Patent Publication Number: US-9851821-B2

Title: Dual display apparatus and method of driving the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/685,656, filed Nov. 26, 2012, which claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0055531, filed May 24, 2012, the entire content of both of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate to a dual display apparatus and a method of driving the dual display apparatus. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Display apparatuses capable of replacing cathode ray tubes have been recently been developed. These display apparatuses include liquid crystal displays (LCDs), field emission displays (FEDs), plasma display panels (PDPs), electro-luminescence (EL) display apparatuses, and the like. 
     Among the above display apparatuses, PDPs, which have simple structures and manufacturing processes, are recognized as being display apparatuses that make simple and large displays, however, they have low emission efficiency and brightness and high power consumption. Comparatively, active LCDs, to which thin film transistors (TFTs) are applied as switching devices, use semiconductor processes, and are used as small and large display devices. On the other hand, LCDs have high power consumption due to backlight units. Also, in LCDs, a large amount of optical loss occurs due to optical devices such as polarizing filters, prism sheets, diffusion plates, and the like, and viewing angles may be relatively narrow. 
     EL display apparatuses are largely classified into inorganic EL display apparatuses and organic EL display apparatuses according to materials of emission layers, and are self-emitting apparatuses (i.e., they emit light by themselves). EL display apparatuses have a fast response speed, high emission efficiency and brightness, and wide viewing angles. Among these EL display apparatuses, organic EL display apparatuses including organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) have a low direct current driving voltage, form a thinner display, emit light uniformly, easily form patterns, have a high emission efficiency, emit substantially all colors in a visible spectrum, and the like, and thus EL apparatuses including OLEDs are undergoing the most active research with respect to applications of display apparatuses. 
     Furthermore, EL display apparatuses have a fast screen response speed, wide viewing angles, better color expression than LCDs, flexible characteristics, and are applicable to a wide variety of applications. Thus, EL display apparatuses have been used as display panels of portable electronic products such as cellular phones, PDAs, etc. and user demand for EL display apparatuses is increasing in terms of large screens and various usages of large screens of portable electronic products. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide for a dual display apparatus and a method of driving the dual display apparatus. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dual display apparatus including: a first display configured to display first visual information and to receive a touch input; a second display including a double-sided emission type display configured to display second visual information through a first surface or a second surface opposite to the first surface, and to receive a touch input; a sensor configured to sense relative locations of the first display and the second display; and a controller configured to determine whether the second display is covering the first display or is not covering the first display according to a signal of the sensor, and configured to control the first display and the second display. Here, the controller is configured to receive the touch input from the second display when the second display unit covers the first display, and to receive the touch input from the first display when the second display does not to cover the first display. 
     The second display may include an organic light emitting display that is substantially transparent. 
     One side of the second display may be coupled (e.g., connected) to the first display so that the second display is configured to rotate and move with respect to the first display. 
     In an embodiment, the sensor includes: a first sensor at one side of the first display; and a second sensor at one side of the second display, wherein the controller is configured to calculate an angle between the first display and the second display according to signals received from the first sensor and the second sensor. 
     The first sensor and the second sensor may include gyro sensors. 
     In an embodiment, the controller is configured to activate one of the first display or the second display and to inactivate the other one of the first display or the second display that is not activated when the second display covers the first display, and to activate both the first display and the second display when the second display does not cover the first display. 
     The controller may be configured to inactivate the first display, to activate the second display, and to control the second display to display menu icons when the second display covers the first display. 
     The dual display apparatus may further include: a sound sensor configured to sense a sound signal for controlling the dual display apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     The controller may be configured to activate the first display, to inactivate the second display, and to control the sound sensor to be activated when the second display covers the first display. 
     The controller may be configured to activate the first display and the second display to output third visual information, which is obtained by overlapping the first visual information and the second visual information, to a user when the second display covers the first display. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of driving a dual display apparatus, the method including: detecting relative locations of a first display and a second display; determining whether or not the second display, which includes a substantially transparent portion, is covering the first display; if it is determined that the second display is covering the first display, activating at least one of the first display or the second display; and if it is determined that the second display is covering the first display, receiving a sound signal or a touch signal. 
     The activating of the at least one of the first display or the second display may include: activating the first display and inactivating the second display so that first visual information that is output through the first display is output to a user through the substantially transparent portion of the second display. 
