U.S. patent application number 12/151274 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-05 for personal portable communication devices with deployable display systems for three dimensional visual representations and/or privacy and methods of use.
Invention is credited to Donald L. Schilling.
Application Number | 20090275366 12/151274 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40291216 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090275366 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schilling; Donald L. |
November 5, 2009 |
Personal portable communication devices with deployable display
systems for three dimensional visual representations and/or privacy
and methods of use
Abstract
A personal portable communication device includes a deployable
display system movable from a stored position to an extended
position for use in three-dimensional representations of display
data and/or privacy in viewing display data.
Inventors: |
Schilling; Donald L.; (Palm
Beach Gardens, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
EPSTEIN & GERKEN
1901 RESEARCH BOULEVARD, SUITE 340
ROCKVILLE
MD
20850
US
|
Family ID: |
40291216 |
Appl. No.: |
12/151274 |
Filed: |
May 5, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/566 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1654 20130101;
H04M 1/0247 20130101; G06F 1/1652 20130101; G06F 1/1616 20130101;
G06F 1/1647 20130101; G06F 1/1641 20130101; H04M 1/0266 20130101;
H04M 1/0268 20130101; G06F 1/1615 20130101; H04M 1/0214
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/566 |
International
Class: |
H04B 1/38 20060101
H04B001/38 |
Claims
1. A personal portable communication device comprising a housing; a
processor carried by said housing providing display signals
relating to visual representation of display data; an input system
carried by said housing providing communication signals to said
processor; and a display system carried by said housing and
receiving said display signals, said display system being formed of
a plurality of display panels including an inner panel and an outer
panel hingedly connected with said inner panel, said inner and
outer panels having a stored position where said outer panel is
adjacent said inner panel and a deployed position where said outer
panel is in a position non-planar with said inner panel and extends
from said inner panel at an angle less than 180.degree., each of
said inner and outer panels having a plurality of pixels and said
display signals including digital data supplied to said panels in
said deployed position to form a single visual representation of
display incorporating said inner panel pixels and said outer panel
pixels.
2. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 1
wherein said processor provides first and second sets of display
signals to said display system to produce three-dimensional display
data.
3. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 1
wherein said display system includes a second inner panel including
a plurality of pixels, said second inner panel has first and second
spaced lateral edges, said first outer panel being hingedly
connected with said first lateral edge, said first inner panel
being hingedly connected with second lateral edge.
4. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 1
wherein said inner panel and said outer panel form a left display
screen and further comprising a right display screen formed of a
plurality of display panels including a right inner panel and a
right outer panel hingedly connected with said right inner panel,
said right inner and outer panels having a stored position where
said right outer panel is adjacent said right inner panel and a
deployed position where said right outer panel is in a position
non-planar with said right inner panel and extends from said right
inner panel at an angle less than 180.degree., each of said right
inner and right outer panels having a plurality of pixels and said
display signals including digital data supplied to said right inner
and outer panels in said deployed position to form a single visual
representation of display incorporating said right inner panel
pixels and said right outer panel pixels.
5. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 4
wherein said left screen display panels and said right screen
display panels each have arcuate portions in said deployed
positions.
6. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 5
wherein said left processor provides first display signals to said
left screen display panels and second display signals to said right
display panels.
7. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 5
wherein said arcuate portion of said left and right screens provide
different visual displays.
8. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 1
wherein said inner and outer panels carry segments movable to
extended positions to increase the heights of said inner and outer
panels.
9. A method for presenting a three-dimensional visual
representation of display data on a personal portable communication
device comprising the steps of providing a personal portable
communication device having a housing carrying a display system
movable from a stored position to a deployed position to form a
left screen extending laterally beyond a left edge of the housing
and a right screen extending laterally beyond a right edge of the
housing; utilizing first and second cameras to obtain electronic
image signals of display data from first and second perspectives,
respectively; and supplying the electronic image signals to the
display system of the personal portable communication device such
that the electronic image signals from the first camera are used to
depict the display data on the left screen and the electronic image
signals from the second camera are used to depict the display data
on the right screen whereby visualizing the display data on the
left and right screens simultaneously produces a three-dimensional
image of the display data.
10. A method for presenting a three-dimensional visual
representation of display data on a personal portable communication
device comprising the steps of providing a personal portable
communication device having a housing carrying a display system
movable from a stored position to a deployed position to form a
left screen extending laterally beyond a left edge of the housing
and a right screen extending laterally beyond a right edge of the
housing; utilizing camera means to obtain electronic image signals
of display data in odd and even fields; and supplying the
electronic image signals to the display system of the personal
portable communication device such that the odd fields are used to
depict the display data on the left screen and the even fields are
used to depict the display data on the right screen whereby
visualizing the display data on the left and right screens
simultaneously produces a three-dimensional image of the display
data.
