Patent Application
20140035794
This description relates to a dual display computing device.
Many types of electronic devices have been developed for consuming various types of media. For example, some electronic devices have been developed specifically for the purpose of reading electronic books (i.e., e-books). These types of dedicated book reading electronic devices can be referred to as e-book devices or as e-readers. Known e-book devices often incorporate electronic-ink (i.e., e-ink) display technology, which facilitate portability, readability in bright sunlight (because the electronic paper can reflect light like ordinary paper), relatively long battery life (because power may generally be consumed only during screen refreshing), and so forth. However, displays based on electronic-ink technology can have relatively slow refresh rates that may not be desirable for some applications and/or may not preferred by some e-book device users.
In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a first electronic-ink display on a first electronic-ink display on a first side of the computing device, and a second electronic-ink display on a second side of the computing device. The second electronic-ink display is configured to selectively reflect ambient light to create a desired image. The apparatus can also include a sensor configured to produce an indicator that the first electronic-ink display of the computing device is rotated from facing in a first direction toward facing in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a refresh module configured to trigger the second electronic-ink display to refresh the image display by the second electronic-ink display in response to the indicator.
In another general aspect, a computer-readable storage medium can store instructions that when executed cause a computing device to perform a process. The instructions can include instructions to trigger display of a first page of content within a first display on a first side of the computing device that is in a position facing toward a face of a user, and receive an indicator that the computing device is rotated such that the first display is moved from the position facing toward the face of the user and a second display on a second side of the computing device is moved from a position facing away from the face of the user. The instructions can also include instructions to replace the first page of content with a second page of content within the first display in response to the indicator.
In yet another general aspect, a computer-readable storage medium can store instructions that when executed cause a computing device to perform a process. The instructions can include instructions to trigger display of a first page of content within a first display of the computing device, and trigger display of a second page of content within a second display of the computing device. The instructions can also include instructions to receive an indicator that a user changes from viewing the first display to viewing the second display, and trigger display of a third page of content within the first display in response to the indicator.
The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
The computing device 100 shown in
The computing device 100 is configured so that a user can consume (e.g., read, view) content (e.g., text, images) displayed (e.g., rendered) on a first display facing the user while a second display is facing away from the user. The user then can rotate (e.g., flip) the computing device 100 so that subsequent content can be consumed on the second display (which was previously facing away from the user). While the first display is now facing away from the user, the first display can be refreshed so that additional content can later be consumed by the user when the computing device 100 is once again rotated (e.g., flipped). Thus, a user can read pages from an e-book by rotating (e.g., flipping) the computing device 100 as the pages are refreshed, in order, on the displays in, for example, an alternating fashion.
In some embodiments, when a display (e.g., display 120) of the computing device 100 is facing toward a user so that the user can view the display, the display can be referred to as being in a front orientation, or as being in a front-side orientation (e.g., a viewable or user-facing orientation). In some embodiments, when a display (e.g., display 130) of the computing device 100 is facing away from a user so that the user may not view the display, the display can be referred to as being in a back orientation, or as being in a back-side orientation (e.g., a non-viewable orientation).
As a specific example, the computing device 100 can be configured so that a first page of an e-book can be displayed (e.g., rendered) on, for example, display 120, which can be facing a user (or facing in a usable direction) as shown in
In this embodiment, the display 120 and the display 130 are each electronic ink displays based on electronic ink (e.g., e-ink, electronic paper) technology, which selectively reflect ambient light to create a desired image on the display. Electronic ink displays can include a thin layer (e.g., hydrocarbon oil layer) in which small reflective particles (e.g., titanium dioxide particles) are suspended. The particles can be electrostatically charged, and the application of a potential difference between different sides of the layer can cause particles in selected parts of the display to migrate electrophoretically to one side of the thin layer or the other. Parts of the display in which the reflective particles are disposed in the layer close to a surface of the display can reflect ambient light toward a viewer of the display, while parts of the display in which the reflective particles are disposed in the layer away from the surface of the display can absorb ambient light. By controlling the portions of the display in which the reflective particles are disposed toward and away from the display surface a desired image can be created. In other words, a mixture of particles suspended within a layer (e.g., thin oil layer) can be placed between parallel, conductive plates, and when voltages are applied across the plates, the particles can migrate electrophoretically to the front plate or the back plate to form pixels (e.g., white pixels, black pixels). Thus, each of the displays 120, 130, unlike a conventional flat panel display (such as a display based on liquid crystal display (LCD) technology) that uses backlighting to illuminate its pixels, is configured to display (e.g., hold) text and/or images without drawing (or substantially without drawing) electricity. Instead, the displays 120, 130 consume power when being refreshed, but not when a static image is being displayed. In some embodiments, the displays 120, 130 can be produced using various types of plastic substrate and/or display processing technologies.
