Abstract:
Detachable screen accessory. In accordance with a first embodiment, an apparatus includes an electronic display screen is mounted to a shell. A docking housing is mechanically coupled to the shell, opposite the electronic display screen. The docking housing is configured to mechanically capture a second electronic device. The second electronic device includes a second electronic device display screen. The apparatus also includes first circuitry configured to communicatively couple to the second electronic device, and second circuitry configured to display information from the second electronic device on the electronic display screen. The second electronic device may include a smart phone.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of devices with electronic displays. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for detachable screen accessories. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The electronic display screens of portable electronic systems, e.g., “smart” phones, tablet computers, and/or personal digital assistants, “wearable” electronic systems, including, e.g., “smart” watches and/or glasses, are often less than desirable for some uses. For example, many such devices employ back-lit liquid crystal display (LCD) display screens. Such LCD display screens are notoriously difficult to see in bright light or direct sunlight, e.g., outdoors. In addition, LCD displays generally have a much higher power consumption, which directly leads to an undesirably shorter battery life, in comparison to other display technologies, e.g., electronic paper (e-paper). Further, such displays may have less than desirable contrast. Organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays have similar drawbacks. Still further, the native display of such devices may be undesirably small for some uses, e.g., an e-reader application. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Therefore, what is needed are systems and methods for detachable screen accessories that provide an improved viewing arrangement for viewing intensive applications. What is additionally needed are systems and methods for detachable screen accessory that leverage resources of existing companion devices while improving viewability of information. A further need exists for systems and methods for detachable screen accessory that are compatible and complementary with existing systems and methods of electronic display construction, operation and programming. Embodiments of the present invention provide these advantages. 
         [0004]    In accordance with a first embodiment, an apparatus includes an electronic display screen is mounted to a shell. A docking housing is mechanically coupled to the shell, opposite the electronic display screen. The docking housing is configured to mechanically secure a second electronic device. The second electronic device includes a second electronic device display screen. The apparatus also includes first circuitry configured to communicatively couple to the second electronic device, and second circuitry configured to display information from the second electronic device on the electronic display screen. The second electronic device may include a smart phone. 
         [0005]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus includes a shell and a hinge for folding the shell about in half. A docking housing is mechanically coupled to the shell on a first side of the hinge. The docking housing is configured to mechanically capture a second electronic device. The second electronic device includes a second electronic device display screen. The apparatus also includes an accessory electronic device, including an accessory electronic device display screen, functionally coupled to the shell on a second side of the hinge. The accessory electronic device is configured to display information received from the second electronic device on the accessory electronic device display screen. 
         [0006]    In accordance with a method embodiment of the present invention, a detachable screen accessory is communicatively coupled with a second electronic device. Responsive to the coupling, the detachable screen accessory is activated. Information is displayed on the detachable screen accessory received from the second electronic device. The information is a portion of an electronic book. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Unless otherwise noted, the drawings are not drawn to scale. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a front or “screen side” view of an exemplary detachable screen accessory, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1B  is an exemplary block diagram of an exemplary detachable screen accessory, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a rear, or non-screen side, view of an exemplary detachable screen accessory, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a rear perspective view of exemplary detachable screen accessory, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  illustrates an exemplary detachable screen accessory, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a several perspective views of exemplary detachable screen accessory, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a method, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates a method, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with these embodiments, it is understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the invention. 
       Notation and Nomenclature 
       [0017]    Some portions of the detailed descriptions which follow (e.g., methods  400 ,  500 ) are presented in terms of procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, and other symbolic representations of operations on data bits that may be performed on computer memory. These descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. A procedure, computer executed step, logic block, process, etc., is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps or instructions leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated in a computer system. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. 