11. A method for presenting a three-dimensional visual
representation of display data on a personal portable communication
device as recited in claim 10 wherein said supplying step includes
interpolating alternative lines of the odd and even fields.
12. A method for presenting a three-dimensional visual
representation of display data on a personal portable communication
device as recited in claim 11 wherein said interpolating step
includes arranging voltage values of lines directly above and below
the interpolated line.
13. A personal portable communication device for providing separate
visual representations of display data comprising a housing having
left and right lateral edges on opposing sides; a display system
carried by said housing having a deployed position and including a
left screen extending laterally from said left edge away from said
housing in said deployed position and a second screen extending
laterally from said right edge away from said housing in said
deployed position; a processor carried by said housing providing
display signals to said display system relating to visual
representation of display data, said display signals including a
first set of display signals supplied to said first screen and a
second set of display signals supplied to said second screen, said
first and second sets of display signals creating substantially the
same image on each of said first and second screens; said first
screen having a shape to form a substantially arcuate portion with
a center of curvature at the left eye of a user of the personal
portable communication device and said second screen having a shape
to form a substantially arcuate portion with a center of curvature
at the right eye of the user whereby the view of the user's left
eye is substantially the display data on said first screen and the
view of the user's right eye is substantially the display data on
said second screen.
14. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 13
wherein said display system has a retracted position adjacent said
housing and said first and second screens are movable to be
disposed adjacent said housing when said display system is in said
retracted position.
15. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 14
wherein said first and second screens each include a plurality of
hingedly connected display panels.
16. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 15
wherein said first and second screens each include flexible members
capable of being contracted when said display system is in said
retracted position and extended when said display system is in said
deployed position.
17. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 16
wherein said flexible members can be furled and unfurled.
18. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 13
wherein said first and second sets of display signals correspond to
first and second different views, respectively, of display data
thereby creating a three-dimensional visual representation.
19. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 13
wherein said first and second sets of display signals represent odd
and even fields supplied to said first and second screens.
20. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 13
wherein said display system is detachable from said housing.
21. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 20
wherein said display signals are provided to said display system in
a wireless manner.
22. A personal portable communication device comprising a housing
having left and right edges on opposing sides thereof; a display
system carried by said housing including a first screen extending
laterally from said left edge of said housing away from said
housing and having a privacy portion extending toward the user and
a second screen extending laterally from said right edge of said
housing away from said housing and having a privacy portion
extending toward the user; and a processor carried by said housing
supplying signals to said display system to provide a visual
representation of display data, said privacy portions of said first
and second screens allowing full viewing of said display data to
the user and providing privacy by limiting viewing of said display
data by viewers on either side of the personal portable
communication device.
23. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 22
wherein said display system has a deployed position with said first
screen extending laterally from said left edge of said housing and
said second screen extending laterally from said right edge of said
housing and wherein said display system has a retracted position
with said first and second screens folded to be adjacent said
housing.
24. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 23
and further comprising an input system carried by said housing
providing communication signals to said processor.
25. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 24
wherein said input system includes a plurality of touch-responsive
switches.
26. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 24
wherein said input system includes a voice-recognition circuit.
27. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 24
wherein said input system includes camera means.
28. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 23
wherein said first and second screens are each formed of a
plurality of hingedly connected display panels.
29. A personal portable communication device as recited in claim 28
wherein said display panels have a dimension along said hinged
connections and said display panels are each formed of a base
portion and a portion extendible from said base portion to extend
the height of said first and second screens along said dimension.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to communication devices and
methods and, more particularly, to personal portable communication
devices and methods of use thereof.
[0003] 2. Brief Discussion of the Related Art
[0004] In communications systems used today, the display system
utilized in personal portable communication devices is primarily
planar. Accordingly, people around the user of the personal
portable communication device can easily view the display data such
that the user does not have privacy. Additionally, the display data
is essentially only available in a two-dimensional mode (2D) due to
the planar nature of the display system. Prior art attempts to
provide three-dimensional (3D) displays have been extremely
complicated and expensive. U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,839 to Travis and
Published U.S. Patent Application No. 2006/0176557 to Travis are
exemplary of attempts to provide 3D display systems as is a
television system developed by Phillips Electronics which employed
lenticular lenses. The above prior art utilizes planar display
systems, thus adding to the complexity thereof.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,819,304 to Branson and U.S. Pat. No.
