Mobile device with an expandable screen

Abstract

A mobile device includes a first display portion, a second display portion and a graphics processor. The first display portion is viewable while the second display portion is obscured when the mobile device is in a retracted configuration. Both display portions are viewable when the mobile device is in an expanded configuration. The graphics processor may be coupled to each display portion and configured to generate a first image for display on: the first display portion when the mobile device is in the retracted configuration; at least one of the display portions while the mobile device is in the expanded configuration; and at least one of the display portions while the mobile device transitions between the retracted configuration and the expanded configuration. The second display portion may be a flexible display material, such as an OLED display and with the first display portion may be a single sheet OLED display.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A device comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 a first housing edge; 
 a top housing edge; 
 a second housing edge; and 
 a bottom housing edge; 
   a graphics processor generating a graphical output; and   a display apparatus, disposed within the housing, comprising:
 an adjustable display area, comprising:
 a first screen portion; and 
 a second screen portion having one or more second display areas; and 
 
 a track structure which facilitates configuring of the device, at a given time and relative to a first axis located in the housing near the first housing edge, into one of a portable state, an expanding state, an expanded state, and a retracting state;
 wherein during the portable state:
 the one or more second display areas are not visible; 
 
 wherein during the expanding state:
 extraction of the second screen portion occurs until the expanded state is reached; and 
 during the extraction, the one or more second display areas sequentially become visible; 
 
 wherein during the expanded state:
 the one or more second display areas are visible; and 
 
 wherein during the retracting state:
 retraction of the second screen portion occurs until the portable state is reached; and 
 during the retraction, the one or more second display areas that became visible during the extraction, become non-visible in a reverse order; 
 
 
   wherein the graphics processor adjusts output of a graphic image to the adjustable display area based on whether the device is in the portable state, the expanding state, the expanded state, and the retracting state;   wherein, when the devices is in the portable state:
 the adjustable display area includes the first screen portion; and 
 the graphics processor provides the graphical output in a first format to be rendered on the first screen portion; 
   wherein, when the device is in the expanding state or in the retracting state:
 the adjustable display area includes the first screen portion and the one or more second display areas then visible; and 
 the graphics processor provides the graphical output in a second format to be rendered on a first combination of the first screen portion and the one or more second display areas then visible; 
   wherein, when the device is in the expanded state:
 the adjustable display area includes the first screen portion and the second screen portion; and 
 the graphics processor provides the graphical output in a third format to be rendered on a second combination of the first screen portion and the one or more second display areas of the second screen portion. 
   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the first screen portion is visible during at least one of the portable state, the expanding state, the expanded state, and the retracting state.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the first screen portion includes:
 a first screen portion first edge that is:
 parallel with the first housing edge when the device is portable state; 
 non-parallel with the first housing edge when the device is in the expanding state, the expanded state, and the retracting state; and 
 
   wherein the second screen portion includes:
 a second screen portion first edge that is:
 parallel with the first housing portion when the device is in the portable state, the expanding state, the expanded state, and the retracting state; and 
 
 a second screen portion second edge that is:
 parallel with the first screen portion first edge when the device is in the expanded state. 
 
   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the second screen portion second edge abuts the first screen portion first edge when the device is in the expanded state.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the first screen portion first edge and the second screen portion first edge are coplanar when the device is in the expanded state.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the first screen portion first edge and the second screen portion second edge are coplanar when the device is in the expanded state.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the track structure supports the second screen portion when the device is in the expanding state, the expanded state, and the retracting state.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the track structure comprises a spring which facilitates transitioning of the device from at least the portable state into the expanding state.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the track structure further comprises:
 an actuator, which when engaged, transitions the device between the portable state to the expanding state. 
   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the track structure further comprises at least one roller to facilitate transitions of the second screen portion between the portable state and the expanding state, the expanding state and the expanded state, the expanded state and the retracting state, and the retracting state and the portable state.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the at least one roller is disposed within the housing.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the first screen portion includes a first touch screen interface.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the second screen portion includes a second touch screen interface.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the first touch screen interface and the second touch screen interface form an integrated touch screen interface when the device is in the expanded state.   
     
