Multiple mode display apparatus

Abstract

A multiple mode display apparatus and methods of use. An apparatus includes a display surface with a first and a second display area. A housing pivotally attached with the display proximate a first edge of the housing is displaceable from a coplanar position with the surface of the display device to a position wherein an angle of at least 90 degrees between the surface of the display and the housing is formed along said first edge. In the first position, the first display area is visible and activated to receive user input or to display output. The second display area is covered by the housing and placed in a mode of reduced power consumption. In the second position, the second display area is visible and activated to display output.

1 . A method comprising:
 placing a display device in a first mode of reduced power consumption by closing a first housing over the display device having a first display area and a second display area to cover the second display area, wherein the first display area is visible and active to display scrolled output; and   placing the display device in a second mode of greater power consumption than the first mode by opening the first housing to uncover the second display area, wherein the second display area is active.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: closing a second housing over the display device to cover the first display area and to place the display device in a third mode of reduced power consumption with respect to the second mode, the third mode different from the first mode. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the first display area and the second display area both deactivated in the third mode. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the first display area is touch sensitive in the first mode. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the second display area is touch sensitive and is activated to accept user input by opening the first housing. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus comprising:
 an interactive display device having a surface comprising a first display area and a second display area;   a first housing attached in a substantially coplanar first position with the surface of the display device wherein the second display area is inactive and visually obscured by the first housing, the first display area is visible and active as an input device to receive user input and to display output, the first housing being displaceable to a second position with the surface of the display device wherein the first display area and the second display area are both visible and both active to display output.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the first display area is touch sensitive in the first position. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , the first housing comprising a keyboard to accept user input in the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the first display area and the second display area are touch sensitive in the second position. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , the first housing comprising a keyboard to accept user input in the first position. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 an interactive display device having a surface comprising a first display area and a second display area;   a first housing attached in a substantially coplanar first position with the surface of the display device wherein the second display area is placed in a mode of reduced power consumption and obscured by the first housing while the first display area is visible and activated as an input device to receive user input and to display output, the first housing displaceable to a second position with the surface of the display device wherein the first display area and the second display area are both visible and activated to display output.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the mode of reduced power consumption is accomplished in part by deactivating back-lighting for the second display area in the first position. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , the first housing comprising a keyboard to accept user input in the second position. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the first display area and the second display area are touch sensitive and activated to receive user input in the second position. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , the first housing comprising a keyboard to accept user input in the first position.