In some embodiments, the electronic ink technology used to produce the displays 120, 130 can include a variety of technologies. For example, the displays 120, 130 can be based on Gyricon electronic paper technology, which includes polyethylene spheres. As yet another example, the displays 120, 130 can be based on Electro-wetting display (EWD) technology, which is based on controlling the shape of a confined water/oil interface by an applied voltage. When no voltage is applied, the oil (e.g., colored oil) can form a film between the water and a hydrophobic (water-repellent), insulating coating of an electrode, resulting in a pixel (e.g., a colored pixel).
As shown in
In some embodiments, the sensor 140 can include one or more accelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, one or more image capture devices, and/or so forth. If the sensor 140 is an accelerometer, the accelerometer can be used to detect the initiation of rotational movement of the computing device 100. One or more gyroscopes can be used to determine an orientation of the computing device 100 when one or more of the displays 120, 130 is facing a particular direction. In some embodiments, one or more image capture devices can be used to determine whether one or more of the displays 120, 130 is facing a user (or an object). An example of a computing device that includes an image capture device used to determine orientation of the computing device is described, for example, in connection with
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The orientation and refreshing of the first display in the second display can be described in the context of content associated with an e-book. For example, a first page of the e-book can be displayed on the first display when the first display is in the front orientation between times T0 and T1. A second page of the e-book (which is in a back orientation facing away from a user) can be displayed on the second display between times T0 and T1. When the computing device is rotated between times T1 and T2, the second page of the e-book will remain displayed on the second display because the second display is not refreshed when the computing device is rotated so that the second display is moved from the back orientation to the front orientation. The first display, however, is refreshed when the first display is moved to the back orientation (which is facing away from a user) starting at T2 with a third page of the e-book.
Although
In some embodiments, refreshing of the first display can be triggered (e.g., triggered in response to an indicator from a sensor) with the timing that is different than the refreshing of the second display. For example, refreshing of the first display can be triggered while the computing device is rotating (e.g., is rotated beyond a specified angle), and refreshing of the second display can be triggered after rotation of the computing device has been completed. More details related to refreshing in response to rotating are described in connection with
Refresh time periods Q and R of the first display are shown in
In some embodiments, the refresh time periods Q, R of the first display and/or the refresh time period S of the second display can be shorter than, equal to, or greater than the time period during which rotation (e.g., a typical rotation) of the computing device occurs. For example, the refresh time periods Q, R and/or the refresh time period S can be shorter than the rotation time period between times T1 and T2.
In some embodiments, refreshing of the first display and/or the second display may only be triggered when the rotation is faster than a threshold period of time (also can be referred to as a rotation threshold time period). In such embodiments, refreshing of the first display and/or the second display may not be triggered when rotation is slower than the threshold period of time. As a specific example, refreshing of the first display and/or the second display may be triggered when the rotation (e.g., at least 90° rotation) occurs during a time period approximately equal to, or slightly longer, than rotation time period between times T1 and T2 (which can approximately represent a typical time for 180° rotation of the computing device), but shorter than the time period between times T1 and T3. This functionality may be included in the computing device so that a user who stands up and walks around with the computing device may not unintentionally trigger refreshing as the computing device is moved (and slowly rotated) with the movements of the user. Instead, the computing device may only be refreshed in response to the computing device being rotated (e.g., rotated more than 120°) at a relatively fast rate (e.g., less than a second) with the intent to trigger refreshing.
In some embodiments, refreshing the one or more the displays of the computing device (or an indicator configured to trigger the refreshing) can be disabled (e.g., deactivated) for a period of time. In other words, the computing device can have a refreshing override function. For example, the refreshing functionality of the computing device can be disabled for a period of time so that a user reading content on the first display or the second display may pass (while rotating) the computing device to another person so that the second person may consume the content without the displays being refreshed. As another example, the refreshing functionality of the computing device can be disabled for a period of time so that a user reading content on the first display and/or the second display may move without refreshing of the first display and/or the second display of the computing device being unintentionally triggered.
