Flexible screen display with touch sensor in a portable computer

Abstract

A user interface for a portable electronic device comprising a flexible display panel and a flexible touch sensor. The flexible touch sensor is operable to register a position where contact is made with a surface of the flexible display panel, such that the position of contact registered is translated into a particular command for controlling the portable electronic device. In the present embodiment, the flexible touch sensor is disposed beneath the flexible display panel. As such, the quality of the display is not diminished. In addition, the combination of the flexible display panel and the flexible touch sensor reduces the thickness of the portable computer system.

1 . A user interface for a portable electronic device, said user interface comprising: 
 a) a display panel, said display panel forming a first layer of said user interface; and    b) a sensor coupled with said display panel, said sensor forming a second layer of said user interface, wherein said sensor detects a position where contact is made with a surface of said user interface, wherein said position on said user interface corresponds to a particular command for controlling said portable electronic device.    
     
     
         2 . The user interface of  claim 1  wherein said sensor is disposed beneath said display panel, wherein a user contact is with said display panel.  
     
     
         3 . (canceled)  
     
     
         4 . The user interface of  claim 1  wherein said sensor comprises a fabric.  
     
     
         5 . The user interface of  claim 4  wherein said fabric is disposed within said display panel, such that said sensor is internal to said display panel.  
     
     
         6 . The user interface of  claim 4  wherein said fabric comprises conductive fibers, said conductive fibers adapted to conduct electrical impulses responsive to said contact with said user interface.  
     
     
         7 . The user interface of  claim 1  wherein the technology employed in the fabrication of said display panel is electronic paper technology.  
     
     
         8 . The user interface of  claim 1  wherein a support shelf structure is disposed beneath said sensor.  
     
     
         9 . The user interface of  claim 1  wherein said user interface further comprises: 
 an additional instance of said sensor, said additional sensor disposed beneath a support shelf, said additional sensor coupled to said user interface; and    an additional instance of said display panel, said additional display coupled to said user interface, said additional display panel disposed beneath said additional sensor, whereby two sided viewable display functionality is provided to said user interface.    
     
     
         10 . A portable computer system comprising: 
 a) a bus;    b) a memory device coupled with said bus;    c) a processor coupled with said bus;    d) a display panel coupled with said bus, said display panel forming a first layer of a user interface; and    e) a sensor coupled with said display panel, said sensor forming a second layer of a user interface.    
     
     
         11 . The portable computer system of  claim 10  wherein said sensor detects a position where contact is made with a surface of said display panel, wherein said particular position on said display panel corresponds to a particular command for controlling said portable electronic device.  
     
     
         12 . The portable computer system of  claim 10  wherein said sensor is disposed beneath said display panel, wherein a user contact is with said display panel.  
     
     
         13 . (canceled)  
     
     
         14 . The portable computer system of  claim 10  wherein said sensor comprises a fabric.  
     
     
         15 . The portable computer system of  claim 14  wherein said fabric is disposed within said display panel, such that said sensor is internal to said display panel.  
     
     
         16 . The portable computer system of  claim 14  wherein said fabric comprises conductive fibers, said conductive fibers adapted to conduct electrical impulses responsive to said contact of said display panel.  
     
     
         17 . The portable computer system of  claim 10  wherein the technology employed in the fabrication of said display panel is electronic paper technology.  
     
     
         18 . The portable computer system of  claim 10  wherein a support shelf is disposed beneath said sensor, said support shelf adapted to prevent puncturing of said display panel and said sensor.  
     
     
         19 . The portable computer system of  claim 10  wherein said portable computer system further comprises; 
 an additional instance of said sensor, said additional sensor disposed beneath said support shelf, said additional sensor coupled to said portable computer system; and    an additional instance of said display panel, said additional display coupled to said portable computer system, said additional display panel disposed beneath said additional sensor, whereby two sided viewable display functionality is provided to said portable computer system.    
     
     
         20 . A method for providing a user interface for a portable computer system, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) displaying images and characters to a user via a display panel;    b) receiving input via a sensor, said sensor detects a position where contact is made with a surface of said display panel;    c) translating said input into a particular command for controlling said portable electronic device.    
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 20  wherein said sensor is disposed beneath said display panel, wherein a user contact is with said display panel.  
     
     
         22 . (canceled)  
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 20  wherein said sensor is disposed within said display panel, such that said sensor is internal to said display panel.  
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 20  wherein said sensor comprises a fabric, said fabric comprising conductive fibers adapted to conduct electrical impulses responsive to said contact with said user interface.  
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 20  wherein the technology employed in the fabrication of said display panel is electronic paper technology.