         [0018]    It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present invention, discussions utilizing terms such as “displaying” or “detecting” or “determining” or “setting” or “accessing” or “placing” or “testing” or “forming” or “mounting” or “removing” or “ceasing” or “stopping” or “coating” or “attaching” or “processing” or “performing” or “generating” or “adjusting” or “creating” or “executing” or “continuing” or “indexing” or “computing” or “translating” or “calculating” or “determining” or “measuring” or “gathering” or “running” or the like, refer to the action and processes of, or under the control of, a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system&#39;s registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices. 
       Detachable Screen Accessory 
       [0019]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a front or “screen side” view of an exemplary detachable screen accessory  100 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Detachable screen accessory  100  is enclosed in a case or shell  101  of any suitable material. Detachable screen accessory  100  comprises a display unit  125  and may comprise an optional touch sensitive digitizer panel  130 , also known as or referred to as a “touch screen.” Touch sensitive digitizer panel  130  operates to indentify a point of contact of a finger, stylus or other object. The display unit  125  may appear to extend to one of more edges of the device  100 . For example, the detachable screen accessory  100  may appear to be “bezel-less.” 
         [0020]      FIG. 1B  is an exemplary block diagram of an exemplary detachable screen accessory  100 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Detachable screen accessory  100  may be battery-powered, e.g., via cells  170 , in some embodiments. Cells  170  may be primary or secondary cells, for example. Detachable screen accessory  100  includes an address/data bus  150  for communicating information, a central processor  105  functionally coupled with the bus for processing information and instructions. Central processor  105  may comprise multiple processors, e.g., a multi-core processor, or multiple separate processors, in some embodiments. Detachable screen accessory  100  also includes a volatile memory  115  (e.g., random access memory RAM) coupled with the bus  150  for storing information and instructions for the central processor  105 , and a non-volatile memory  110  (e.g., read only memory ROM) coupled with the bus  150  for storing static information and instructions for the processor  105 . Volatile memory  115  may also include display memory, e.g., a frame buffer. Detachable screen accessory  100  also optionally includes a changeable, non-volatile memory  120  (e.g., flash) for storing information and instructions for the central processor  105  which can be updated after the manufacture of system  100 . In some embodiments, only one of ROM  110  or Flash  120  may be present. 
         [0021]    Also included in detachable screen accessory  100  of  FIG. 1  is an optional input device  130 . Device  130  can communicate information and command selections to the central processor  100 . Input device  130  may be any suitable device for communicating information and/or commands to the detachable screen accessory  100 . For example, input device  130  may take the form of buttons, a joystick, a track ball, an audio transducer, e.g., a microphone, a touch sensitive digitizer panel, eyeball scanner and/or the like. A touch sensitive digitizer panel may comprise any suitable technology, e.g., capacitive, resistive, optical, acoustic and/or pressure responsive touch panels. Activation of a “touch” sensitive digitizer panel may not require actual touching of the panel  130  or the detachable screen accessory  100 , in some embodiments. For example, capacitive touch panels may sense proximity of a user&#39;s finger. 
         [0022]    The display unit  125  utilized with the detachable screen accessory  100  may comprise, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, cathode ray tube (CRT), field emission device (FED, also called flat panel CRT), light emitting diode (LED, OLED), plasma display device, electro-luminescent display, electrophoretic display, electronic paper, electronic ink (e-ink) or other display device suitable for creating graphic images and/or alphanumeric characters for viewing by a user. Display unit  125  may have an associated lighting device, in some embodiments. 
         [0023]    The touch sensitive digitizer panel  130  is generally associated with the display unit  125 . For example, a function of the touch sensitive digitizer panel  130  generally associated with the display unit  125  is to localize a touch input, e.g., from a finger or stylus, to a portion of display unit  125 , for example, a single icon image displayed on display unit  125 . The touch sensitive digitizer panel may be in front of the actual display device, e.g., in a viewer&#39;s optical path, or the touch sensitive digitizer panel may be outside of a viewer&#39;s optical path, e.g., behind or to the side of the display device. The touch sensitive digitizer panel  130  may have different planar dimensions in comparison to planar dimensions of a display unit  125 . For example, the touch sensitive digitizer panel  130  may be smaller than display unit  125 , e.g., the display unit  125  may extend beyond the touch sensitive digitizer panel  130 . Similarly, the touch sensitive digitizer panel  130  may be larger than display unit  125 , e.g., the touch panel may extend beyond the display unit. The touch sensitive digitizer panel may be integral to a display assembly, or a separate assembly within the detachable screen accessory  100 . 
