Patent Application
20070268199
Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the following in which:
The electronic device 10 is substantially rectangular in shape with front and rear major faces 200 and lateral minor faces 201-204 (204, not shown in
The front major face 200 comprises a number of user interface elements including a display aperture 110, behind which is located a first display 11, and input elements (e.g. keys, not shown). In another embodiment, the display 11 may be actuatable by a user to provide user input to the electronic device.
One of the minor faces 202 is also arranged to display images by making use of a second display 12 comprised in a second display unit 120. Thus, the second display unit 120 is arranged to provide a different viewing angle than the first display 11. In this particular embodiment, the second display unit 120 uses a second electronic display 12 and a reflection mechanism (discussed in relation to
The minor face 202 of the electronic device 10 comprises an attachment member (not shown) used to allow the device 10 to be attached to a fastening element which can be directly or indirectly used to attach the device to a user when the device is being worn. In use, as the device 10 hangs from the attachment member, the display 12 viewable using the projection display aperture 121.
A PWB 20 is housed within the electronic device 10. The PWB 20 is rectangular in shape and comprises two opposing major faces 100 and four lateral minor faces 101-104 (104, not shown). Numerous electronic components are attached to the major faces of the PWB 100 (the components can be attached to one or both of the major faces 100. When assembled, the major and minor faces of the PWB 20 and the device 10 are aligned.
The first electronic display 11 is attached to the PWB so that the viewing face of the display 11 is parallel to one of the component faces of the PWB 20 (
The PWB 20 also comprises the second display unit 120 attached to the same component face of the PWB 20 as the first display 11. In other embodiments, the displays 11, 12 (and display unit 120) could be attached to different component faces of the PWB 20. The second display 12 is provided towards one end of the PWB 20 and also attached to be parallel to the component face of the PWB 20. A reflector arrangement 300 is used in the display unit 120 to orientate the images provided on the second display 12 so that they can be viewed from a different viewing angle than viewing the front face of the display 12. In the embodiment of
Although the particular embodiments shown are in relation to a single reflector 301, the reflector can comprise one or more reflective elements to reflect the image to the required viewing position.
The applicant hereby discloses in isolation each individual feature described herein and any combination of two or more such features, to the extent that such features or combinations are capable of being carried out based on the present specification as a whole in the light of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art, irrespective of whether such features or combinations of features solve any problems disclosed herein, and without limitation to the scope of the claims. The applicant indicates that aspects of the present invention may consist of any such individual feature or combination of features.
In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, the reflector/projection screen can be arranged to be user-moveable into a number of different reflecting positions, and thus a number of different viewing angles. The reflector and/or the projection screen may not be mounted on the PWB but may be mounted to the housing of the electronic device.
While there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices and methods described may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. Furthermore, in the claims means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Thus although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures.