6,859,219 to Saul are exemplary of systems for adjusting the screen
size on a computer, the displays on the screens being planar and
not being useful for either 3D displays or for providing
privacy.
[0006] Stereoscopic viewing is a fundamental technique used to
achieve a 3D picture by two different views being placed in a
special set of eyeglasses so that the left eye sees one view while
the right eye sees the other view. The result, if the user has
similar sight in each eye, is a 3D picture. The basic concept is
that a person's brain combines the two images as it normally does
when any scene or object is viewed to produce the 3D image. In the
past, such systems required special glasses or, as in the case of
the Phillips TV technique, required elaborate and complicated lens
systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention utilizes a display system in a
personal portable communication device where an imaging screen
created by a display system has a retracted position and an
extended position to permit 3D viewing of display data and/or to
provide privacy from individuals near the screen.
[0008] In one aspect, the present invention utilizes a display
system with a personal portable communication device where the
display system is formed of a plurality of display panels having a
stored position and an expanded deployed position to form a single
visual representation of display data.
[0009] In another aspect, a 3D visual representation of display
data is provided on a personal portable communication device by
supplying electronic image signals from first and second cameras to
left and right screens created by a display system for visualizing
the display data primarily by the left and right eyes of a user,
respectively.
[0010] A further aspect of the present invention is to present a 3D
visual representation of display data utilizing electronic image
signals of display data in odd and even fields such that
visualizing the display data on left and right screens
simultaneously produces a 3D image of the display data.
[0011] In a further aspect, a personal portable communication
device has left and right screens each of which have an arcuate
portion with a center of curvature at the left and right eyes of a
user of the personal portable communication device.
[0012] In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a
personal portable communication device including a display system
having first and second screens extending laterally from left and
right sides of a housing for the personal portable communication
device to form privacy portions such that the privacy portions
allow full viewing of display data by the user while obstructing
viewing by others.
[0013] In an additional aspect, a display system for a personal
portable communication device has inner and outer hinged panels
movable from a retracted position to an extended, angled position
where the pixels carried by both the inner and outer panels combine
to form a single visual display of display data.
[0014] Another aspect of the present invention is the incorporation
of a display system in a personal portable communication device
where the display system is extendible from left and right sides of
a housing for the personal portable communication device for
viewing display data and retractable to a position within the
perimeter of the housing for storage.
[0015] These and other aspects of the present invention will become
apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description
of preferred embodiments thereof, particularly when taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference
numerals in the various figures are utilized to designate like or
similar components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a personal portable
communication device according to the present invention where the
device has the general structure of a foldable or flip-type cell
phone and the display system is in a stored/retracted position.
[0017] FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are perspective views of the personal
portable communication device of FIG. 1 in various stages of
movement of the display system from the stored/retracted position
to a fully extended, deployed position.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a partial top view of the display system of FIG. 5
in the fully extended, deployed position and showing the contour of
the display panels relative to eyes of a user.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the components of the
personal portable communication device for use with a communication
network.
[0020] FIGS. 8 and 9 are partial perspectives of hinge and side
structures for the display panels for the personal portable
communication device.
[0021] FIGS. 10 and 11 are partial perspectives of an alternative
arrangement for angular positioning of display panels for the
personal portable communication device.
[0022] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the personal portable
communication device of FIG. 1 with the display system in a closed
position.
[0023] FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 are simplified representations of a
modification of the personal portable communication device mounting
display systems in a stored position, a position during deployment
and in a fully deployed position, respectively.
[0024] FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 are simplified representations of
another modification of the personal portable communication device
mounting display systems in a stored position, a position during
deployment and in a fully deployed position, respectively.
[0025] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a display panel for the
personal portable communication device having a movable
segment.
[0026] FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a system for transmitting two
images to the personal portable communication device.
[0027] FIG. 21 is a simplified representation of screens of a
display system for a personal portable communication device
illustrating odd and even lines for display.
[0028] FIG. 22 illustrates interpolation where an expanded screen
is utilized for the personal portable communication device.
[0029] FIGS. 23 and 24 illustrate non-expanded and expanded lines
for a display system for the personal portable communication
device.
[0030] FIG. 25 is a diagram of a control system for use with the
display system of the personal portable communication device in
non-expanded and expanded positions.
[0031] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a personal portable
communication device of the laptop/notebook computer type.
