초록 ▼

A foldable display device coupled to a non-rigid support mechanism movable between an unfolded and a folded position. In one embodiment, the e-ink display device is dual sided and both sides can display information as well as accept touch screen commands. One side of the display device is used in th

A foldable display device coupled to a non-rigid support mechanism movable between an unfolded and a folded position. In one embodiment, the e-ink display device is dual sided and both sides can display information as well as accept touch screen commands. One side of the display device is used in the unfolded position and the opposite side is used in the folded position. In the unfolded position, the display device has a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) form factor, and the entire area of one side of the display device is viewable. The display device is supported within the non-rigid support mechanism such that it lies in a flat plane in the unfolded position, and there is no loss of viewable area due to folding of the display device. The two sides of the non-rigid support mechanism are coupled for movement between a folded and an unfolded position and the display device is folded in a bend radius that precludes any disruption to the display area. Moving the support mechanism from the unfolded position to the folded position folds the display device about an axis that divides the display device into two equal rectangles. In the folded position, the display device has a candy bar form factor useful in cell phone applications, and the viewable area is about one half that of the PDA form factor used in the unfolded position. The non-rigid support mechanism holds the viewable area of the display device in a flat plane in the folded position.

대표청구항 ▼

A foldable display device coupled to a non-rigid support mechanism movable between an unfolded and a folded position. In one embodiment, the e-ink display device is dual sided and both sides can display information as well as accept touch screen commands. One side of the display device is used in th

A foldable display device coupled to a non-rigid support mechanism movable between an unfolded and a folded position. In one embodiment, the e-ink display device is dual sided and both sides can display information as well as accept touch screen commands. One side of the display device is used in the unfolded position and the opposite side is used in the folded position. In the unfolded position, the display device has a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) form factor, and the entire area of one side of the display device is viewable. The display device is supported within the non-rigid support mechanism such that it lies in a flat plane in the unfolded position, and there is no loss of viewable area due to folding of the display device. The two sides of the non-rigid support mechanism are coupled for movement between a folded and an unfolded position and the display device is folded in a bend radius that precludes any disruption to the display area. Moving the support mechanism from the unfolded position to the folded position folds the display device about an axis that divides the display device into two equal rectangles. In the folded position, the display device has a candy bar form factor useful in cell phone applications, and the viewable area is about one half that of the PDA form factor used in the unfolded position. The non-rigid support mechanism holds the viewable area of the display device in a flat plane in the folded position. other pockets adjacent to it, the geometric shape of the shared boundaries and the geometric shape of the inner side of each pocket being optimized to conform a closely packed pattern of the particles placed within the pockets; and the bottom of each pocket is contoured, forming a plurality of recesses, each recess receding from a substantially uniform recess height, the recess height being lower than the sidewall of the pocket, each recess being suitable for positioning one particle without substantially interfering the other particles positioned on the adjacent recesses. 2. The microstructure according to claim 1, wherein the optically anisotropic particles are anisotropic pertaining to a visible light and the structure is a visual display. 3. The microstructure according to claim 1, wherein the pockets are integrally pre-formed with the base portion before the particles are disposed in the pockets. 4. The microstructure according to claim 1, wherein: the particles are of substantially uniform size and when disposed in the pockets, the particles are entirely below the height of the sidewall of the pocket in which the particles are disposed, the sidewall of each pocket having an upper perimeter edge, the upper perimeter edge contacting the cover layer, and when so contacted, the upper perimeter edge and the cover layer forming an individual enclosure over each pocket. 5. The microstructure according to claim 4, wherein: the pockets are positioned close to each other and each pocket shares boundaries with other pockets adjacent to it, the geometric shape of the shared boundaries and the geometric shape of the inner side of each pocket being optimized to conform a closely packed pattern of the particles placed within the pockets. 6. The microstructure according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of each pocket is rounded. 7. The microstructure according to claim 1, wherein the inner side of each pocket is slightly tapered. 8. The microstructure according to claim 4, wherein pockets contain dielectric fluid, the dielectric fluid being sealed in each pocket individually with substantially no leakage or filtration thereof from the pocket. 9. The microstructure according to claim 1, further comprising: a filling material positioned around or above the particles but below the cover layer, wherein the filling material is a thixotropic dielectric fluid. 10. The microstructure according to claim 9, wherein the filling material exerts a force on the particles so that the particles are bistable, the force being subject to change in response to a factor selected from the group of voltage, vibration and heat. 11. The microstructure according to claim 9, wherein the filling material has a viscosity sufficient to keep the particles bistable through the contact with the particles. 12. The microstructure according to claim 1, further comprising: a filling material, wherein the filling material is positioned around or above the particles but below the cover layer and is in contact with the particles. 13. The microstructure according to claim 12, wherein the filling material is a dielectric fluid. 14. The visual display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each recess has a recess bottom which is shaped to conform the geometric shape of a particle. 15. The visual display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the particles are spheroid balls and the recess bottoms are rounded. 16. The visual display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: each pocket is capable of containing at least three particles, the particles in each pocket forming interstices among the adjacent particles, a substantial number of the interstices being filled with a post, each post extending from the bottom of the pocket to a post height, the post height being not higher than the sidewall of the pocket, and the posts substantially causing no interference with the rotation of the surrounding particles. 17. The visual display apparatus according