     The receiving of the sound signal or the touch signal may include: receiving the sound signal for controlling the dual display apparatus. 
     The activating of the at least one of the first display or the second display may include: inactivating the first display and activating the second display. 
     The receiving of the sound signal or the touch signal may include: receiving the touch signal for controlling the dual display apparatus through a second surface of the second display opposite to a first surface that faces the first display. 
     The activating of the at least one of the first display or the second display includes: displaying menu icons through the second display, according to an embodiment. 
     The activating of the at least one of the first display and the second display may include: activating the first display that outputs first visual information; and activating the second display that outputs second visual information. 
     In an embodiment, the first visual information and the second visual information may overlap at least partially to form third visual information. 
     The receiving of the sound signal or the touch signal may include: receiving the touch signal for controlling the dual display apparatus through a second surface of the second display opposite to a first surface thereof that faces the first display. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features and aspects of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a dual display apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of a dual display apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic flowchart of driving a dual display apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a driving status of a dual display apparatus in which a first display unit and a second display unit overlap each other, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a driving status of a dual display apparatus in which a first display unit and a second display unit overlap each other, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a driving status of a dual display apparatus in which a first display unit and a second display unit do not overlap each other, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, certain exemplary embodiments according to the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplarily embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention to particular modes of practice, and it will be appreciated that all changes, equivalents, and substitutes that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention are encompassed in the present invention. In the description of the present invention, certain detailed explanations may be omitted when it is deemed that they may unnecessarily obscure certain aspects of the invention. The terms used in the present specification are merely used to describe particular embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. An expression used in the singular encompasses the expression of the plural, unless it has a clearly different meaning in the context. In the present specification, it is to be understood that the terms such as “including” or “having,” etc., are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof may exist or may be added. While such terms as “first,” “second,” etc., may be used to describe various components, such components must not be limited to the above terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one component from another. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a dual display apparatus  100 , according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of the dual display apparatus  100 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the dual display apparatus  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first display unit  110  (first display), a second display unit  120  (second display), a touch recognizing unit  130  (touch sensor), a sensing unit  140  (sensor), a sound recognizing unit  150  (sound sensor), and a control unit  160  (controller). 
     The first display unit  110  may output image information through one surface thereof. The first display unit  110  may be a liquid crystal device or an organic light emitting display device. The first display unit  110  may recognize a touch. For example, a first touch recognizing unit  131  capable of recognizing a touch input by a user&#39;s finger or by using an external input apparatus, such as, a stylus pen, may be included (e.g., integrally formed) with the first display unit  110 . The first touch recognizing unit  131  may recognize an external touch input by using a resistive method, a capacitive method, or any other suitable method. 
     In an embodiment, the second display unit  120  outputs the image information through a first surface  121  thereof facing the first display unit  110  and/or a second surface  122  opposite to the first surface  121  (i.e. a double-sided emission type display). The second display unit  120  may be a transparent display (or a substantially transparent display, a translucent display, a not fully opaque display, or the like). Thus, in a case where the second display unit  120  covers the first display unit  110 , a screen of the first display unit  110  may be viewed (recognized) by a user through the transparent second display unit  120 . 
     The second display unit  120  may recognize the touch (e.g., the touch input by the user). For example, a second touch recognizing unit  132  capable of recognizing the touch input by the user&#39;s finger or by using the external input apparatus, such as, the stylus pen, may be included (e.g., integrally formed) with the second display unit  120 . As an example, the second touch recognizing unit  132  may be formed in both surfaces of the second display unit  120  to recognize a touch input of the first surface  121  of the second display unit  120  and recognize a touch input of the second surface  122  thereof. The second touch recognizing unit  132  may recognize the external touch input by using, for example, the resistive method or the capacitive method (similar to the first touch recognizing unit  131 ). 
     In an embodiment, one side of the second display unit  120  is coupled to the first display unit  110  so that the second display unit  120  may rotate and move with respect to the one side coupled to the first display unit  110 . According to the rotation and movement of the second display unit  120  with respect to the one side thereof, the second display unit  120  may be disposed to overlap a screen of the first display unit  110  (an overlap position) or may not be disposed to overlap a screen of the first display unit  110  (a non-overlap position). That is, the second display unit  120  is capable of being disposed at the overlap position and may alternatively be disposed at the non-overlap position according to the rotation and movement of the second display unit  120  with respect to the one side thereof. 
