Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080238813 | COMPUTING DEVICE AND DISPLAY FOR COMPUTING DEVICE - A display system for a handheld computing device includes a processing unit having a first communication port, and a visual display unit separable from the processing unit. The visual display unit further includes a visual display, and a second communication port. The display unit can be expanded from an initial or storage state to present a larger visual display size. Further, the first communication port providing communication with the second communication port. | 10-02-2008 |
20080246726 | Portable electronic device having a pliable or flexible portion - A portable electronic device or handheld computer is disclosed. The device has a housing and computing electronics supported by the housing. A pliable sensor that is supported by the housing is also disclosed. The pliable sensor provides input from the hand of a user by applying pressure to the pliable sensor. | 10-09-2008 |
20090079721 | Dynamic brightness range for portable computer displays based on ambient conditions - A portable computer system that comprises dynamically adjustable brightness range settings and brightness control for providing improved user readability and prolonged component lifetime of the display screen. The main processor can change the range settings based on ambient light conditions or the user can perform the changes. The brightness level of the display changes according to a user selected setting within the range selected. The time required to implement the brightness change can be set to a value which can be configured by the user. | 03-26-2009 |
20090262128 | DYNAMIC BRIGHTNESS RANGE FOR PORTABLE COMPUTER DISPLAYS BASED ON AMBIENT CONDITIONS - A portable computer system that comprises dynamically adjustable brightness range settings and brightness control for providing improved user readability and prolonged component lifetime of the display screen. The main processor can change the range settings based on ambient light conditions or the user can perform the changes. The brightness level of the display changes according to a user selected setting within the range selected. The time required to implement the brightness change can be set to a value which can be configured by the user. | 10-22-2009 |
20090279241 | COVER FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A cover for an electronic device for a portable electronic device is disclosed. The cover may comprise a thin, flexible transparent layer coupled with a supporting structure over a display screen and a digitizer mechanism. The digitizer mechanism may include a flexible conductive paste and a digitizing element. Users input data by applying mechanical pressure on the cover which deflects it and causes the conductive paste to contact and activate the digitizing element disposed beneath. A decorative border may be molded into the cover to conceal the electrical elements of the portable electronic device. The decorative border may be disposed directly beneath the flexible cover. The cover may be dust-free, waterproof, and have an outer surface that is free of any steps, openings, or indentations. Indentations may be molded into the cover to indicate button functions. | 11-12-2009 |
20100045628 | INPUT DETECTION SYSTEM FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A proximity input detection system for an electronic device. In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes an inductive field sensor to detect a change in a magnetic field when an input device with a coil is within a threshold distance. In another embodiment, the present invention utilizes a capacitive sensor which can locate the position of an electrically conductive object which is within a threshold distance. The capacitive sensor can also be used, for example, as a switch to activate the device if a user picks it up. The present invention allows user inputs to be detected without actually touching the electronic device. The present invention can also be used to detect inputs through intervening non-metallic layers such as a protective cover or another display of the device without using additional input sensors. | 02-25-2010 |
20100045633 | INPUT DETECTION SYSTEM FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A proximity input detection system for an electronic device. In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes an inductive field sensor to detect a change in a magnetic field when an input device with a coil is within a threshold distance. In another embodiment, the present invention utilizes a capacitive sensor which can locate the position of an electrically conductive object which is within a threshold distance. The capacitive sensor can also be used, for example, as a switch to activate the device if a user picks it up. The present invention allows user inputs to be detected without actually touching the electronic device. The present invention can also be used to detect inputs through intervening non-metallic layers such as a protective cover or another display of the device without using additional input sensors. | 02-25-2010 |
20100073332 | DISPLAY HAVING A PLURALITY OF DRIVER INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - An electronic device is disclosed. In some embodiments, the electronic device includes a liquid-crystal display (LCD) and a plurality of driver integrated circuits (ICs) coupled to the LCD. The driver ICs may be disposed near non-central locations along a side of the LCD, and in some embodiments, one of the driver ICs may be a master driver IC and the other driver IC or driver ICs may be slave driver ICs. | 03-25-2010 |