In some embodiments, the display 120 of the computing device 100 can be used to consume pages of a first type of content and display 130 of the computing device 100 can be used for consuming a second type of content. The second type of content can be related to the first type of content or can be independent of the first type of content. The refreshing of at least one of the displays 120, 130 can be disabled (as described above) so that a user can refer to the content displayed thereon without triggering refreshing. As a specific example, the display 120 of the computing device 100 can be used for reading an e-book and the display 130 of the computing device 100 can be used to display reference material or notes related to the e-book on the display 120. Refreshing of the e-book pages on the display 120 can be triggered (e.g., triggered using a button or other type of movement), while the content on the display 130 of the computing device 100 can be referred to periodically while a user is consuming the e-book on display 120.
Referring back to
One or more input devices included in the input device region can be used to control one or more functions of the computing device. For example, an input device can be used to access one or more files (e.g., electronics books) stored in a memory (not shown) of the computing device 100, trigger pagination of an e-book, and/or so forth. An example of a computing device that includes an input device region is described in connection with
In some embodiments, one or more of the displays 120, 130 can include a touch sensitive display. In some embodiments, one or more of the displays 120, 130 can be, or can include, for example, an electrostatic touch device, a resistive touchscreen device, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device, a capacitive touchscreen device, a pressure sensitive device, a surface capacitive device, a projected capacitive touch (PCT) device, and/or so forth. In some embodiments, each of the displays 120, 130 can be a different type of display. For example, in some embodiments, the display 120 can be an electronic ink display and the display 130 can be an LCD display or a touch sensitive LCD display.
In some embodiments, if one or more of the displays 120, 130 is a touch sensitive display, the display(s) can function as an input device. For example, display 130 can be a touch sensitive display that can be configured to display a virtual keyboard (e.g., emulate a keyboard) that can be used by a user as an input device. In some embodiments, one or more gestures (e.g., finger strokes, hand movements) can be used to control content displayed on one or more of the displays 120, 130.
In some embodiments, the touch sensitive surface can be disposed over one or more of the displays 120, 130 that is an electronic ink display. In such embodiments, the touch sensitive surface (e.g., via one or more gestures or other types of touches) can be configured to trigger one or more signals that can be used to control (e.g., control content on) the displays 120, 130 and/or another function of the computing device 100. For example, the touch sensitive surface can be used to access one or more files (e.g., electronic books (i.e., e-book)) stored at the computing device 100, scroll through and/or select content, and so forth.
In some embodiments, one or more input device included on a back side of the computing device 100 (facing away from a user) can be used to control content on the front side of the computing device 100 (facing toward a user). For example, an input device included on the side of the display 130 can be used to control content (e.g., control scrolling of content, refreshing of content, selecting of content) on the display 120 when the display 120 is facing a user. Thus, the content displayed on display 120 may not be obstructed by a user's fingers (which are instead using an input device on the back side of the computing device 100) while controlling the content displayed on the display 120. In such embodiments, one or more gestures (e.g., finger strokes, hand movements) on display 120 can be used to control content displayed on display 130.
Although the displays 120, 130 shown in
In some embodiments, the computing device 100 can be, for example, a wired device and/or a wireless device (e.g., wi-fi enabled device) and can be, for example, a personal computing device, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and/or so forth. In some embodiments, the computing device 100 can have functionality beyond that of an e-book device. For example, the computing device 100 can have general-purpose processing capabilities. The computing device 100 can be configured to operate based on one or more platforms (e.g., one or more similar or different platforms) that can include one or more types of hardware, software, firmware, operating systems, runtime libraries, and/or so forth.
In this embodiment, the image capture device 350 is configured to detect an orientation (e.g., a front orientation, the back orientation) of the computing device 300 with respect to a user. For example, the image capture device 350 can be configured to capture one or more images (e.g., indicators) that can be used by the computing device 300 to determine an orientation of the computing device 300.
As a specific example, the image capture device 350 (which is a type of sensor) can be configured to capture one or more images (e.g., indicators) of a user viewing the display 310 of the computing device 300. In such instances, the image(s) can be analyzed by the computing device 300 to determine that the display 310 is facing toward the user. In response to determining that the display 310 is facing toward the user, the display on the back side of the computing device 300 can be triggered to refresh. In some embodiments, the computing device 300 can include one or more facial recognition software and/or hardware components configured to analyze the image(s) to determine that the display 310 is facing toward the user. In some embodiments, one or more images captured by the image capture device 350 while the computing device 300 is facing away from the user can be used to determine that the display 310 is facing away from the user.
