Bi-stable display based off-screen keyboard

Abstract

A display based keyboard is described herein. The display based keyboard includes a bi-stable segmented-based display, a master controller, and a display driver. The bi-stable segmented-based display may include a front barrier layer, a top plane layer, a display technology specific layer, a back plane layer, and a rear barrier layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A segmented-based display, comprising
 a front barrier layer;   a top plane layer;   a display technology specific layer;   a back plane layer; and   a rear barrier layer.   
     
     
         2 . The segmented-based display of  claim 1 , wherein the front barrier layer and the rear barrier layer comprise an environmental barrier solution to protect the display technology specific layer, the top plane layer, and the back plane layer. 
     
     
         3 . The segmented-based display of  claim 1  wherein the display technology specific layer is disposed between the top plane layer and the back plane layer. 
     
     
         4 . The segmented-based display of  claim 1 , wherein the display technology specific layer is divided into multiple segments. 
     
     
         5 . The segmented-based display of  claim 1 , wherein the top plane layer and the back plane layer comprise electrodes. 
     
     
         6 . The segmented-based display of  claim 1 , wherein multiple electrodes are routed on the back plane layer to form a display connector or a tail. 
     
     
         7 . The segmented-based display of  claim 4 , wherein each segment is activated or deactivated based on a change of the display technology specific layer. 
     
     
         8 . A display based keyboard, comprising:
 a bi-stable segmented-based display;   a master controller; and   a display driver.   
     
     
         9 . The display based keyboard of  claim 8 , wherein a fixed-wedge display mode lifts the bi-stable segmented-based display into an angled position. 
     
     
         10 . The display based keyboard of  claim 9 , wherein the fixed-wedge display mode comprises a push lock mechanism to lift the bi-stable segmented-based display. 
     
     
         11 . The display based keyboard of  claim 8 , comprising a low-pin count display interface. 
     
     
         12 . The display based keyboard of  claim 8 , wherein the bi-stable segmented-based display is controlled by the master controller. 
     
     
         13 . The display based keyboard of  claim 8 , wherein the bi-stable segmented-based display is connected to the display driver using a flex connector. 
     
     
         14 . A method of creating a segmented-based display, comprising:
 overlapping graphic images;   determining a plurality of segments;   identifying a plurality of segments to be activated or deactivated; and   interconnecting the plurality of segments with a diode pair.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the interconnecting of the plurality of segments comprises interconnecting segments that are common to multiple graphic images. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each segment that is common to more than one graphic image comprises a drive line. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the overlapping graphic images comprises images to be displayed. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each segment within the plurality of segments is activated or deactivated individually. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of segments are connected together to reduce the number of pins on a display connector. 
     
     
         20 . A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising code to direct a processor to:
 overlap graphic images;   determine a plurality of segments;   identify a plurality of segments to be activated or deactivated; and   connect the plurality of segments with a diode pair.   
     
     
         21 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the connecting of the plurality of segments comprises interconnecting segments that are common to multiple graphic images. 
     
     
         22 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein each segment that is common to more than one graphic image comprises a drive line. 
     
     
         23 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the overlapping graphic images comprises images to be displayed. 
     
     
         24 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein each segment within the plurality of segments is activated or deactivated individually. 
     
     
         25 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of segments are connected together to reduce the number of pins on a display connector.