20100118235 | DISPLAY THAT EMITS CIRCULARLY-POLARIZED LIGHT - One embodiment of the present invention provides a display that emits circularly-polarized light. This display includes a display mechanism that emits linearly-polarized light and a layer placed in the path of the linearly-polarized light. The layer receives the linearly-polarized light on one surface, converts the linearly-polarized light to circularly-polarized light, and then emits the circularly-polarized light from another surface. By emitting circularly-polarized light, the display reduces the perceived distortion found at some angles when the display is viewed through a linearly-polarizing filter. | 05-13-2010 |
20100171699 | AUTOMATIC ORIENTATION-BASED USER INTERFACE FOR AN AMBIGUOUS HANDHELD DEVICE - An electronic device is provided that includes a user-interface feature, a detection mechanism and one or more internal components. The user-interface feature is configurable to have a selected orientation about one or more axes. The detection mechanism can detect orientation information about the electronic device. The one or more components may select the orientation of the user-interface feature based on the detected orientation information. | 07-08-2010 |
20110063550 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE DISPLAY STRUCTURES WITH ALIGNMENT FEATURES - Electronic devices such as handheld electronic devices may have display modules. The display modules may be covered with a layer of protective cover glass. Peripheral portions of the cover glass may be coated with an opaque masking layer to block interior portions of the device from view. An opening in the opaque masking layer can be formed over an active portion of the display module. To facilitate alignment of the display module active area with the opening in the cover glass masking layer, the display module may be provided with alignment marks. The alignment marks may be formed in opposing corners at an end of the display module. The alignment marks may be formed from metal structures on one of the glass layers in the display module. An opaque masking layer that blocks stray backlight may have openings that are formed over the metal structures. | 03-17-2011 |
20110124260 | DISPLAY THAT EMITS CIRCULARLY-POLARIZED LIGHT - One embodiment of the present invention provides a display that emits circularly-polarized light. This display includes a display mechanism that emits linearly-polarized light and a layer placed in the path of the linearly-polarized light. The layer receives the linearly-polarized light on one surface, converts the linearly-polarized light to circularly-polarized light, and then emits the circularly-polarized light from another surface. By emitting circularly-polarized light, the display reduces the perceived distortion found at some angles when the display is viewed through a linearly-polarizing filter. | 05-26-2011 |
20110234525 | SINGLE PIECE TOP SURFACE DISPLAY LAYER AND INTEGRATED FRONT COVER FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A single-piece top surface display and integrated front cover for an electronic device. In one embodiment, the cover comprises a thin, flexible, transparent layer coupled with a supporting structure. The flexible layer is supported above a display screen which Is coupled with pressure activated sensors located under the display screen. The cover is dust-free, waterproof, and has a flat outer surface that is free of any steps or indentations. Users input data by applying pressure on the cover which causes the display screen to deflect and activate the sensors. The pressure exerted on the sensors is triangulated to register the position of the user input. In another embodiment, the cover is transparent, rigid, and directly contacts the pressure activated sensors which are located in front of the display screen or in the housing behind it. When pressure is applied to the cover, the cover deflects and activates the sensors. In both embodiments, an accelerometer identifies valid input events. | 09-29-2011 |
20110254801 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL CONTACT-SENSITIVE FEATURE FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES - An electronic device is formed at least partially from a deflectable material that generates an electrical signal in response to contact. The first material is integrated with a display module to provide a shaped feature on the exterior surface of the display module. The shaped feature detects contact with an external object on one or more contact points, where contact with the contact points corresponds to a defined input for a processor of the electronic device. | 10-20-2011 |
20110255023 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE DISPLAY STRUCTURES WITH CONTROLLED CHASSIS REFLECTIONS - A display may be based on a display unit that is mounted within a chassis. The display unit may be a liquid crystal display unit. A backlight may be used to illuminate the display unit. The backlight may include a light guide plate. Light from a light source may be launched into an edge of the light guide plate. Scattered light from the light guide plate may travel vertically along a vertical axis that is perpendicular to the plane that contains the light guide plate. The scattered light may pass through the display unit and may serve as backlight for the display. The light guide plate may be mounted within a rectangular opening in the chassis. The edges of the rectangular opening and the edges of the light guide plate may be configured to reduce excessive reflections. These edges may have reflection-reducing coatings, non-planar surfaces, and other reflection-reducing configurations. | 10-20-2011 |