As another example, in some embodiments, one or more images captured by the image capture device 350 can be used to determine movement of the computing device 300. In such embodiments, one or more pixels associated with a first image captured by the image capture device 350 can be compared with one or more pixels of a second image captured by the image capture device 350 to determine that the computing device 300 is being rotated (e.g., rotated so that the display 310 will no longer be facing a user, rotated so that the display will be facing a user).
In some embodiments, the image capture device 350 can be configured to capture images that can be used to determine an orientation of the computing device 300 during specific intervals of time. For example, the image capture device 350 can be configured to capture an image every few seconds (e.g., every second, every 3 seconds, every 5 seconds). In some embodiments, the image capture device 350 can be configured to capture images randomly. In some embodiments, a refresh of the display 310 on the front side of the computing device 300 and/or a refresh of the display (not shown) on the back side of the computing device 300 can be triggered in response to an orientation of the computing device 300 determined based on one or more images captured by the image capture device 350.
In some embodiments, the image capture device 350 can be configured to capture images in response to movement (e.g., movement more than a threshold amount) of the computing device 300. In some embodiments, the image capture device 350 can be in a standby state (e.g., standby mode) while the computing device 300 is not moving (e.g., is not moving a threshold amount). For example, the image capture device 350 can be configured to capture one or more images in response to a user starting to rotate the computing device 300 (e.g., rotate the computing device 300 more than a threshold amount). In such embodiments, a refresh of the display 310 on the front side of the computing device 300 and/or a refresh of the display (not shown) on the back side of the computing device 300 can be triggered in response to an orientation of the computing device 300. The orientation can be determined based on the one or more images that are captured by the image capture device 350 in response to the movement.
Although not shown in
For example, the two image captures devices can be configured so that refreshing does not occur until images from at least one of the two image capture devices positively identifies a physical feature (e.g., an eye, a face) of a user. Thus, refreshing may not be erroneously triggered if the computing device 300 is, for example, temporarily placed on a table and the image capture device on a front side of the computing device 300 and that was facing a user is no longer facing the user. The erroneous refreshing can be avoided because the refreshing may not be triggered until the image capture device on the back side of the computing device 300 registers the face of the user.
In some embodiments, images captured by the image capture device 350 can be used in conjunction with another type of sensor to determine an orientation of the computing device 300. For example one or more images captured by the image capture device 350 can be analyzed in conjunction with an indicator (e.g., a signal) from, for example, an accelerometer to determine whether or not the computing device 300 is being rotated in a particular direction.
In some embodiments, the image capture device 350 may be included in a different portion of the computing device 300 than that shown in
As shown in
The computing device 400 can be configured so that one or more of the displays 420, 430 are refreshed in response to the computing device 400 rotating so that the angle C satisfies a threshold condition (e.g., is less than or equal to a threshold angle of rotation). For example, the computing device 400 can be configured so that the display 430 is triggered to start refreshing when the angle C is less than 30°. Thus, the display 430 can start refreshing when the computing device is rotated approximately 60° (shown as angle F) from the front orientation shown in
In some embodiments, the threshold angle can be different than that described above. For example, the threshold angle can be less than 30° or greater than 30°. In some embodiments, the threshold angle can be defined by a user in, for example, a user profile stored within the computing device 400. In some embodiments, the threshold angle can be included in (e.g., stored in) a default setting of the computing device 400.
As shown in
In some embodiments, the computing device 400 can include one or more gyroscopes, image capture devices, and/or accelerometers that can be used to detect the orientation of the computing device 400 after being rotated about an axis (e.g., an axis nonparallel to axis D). In such embodiments, the gyroscopes, image capture devices, and/or accelerometers can be used to reorient content within the displays 420, 430 so that the content is right side up with respect to a user.
In some embodiments, the display 420 and/or the display 430 can be refreshed in response rotation within the plane B (or within a plane substantially parallel to plane B). For example, the computing device 400 may be oriented so that the display 420 is facing the user (and continues to face the user) while the computing device 400 is being rotated (e.g., rotated 45°, 90°, 180°) within the plane B. In response to, or during the rotation, the display 420 may be refreshed. In such embodiments, content within the display 420 may be reoriented so that the content is right side up with respect to the user.
