Granted Patent B1

US 7,324,093 · App. 09/773,136 · Granted Jan 29, 2008

Abstract

Claims (29)

1. A user interface for a portable electronic device, said user interface comprising:

a) a flexible display panel, said flexible display panel forming a first layer of said user interface; and

b) a flexible touch sensor disposed immediately under a bottom of said flexible display panel and is separate from said flexible display panel, said flexible touch sensor forming a second layer of said user interface, wherein said flexible touch sensor is operable to register a position where contact is made with a surface of said user interface, wherein a particular position on said user interface is translated into a particular command controlling said portable electronic device wherein a support structure is disposed beneath said flexible touch sensor;

an additional instance of said flexible touch sensor, said additional flexible touch sensor disposed beneath said support, said additional flexible touch sensor coupled to said user interface; and

an additional instance of said flexible display panel, said additional flexible display coupled to said user interface, said additional flexible display panel disposed beneath said additional flexible touch sensor, whereby two sided flexible display functionality is provided to said user interface.

2. The user interface of claim 1 wherein said flexible touch sensor is disposed beneath said flexible display panel, wherein said flexible display panel is disposed between said flexible touch sensor and a user.

3. The user interface of claim 1 wherein said flexible touch sensor comprises a fabric, and wherein said fabric comprises conductive fibers, said conductive fibers adapted to conduct electrical impulses responsive to said contact with said user interface.

4. The user interface of claim 1 wherein the technology employed in the fabrication of said flexible display panel is electronic paper technology.

5. A portable electronic device comprising:

a) a bus;

b) a memory device coupled with said bus;

c) a processor coupled with said bus;

d) a flexible display panel coupled with said bus, said flexible display panel forming a first layer of a user interface; and

e) a flexible touch sensor disposed immediately under a bottom of said flexible display panel and is separate from said flexible display panel, said flexible touch sensor forming a second layer of said user interface wherein a support structure is disposed beneath said flexible touch sensor, said support adapted to prevent puncturing of said flexible display panel and said flexible touch sensor;

f) an additional instance of said flexible touch sensor, said additional flexible touch sensor disposed beneath said support, said additional flexible touch sensor coupled to said user interface; and

g) an additional instance of said flexible display panel, said additional flexible display panel coupled to said portable electronic device, said additional flexible display panel disposed beneath said additional flexible touch sensor, whereby two sided flexible display functionality is provided to said portable electronic device.

6. The portable computer system electronic device of claim 5 wherein said flexible touch sensor is operable to register a position where contact is made with a surface of said flexible display panel, wherein a particular position on said flexible display panel is translated into a particular command for controlling said portable electronic device.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 5 wherein said flexible touch sensor is disposed beneath said flexible display panel, wherein said flexible display panel is disposed between said flexible touch sensor and a user.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 6 wherein said flexible touch sensor comprises a fabric, and wherein said fabric comprises conductive fibers, said conductive fibers adapted to conduct electrical impulses responsive to said contact of said flexible display panel.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 5 wherein the technology employed in the fabrication of said flexible display panel is electronic paper technology.

10. A method for providing a user interface for a portable electronic device, said method comprising the steps of:

a) displaying images and characters to a user via a flexible display panel;

b) receiving input via a flexible touch sensor disposed immediately under a bottom of said flexible display panel wherein a support structure is disposed beneath said flexible touch sensor and is separate from said flexible display panel, said flexible touch sensor operable to register a position where contact is made with a surface of said flexible display panel;

c) receiving additional input via an additional flexible touch sensor, said additional flexible touch sensor disposed beneath said support, said additional flexible touch sensor coupled to said user interface; and

d) displaying images and characters to a user via an additional instance of said flexible display panel, said additional flexible display disposed beneath said additional flexible touch sensor, whereby two sided flexible display functionality is provided to said user interface; and

e) translating said input into a particular command for controlling said portable electronic device.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said flexible touch sensor is disposed beneath said flexible display panel, wherein said flexible display panel is disposed between said flexible touch sensor and a user.

12. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said flexible touch sensor comprises a fabric, said fabric comprising conductive fibers adapted to conduct electrical impulses responsive to said contact with said user interface.

13. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the technology employed in the fabrication of said flexible display panel is electronic paper technology.

Assignments (7)