FR2808369A3 - Foldable display e.g. for mobile phone has several panels in a module that can connect with another unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The display is used with ,for example, a mobile telephone (20) and is used together with a display (10) in the form of a compact unit. The display can be in the form of several panels (12) that fold together. The display can connect either by cable (13) of can dock directly with the telephone. The display has a connection to a power supply.

Description

The present invention relates generally to a display device, and in particular to a foldable display device comprising a plurality of hinged display panels which are selectively deployed to form a large viewing surface or which overlap each other, forming a stack to reduce the space thus occupied.

Information processing equipment prevails because of the vast amount of information that we have today. Examples of information processing equipment include laptops, digital personal digital assistants (PDAs), and mobile phones. Video display devices, such as VCD devices, DVD players, MD players, may also be included in the range of information processing equipment. These devices are usually equipped with a display for user examination of the information thus processed. The current trend these devices is to minimize their size and weight. Reducing the size causes a limitation of the display surface, which makes it difficult for a user to read the information displayed thereon. Figures 1A and 1B of the accompanying drawings show a mobile phone. of the prior art which incorporates a display device, respectively in the closed position and in the open position. The display device includes a display panel hinged to the mobile phone whereby the display can cover the mobile phone to reduce the amount of space occupied and when not in use. Such a display device comprises a single display panel, and a single display panel provides only a very limited viewing surface. Thus, it is difficult for a user to effectively examine the information that is displayed.

It is therefore desirable to have a display device capable of providing a large surface area compared to conventional devices so as to overcome the above problems.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a display device having a large viewing area while occupying limited space when not in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a display device that can be connected to an external device for displaying information received therefrom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a display device incorporating integrated application software as an input means, whereby conventional input devices, such as a keyboard, can be eliminated.

To achieve the above objects, and in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a foldable display device, comprising at least two thin plate-shaped display panels, each having a display surface. The display panels are electrically and mechanically connected to each other, whereby the display panels are movable between a closed position where the display panels overlap each other forming a stack, and an open position where the display surfaces form a continuous viewing surface. In addition, signal receiving means are provided in at least one of the display panels to receive signals from an external signal source and display the signal on the display surfaces. The display device can thus be connected to an external device, such as a mobile phone, a set-top box, a VCD device, a DVD disc player, or an MD player, in order to give a user a great deal of experience. observation surface.

The display device may be separate from the external device or alternatively, the display device may be integrated with the external device.

Preferably, a power receiving means is formed in at least one of the display panels for receiving power from an external power source.

Advantageously, the electrical connection between the display panels is a cable connection. According to a particular embodiment, the billboards are articulated to each other side by side.

In particular, the display device comprises two display panels hinged to each other, a billboard being further articulated on an external device.

Alternatively, the display device comprises three display panels hinged to each other side by side, further four display panels hinged to each other side by side.

Application software may be incorporated in the display device to provide on-screen input means, such as a touch screen technique, whereby conventional input devices such as keyboard, can be eliminated.

The present invention will become more apparent in light of the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a display device in accordance with a first embodiment. embodiment of the present invention, to be connected to a mobile phone via a cable, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, connected to a Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the display device according to this second embodiment, in an open position; Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a display device according to a third embodiment; embodiment of the present invention, in an open position, FIG. A perspective view showing a display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in an open position, and Figure 7 is a simplified view showing that the display device of the present invention can be connected to a wide variety of external devices. .

Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 2, in which a foldable display device made in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, is shown, same as a mobile telephone 20 to which the display device 10 can be connected via a cable 13 to serve as additional display of the mobile phone 20. The display device 10 comprises at least two (here two) display panels 11 which are arranged in the form of a thin plate, preferably a rectangular plate. Each display panel 11 has a display surface 12 and an opposite rear surface (not marked).

The display panels 11 are preferably connected to each other by means of a hinge arranged along the long sides thereof, whereby the panels 11 are movable relative to one another. another between a closed position where the display panels 11 overlap each other, the display surfaces 12 thereof being arranged face to face, and an open position where the display surfaces 12 are exposed so as to forming a continuous viewing surface for visual observation as shown in Figure 2.