[0032] FIGS. 27 and 28 are perspective views of a personal portable
communication device with a flexible display system in a
stored/retracted position and a fully extended position,
respectively.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] As used herein "personal portable communication device"
means any electronic and/or digital device of a size to be
hand-held by a user and that includes a processor providing signals
relating to visual representation of display data of any type and a
display system for producing the visual representation, where the
display system is designed, and intended, for viewing by a single
person. Examples of personal portable communication devices
include, but are not limited to, mobile telephones (such as cell
phones), laptop and notebook computers, personal communication
devices, personal digital assistants, mobile and wired or wireless
communication equipment and portable computers in general. As used
herein "processor" means electronic circuitry for receiving signals
from an input system carried by the personal portable communication
device, such as touch-responsive switches, voice-responsive
circuitry and camera signals, and for receiving signals from remote
sources, such as message (voice and data) and image information
from communication networks. As used herein "communication
information" means signals of any type received by the processor
including, but not limited to, wireless signals received from a
communications network, such as a cellular network or a mesh
network, signals received from any source either wireless or wired,
signals received from an input system that is part of the personal
portable communication device, such as touch-operated input
switches, voice responsive (recognition) circuitry and cameras, and
voice, image and data signals received from a source external of
the personal portable communication device. As used herein "display
data" means the visual representation to be shown by the display
system and encompasses alpha-numeric characters and pictures, the
latter including animate and inanimate objects, scenes and any
views discernible to the eye whether still or video.
[0034] A personal portable communication device 50 in accordance
with the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-6 and includes a
housing 52 carrying a display system 54, a processor 56 within the
housing and an input system 58. The personal portable communication
device 50 shown in FIGS. 1-5 has the general configuration of a
mobile telephone (e.g. cell phone) with a foldable display hingedly
supported on a pivot pin 59, usually incorporating a speaker
therein as shown at 61. Accordingly, the input system 58 carried on
the housing includes a keypad carrying a number of touch-operated
input switches 60 for supplying communication signals to the
processor. For example, the communication signals from the input
system can relate to an address (phone number) with which
communication is desired to be established, the name of a party
being called, a message to be sent or stored or a command for
operation of the processor. The number of input switches and the
arrangement thereof on the housing and the foldable mounting of the
display system depends on the type of personal portable
communication device. For example, where the personal portable
communication device is a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a
BlackBerry (e.g. a device which supports e-mail, mobile telephone,
text messaging, internet faxing, web browsing and the like), the
display is typically rigidly (not hingedly) mounted to the housing
and many more touch-operated input switches are carried on the
housing in various arrangements.
[0035] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6, the display system 54
is formed of a lens segment or screen 62 on the left side of the
personal portable communication device and a lens segment or screen
64 on the right side of the personal portable communication device.
The screen 62 is formed of display panels 62a, 62b, 62c and 62d
hingedly or pivotally connected together to permit screen 62 to be
in a stored or retracted position shown in FIG. 1 and to be moved
to a fully extended or deployed position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. To
this end, innermost display panel 62a is mounted to the left side
of a central support 66 at upper and lower hinges 70 positioned at
the back of screen 62. The central support 66 is mounted to housing
52 at pivot pin 59 and can be detachable therefrom to permit the
display system to be removed from the housing. In this event,
communication between the processor 56 and the display system would
be wireless, for example using Bluetooth technology. Inner display
panel 62b is hingedly mounted to display panel 62a at upper and
lower hinges 72 at the front of screen 62. Inner display panel 62c
is hingedly mounted to display panel 62b at upper and lower hinges
74 positioned at the back of screen 62, and outer display panel
62d, which also acts as a privacy portion or shield, is hingedly
mounted to display panel 62c at upper and lower hinges 76
positioned at the front of screen 62.
[0036] Screen 64 has the same construction as screen 62 but is
mounted to the right side of central support 66. Accordingly,
screen 64 is a mirror image of screen 62 and is formed of display
panels 64a, 64b, 64c and 64d hingedly or pivotally connected
together to permit screen 64 to be in the stored or retracted
position shown in FIG. 1 and to be moved to the fully extended or
deployed position shown in FIG. 5. Innermost display panel 64a is
mounted to the right side of central support 66 at upper and lower
hinges 78 positioned at the back of screen 64. Inner display panel
64b is hingedly mounted to display panel 64a at upper and lower
hinges 80 at the front of screen 64. Inner display panel 64c is
hingedly mounted to display panel 64b at upper and lower hinges 82
positioned at the back of screen 64, and outer display panel 64d,
which also acts as a privacy portion or shield, is hingedly mounted
to display panel 64c at upper and lower hinges 84 positioned at the
front of screen 64.