20110285640 | ELECTRIC FIELD SHIELDING FOR IN-CELL TOUCH TYPE THIN-FILM-TRANSISTOR LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYS - Displays such as liquid crystal displays may be used in electronic devices. During operation of a display, electrostatic charges on the surface of the display may give rise to electric fields. One or more electric field shielding layers may be provided in the display to prevent the electric fields from disrupting operation of the liquid crystals material in the display. The shielding layers may be formed at a location in the stack of layers that make up the display that is above the liquid crystal material of the display. Touch sensors and thin film transistors may be located below the shielding layer. | 11-24-2011 |
20110304785 | DISPLAYS WITH MINIMIZED CURTAIN MURA - Displays such as liquid crystal displays may be provided with structures that minimize curtain mura. A display may have upper and lower polarizers. A color filter layer and a thin film transistor layer may be located between the upper and lower polarizers. A liquid crystal layer may be interposed between the color filter layer and the thin film transistor layer. A first optical film layer that includes a birefringent compensating layer may be located between the upper polarizer and the color filter layer. A second optical film layer that is devoid of birefringent compensating layers may be located between the thin film transistor layer and the lower polarizer. A grid of metal signal lines may be used to distribute signals to thin film transistors on the thin film transistor layer. A black mask may be interposed between the grid of signal lines and the thin film transistor layer. | 12-15-2011 |
20120154699 | DISPLAYS WITH MINIMIZED CROSSTALK - Display ground plane structures may contain slits. Image pixel electrodes in the display may be arranged in rows and columns. Image pixels in the display may be controlled using gate lines that are associated with the rows and data lines that are associated with the columns. An electric field may be produced by each image pixel electrode that extends through a liquid crystal layer to an associated portion of the ground plane. The slits in the ground plane may have a slit width. Data lines may be located sufficiently below the ground plane and sufficiently out of alignment with the slits to minimize crosstalk from parasitic electric fields. A three-column inversion scheme may be used when driving data line signals into the display, so that pairs of pixels that straddle the slits are each driven with a common polarity. Gate line scanning patterns may be used that enhance display uniformity. | 06-21-2012 |
20120195066 | Electronic Device Display Structures with Controlled Chassis Reflections - A display may be based on a display unit that is mounted within a chassis. The display unit may be a liquid crystal display unit. A backlight may be used to illuminate the display unit. The backlight may include a light guide plate. Light from a light source may be launched into an edge of the light guide plate. Scattered light from the light guide plate may travel vertically along a vertical axis that is perpendicular to the plane that contains the light guide plate. The scattered light may pass through the display unit and may serve as backlight for the display. The light guide plate may be mounted within a rectangular opening in the chassis. The edges of the rectangular opening and the edges of the light guide plate may be configured to reduce excessive reflections. These edges may have reflection-reducing coatings, non-planar surfaces, and other reflection-reducing configurations. | 08-02-2012 |
20130009899 | DISPLAY HAVING A PLURALITY OF DRIVER INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - An electronic device is disclosed. In some embodiments, the electronic device includes a liquid-crystal display (LCD) and a plurality of driver integrated circuits (ICs) coupled to the LCD. The driver ICs may be disposed near non-central locations along a side of the LCD, and in some embodiments, one of the driver ICs may be a master driver IC and the other driver IC or driver ICs may be slave driver ICs. | 01-10-2013 |
20130063978 | Chassis for Display Backlight - An electronic device may be provided with a display. Backlight structures may be used to provide backlight for the display. The backlight structures may include a light guide plate. A rectangular ring-shaped chassis may have a rectangular opening that receives the light guide plate. One or more edges of the chassis may be provided with an array of notches that receive light-emitting diodes or other light sources. The light sources may launch light into edge portions of the light guide plate. The chassis may include a first plastic structure such as a light reflecting structure formed from a material such as white plastic. The first plastic structure may surround two or more peripheral edges of the light guide plate. The chassis may also include a second plastic structure such as a light blocking structure formed from a material such as black plastic that helps prevent light leakage. | 03-14-2013 |
20130147774 | DISPLAYS WITH MINIMIZED CROSSTALK - Display ground plane structures may contain slits. Image pixel electrodes in the display may be arranged in rows and columns. Image pixels in the display may be controlled using gate lines that are associated with the rows and data lines that are associated with the columns. An electric field may be produced by each image pixel electrode that extends through a liquid crystal layer to an associated portion of the ground plane. The slits in the ground plane may have a slit width. Data lines may be located sufficiently below the ground plane and sufficiently out of alignment with the slits to minimize crosstalk from parasitic electric fields. A three-column inversion scheme may be used when driving data line signals into the display, so that pairs of pixels that straddle the slits are each driven with a common polarity. Gate line scanning patterns may be used that enhance display uniformity. | 06-13-2013 |
