Electronic devices having complementary dual displays
Electronic devices having complementary dual displays are presented, the electronic devices including: a first display, wherein the first display is a refresh-based, high frame rate display; a first display controller for outputting an internal video signal to the first display; a second display, wherein the second display is a bistable, low frame rate display; and a second display controller for outputting the internal video signal to the second display. In some embodiments, the devices further include: a number of user input interfaces for receiving a user input, wherein the number of user input interfaces are configured to control the second display; and a user input controller for generating a control signal based on the user input, the user input controller in electronic communication with the number of user input interfaces and a processing unit of the electronic device.
1. An electronic device having complementary dual displays, the electronic device comprising:
a primary display device comprising:
a first display, wherein the first display is a refresh-based, high frame rate display,
a first display controller for outputting video signals to the first display,
a processing unit configured to generate video signals based on instructions from an application being executed by the processing unit, the processing unit coupled to the first display controller to provide video signals thereto, wherein at least one of the generated video signals is based on feedback instructions from the application to update the first display, the feedback instructions indicative of a video signal displayed on an external display device that corresponds to an intermediate location within a first page of information currently displayed on the external display device, and
a wireless communication interface coupled to the processing unit to receive video signals therefrom; and
the external display device comprising:
a second display, wherein the second display is a bistable, low frame rate display, and
a second display controller wirelessly coupled to the processing unit of the primary display device via the wireless communication interface of the primary display device to receive video signals therefrom, the second display controller configured to output the received video signals to the second display, the received video signals including a video signal to display the intermediate location with the first page of information.
2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the second display controller further includes a frame buffer for storing a number of frames for display on the second display.
3. The electronic device of claim 2 wherein number of frames stored is in the range of approximately 5 to 10 frames.
4. The electronic device of claim 2 wherein number of frames stored is greater than approximately 10 frames.
5. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first display is selected from the group consisting of: an LCD display, a CRT display, and LED display, a PLED display, an OLED display, and a plasma display.
6. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first display is configured with a first screen resolution of up to approximately 600 pixels per inch (PPI).
7. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first display is configured with a first resolution in the range of approximately 90 to 230 PPI.
8. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first display is configured to refresh at a rate up to approximately 30 frames-per-second (fps).
9. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first display is configured to refresh at a rate in a range of approximately 10 to 120 fps.
10. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the second display is an electronic paper display (EPD).
11. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the second display is configured with a second screen resolution of at least approximately 100 dots per inch (DPI).
12. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the second display is configured to refresh at rate of up to approximately 10 fps.
13. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the second display is configured to refresh at a user selectable rate in a range of approximately less than 1 to 2.5 fps.
14. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the control signal is selected from the group consisting of: pan, flip, wipe, clean, restore, page up, page down, search, and zoom.
15. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first display is configured to power down after a time interval when the second display is powered up.
16. The electronic device of claim 15 wherein time interval is in a range of approximately 1 to 10 seconds.
17. The electronic device of claim 15 wherein the time interval is in the range of approximately 11 to 60 seconds.
18. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of: a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, a portable computing device, a computer, a video camera, a digital media player, a digital game player, an electronic textbook, and a GPS device.
19. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising:
a third display, wherein the third display is a bistable, low frame rate display; and
a third display controller for outputting the internal video signal to the third display.
20. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the second display is configured to operate with a second electronic device, the second electronic device comprising:
a fourth display, wherein the fourth display is a refresh-based, high frame rate display;
a fourth display controller for outputting an internal video signal to the fourth display; and
an additional second display controller for outputting the internal video signal to the second display.