In some embodiments, the computing device 400 can be configured to detect reverse rotation and trigger refreshing of one or more of the displays 420, 430 accordingly. For example, the computing device 400 can be configured so that the display 430 is triggered to start refreshing when the computing device 400 is rotated from the front orientation shown in
In some embodiments, the computing device 400 can be configured to refresh in a forward direction (with respect to e-book pages) when rotated in one direction (i.e., a clockwise direction) and can be configured to refresh in a backward direction (with respect to e-book pages) when rotated in another direction (i.e., a counterclockwise direction). Refreshing in the forward direction can be referred to as forward refreshing, and refreshing in a backward direction can be referred to as backward refreshing.
In some embodiments, the computing device 400 can be configured to detect reverse rotation and trigger refreshing in a backward direction only when the reverse rotation occurs before one or more of the displays 420, 430 is completely rotated (or rotated beyond a specified angle) to one of the front orientation or the back orientation. For example, the computing device 400 can be configured so that the display 430 is triggered to start forward refreshing when the computing device 400 is rotated from the front orientation shown in
Although the front orientation of the display 430 of the computing device 400 is illustrated in
In some embodiments, the computing device 400 can be configured to detect a starting orientation of the computing device 400 from which refreshing can be triggered. For example, in some embodiments, the computing device 400 can be configured to determine that a particular orientation of the computing device 400 is a starting orientation of the computing device 400 from which refreshing can be triggered when the computing device 400 is substantially at rest (or has not been rotated beyond a specified angle) in the particular orientation. In other words, the particular orientation of the computing device 400 can be selected as the starting orientation of the computing device 400 when the computing device 400 is in the particular orientation for a specified period of time. In some embodiments, the starting orientation of the computing device 400 can be selected (or otherwise defined) with each refreshing of one or more of the displays 420, 430 of the computing device 400.
In response to the orientation of the computing device 500 being detected by the sensor 540 (and associated hardware and/or software), the refreshed module 550 can be configured to trigger a refresh of one or more of the displays 520, 530. For example, in response to an indicator from the sensor 540 that the computing device 500 is being rotated at a particular speed and in a particular direction, the refreshed module 550 can be configured to trigger a refresh (e.g., a forward refresh, a backward refresh) of one or more of the displays 520, 530.
As shown in
For example, in a flipping refresh mode, the displays 520, 530 may be refreshed in an alternating pattern starting with either of the display 520 or the display 530 as the computing device 500 is rotated. In a non-flipping refresh mode, only one of the displays may be refreshed as a user consumes content displayed on the display. For example, display 520 may be refreshed with pages from an e-book without display 530 being refreshed during consumption of the pages of the e-book by a user. The computing device 500 may operate in such a fashion if the display 530 is not functioning properly and/or if the user selects the non-flipping mode using the mode module 560. Various modes of the computing device 500 can be specified. For example, in a particular mode, the display 520 may be refreshed multiple times with new content before the display 530 is refreshed with new content. In some embodiments, the mode module 560 may be used by a user to define a customized refresh mode that can be, for example, stored in the memory 570.
In some embodiments, one or more definitions of a refresh mode can be stored in the memory 570 where the refresh mode can be accessed by and/or otherwise manipulated by the mode module 560. The mode module 560 can also be used by a user to select a particular refresh mode. In some refresh modes, the refresh module 550 can be configured to trigger refreshing of one or more of the displays 520, 530 in response to one or more user interface buttons being actuated rather than in response to orientation and/or movement (e.g., rotation) of the computing device 500 as detected by the sensor 540.
As shown in
An indicator that the computing device is being rotated such that the first display is moved from the position facing toward the face of the user and a second display on a second side of the computing device is moved from a position facing away from the face of the user is received (block 620). In some embodiments, the indicator can be produced by a sensor (and/or associated hardware and/or software), such as an image capture device, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and/or so forth, included within the computing device. In some embodiments, the position facing away from the face of the user can be referred to as a back orientation. The first display can be moved from the front orientation toward a back orientation, and the second display can be moved from the back orientation toward the front orientation. In some embodiments, the indicator can be produced in response to the computing device being rotated beyond a particular point (e.g., beyond a threshold angle), at a specified speed, and/or so forth.
The first page of text is replaced with a second page of text within the first display in response to the indicator (block 630). In some embodiments, the replacement of the first page of the text with the second page of the text within the first display can be referred to as refreshing of the first display.
