Multiple-display device
View Patent ↗A multiple-display device comprises a front and a rear display. The front display includes a front image area facing a front direction. The rear display is mounted opposite the front display and includes a rear image area facing a rear direction, opposite the front direction. A display controller is provided for controlling the front and rear image areas to render images thereon, including a transfer port image on the front image area. A touch-sensitive panel is mounted on the front display in registration with the front image area. A panel controller is operable to detect a rendered element on the front image area being dragged by a user to the transfer port image and in response thereto to inform the display controller, so that the display controller can instantiate the rendered element on the rear image area.
1. A multiple-display device comprising:
a front display including a front image area facing a front direction;
a rear display mounted opposite the front display and including a rear image area facing a rear direction, opposite the front direction;
a display controller for controlling the front and rear image areas to render images thereon, including a front transfer port image on the front image area;
a touch-sensitive panel mounted on the front display in registration with the front image area; and
a panel controller operable to detect a rendered element on the front image area being dragged by a user to the front transfer port image and in response thereto to inform the display controller, so that the display controller can instantiate the rendered element on the rear image area.
2. A multiple-display device according to claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises third and fourth displays mounted back to back, so that the front, rear, third, and fourth displays form a square.
3. A multiple-display device according to claim 1 , wherein the display controller enlarges the front transfer port image when the rendered element approaches the front transfer port image.
4. A multiple-display device according to claim 1 , wherein the rear image area includes a rear transfer port image corresponding to the front transfer port image.
5. A multiple-display device according to claim 1 , wherein the display controller provides a sequence of images illustrating the rendered element entering the front transfer port image, and subsequently exiting the rear transfer port image.
6. A multiple-display device according to claim 1 , wherein the rear display includes a touch-sensitive panel in addition to the front display.
7. A multiple-display device according to claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises an accelerometer to detect when a user flips over the device.
8. A method of operating a device comprising multiple displays, the method comprising:
rendering a front transfer port image on a front image area of a front display;
rendering one or more elements on the front image area;
detecting a user selecting a rendered element and moving the selected rendered element to the front transfer port image;
informing a display controller that the selected rendered element has been moved to the front transfer port image; and
instantiating the selected rendered element on a rear image area of a rear display instead of on the front image area of the front display.
9. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises, subsequent to the step of detecting a user selecting a rendered element and moving the selected rendered element to the front transfer port image, the step of enlarging the front transfer port image on the front image area.
10. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises providing a rear transfer port image on the rear image area.
11. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises providing a sequence of images illustrating the selected rendered element entering the front transfer port image, and subsequently exiting the rear transfer port image.
12. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the step of instantiating the selected rendered element on a rear image area of a rear display instead of on the front image area of the front display is implemented immediately when the rendered element is dragged to the front transfer port image.
13. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the step of instantiating the selected rendered element on a rear image area of a rear display instead of on the front image area of the front display is implemented only when a user flips over the device.
14. A method according to claim 13 , wherein detection of a user flipping over the device is implemented using an accelerometer located within the device.
15. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:
detecting a user selecting a rendered element on the rear image area and moving the selected rendered element to the rear transfer port image;
informing the display controller that the selected rendered element has been moved to the rear transfer port image; and
instantiating the selected rendered element on the front image area instead of on the rear image area.