21. An electronic device having complementary dual displays, the electronic device comprising:
a primary display device comprising:
first display means, wherein the first display means is a refresh-based, high frame rate display,
first display controller means for outputting video signals to the first display means,
processing unit means configured to:
generate video signals based on instructions from an application being executed by the processing unit, the processing unit means coupled to the first display controller means to provide video signals thereto, wherein at least one of the generated video signals is based on feedback instructions from the application to update the first display, the feedback instructions indicative of a video signal displayed on an external display device that corresponds to an intermediate location within a first page of information currently displayed on the external display device, and
wireless communication interface means coupled to the processing unit means to receive video signals therefrom; and
the external display device comprising:
second display means, wherein the second display means is a bistable, low frame rate display,
second display controller means wirelessly coupled to the processing unit means of the primary display device via the wireless communication interface means of the primary display device to receive video signals therefrom, the second display controller means configured to output the received video signals to the second display means, the received video signals including a video signal to display the intermediate location with the first page of information, wherein the second display controller means includes a frame buffer for storing a number of frames for display on the second display means,
plurality of user input interface means for receiving a user input, wherein the plurality of user input interface means are configured to control the second display means, and
user input controller means for generating a control signal based on the user input, the user input controller means in electronic communication with the plurality of user input interface means and processing means of the electronic device.
22. The electronic device of claim 21 further comprising:
third display means, wherein the third display means is a bistable, low frame rate display; and
third display controller means for outputting the internal video signal to the third display means.
23. An external display device for use as a complementary display with an electronic device, the electronic device having a first display and a processing unit configured to generate video signals based on instructions from an application being executed by the processing unit, the external display device comprising:
an external display, wherein the external display is a bistable, low frame rate display, wherein the external display is configured to operate substantially simultaneous with the first display, and wherein the external display is further configured to operate independently of the electronic device;
an external display controller for outputting video signals to the external display, at least one of the video signals to display an intermediate location within a first page of information currently displayed on the external display, wherein the at least one video signal causes the processing unit to generate a video signal based on feedback instructions from the application to update the first display in response to the display of the intermediate location on the external display;
a frame buffer for storing a number of frames for display on the external display;
a connection interface for electronically and wirelessly connecting the external display controller with the electronic device to receive video signals therefrom, the external display controller configured to output the received video signals to the external display;
a plurality of user input interfaces for receiving a user input, wherein the plurality of user input interfaces are configured to provide control for the external display;
a user input controller for generating a control signal based on the user input, the user input controller in electronic communication with the plurality of user input interfaces; and
a power supply for providing power when the external display device is not connected with the electronic device.
24. The external display device of claim 23 further comprising:
a processing unit for providing computing functions for the device and for processing the control signal;
a random access memory (RAM) storage device for providing volatile storage for the processing unit; and
a flash memory storage device for providing non-volatile storage for the processing unit.
25. The external display device of claim 24 wherein the frame buffer is configured to utilize the RAM storage device for storing the number of frames.
26. The external display device of claim 24 wherein the frame buffer is configured to utilize the flash memory storage device for storing the number of frames.
27. The external display device of claim 23 wherein the connection interface is a wired connection selected from the group consisting of: PCMCIA, SDIO, USB, Serial, and DVI.
28. The external display device of claim 23 wherein the connection interface is a wireless connection selected from the group consisting of: Bluetooth, 802.11a, 801.11b, 802.11g, 2.4 GHz wireless, IR wireless, and ultra wide band.
29. The external display device of claim 23 wherein the external display includes an electronic paper device (EPD).
30. The external display device of claim 23 wherein the external display is configured with a screen resolution of at least approximately 100 DPI.
31. The external display device of claim 23 wherein the second display is configured to refresh at rate of up to approximately 10 fps.
32. The external display device of claim 23 wherein the second display is configured to refresh at a user selectable rate in a range of approximately less than 1 to 2.5 fps.
33. The external display device of claim 23 wherein the control signal is selected from the group consisting of: pan, wipe, clean, restore, page up, page down, search, migrate, and zoom.
34. The external display device of claim 23 wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of: a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, a portable computing device, a computer, a video camera, a digital media player, a digital game player, an electronic textbook, an ultra mobile personal computing device, and a GPS device.
35. The external display device of claim 34 wherein the external display device further comprises:
an audio controller for providing audio playback; and
an audio interface for connecting with an audio listening device.
36. The external display device of claim 34 where the external display device further comprises:
a second display, wherein the second display is a refresh-based, high frame rate (REHF) display; and
a second display controller for outputting the video signal to the second display.
37. The external display device of claim 36 further comprising a control signal configured to select one of the first display and the second display for use as a complimentary display.