When the computing device 700 is in the open configuration, the display 720 and the display 730 are facing in the same (or approximately the same direction). In this embodiment, the displays 720, 730 are aligned along the same plane when in the open configuration. In some embodiments, each of the displays 720, 730 can each be aligned along planes that are nonparallel when in the open configuration. In some embodiments, the open configuration shown in
When in the computing device 700 is in the flipping configuration shown in
When the computing device 700 is in the flipping configuration shown in
The computing device 700 can be configured so that a user can consume (e.g., read, view) content (e.g., text, images) displayed (e.g., rendered) on the displays 720, 730 in an alternating fashion when the computing device 700 is in the open configuration (or side-by-side configuration). For example, a user can consume content displayed on the display 720. After the user has completed consumption of the content displayed on the display 720, the user can proceed to consume content displayed on the display 730. While the user is consuming content displayed on the display 730, display 720 can be refreshed with new content so that after the user has completed consumption of the content displayed on the display 730, the user can proceed to consume the new content displayed on the display 720.
As shown in
As a specific example, the computing device 700 can be configured so that a first page of an e-book can be displayed (e.g., rendered) on, for example, display 720 when the computing device is in the open configuration. While the user is reading the first page on the display 720, the display 730 can be configured to display a second page of the e-book. After the user has read the first page of the e-book displayed on the display 720, the image capture device 750 can be used to determine that the user has moved (e.g., shifted, changed) to view content displayed on the display 730. After, or while, the user has moved so that the user can read the second page of the e-book displayed on the display 730, the display 720 can be refreshed with the third page of the e-book.
In some embodiments, refreshing of the displays 720, 730 while the computing device 700 is in the open configuration can be referred to as a side-by-side refresh mode. In some embodiments, the refresh mode of the computing device 700 can be changed in response to the computing device 700 being moved from the open configuration to the flipping configuration. For example, the computing device 700 can be configured to operate with a side-by-side refresh mode by default when the computing device 700 is in the open configuration. In response to the computing device 700 being moved to the flipping configuration, the computing device 700 can be configured to operate with a flipping refresh mode by default. Although not shown, the computing device 700 can include one or more buttons that can be used by a user to trigger refresh of the displays 720, 730 when the computing device 700 is in the open configuration (shown in
Display of a first page of text is triggered within a first display of a computing device (block 810). In some embodiments, the first page of text can be from an e-book, and the computing device can be, in some embodiments, a dedicated e-book device.
Display of a second page of text is triggered within a second display of the computing device (block 820). In some embodiments, the computing device can be in an open configuration, or a side-by-side configuration, where the first display is disposed next to (or adjacent to) the second display and both displays are facing a user.
An indicator that a user changed from viewing the first display to viewing the second display is received (block 830). In some embodiments, the indicator can be produced by a sensor, such as an image capture device.
Display of a third page of text is triggered within the first display in response to the indicator (block 840). In some embodiments, the first page of text within the first display can be replaced with the third page of text. In other words, the first display can be refreshed in response to the indicator.
Implementations of the various techniques described herein may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Implementations may implemented as a computer program product, i.e., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in a machine-readable storage device (computer-readable medium, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, a tangible computer-readable storage medium) or in a propagated signal, for processing by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus, e.g., a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple computers. In some implementations, a computer-readable storage medium can be configured to store instructions that when executed cause a computing device to perform a process. A computer program, such as the computer program(s) described above, can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program can be deployed to be processed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.
Method steps may be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output. Method steps also may be performed by, and an apparatus may be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit).
Processors suitable for the processing of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. Elements of a computer may include at least one processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer also may include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. Information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory may be supplemented by, or incorporated in special purpose logic circuitry.
To provide for interaction with a user, implementations may be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a cathode ray tube (CRT), light emitting diode (LED), or liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor, for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.
Implementations may be implemented in a computing system that includes a back-end component, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, e.g., an application server, or that includes a front-end component, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementation, or any combination of such back-end, middleware, or front-end components. Components may be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication, e.g., a communication network. Examples of communication networks include a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN), e.g., the Internet.
While certain features of the described implementations have been illustrated as described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the scope of the embodiments. It should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, not limitation, and various changes in form and details may be made. Any portion of the apparatus and/or methods described herein may be combined in any combination, except mutually exclusive combinations. The embodiments described herein can include various combinations and/or sub-combinations of the functions, components and/or features of the different embodiments described.
This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. §§111(a) and 120 of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/CN2011/001121, filed Jul. 6, 2011, entitled “DUAL DISPLAY COMPUTING DEVICE,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/CN2011/001121 | Jul 2011 | US |
| Child | 13295453 | US |