[0037] When the display system is in its stored or retracted
position, the display panels of each screen are adjacent one
another (i.e. face-to-face) and, preferably, within the confines of
the perimeter of central support 66 and the lateral sides of
housing 52 as shown in FIG. 1. To move the display system to an
extended or deployed position, the display panels of each screen
are hingedly moved as a group to pivot in a direction outwardly
from the lateral edges of the personal portable communication
device on hinges 70 and 78, respectively, as shown in FIG. 2; and,
thereafter, display panels 62b, 62c and 62d and display panels 64b,
64c and 64d are pivoted outwardly to the position shown in FIG. 3
where only display panels 62a and 62b of screen 62 and display
panels 64a and 64b of screen 64 are visible. When display panels
62a, 62b and 62c and display panels 64a, 64b and 64c are further
pivoted to extended positions, display panels 62d and 64d are
against (face-to-face with) display panels 62c and 64c,
respectively, as shown in FIG. 4 to place the display system in a
position where display panels 62a, 62b, and 62c of screen 62 and
display panels 64a, 64b and 64c of screen 64 are visible with
display panels 62a and 64a being inner display panels and display
panels 62b and 64b being outer display panels and the backs of
display panels 62d and 64d facing display panels 62a, 62b and 64a,
64b, respectively, to provide privacy for images on screens 62 and
64. Display panels 62d and 64d can be pivoted to the fully extended
or deployed position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. As shown, the
outermost display panels 62d and 64d are extended laterally beyond
the central support and the perimeter of the personal portable
communication device while the innermost display panels 62a and 64a
remain within the confines of the central support member and the
perimeter of the personal portable communication device.
[0038] As noted above, the display system 54 is shown in FIG. 1
with the display panels in a stored or retracted position generally
within the confines of the lateral edges of the housing 52 and is
shown in FIG. 5 in the fully deployed position which is shown from
a top view, and more schematically, in FIG. 6. The display panels
provide stereoscopic visual representations that can be used to
produce a three-dimensional (3D) picture utilizing two different
views of data to be displayed, one view being primarily seen by one
eye of an individual (the left eye 86) and the other view being
primarily seen by the other eye of the individual (the right eye
88). If the individual has similar sight in each eye, the result is
an acceptable 3D picture. Essentially, the individual's brain
combines the two images as occurs during normal viewing of any
scene or object. Essentially objects seen at the same distance from
a viewer's eye follow the circumference of a circle with a radius
determined by the focal length of the eyes. To present images
properly to each eye, the display system of the personal portable
communication device 50 produces images on essentially arcuate
portions shown by dashed lines 62ap and 64ap, for left and right
screens 62 and 64, respectively. The arcuate portions are formed by
four panels for each screen as shown in FIG. 6. Any number of
display panels can be utilized to form a screen for 3D viewing so
long as, when deployed, the hinged arrangement of the display
panels provide a reasonable approximation of an arcuate
circumference. Of course, for 2D viewing, an arcuate position is
not required but the outer panels should extend toward the viewer
for privacy. Accordingly, the screens can be formed by more than
four display panels or by less than four display panels, for
example the arrangements shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0039] A block diagram of the components of the personal portable
communication device 50 is shown in FIG. 7 coupled with a wireless
or wired communication network N which supplies voice,
alpha-numeric and/or image remote input signals 63 to an
antenna/receiver 65 carried by the housing 52. Remote signals from
antenna/receiver 65 are supplied as input signals to processor 56
which also receives local input signals from systems carried by the
housing, for example, image signals from a still or video camera
means 66 (controlled by the processor), which can include DVD
signals, and data input signals from input system 58. The remote
and local input signals are referred to herein as "communication
signals." The processor 56 supplies display signals 68 to display
system 54 to form a single visual representation of display data
via pixels on each of the screens 62 and 64 as depicted at I in
FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Of course, if desired and particularly when the
display system is primarily used for privacy, a single visual
representation of the display data can be displayed using both
screens 62 and 64. The visual display can be created in any manner,
such as using LCD, LED and/or plasma technologies. The display
signals can be supplied to the display system in a wired manner or
in a wireless manner, e.g. using Bluetooth technology. The display
signals 68 are supplied to the display system in accordance with
the screen configuration and pixels being used for the display
data. The user can supply information to the processor relating to
the screen configuration and pixels being used for display data via
the input switches of the input system 58, or the information
relating to the screen configuration and pixels being used for
display data can be supplied to the processor via sensors on the
display system where the screens are configured manually or
mechanically. Of course, the information relating to the screen
configuration and pixels being used for display data can also be
obtained from the electronic command signals where micromotors are
used as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The display system can be
detachable from the housing; and, in this case, wireless
transmission of display signals to the display system is
preferred.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 1, the display panels are illustrated in an
exemplary configuration where the display panels are stored in the
front of the personal portable communication device. In this
embodiment, each display panel is illustrated as having a width
essentially 50% of the width of the support member or housing.
