Flexible and rigid touch screen display computing devices

Abstract

Reconfigurable touch screen computing devices with folding configurations that include flexible and rigid displays made up of segments that can be reconfigured from a compact state to an expanded state. The form factor of the compact state is roughly the size of a typical handheld phone, with an integrated speaker and microphone. The form factor of the expanded state is roughly the size of a tablet computer which may also include the mechanical functionality of a laptop. Both states may provide a configuration which including a touch screen display on a front side and a protective housing on a back side. The computing devices may further include sensors to indicate the state of configuration and mechanisms for alignment, locking, and structural support. A module attached to, situated within, or associated with at least one segment may contain substantially all processing and memory, and a communications system, usable in either state.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of touch-sensitive displays, including at least one principal display having at least one rigid display segment, and at least one auxiliary display having at least two flexible display segments, said auxiliary display having a folded state and an expanded state.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a speaker and a microphone, wherein said principal display segment comprises a first end and a second end, said first end being opposed to said second end, wherein in the folded state, the speaker is proximate to the first end of the principal display segment, and the microphone is proximate to the second end of the principal display segment. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a speaker and a microphone, wherein said principal display segment comprises a first end and a second end, said first end being opposed to said second end, wherein the speaker is proximate to the first end of the principal display segment, and the microphone is proximate to the second end of the principal display segment. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising at least one hardware component for generating a signal, said hardware component having a first signal corresponding to a folded state of the auxiliary display and a second signal corresponding to an expanded state of the auxiliary display;
 a processor to:
 obtain an image to be displayed, and 
 display the image based on the signal output of the hardware component, wherein when the first signal is generated, the processor is to display the image substantially on the principal display, and when the second signal is generated, the processor is to display the image substantially on the auxiliary display. 
   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said hardware component is a sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said hardware component is an electromechanical switch. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said hardware component is a manually operable switch having a momentary position, wherein when said momentary position is activated, said manually operable switch can generate said first signal or said second signal. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said hardware component is a manually operable switch having a first position and a second position, wherein when said manually operable switch is in said first position, said first signal is generated, and when said manually operable switch is in said second position, said second signal is generated. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said principle display segment and said auxiliary display segments each include a respective magnetic component, said magnetic component causing the principle display segment and the auxiliary display segments to be mutually attracted in the folded state. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said principle display segment and said auxiliary display segments each include a respective magnetic component, said magnetic component causing the principle display segment and the auxiliary display segments to be mutually attracted in the expanded state. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said principle display segment and said auxiliary display segments each include structural housings which are connected to each other by hinge elements. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising at least four display segments, wherein one display segment is part of said rigid principle display, and three segments are part of said flexible auxiliary display. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising at least five display segments, wherein one display segment is part of said rigid principle display, and four segments are part of said flexible auxiliary display. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of touch-sensitive displays, including at least one principal display having at least one rigid display segment, and at least one auxiliary display having at least two flexible display segments, said auxiliary display having a folded state and an expanded state;   at least one speaker and at least one microphone, wherein when the auxiliary display is in a folded state, the speaker and microphone are configured with the principle display such that the apparatus is operable as a phone.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said principal display segment comprises a first end and a second end, said first end being opposed to said second end, wherein in the folded state, the speaker is proximate to the first end of the principal display segment, and the microphone is proximate to the second end of the principal display segment. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , comprising at least one hardware component for generating a signal, said hardware component having a first signal corresponding to a folded state of the auxiliary display and a second signal corresponding to an expanded state of the auxiliary display;
 a processor to:
 obtain an image to be displayed, and 
 display the image based on the signal output of the hardware component, wherein when the first signal is generated, the processor is to display the image substantially on the principal display, and when the second signal is generated, the processor is to display the image substantially on the auxiliary display. 
   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said hardware component is a sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said hardware component is an electromechanical switch. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said hardware component is a manually operable switch having a momentary position, wherein when said momentary position is activated, said manually operable switch can generate said first signal or said second signal. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said hardware component is a manually operable switch having a first position and a second position, wherein when said manually operable switch is in said first position, said first signal is generated, and when said manually operable switch is in said second position, said second signal is generated. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said principle display segment and said auxiliary display segments each include a respective magnetic component, said magnetic component causing the principle display segment and the auxiliary display segments to be mutually attracted in the folded state. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said principle display segment and said auxiliary display segments each include a respective magnetic component, said magnetic component causing the principle display segment and the auxiliary display segments to be mutually attracted in the expanded state. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said principle display segment and said auxiliary display segments each include structural housings which are connected to each other by hinge elements. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , comprising at least four display segments, wherein one display segment is part of said rigid principle display, and three segments are part of said flexible auxiliary display. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , comprising at least five display segments, wherein one display segment is part of said rigid principle display, and four segments are part of said flexible auxiliary display.