20130201429 | Display With Color Mixing Prevention Structures - An electronic device may have a liquid crystal display having a backlight and color mixing prevention structures. The color mixing prevention structures may, in part, be formed from one or more arrays of color filter elements. The liquid crystal display may include first and second transparent substrate layers on opposing sides of a liquid crystal layer. The display may include a first array of color filter elements on the first transparent substrate layer and a second array of color filter elements on the second transparent substrate layer. One or more of the arrays of color filter elements may include a black matrix formed over portions of the color filter elements. The color filter elements may fill or partially fill openings in the black matrix. The display may include a collimating layer on the second transparent substrate layer. The color filter elements may include cholesteric color filter elements. | 08-08-2013 |
20140036203 | LIGHT MIXTURE FOR A DISPLAY UTILIZING QUANTUM DOTS - Utilization of quantum dots in displays and the location of the quantum dot sheet within the stackup of the backlight can lead to issues such as non-uniform light mixing, non-uniform brightness, and off-axis changes in color. The mismatch between the isotropic nature of light emitted from the quantum dots and the light emitted directly from the light source can be alleviated by utilization of diffusers and prism sheets. The diffusers and prism sheets can be further utilized to change the angle of light such that it is directed upwards towards the top of the display for improved uniformity in brightness and enhanced performance. Placement of the diffuser sheets, prism sheets, and changes in the design of the components, such as the light guide path, can alleviate the issues by properly mixing the colors together in order to achieve a uniform distribution of colors in the display. | 02-06-2014 |
20140036204 | Display Backlight With Closely Spaced Light-Emitting Diode Packages - An electronic device may be provided with a display having backlight structures that include a light guide plate formed from a clear polymer film. The polymer film may have an edge into which light is emitted from an adjacent array of light-emitting diodes. The light emitting diodes may each include a semiconductor device that emits light. The semiconductor device in each diode may be mounted on lead frame structures and wirebonded to the lead frame structures with first and second wire bonds. To improve backlight homogeneity and thereby reduce the mixing distance for light in the light guide plate, the diodes may be spaced closely together using diode packages having end faces that are free of lead frame structures. Exposed lead frame structures for soldering the light-emitting diodes to a substrate may be formed under the light-emitting diodes and on rear surfaces of the light-emitting diodes. | 02-06-2014 |
20140036536 | MEMS SHUTTER CONTROL FOR A DISPLAY UTILIZING QUANTUM DOTS - A display that utilizes a microelectromechanical (MEMS) shutter module in order to accommodate a quantum dot sheet outside of the display backlight is provided. The MEMS shutter module can be placed either above or below the quantum dot sheet in order to more efficiently control the color at each individual pixel, when the color is being rendered from the isotropic emissions of the quantum dot sheet. | 02-06-2014 |
20140063393 | Displays with Reduced Driver Circuit Ledges - An electronic device display may have a color filter layer, a thin-film-transistor layer, and a layer of liquid crystal material. The display may have a display cover layer such as a layer of glass or plastic. Adhesive may be used to attach the upper polarizer to the display cover layer. The thin-film transistor layer may have a substrate with upper and lower surfaces. Thin-film-transistor circuitry may be formed on the upper surface. A display driver integrated circuit may be mounted to the lower surface or a flexible printed circuit and may be coupled to the thin-film-transistor circuitry using wire bonding wires. Through vias that are formed through the thin-film-transistor layer substrate may be used in coupling the thin-film-transistor circuitry to the display driver integrated circuit. | 03-06-2014 |
20140211122 | Electronic Device With Display Backlight Unit And Display Assembly - An electronic device may be provided with electrical components mounted in an electronic device housing. A display module may be attached to a display cover layer with a layer of adhesive to form a display module assembly. The display module assembly may include a display module assembly chassis. The display module assembly chassis may include a plastic display module assembly chassis molded over a metal display module assembly chassis. The display module assembly and a backlight unit may be assembled to form a display module that is installed within the electronic device housing or display module assembly layers and backlight unit structures may be assembled into the electronic device housing. The backlight unit may include a backlight unit chassis. A metal housing midplate may serve as part of the backlight unit chassis. | 07-31-2014 |