Hinge structures permit the four display panels to extend to their
operating or deployed position. The extension and the folding of
the display panels can be performed manually to ensure that a
proper curvature is obtained for a particular user/viewer. As shown
in FIGS. 8 and 9, adjacent display panels, for example display
panels 62b and 62c, can have chamfered or beveled sides as shown at
angles A and B such that, when the display panels are deployed,
abutment of the sides creates an angle C to help form the arcuate
portions of the screens. The angles between adjacent display panels
should be less than 180.degree., particularly between inner and
outer display panels, and the angles can be controlled manually by
using hinge arrangements with sufficient friction between hinge
components to allow the display panels to remain in manually
deployed positions. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the
hinged display panels, for example display panels 62b and 62c, can
be opened and closed using electronic command signals from
processor 56 to drive a micromotor 90 and a gear 92 to achieve a
desired angle C between adjacent display panels to achieve desired
screen curvature. The micromotor 90 is mounted on one display
panel, e.g. 62b, and the gear 92 has teeth 94 engaging
complimentary recesses 96 in the adjacent display panel, e.g. 62c.
In the fully deployed position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the
outermost display panels 62d and 64d provide a privacy function to
reduce, as much as is practical, the ability of a person other than
the direct viewer, from viewing the visual
representation/picture.
[0041] After use, the display panels are refolded to the
storage/retracted position shown in FIG. 1. The display system can
be mounted on the personal portable communication device at any
desired position, primarily dependent on the type of personal
portable communication device on which the display system is
mounted. Where a personal portable communication device is a mobile
phone of the foldable or flip-style type, as shown in FIG. 1, when
the personal portable communication device is not in use, the
display system can be folded to the position shown in FIG. 12 by
pivoting the central support 66, and the display panels in the
retracted state, about pivot pin 59 such that display panels 62d
and 64d face the keypad of input system 58.
[0042] Top views of a modification of the personal portable
communication device are shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 with screen
62 in a stored/retracted position, a partially deployed position
and a fully deployed position, respectively. The display panels
62a, 62b, 62c and 62d, as shown in FIG. 13, are stored in front of
the housing 52 of a personal portable communication device 50,
while FIG. 14 shows the display panels of screen 62 pivoting
together as opposed to the pivoting of each display panel
individually as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Screen 62 as shown in
FIG. 15 has display panels 62b and 62c in a co-planar arrangement
such that screen 62 still approximates a curvature due to angled
innermost display panel 62a and angled outer display panel 62d.
Accordingly, while the arrangement of display panels shown in FIG.
15 is effective for 3D image presentation as described herein, the
arrangement provides privacy due to outer display panel 62d
extending away from housing 52 toward the user of the personal
portable communication device. The right screen 64 is not shown in
FIGS. 13, 14 and 15; however, it should be understood that the
construction of screen 64 is a mirror image of screen 62 but
mounted on top of the right side of housing 52.
[0043] Top views of screen 62 of another modification of the
personal portable communication device are shown in FIGS. 16, 17
and 18 in a stored/retracted position, a partially deployed
position and a fully deployed position, respectively. The display
panels 62a, 62b, 62c and 62d, as shown in FIG. 16, are stored on
top of the housing 52 of personal portable communication device 50,
while FIG. 17 shows the display panels of screen 62 pivoting
together as opposed to the pivoting of each display panel
individually as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Screen 62 as shown in
FIG. 18 has display panels 62b and 62c in a co-planar arrangement
such that screen 62 still approximates a curvature due to angled
innermost display panel 62a and angled outer display panel 62d.
Accordingly, while the arrangement of display panels shown in FIG.