         [0024]    Detachable screen accessory  100  also optionally includes an expansion interface  135  coupled with the bus  150 . Expansion interface  135  can implement many well known standard expansion interfaces, including without limitation the Secure Digital Card interface, universal serial bus (USB) interface, Compact Flash, Personal Computer (PC) Card interface, CardBus, Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) interface, Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCI Express), mini-PCI interface, IEEE 1394, Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) interface, Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) interface, RS-232 interface, and/or the like. In some embodiments of the present invention, expansion interface  135  may consist of signals substantially compliant with the signals of bus  150 . 
         [0025]    A wide variety of well known devices may be attached to detachable screen accessory  100  via the bus  150  and/or expansion interface  135 . Examples of such devices include without limitation rotating magnetic memory devices, flash memory devices, digital cameras, wireless communication modules, digital audio players, “smart phones,” tablet computers, e-readers, Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, and the like. 
         [0026]    System  100  also optionally includes a communication port  140 . Communication port  140  may be implemented as part of expansion interface  135 . When implemented as a separate interface, communication port  140  may typically be used to exchange information with other devices via communication-oriented data transfer protocols. Examples of communication ports include without limitation RS-232 ports, universal asynchronous receiver transmitters (UARTs), USB ports, infrared light transceivers, ethernet ports, IEEE 1394 and synchronous ports. Detachable screen accessory  100  may be able to receive electrical power through expansion interface  135  and/or communication port  140 , in some embodiments. 
         [0027]    System  100  optionally includes a radio frequency module  160 , which may implement a mobile telephone, a wireless network, e.g., IEEE 802.11 (“Wi-Fi”), Bluetooth, a pager, or a digital data link. Radio frequency module  160  may be interfaced directly to bus  150 , via communication port  140 , via expansion interface  135 , or any suitable interface. Various features of detachable screen accessory  100  may be implemented by a combination of hardware and/or software. Detachable screen accessory  100  may comprise additional software and/or hardware features (not shown) in some embodiments. 
         [0028]    Detachable screen accessory  100  may also optionally include audio input and/or output devices  180 , e.g., a microphone and/or one or more speakers. Audio input and/or output devices  180  may be coupled to bus  150  in any suitable manner, e.g., via analog or digital signals, or through intermediary devices, e.g., amplifiers, analog/digital converters and the like. Audio input and/or output devices  180  may be used for recognition of voice commands, in some embodiments. 
         [0029]    In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a detachable screen accessory, e.g., detachable screen accessory  100  may be communicatively coupled with a second electronic device, e.g., a smart phone or tablet computer or the like, to provide improved viewing of information provided by such second electronic device. The communicative coupling may comprise, for example, a wired coupling, e.g., via a smart phone docking port or a USB port or cable, in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the communicative coupling may comprise a wireless coupling, e.g., via IEEE 802.11 (“Wi-Fi”), Bluetooth or the like. Embodiments in accordance with the present invention may comprise hardware and/or software for wired, wireless or both types of communication with a second electronic device. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a rear, or non-screen side, view of an exemplary detachable screen accessory  200 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Detachable screen accessory  200  comprises a display screen (obscured in this view) and appropriate other hardware as described previously with respect to detachable screen accessory  100  of  FIG. 1B . In addition, detachable screen accessory  200  comprises a docking housing  210  for mechanically and communicatively coupling with a second electronic device  220 . Second electronic device  220  may comprise a smart phone or tablet computer, in some embodiments. The display screen of detachable screen accessory  200  may be larger than a screen of second electronic device  220 , although that is not required. 
