Multi-sided display for portable computer

Abstract

A display apparatus for providing multi-sided viewing functionality. In one embodiment, the display apparatus is comprised of a front cover which is electrically and mechanically coupled to an electronic device. A first display component is disposed on the front cover and includes a front display panel and a rear display panel. A second display component is coupled to the electronic device. A display control circuit, coupled to the electronic device, is adapted to activate and to deactivate display panels in direct response to the orientation of the front cover, and when electronic device is so configured, to the orientation of a second cover, interposed between the front cover and the electronic device. Electronic ink technology is used in the formation of the two sided display components.

1 . A display apparatus providing multi-sided viewing functionality for an electronic device, said apparatus comprising:
 a) a front cover coupled to said electronic device;   b) a first display comprising a first viewable portion and a second viewable portion, wherein said first display is coupled to said front cover; and   c) a display control circuit for enabling said first display, said display control circuit coupled to said electronic device, said display control circuit responsive to the orientation of said front cover, wherein when said front cover is moved from a closed position to an open position, information displayed on said first viewable portion is automatically transferred to said second viewable portion of said first display.   
     
     
         2 . The display apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second display, coupled to said electronic device, wherein said display control circuit responsive to the orientation of said front cover activates said second display when said front cover is moved from said closed position to said open position.   
     
     
         3 . The display apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first viewable portion is on a front display portion and said second viewable portion is on a back display portion of said first display. 
     
     
         4 . The display apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said front cover is mechanically coupled to said electronic device via a hinge, wherein said hinge is adapted to open and close said front cover, such that when said front cover is open, said front cover is in an open position, and when said front cover is closed, said front cover is in a default position, and wherein said first viewable portion is on a front display portion and wherein said second viewable portion is on a rear display portion of said first display. 
     
     
         5 . The display apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said display control circuit, responsive to said default position of said front cover, activates said front display portion of said first display of said front cover, to enable viewing functionality of said front display portion of said first display while said display control circuit deactivates said rear display portion of said first display of said front cover. 
     
     
         6 . The display apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a second display comprising a first viewable portion and a second viewable portion, wherein said first viewable portion is on the front side of said second display, and wherein said second viewable portion is on the rear side of said second display, coupled to said electronic device, wherein said display control circuit, responsive to said open position of said front cover, activates said rear display portion of said first display and said front side of said second display of said electronic device while said display control circuit deactivates said front display portion of said first display of said front cover.   
     
     
         7 . The display apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a processor for processing data; and   a keyboard entry device for facilitating a user interaction.   
     
     
         8 . A two-sided display apparatus for providing multi-sided viewing for an electronic device, said apparatus comprising:
 a) a front cover coupled to said electronic device, said front cover comprising a hinge for opening and closing said front cover, wherein said closed front cover is a default position;   b) a first display coupled to said front cover, said first display having a front viewable portion and a rear viewable portion; and   c) a display control circuit coupled to said electronic device, adapted to activate said first display, said display control circuit responsive to the orientation of said front cover, wherein when said front cover is moved from a closed position to an open position, information displayed on said front viewable portion of said first display is transferred automatically to said rear viewable portion of said first display.   
     
     
         9 . The display apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a second display, coupled to said electronic device, said second display having a front viewable portion and a rear viewable portion, wherein said display control circuit activates said second display when said front cover is moved from said closed position to said open position.   
     
     
         10 . The display apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said first display and said second display comprise a thin flexible transparent material, said thin flexible transparent material being analogous to mylar. 
     
     
         11 . The display apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said transparent material comprises a first layer and a second layer, said first layer and said second layer coupled to each other, such that they create a sealed chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The display apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said sealed chamber comprises a first transparent conducting layer and a second transparent conducting layer disposed within said sealed chamber, said first transparent conductive layer and said second transparent layer responsive to voltage applied by said display control circuit. 
     
     
         13 . The display apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said first transparent conducting layer and said second transparent conducting layer are idium tin oxide. 
     
     
         14 . The display apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said first transparent conducting layer is disposed toward said front viewable portion and said second transparent conducting layer is disposed toward said rear viewable portion. 
     
     
         15 . The display apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said sealed chamber further comprises a fluid, said fluid comprising a first colored liquid and at least a second colored liquid. 
     
     
         16 . The display apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said sealed chamber is predominately filled with said first colored liquid. 
     
     
         17 . The display apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said first colored liquid is white ink. 
     
     
         18 . The display apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said second colored liquid is black ink. 
     
     
         19 . The display apparatus of  claim 18  wherein said black ink is transparently encapsulated by a multisided viewing display. 
     
     
         20 . The display apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said transparently encapsulated black ink is electrostatically charged. 
     
     
         21 . The display apparatus of  claim 20  wherein said transparently encapsulated black ink is attracted to said voltage provided by said display control circuit, said voltage is more positive voltage. 
     
     
         22 . An electronic device comprising:
 a housing;   a flippable cover hinged to said housing and having an open state and a closed state, said flippable cover comprising a flexible first display having multi-sided viewing functionality comprising a front viewable portion and a back viewable portion; wherein   said front viewable portion is operable to display information provided said flippable cover is in said closed state; and wherein further   upon said flippable cover opening to said open state, said front viewable portion becomes deactivated, said back viewable portion automatically becomes activated and displays said information.   
     
     
         23 . An electronic device as described in  claim 21 , wherein said housing support a second display, and wherein said display control circuit, upon said flippable cover opening to said open state, activates said second display for displaying additional information. 
     
     
         24 . An electronic device as described in  claim 22  wherein said first and said second display are flat panel display screens. 
     
     
         25 . An electronic device as described in  claim 23  wherein said flat panel display screens comprise electronic ink technology. 
     
     
         26 . An electronic device as described in  claim 21  further comprising:
 a processor for processing data; and   a keyboard entry device for facilitating a user interaction.   
     
     
         27 . An electronic device comprising:
 a housing supporting a first display;   a first flippable cover hinged to said housing and having an open state and a closed state, said first flippable cover comprising a second flexible display having multi-sided viewing functionality comprising a front viewable portion and a back viewable portion;   a second flippable cover hinged to said housing opposite to said first flippable cover and having an open state and a closed state, said second flippable cover comprising a third flexible display having multi-sided viewing functionality comprising a front viewable portion and a back viewable portion; wherein   said front viewable of said second cover is active to display a first set of information provided said first and second covers are closed; and wherein further,   upon said second cover opening, said front viewable portion of said second cover becomes deactivated, said back viewable portion of said second cover becomes activated and displays said first set of information and said front viewable portion of said first cover becomes activated for the display of second set of information; and wherein further,   upon said first cover opening while said second cover is open, said front viewable portion of said first cover becomes deactivated, said back viewable portion of said first cover becomes activated and displays said second set of information and said first display becomes activated to display a third set of information.   
     
     
         28 . An electronic device as described in  claim 27  wherein said first and said second and said third display are flat panel display screens. 
     
     
         29 . An electronic device as described in  claim 28  wherein said flat panel display screens comprise electronic ink technology. 
     
     
         30 . In an electronic device configured with a flexible cover mounted display having multi-sided viewing functionality comprising a first and a second side, a method for utilizing multiple display capabilities, said method comprising:
 a) powering on said electronic device, such that said flexible cover mounted display having multi-sided viewing functionality comprising said first and said second side are operable to display a first set of information; and   b) opening said flexible cover so as to automatically deactivate said first side and to automatically activate said second side of said flexible cover, to display said first set of information.