     In an embodiment, the sensing unit  140  senses whether or not the second display unit  120  is disposed at the overlap position or the non-overlap position. The second display unit  120 , having one side fixed, rotates with respect to the first display unit  110 . In this regard, the sensing unit  140  may determine whether or not the second display unit  120  is disposed to overlap the screen of the first display unit  110  by obtaining a relative movement of the second display unit  120  with respect to the first display unit  110 , i.e. a level of rotation of the second display unit  120 . 
     The sensing unit  140  may include a first sensor  141  disposed at one side of the first display unit  110  and a second sensor  142  disposed at one side of the second display unit  120 . As an example, the first sensor  141  and the second sensor  142  may be formed to face each other (e.g., face each other when the second display unit is disposed at the overlap position). The first sensor  141  and the second sensor  142  may include gyro sensors so as to sense an angle or an angle variation of the second display unit  120  that changes with respect to the first display unit  110 . 
     In an embodiment, the sound recognizing unit  150  is included in the dual display apparatus  100  in such a way that the dual display apparatus  100  may be driven according to a sound command of a user. The sound recognizing unit  150  may be driven according to relative locations of the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120 . As described above, the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120  including the first touch recognizing unit  131  and the second touch recognizing unit  132 , respectively, may recognize touch inputs and, thus, the dual display apparatus  100  may be driven. However, it may be impractical or impossible to input a touch through the first touch recognizing unit  131  formed in the first display unit  110  when the first display unit is covered by the second display unit  120 . In this case, the sound recognizing unit  150  may be activated so that the dual display apparatus  100  may be driven according to the sound command of the user. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit  160  is included (e.g., embedded) in the dual display apparatus  100 , detects the relative locations of the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120  based on sensing information transferred from the sensing unit  140 , and accordingly controls driving of the dual display apparatus  100 . A detailed operation of the control unit  160  and resultant driving of the dual display apparatus  100  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 6 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic flowchart of driving of the dual display apparatus  100 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. The dual display apparatus  100  is driven according to a control operation of the control unit  160 .  FIGS. 4 through 6  illustrate driving statuses of the dual display apparatus  100  with respect to relative locations of the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120  according to embodiments of the present invention.  FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate driving statuses of the dual display apparatus  100  in which the second display unit  120  is disposed at an overlap position, i.e., the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120  overlap each other.  FIG. 6  illustrates a driving status of the dual display apparatus  100  in which the second display unit  120  is disposed at a non-overlap position, i.e., the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120  do not overlap each other. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in operation S 11 , relative locations of the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120  are detected. The control unit  160  may detect the relative operations of the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120  by receiving respective signals sensed by the first sensor  141  and the second sensor  142 . The control unit  160  may then determine whether or not the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120  overlap each other by detecting an angle between the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120  based on, for example, sensing values of a gyro sensor included in the first sensor  141  and a gyro sensor included in the second sensor  142 . The angle between the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120  may be detected by integrating angular speeds sensed by the first sensor  141  and the second sensor  142 . To prevent an error from occurring in detecting the angle between the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120 , an acceleration sensor may be used with the gyro sensor. 
     In operation S 12 , the control unit  160  determines whether the second display unit  120  covers the first display unit  110 . The control unit  160  determines whether the second display unit  120  covers the first display unit  110  based on a result of the detection in operation S 11 . The second display unit  120  may be disposed at the overlap position or the non-overlap position. In respective cases, the control unit  160  may have different operations for controlling the dual display apparatus  100  and methods of recognizing a user command. The case where the second display unit  120  covers the first display unit  110  will now be described. 
     In operation S 13 , the control unit  160  identifies a program being executed in the dual display apparatus  100 . When the second display unit  120  covers the first display unit  110 , since the control unit  160  may control driving of the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120  according to the program being executed in the dual display apparatus  100 , the control unit  160  first identifies the program being executing in the dual display apparatus  100 . If the program being executed in the dual display apparatus  100  requires driving of both the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120 , operation S 20  is performed. If the program being executed in the dual display apparatus  100  does not require driving of both the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120 , operation S 30  or S 40  is performed. 