         [0031]    Docking housing  210  provides mechanical support and secures second electronic device  220  while attached to detachable screen accessory  200 . There may be additional mechanical features for retaining second electronic device  220 , in some embodiments. Docking housing  210  may, in some embodiments, comprise an electrical connector  230 , for electrically coupling with second electronic device  220 . Electrical connector  230  may comprise any appropriate connector system, including standard connectors, e.g., USB connectors, and/or proprietary connectors, e.g., as are well known for smart phones. Electrical connector  230  may conduct electrical power, for example, from second electronic device  220  to detachable screen accessory  200  and/or vice versa, in some embodiments. 
         [0032]    Second electronic device  220  may sit flush with a back cover of detachable screen accessory  200 , or may be partially or fully captured or secured within a recess of detachable screen accessory  200 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Second electronic device  220  may face in towards detachable screen accessory  200 , or may face outwards, as illustrated in  FIG. 2A . 
         [0033]    Detachable screen accessory  200  is communicatively coupled to second electronic device  220  to exchange commands and information. The communication may take place via electrical signals over electrical connector  230 , or via non-conductive paths, e.g., inductive, optical and/or radio frequency signaling, in a variety of embodiments. 
         [0034]    In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, second electronic device  220  transfers information to detachable screen accessory  200  for detachable screen accessory  200  to display such information. Detachable screen accessory  200  may comprise a display that is better suited to display of the information than second electronic device  220 . For example, the display screen of detachable screen accessory  200  may be larger, have a higher contrast ratio, have a more “paper-like” appearance, have less flicker, have less glare and/or consume less power in comparison to a display screen of second electronic device  220 . 
         [0035]    For example, in an exemplary use of detachable screen accessory  200 , a smart phone  220  comprising a relatively small liquid crystal display (LCD) is plugged into a docking housing  210  of detachable screen accessory  200 . Responsive to the docking action, smart phone  220  turns off its display and begins providing electrical power to detachable screen accessory  200 , e.g., via electrical connector  230 . Smart phone  220  then transfers information of a page of an e-book to detachable screen accessory  200 . The information may take any suitable form, including textual information, formatted or unformatted image information and/or a frame buffer for display on a display of detachable screen accessory  200 . In some embodiments, the information may be compressed, e.g., to maximize available bandwidth of a transmission media. The information may be previously resident on the smart phone  220 , or it may be obtained, for example, in a streaming manner, e.g., via a mobile data link, temporally proximate to the communication to detachable screen accessory  200 . 
         [0036]    In some embodiments, detachable screen accessory  200  comprises minimal hardware and software to implement a minimal functionality to display information received from second electronic device  220 . In such embodiments, the majority of processing may be performed by the second electronic device  220 . In other embodiments, detachable screen accessory  200  comprises a high function, and has substantial computing resources of its own. All such embodiments, including intermediate embodiments, are considered within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0037]    Continuing the usage example, detachable screen accessory  200  may be able to accept command and control inputs, e.g., via hard buttons, “soft” keys, gestures and the like, for example via a touch sensitive digitizer panel  130  ( FIG. 1A ) and communicate such commands and controls to the smart phone  220 . In this manner, a user is able to advantageously view, e.g., read, information from second electronic device  220  displayed on detachable screen accessory  200 . The viewing on detachable screen accessory  200  may be “better” than similar viewing on the second electronic device  220 . For example, the display screen of detachable screen accessory  200  may be larger and capable of displaying more information in a more viewable size and/or format. Detachable screen accessory  200  may have a higher contrast ratio, have less flicker, and/or have less glare resulting in beneficially reduced viewing fatigue. Detachable screen accessory  200  may consume less power in comparison to a display screen of second electronic device  220 , resulting in an advantageous increase in battery life in comparison to a similar viewing action performed on the display of second electronic device  220 . 