An electrical connection is provided between the display panels 11 by any known means, such as a ribbon cable (not visible here). At least one of the display panels 11 has a signal connector 15 for coupling a cable end connector of the cable 13 to establish an electrical connection between the display panels 11 and the telephone 20. A power connector 16 is also provided in a display panel 11, for connection with an external power source. The display device 10 can thus be powered either by the mobile telephone 20 or by the external power source.

Referring also to FIG. 7, quite obviously, in addition to the mobile telephone, the display device 10 may be connected to another communication device, such as a paging device 40, information processing, such as a set-top box 50, an image display host device 30, such as a VCD device, a DVD disc player, or an MD player.

The display device 10 according to the invention thus enables a user to obtain a viewing area twice as large by extending the display panels 11 in the open position flat, while reducing the amount of space required for storing the unused display device by closing billboards 11.

Figures 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the present invention. 10 is articulated on a mobile phone 20 and is electrically connected thereto, whereby it follows that the display panels 11 can overlap and be superimposed on a rear face of the mobile phone. , the rear face of the mobile phone 20 is also provided with a display panel from which it follows that once extended, an observation area three times larger can be obtained.

Fig. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The foldable display device 10 of the third embodiment of the present invention comprises three display panels 11, one of which has a power connector 16 for connection to an external power source, and a signal connector 15 for connection with an external device such as a mobile phone, a VCD device, a DVD disc player, or a set-top box The three display panels 11 are hinged side by side to form a folding structure in triptych. Each display panel 11 has a display surface 12. The display panels 11 are connected so that they are movable between an open position where the display surfaces 12 form a continuous viewing surface, and a closed position where the billboards 11 overlap each other forming a stack. The display device 10 according to this third embodiment thus provides an observation area three times larger compared to a simple display panel.

Figure 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the display device 10 according to the present invention. The display device 10 according to this fourth embodiment is similar to the third embodiment presented with reference to FIG. 5, except that the fourth embodiment comprises four display panels 11, each having a display surface 12, said panels being articulated to one another side by side, where it follows that the display panels 11 are movable between open position where the display surfaces 12 form an observation surface continuous which is four times that of a single display panel 11, and a closed position where the billboards 11 overlap one another forming a stack.

Apart from simply displaying a signal that is transmitted to it from an external device such as a mobile phone, the display device 11 may incorporate appropriate software therein in order to have an input means for example by using a touch screen, as well as an application software, to serve as input means. This allows a reduction in the amount of space occupied by the display device 10.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of this invention. invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.

Claims (1)

<U> CLAIMS </ U> 1 foldable display device (10), comprising at least two thin-plate-shaped display panels (11), each having a display surface (12) and in electrical connection l with each other, the display panels (11) being movably connected to one another, whereby the display panels (11) are movable relative to one another. another between an open position where the display surfaces form a continuous viewing surface, and a closed position where the display panels (11) overlap each other forming a stack, a receiving means of signal (15) is further provided in at least one of the display panels (11) for receiving signals from an external signal source and displaying said signal on the display surfaces (12). The collapsible display device (10) according to claim 1, wherein a power receiving means (16) is formed in at least one of the display panels (11) for receiving power from an external power source. Foldable display device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connection between the display panels (11) is a cable connection. 4. Foldable display device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the display panels (11) are hinged to each other side by side. Foldable display device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the display device comprises two display panels (11) hinged to each other, one of the display panels (11). ) is further articulated on an external device. The collapsible display device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the display device comprises three display panels (11) hinged to each other side by side. The collapsible display device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the display device (10) comprises four display panels (11) hinged one to another side by side. The foldable display device (10) according to claim 1, wherein a touch screen is formed on at least one of the display panels (11) which cooperates with an application software integrated in the display device. to serve as a means of capture.