18 is effective for 3D image presentation as described herein, the
arrangement provides privacy due to outer display panel 62d
extending away from housing 52 toward the user of the personal
portable communication device. The right screen 64 is not shown in
FIGS. 16, 17 and 18; however, it should be understood that the
construction of screen 64 is a mirror image of screen 62 but
mounted on the right side of the front of the housing 52. (0042)
The height of the display panels can be increased by storing a
movable second segment 98 of a display panel 100 within or behind
the display panels as shown in FIG. 19. The second segment can be
spring loaded to "pop up" on command or can be slid up manually or
electronically. The use of the additional segments provides
increased viewing, and there are numerous other ways of expanding
the screens produced by the display system.
[0044] In order to achieve three-dimensional (3D) effects using a
stereoscopic technique, two cameras spaced apart can be used to
produce communication signals for supply to the processor 56, it
being appreciated that for a standard two-dimensional (2D) visual
representation only a single camera is used. The communication
signals from the cameras can be produced from a remote source, i.e.
63, or from a local source, i.e. 66. For example, the remote camera
communication signals can be from a 2D or 3D video/movie and/or
still image via the network N while the local camera communication
signals can be from a 2D or 3D video/movie and/or still image
generated by components carried by the personal portable
communication device such as camera/video 66 or a DVD player
associated therewith. Shown in FIG. 20 is one example of a system
for transmitting two images to the personal portable communication
device. As shown in FIG. 20, electronic signals 102 and 104
representing images from the left camera 106 and the right camera
108, respectively, are digitized by analog-to-digital converters
110 and 112, respectively, and multiplexed together by multiplexer
114 prior to transmitting the combined signal 116 via a standard
modulator 118 and antenna 120. If each of the original camera
signals is to be transmitted at the same original rate, the
composite signal should be transmitted at twice that rate and,
thus, uses twice the bandwidth. To avoid this situation, the
modulation can be changed from, for example, 16 QAM to 256 QAM.
Alternatively, standard data compression can be used. The above,
and other similar techniques, are well known to persons of ordinary
skill working in the communications field. After the multiplexed
data signal is received by the personal portable communication
device, the received signal is demultiplexed to recover the left
and right wave forms for supply to the left and right display
screens.
[0045] Normally, an image is displayed line by line in a
conventional personal portable communication device. If there are,
for example, 1000 lines per display, the odd lines (the odd field)
are displayed first followed by sweeping out the even lines in
order to optimally use the retentive power of the eye. Otherwise,
the top of the picture would "fade" by the time the bottom is
viewed. The sweeping of the first 500 odd numbered lines, referred
to as the first field, and the sweeping of the second 500 even
numbered lines, referred to as the second field, occur in the
United States at a rate of 1/30 of a second each. The total,
referred to as a frame, occurs 15 times/second. To illustrate the
principal of screen display, FIG. 21 shows screens 62 and 64 of
display system 54 with ten lines per scan constituted by five lines
OL1, OL3, OL5, OL7 and OL9 in the odd field and five lines EL2,
EL4, EL6, EL8 and EL10 in the even field, the odd and even lines
running horizontally through display panels 62a, 62b, 62c and 62d
of screen 62 and display panels 64a, 64b, 64c and 64d of screen 64
thus forming pixels such that an entire frame of a picture can be
considered as formed of boxes with each box receiving a G, R and B
signal to produce a resulting color and intensity of color. Thus,
each box can be thought of as the resolution of the display system.
In the United States, standard television is about 500.times.500 or
about 250,000 pixels. In the example shown in FIG. 21, each frame
consists of 250 pixels in each of the left and right eye screens 62
and 64. The left eye signal is swept across odd lines OLI1, OLI3,
OLI5, OLI7 and OLI9 and then across lines EL2, EL4, EL6, EL8 and
EL10. The sweep continues across all four display panels before
starting at the beginning of the next specified line. Of course,
the same procedure is used for the right eye signal.
[0046] Alternatively, two fields in a frame of video can be used to
represent the left and right eye images for viewing with one field
(i.e. left) displayed on the left eye screen 62 and the other field
(i.e. right) displayed on the right eye screen 64. This procedure
produces a 3D effect, particularly when the objects photographed
are moving, and can be used without requiring two cameras.
[0047] The personal portable communication device can be operated
in a two dimensional mode while providing privacy since the outer
or end display panels 62d and 64d are turned in toward the user of
the personal portable communication device. As described above, the
display panels can be designed so that the angular arrangement of
adjacent display panels is fixed or is under the control of the
user. In the latter case, a particular setting is selected by the
user, and the display panels can be appropriately pivoted manually,
electronically or mechanically.
