portion of the protecting cover is cut away so that the fixing means can be located.  
     
     
         30 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 9  wherein the protecting cover is spread inline.  
     
     
         31 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 1  further comprising shock absorbing means formed on a coupling side of the panel housing.  
     
     
         32 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 1  wherein from a state the displays are stacked one another, the displays slide from each other to enlarge the screen with their one side portion contacting each other, wherein a protecting cover is provided to cover a side portion of a joint portion formed at a contacting portion of the displays.  
     
     
         33 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 1  wherein a sliding movement of the displays is performed by a motor.  
     
     
         34 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 32  wherein when the displays are stacked, the displays are not interconnected by a circuit and when the displays are disposed to be adjacent to each other at their one side portion, the displays are interconnected by a circuit connector.  
     
     
         35 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 32  further comprising an intermediate display stacked between the displays, wherein when the displays are spread in opposite directions horizontally, an enlarged single screen is realized.  
     
     
         36 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 1  wherein an extended portion is coupled to the main body.  
     
     
         37 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 36  wherein a memory, an input device or a display is mounted on the extended portion.  
     
     
         38 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 36  wherein the extended portion is mounted on a front or rear portion of the main body.  
     
     
         39 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 36  wherein another extended portion is further mounted on both sides of the main body.  
     
     
         40 . A portable multi-display device of  claim 1  wherein a display is extended on both sides of the main body panel housing.  
     
     
         41 . A method for driving a portable multi-display device, comprising the steps of: 
 coupling or separating at least two displays by a circuit;    detecting a coupling state of the displays and transmitting a corresponding signal to a central process unit;    selecting one of a single display mode and a simple display mode through an input device; and    controlling the displays according to the transmitted signal or the selected display mode in the central process unit to display the single display mode or the simple display mode.