     A case where operation S 20  is performed will now be described. Operation S 20  includes operations S 21  and S 22 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     In operation S 21 , the control unit  160  activates both the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120 . As an example of a case where the program being executed in the dual display apparatus  100  requires driving of both the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120  is where both first visual information I 1  and second visual information I 2  need to be output through the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120 , respectively, to the user. An example of outputting both the first visual information I 1  and the second visual information I 2  is illustrated in  FIG. 4  by a program “putting clothes on”. 
     More specifically, referring to  FIG. 4 , an image (the first visual information I 1 ) of the user is output through the first display unit  110 , and an image (the second visual information I 2 ) of clothes that may be purchased by the user is output through the second display unit  120 , and thus the user who uses the dual display apparatus  100  may recognize an image (third visual information I 3  obtained by overlapping the first visual information I 1  and the second visual information I 2 ) of the user wearing the clothes. 
     As described above, in a case where a program for determining whether clothes suit the user before the user purchases the clothes operates, the control unit  160  may activate both the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120 . The first visual information I 1  and the second visual information I 2  may be output through the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120 , respectively, and then the user may recognize the third visual information I 3  obtained by overlapping the first visual information I 1  and the second visual information I 2 . 
     Although the image of the user wearing the clothes is provided as the third visual information I 3  through the dual display apparatus  100  by outputting the image of the user corresponding to the first visual information I 1  and the image of clothes corresponding to the second visual information I 2  in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in another embodiment, first visual information I 1  is output through the first display unit  110 , and second visual information having a different size from the first visual information I 1  or disposed slightly obliquely while being similar to the first visual information I 1  is output through the second display unit  120 , and thus third visual information having a cubic effect and obtained by overlapping the first visual information and the second visual information may be provided to the user. 
     In operation S 22 , a user command may be received through a touch. For example, a user touch input may be recognized by activating the second touch recognizing unit  132  in (e.g., formed in) the second surface  122  of the second display unit  120 . The second display unit  120  is disposed at the overlap position and receives a touch signal through the second surface  122  thereof, and thus the user may drive the dual display apparatus  100  through an intuitive touch input. 
     Next, a case where operation S 30  is performed will now be described. Operation S 30  includes operations S 31  and S 32 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Operation S 30  is performed when the program being executed in the dual display apparatus  100  does not require driving of both the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120 , for example, when a home screen is being executed, or the first visual information I 1  and the second visual information I 2  do not need to be simultaneously (or concurrently) output such as when a news search is being performed. 
     In operation S 31 , the control unit  160  may activate the second display unit  120  and inactivate the first display unit  110 . If the first display unit  110  is inactivated, a screen of the first display unit  110  may be blacked out, and the second display unit  120  may output the second visual information I 2 . 
     For example, referring to  FIG. 5 , menu icons M 1 , M 2 , M 3 , and M 4  (which may be higher than a specific priority level) are displayed on the second display unit  120  (at least one of the menu icons M 1 , M 2 , M 3 , and M 4  that are higher than the specific priority level may be displayed on the second display unit  120 ). The user may select and set the menu icons M 1 , M 2 , M 3 , and M 4  (e.g., the menu icons that are higher than the specific priority level) in advance. 
     In operation S 32 , a user command may be received through a touch. For example, a user touch input may be recognized by activating the second touch recognizing unit  132  in (e.g., formed in) the second surface  122  of the second display unit  120 . The second display unit  120  overlaps the first display unit  110  and receives a touch signal through the second surface  122  thereof, and thus the user may drive the dual display apparatus  100  through an intuitive touch input. 
     Next, a case where operation S 40  is performed will now be described. Operation S 40  includes operations S 41  and S 41 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Operation S 40  is performed when the program being executed in the dual display apparatus  100  does not require driving of both the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120 , for example, when a home screen is being executed, or the first visual information I 1  and the second visual information I 2  do not need to be simultaneously (or concurrently) output such as when a news search is being performed. 
     In operation S 41 , the control unit  160  activates the first display unit  110  and inactivates the second display unit  120 . If the second display unit  120  is inactivated, the second display unit  120  does not output the second visual information I 2 , and the first visual information I 1  output through the first display unit  110  may pass through the transparent second display unit  120  and may be viewed (e.g., recognized) by the user. 