         [0038]    For example, the display screen of detachable screen accessory  200  may comprise a display technology, e.g., electronic paper, that is more suited to some uses, e.g., reading an electronic book, than an LCD or OLED display as is common to smart phones. Accordingly, embodiments in accordance with the present invention may enable extended viewing on a larger screen with a higher contrast, “paper-like” display, at less energy cost, in comparison to reading the same book from the smart phone&#39;s native display. The above-described usage model is not to be considered limiting. 
         [0039]    In some embodiments, the second electronic device  220  may provide all electrical power for both second electronic device  220  and detachable screen accessory  200 . For example, the energy cost of operating a backlit thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal display (TFT LCD) of the smart phone  220  may be greater than an energy cost of operating the entire detachable screen accessory  200 , including a larger display, e.g., comprising a different technology. In such embodiments, by turning off the native display of the second electronic device  220  and utilizing detachable screen accessory  200 , an overall battery life of the combination of devices may be extended, in comparison to the second electronic device  220  by itself. 
         [0040]    Detachable screen accessory  200  may be deactivated in response to a command input directly to detachable screen accessory  200 , in response to a command from second electronic device  220  or in response to a removal of second electronic device  220  from docking housing  210 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a rear perspective view of exemplary detachable screen accessory  200 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2B , second electronic device  220  is docked with its screen facing detachable screen accessory  200 . This alignment makes a rear-facing camera available for use. 
         [0042]      FIG. 3A  illustrates an exemplary detachable screen accessory  300 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Detachable screen accessory  300  comprises an accessory electronic device  301 . Accessory electronic device  301  is generally comparable to detachable screen accessory  100  of  FIG. 1B . Detachable screen accessory  300  comprises a shell  302  of rigid or semi-rigid material, e.g., plastic, metal, leather, and/or the like. Shell  302  supports accessory electronic device  301  on one side (right, as illustrated in  FIG. 3A ) and a docking housing  310  on the other. Docking housing  310  is generally comparable to docking housing  210 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2A . Accessory electronic device  301  may be permanently or removably attached to shell  302 . 
         [0043]    Docking housing  310  provides mechanical support and captures or secures second electronic device  320  while attached to shell  302  of detachable screen accessory  300 . The screen and/or housing of accessory electronic device  301  may be larger than a screen and/or housing of second electronic device  320 , although that is not required. Docking housing  310  may, in some embodiments, comprise an electrical connector  330 , for electrically coupling second electronic device  320  to accessory electronic device  301 . 
         [0044]    Shell  302  may fold substantially in half along hinge  303 . Hinge  303  may be a discrete hinge, or it may be a living hinge, in some embodiments. Optional bus  330  may provide an electrical path for signals and/or power between second electronic device  320  and accessory electronic device  301 . Bus  330  traverses hinge  303 . When folded, detachable screen accessory  300 , with or without second electronic device  220 , may resemble a book or portfolio. 
         [0045]    Detachable screen accessory  300  may comprise one or more batteries, for example, within hinge  303 , in some embodiments. In some embodiments, detachable screen accessory  300  may receive power from second electronic device  320 . 
         [0046]    The display screen of the second electronic device  320  may or may not be operational while accessory electronic device  301  is operational. For example, accessory electronic device  301  may lack a touch screen and/or buttons. A touch screen, e.g., comprising soft keys, on second electronic device  320  may provide input operations of the combination of devices while the accessory electronic device  301  provides most or all of the display function. The displays of second electronic device  320  and accessory electronic device  301  may operate cooperatively, in some embodiments. For example, the display of accessory electronic device  301  may display a “zoomed” image of a smaller image displayed on the display of second electronic device  320 . 