     
         16 . A device comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 a first housing edge; 
 a top housing edge; 
 a second housing edge; and 
 a bottom housing edge; 
   a graphics processor generating a graphical output; and   a display apparatus, disposed within the housing, comprising:
 an adjustable display area, comprising:
 a first screen portion; and 
 a second screen portion having one or more second display areas; 
 a third screen portion having one more third display areas; and 
 
 a first track structure which facilitates configuring of the device, at a given time and relative to a first axis located in the housing near the first housing edge, into one of a portable state, a first expanding state, a first expanded state, and a first retracting state;
 wherein during the portable state:
 the one or more second display areas are not visible; 
 
 wherein during the first expanding state:
 first extraction of the second screen portion occurs until the first expanded state is reached; and 
 during the first extraction, the one or more second display areas sequentially become visible; 
 
 wherein during the first expanded state:
 the one or more second display areas are visible; and 
 
 wherein during the first retracting state:
 first retraction of the second screen portion occurs until the portable state is reached; and 
 during the first retraction, the one or more second display areas that became visible during the first extraction, become non-visible in a reverse order; 
 
 
 a second track structure which facilitates configuring of the device, at a given time and relative to a second axis located in the housing near the second housing edge, into one of the portable state, a second expanding state, a second expanded state, and a second retracting state;
 wherein during the portable state:
 the one or more third display areas are not visible; 
 
 wherein during the second expanding state:
 second extraction of the third screen portion occurs until the second expanded state is reached; and 
 during the second extraction, the one or more third display areas sequentially become visible; 
 
 wherein during the second expanded state:
 the one or more third display areas are visible; and 
 
 wherein during the second retracting state:
 second retraction of the third screen portion occurs until the portable state is reached; and 
 during the second retraction, the one or more third display areas that became visible during the second extraction, become non-visible in a reverse order; 
 
 
   wherein the graphics processor adjusts output of a graphic image to the adjustable display area based on whether the device is in the portable state, the first expanding state, the first expanded state, the first retracting state; the second expanding state, the second expanded state, and the second retracting state;   wherein, when the devices is in the portable state:
 the adjustable display area includes the first screen portion; and 
 the graphics processor provides the graphical output in a first format to be rendered on the first screen portion; 
   wherein, when the device is in the first expanding state or in the first retracting state:
 the adjustable display area includes the first screen portion and the one or more second display areas then visible; and 
 the graphics processor provides the graphical output in a second format to be rendered on a first combination of the first screen portion and the one or more second display areas then visible; 
   wherein, when the device is in the first expanded state:
 the adjustable display area includes the first screen portion and the second screen portion; and 
 the graphics processor provides the graphical output in a third format to be rendered on a second combination of the first screen portion and the one or more second display areas of the second screen portion; 
   wherein, when the device is in the second expanding state or in the second retracting state:
 the adjustable display area includes the first screen portion and the one or more third display areas then visible; and 
 the graphics processor provides the graphical output in a fourth format to be rendered on a first combination of the first screen portion and the one or more third display areas then visible; and 
   wherein, when the device is in the second expanded state:
 the adjustable display area includes the first screen portion and the third display portion; and 
 the graphics processor provides the graphical output in a fifth format to be rendered on a second combination of the first screen portion and the one or more third display areas of the third display portion. 
   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 ,
 wherein, when the device is in a combination of the first expanding state or the first retracting state with the second expanding state or the second retracting state:
 the adjustable display area includes the first screen portion, the one or more second display areas then visible, and the one or more third display areas then visible; and 
 the graphics processor provides the graphical output in a sixth format to be rendered on a first combination of the first screen portion with at least one of the one or more second display areas then visible, and the one or more third display areas then visible. and 
   wherein, when the device is in the second expanded state:
 the adjustable display area includes the first screen portion and the third display portion; and 
 the graphics processor provides the graphical output in a seventh format to be rendered on a second combination of the first screen portion and the one or more third display areas of the third display portion. 
   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 ,
 wherein, when the device is in a combination of the first expanded state and the second expanded state:
 the adjustable display area includes the first screen portion, the second screen portion, and the third display portion; and 
 the graphics processor provides the graphical output in an eighth format to be rendered on a second combination of the first screen portion, one or more of the second display areas of the second screen portion and one or more of the third display areas of the third display portion. 
   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the first track structure supports the second screen portion when the second screen portion is extended; and   wherein the second track structure support the third display portion when the third display portion is extended.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the first track structure further comprises at least one first roller, disposed within the housing, to facilitate transitions of the second screen portion between the portable state and the first expanding state, the first expanding state and the first expanded state, the first expanded state and the first retracting state, and the first retracting state and the portable state; and   wherein the second track structure further comprises at least one second roller, disposed within the housing, to facilitate transitions of the third display portion between the portable state and the second expanding state, the second expanding state and the second expanded state, the second expanded state and the second retracting state, and the second retracting state and the portable state.   
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the first screen portion includes a first touch screen interface;   wherein the second screen portion includes a second touch screen interface;   wherein the thirds screen portion includes a third touch screen interface; and   wherein the first touch screen interface, the second touch screen interface, and the third touch screen interface form an integrated touch screen interface when the device is configured in both the first expanded state and the second expanded state.