     Although the menu icons M 1 , M 2 , M 3 , and M 4  that are higher than the priority level may be displayed on the second display unit  120  as described above with reference to  FIG. 5 , menu icons that are higher than a priority level may be displayed on the first display unit  110 , are capable of being seen through the transparent second display unit  120 , and be visually recognized by the user in another embodiment. 
     In operation S 42 , a user command may be received through sound. For example, although the second display unit  120  is disposed at the overlap position, when the second display unit  120  is inactivated, the second touch recognizing unit  132  may also be inactivated, which makes it difficult to recognize a user touch input even if the second surface  122  of the second display unit  120  is touched. In this case, the user sound command may be recognized by activating the sound recognizing unit  150 . The user sound command may be input into the control unit  160  through the sound recognizing unit  150 . The control unit  160  may control driving of the dual display apparatus  100  according to the recognized sound command. 
     As described above, in operation S 12 , the control unit  160  determines whether or not the second display unit  120  covers the first display unit  110  based on the detection of operation S 11  (also described above). The case where the second display unit  120  does not cover the first display unit  110 , that is the second display unit  120  is disposed at the non-overlap position will now be described in reference to operation S 50 . S 50  includes operations S 51  and S 52 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     In operation S 51 , the control unit  160  activates both the first display unit  110  and the transparent second display unit  120 . The first visual information I 1  output through the activated first display unit  110  and the second visual information I 2  output through the activated second display unit  120  may be different visual information. 
     For example, referring to  FIG. 6 , a screen that runs a web browser may be output as the first visual information I 1  through the first display unit  110 , and a virtual keyboard for inputting a keyword into the web browser may be output as the second visual information I 2  through the second display unit  110 . 
     In operation S 52 , a user command may be received through a touch input. A user touch input may be recognized through the first touch recognizing unit  131  and/or the second touch recognizing unit  132  in (e.g., formed in) the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120 , respectively. Recognition of touch signals of the first touch recognizing unit  131  and the second touch recognizing unit  132 , and outputting of visual information of the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120  may be performed separately or in combination. 
     In an embodiment, the second display unit  120  outputs a plurality of menu icons, and the first display unit  110  outputs a screen that runs one of the menu icons output by the second display unit  120 . In this case, if the user touches the screen output by the first display unit  110 , the first touch recognizing unit  131  receives the touch input so that visual information according to the touch input may be output through the first display unit  110 . If the user touches one of the menu icons output by the second display unit  120 , the second touch recognizing unit  132  in (e.g., formed in) the first surface  121  of the second display unit  120  may receive the touch input so that a screen that runs the touch menu icon may be output through the second display unit  120 . Recognition of touch signals by the first touch recognizing unit  131  and the second touch recognizing unit  132  and outputting of visual information of the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120  may be separately performed. 
     In another embodiment the second display unit  120  outputs a plurality of menu icons, and the first display unit  110  outputs a screen that runs one of the menu icons output by the second display unit  120 . If the user touches one of the menu icons output by the second display unit  120 , the second touch recognizing unit  132  in (e.g., formed in) the first surface  121  of the second display unit  120  may receive the touch input so that a screen that runs the touch menu icon may be output through the first display unit  110 . Recognition of touch signals of the first touch recognizing unit  131  and the second touch recognizing unit  132  and output of visual information of the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120  may be performed in combination. 
     In another embodiment, recognition of touch signals by the first touch recognizing unit  131  and the second touch recognizing unit  132  and outputting of visual information of the first display unit  110  and the second display unit  120  may be performed in combination as follows. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the screen that runs the web browser is output through the first display unit  110 . In this regard, in a case where the user touches a search window on the screen output by the first display unit  110 , the first touch recognizing unit  131  receives the user touch input and transfers the user touch input to the control unit  160 . 
     The control unit  160  controls the second display unit  120  to output a virtual keyboard screen for inputting a search word based on a received signal. If the user touches the virtual keyboard screen output by the second display unit  120 , the second touch recognizing unit  132  receives the user touch input and transfers the user touch input to the control unit  160 . The control unit  160  may display the search word on the search window of the first display unit  110  according to a touched keyboard. 
     As described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a user command may be recognized in various ways, and various types of visual information may be output according to relative locations of a first display unit and a transparent second display unit. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.