         [0047]    In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, accessory electronic device  301  may be activated responsive to docking of second electronic device  320 . In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, accessory electronic device  301  may be activated responsive to a command from second electronic device  320 . For example, a quiescent state of detachable screen accessory  300  may have a second electronic device  320  docked, but in an “off” or “standby” mode of operation. Responsive to user command, second electronic device  320  is turned on in accordance with its normal operation. In response to a user command, e.g., selection of a software “app,” second electronic device  320  commands accessory electronic device  301  to display information provided by the second electronic device  320 . 
         [0048]    In still other embodiments of the present invention, one or both of second electronic device  320  and/or accessory electronic device  301  may be activated responsive to opening of shell  302  from a closed or folded condition. Similarly, one or both of second electronic device  320  and/or accessory electronic device  301  may be deactivated responsive to closing of shell  302  from an open or unfolded condition. Activation and/or deactivation may comprise any suitable technology, including for example, a mechanical switch for detecting a position of hinge  303 , a light sensor, or a magnet and magnetic, e.g., Hall effect, sensor combination. 
         [0049]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a several perspective views of exemplary detachable screen accessory  300 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. It is to be appreciated that in the view of  FIG. 3B , the second electronic device  320  is approximately the same size as the accessory electronic device  301 , e.g., both are “tablet” sized. 
         [0050]      FIG. 4  illustrates a method  400 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In  410 , a second electronic device, e.g., second electronic device  320  of  FIG. 3A , is communicatively coupled with a detachable screen accessory, e.g., detachable screen accessory  302  of  FIG. 3A . The communicative coupling may take any suitable form, e.g., a conductive path, an inductive path, an optical path and/or a radio frequency path. 
         [0051]    In optional  420 , responsive to the communicative coupling, the detachable screen accessory is activated, e.g., a display screen turns on. In optional  425 , subsequent to the communicative coupling, the detachable screen accessory is activated responsive to a user command entered into the second electronic device. For example, a user touches an icon representing a software program. In optional  427 , subsequent to the communicative coupling, the detachable screen accessory is activated responsive to opening a cover, e.g., shell  302  of  FIG. 3A . In optional  420 ,  425  and/or  427 , activating the detachable screen accessory may comprise the second electronic device providing electrical power to the detachable screen accessory, in some embodiments. 
         [0052]    In  430 , information is displayed on the detachable screen accessory that is received from the second electronic device. 
         [0053]      FIG. 5  illustrates a method  500 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In optional  510 , a conductive signal and/or power path between a second electronic device, e.g., second electronic device  320  of  FIG. 3A , and a detachable screen accessory, e.g., detachable screen accessory  302  of  FIG. 3A , is interrupted. For example, second electronic device  320  is removed from docking housing  310  ( FIG. 3A ). 
         [0054]    In optional  520 , a command is received from the second electronic device at the detachable screen accessory. The command may be generated automatically by software in response to a variety of conditions, e.g., completion of a software program, e.g., an e-book reader application. In some embodiments, the command may be responsive to a user action, e.g., touching a soft button on the second electronic device. In optional  530 , a cover, e.g., shell  302  of  FIG. 3A , is closed. 
         [0055]    In  540 , responsive to the conditions of  510 ,  520  and/or  530 , the detachable screen accessory is deactivated. For example, the detachable screen accessory display stops displaying information. The deactivation may comprise terminating a supply of electrical power to the detachable screen accessory, in some embodiments. 
         [0056]    Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide systems and methods for detachable screen accessories that provide an improved viewing arrangement for viewing intensive applications. In addition, embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide systems and methods for detachable screen accessories that leverage resources of existing companion devices while improving viewability of information. Further, embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide systems and methods for detachable screen accessories that are compatible and complementary with existing systems and methods of electronic display construction, operation and programming. 
         [0057]    Various embodiments of the invention are thus described. While the present invention has been described in particular embodiments, it should be appreciated that the invention should not be construed as limited by such embodiments, but rather construed according to the below claims.