[0048] With the personal portable communication device display
system in a position with the movable display panel segments
extended as shown in FIG. 19, the left and right video inputs start
the line sweep at the top of the movable panel segments and end the
line sweep at the bottom of the panels. If a basic panel contains
500 lines, then doubling the size of the panel results in 1000
lines. However, data is only available for 500 lines. Obviously,
every other line (alternate lines) could be skipped; however, a
more acceptable picture is obtained with greater clarity if every
odd line is used and the even lines filled in with a voltage which
is the average of the value directly above and below. The above
interpolation is illustrated in FIG. 22 where the middle line is
interpolated to be the average, VM=(VT+VB)/2), it being noted that
more elaborate interpolation techniques can be used.
[0049] Since television broadcasts employ an even field and an odd
field as shown in FIG. 23, when expanded, the display is as shown
in FIG. 24. When the display system is expanded in height by
expanding each of the panels as shown in FIG. 19, the electronic
control signal is changed so that the signal sweep starts at the
top of the expanded panel and ends at the last appropriate row of
the standard panel. The "skipping" of rows must be initiated, with
the interpolation procedure becoming operational, the above being
achieved by the original control activated by the user to expand
the display system. An example of such a control is illustrated in
FIG. 25 where a control signal 120 routes a television video signal
122 to the top line of the expanded display system in the expanded
mode or to the top line of the regular display system in the
unexpanded mode via AND gates 124 and 126 and inverter 128.
Alternate control circuitry is well known to those of ordinary
skill in the communication/television field.
[0050] In an additional mode of operation, the personal portable
communication device display can be employed by connecting the left
and right screens together in the middle and sweeping the picture
data from left to right across the entire set of display panels
i.e. both screens.
[0051] An embodiment where the personal portable communication
device 50?is a laptop/notebook computer is shown in FIG. 26. It is
noted that such computers normally have reduced width keyboards
with hinged displays such that the devices are easily portable and
designed for use by a single user, i.e. personal. Typically, the
displays for such computers are hingedly mounted to the
keyboards/housings and a display system 54?is shown formed of
hingedly connected display panels including an array of inner
display panels 130 and opposing outer display panels 132 and 134
extending toward the user of the computer, the outer display panels
132 and 134 being connected to the left and right ends of the inner
display panels by hinges 136 and 138, respectively. As in all the
embodiments disclosed herein, the display system can be detachable
from the housing, and the display panels can be angularly
adjustable. The inner display panel arrangement can be formed of a
single display panel or multiple display panels angularly
adjustable relative to adjacent inner display panels to produce an
arcuate portion for the display system or co-planar to produce an
inner rectilinear portion for the display system. Alternatively,
the inner display panels 130 can be rigidly connected to be
co-planar or curved, or the inner display panels can be formed by a
single panel. The outer display panels 132 and 134 extend angularly
toward the keyboard/housing 140 to provide privacy for the images
displayed while also being capable of showing images as part of, or
in addition to, the images displayed on the inner display panels.
Since the outer display panels are hingedly connected to the inner
display panels, the display system can be folded to a compact,
retracted, storage position to facilitate portability.
[0052] Another embodiment of a display system 54?for a personal
portable communication device 50? is shown in FIGS. 27 and 28 with
the display system in stored/retracted and extended positions,
respectively. The personal portable communication device 50?is
shown, for exemplary purposes as a Blackberry, with the input
system 58?having left and right screens 62?and 64,?respectively,
each formed as a flexible member mounted on a central support 66?.
The screens 62?and 64?can have any desired structure, for example,
the flexible display structure described at
http://www.ices.cmu.edu/design/foldabledisplay.html, allowing the
screens to be rolled up, furled or unfolded to an extended position
where the screens present an extended imaging area. As shown, the
imaging area extends beyond the lateral sides 142 and 144 of a
housing 52?for the personal portable communication device 50?. The
screens 62?and 64?form arcuate portions for 3D imaging as explained
above and/or for privacy of viewing the image provided by the
display system.
[0053] The display system need not extend beyond the edges of the
housing when the display system is in the deployed position. For
example, where the image data is display at a 90.degree.
perspective relative to that shown in the drawings, the screens may
not extend beyond the edges of the housing; or, if the housing has
a sufficient width or height, the screens may not extend beyond the
edges of the housing.
[0054] Inasmuch as the present invention is subject to many
variations, modifications and changes in detail, it is intended
that all subject matter discussed above or shown in the
accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative only and not
be taken in a limiting sense.
* * * * *
References