Abstract:
The expandable mobile device includes two or more detachable display devices or panels, each of which include display portions. The display devices can be stacked together such that a display portion of only one of the detachable display devices is exposed, or detachably connected along side edges such that the display portion of all of the display devices is exposed. When the display devices are disposed in the stacked configuration, the expandable mobile device can be used as a mobile phone or other compact, bar type electronic device. When the display devices are detachably connected along side edges to expose the display portion of the display devices, the expandable mobile device provides a larger display area and can be used as a tablet. Connector prongs disposed on one or more of the detachable display devices facilitate physical attachment and electrical interoperability of the display devices.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to electronic devices, and particularly to connectable electronic devices which provide the functionality of both smart phones and tablet devices depending on a user&#39;s preference. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Mobile device display size is one of a variety of important features undergoing competition in the mobile device development field. Larger display sizes provide more eye relief and better productivity. However mobile devices are designed to be easily carried and easily placed in pockets or small carry bags. These requirements tend to limit how large a screen should be to maintain the best portability feature. 
     Tablets have larger displays thereby facilitating greater productivity than the typical mobile phone device. In addition, tablets are less cumbersome than laptops and much easier to power up and use. Tablets are effective for many applications such as watching videos, watching images, playing games or writing a report. But on the other hand, tablets are not a better option than mobile phones when it comes to portability. 
     While smaller electronic devices are increasingly formed, the opposite is true when it comes to televisions and PC monitors, since larger displays have the aforementioned advantages. For example, multi-screen technology has been developed for televisions and PC monitors. Such technology, however, has not been used for tablets and other mobile devices. 
     Thus, expandable mobile device solving the aforementioned problems are desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The expandable mobile device includes two or more detachable display devices or panels, each of which include display portions. The display devices can be stacked together such that a display portion of only one of the detachable display devices is exposed, or detachably connected along side edges such that the display portion of all of the display devices is exposed. When the display devices are disposed in the stacked configuration, the expandable mobile device can be used as a mobile phone or other compact, bar type electronic device. When the display devices are detachably connected along side edges, the display portion of all of the display devices is exposed and can be used simultaneously (multi-display mode). The expandable mobile device can thereby provide a larger display area and can be used as a tablet or other similar electronic device. Connector prongs disposed on one or more of the detachable display devices facilitate detachable connection of the display devices as well as the electrical interoperability of the display devices. The expandable mobile device further includes multi-display adapter technology for forming a larger display screen. Magnetic strips and/or clip buttons secure the display devices in the stack when not used in the multi-display mode. The expandable mobile device can provide important functionality, productivity and portability features of smart phones and tablets. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the expandable mobile device showing the device in a compact configuration, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the expandable mobile device showing the device in a large display configuration, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the expandable mobile device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of panel  10   a  showing the connector prongs, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of panel  10   b  showing the connector sockets according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the expandable mobile device, showing a single application on the display panels, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the expandable mobile device, showing multiple applications on the display panels, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of the expandable mobile device, showing pivotal attachment of the side-by-side display panels and electrical connecting sockets for receiving the top mounted display panel, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of the expandable mobile device, showing the electrical connecting wires, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an embodiment in which one of the display panels can be attached to the tops of two side-by-side display panels, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , showing the display panels in stacked or compact configuration, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9B  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , showing a different perspective of the display panels in stacked or compact configuration, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a section view as seen from line  10  of  FIG. 9A , showing the snap fit connectors of the display panels, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , showing cut line  11   b.    
         FIG. 11B  is a section view as seen from the line  11   b  of  FIG. 1 , showing the snap fit connectors of the display panels, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 12A  is a perspective view of a detachable display panel of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , having a group of retractable/extendable electrical connecting prongs, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 12B  is an enlarged view of the retractable/extendable electrical connecting prongs of  FIG. 12A , according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a block diagram showing the multi-display adapter connectivity according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the expandable mobile device  100  can include two or more electronic display devices or display panels with display portions, e.g., screens of the same or differing size. The display panels can include, for example, a first display panel  10   a , a second display panel  10   b , and a third display panel  10   c , which are stackable on top of each other, or connectable along sides thereof. In the stacked or compact configuration  100   a , shown in  FIG. 1 , the mobile device can be used as a cellular telephone, e.g., a smart phone, for which only the display portion of panel  10   a  is visible. When the panels  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c  are unstacked and operably connected together in a large display configuration  100   b , the display portions of each of the panels  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c  can be used simultaneously to provide multi-display output. In such a configuration, the expandable mobile device can be used as a tablet or large screen smartphone, for example. It should be understood that the screen or display portion of each of the panels can vary in size. For example, the size of the display portion of each of the panels can range from about two to six inches diagonal. 
     The mobile device can be a two-way communication device with advanced data communication capabilities, e.g., having the capability to communicate with other computer systems. The mobile device can include the capability for voice communications. For example, the mobile device can be a cellular telephone with data messaging capabilities, a wireless Internet appliance, and/or a data communication device. The mobile device, preferably panel  10   a , can include a microprocessor, a communications subsystem, and other components known in the art. 
     Each of the display panels  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c  can include a housing equipped with magnetic surfaces, e.g., ferromagnetic and/or paramagnetic surfaces, in order to create a magnetic bond that can retain the devices in a narrow profile stack when the devices are stacked together, e.g., in the compact configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, referring to  FIG. 2 , panel  10   b  may have a permanently magnetized top portion  33   a  and a permanently magnetized bottom portion  33   b . Display panel  10   a  may have a steel or other paramagnetic top portion  34   a  and a steel or other paramagnetic bottom portion  34   b . Display panel  10   c  may have a steel or other paramagnetic top portion  36   a  and a steel or other paramagnetic bottom portion  34   b . It should be understood that the panels  10   a - 10   c  can include a combination of ferromagnetic and paramagnetic surfaces or, for example, magnetic surfaces that are substantially one hundred percent ferromagnetic and substantially zero percent paramagnetic surfaces, as long as the ferromagnetic surfaces are disposed on the panels in a manner and orientation that successfully implements the aforementioned magnetic bonding between the panels. 
     Additionally, as most clearly shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , receptive snap fit members  35   a  and insertive snap fit members  35   b  can be disposed in the housing of middle panel  10   b  in the stack, e.g., opposing sides of middle device  10   b . For example, insertive snap fit members  35   b  can be disposed in the housing of the top panel  10   a  of the stack. Receptive snap fit members  35   a  can be disposed in the housing of bottom panel  10   c  of the stack. The configuration of snap fit members shown in  FIG. 11B  allows the panels to be buttoned together to form a stack as shown in  FIG. 11A . The insertive snap fit members  35   b  snap and lock into the receptive snap fit members  35   a  to retain the panels  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c  co-aligned in the stacked configuration  100   a.    
     Edge portions of panels  10   a ,  10   b  and  10   c  may include ferromagnetic or paramagnetic surfaces in order to create a magnetic bond that can aid in retaining the panels in the large display configuration  100   b . For example, referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 A and  4 B, panel  10   a  may have at least one permanently magnetized edge  33   c , panel  10   b  may have at least one steel or other paramagnetic edge, and panel  10   c  may have at least one steel or other paramagnetic edge  34   c . Accordingly, magnetic bonding of panels  10   a  and  10   b  and panels  10   a  and  10   c  is thereby facilitated when the magnetized edges of the panels are aligned in the large display configuration  100   b  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 12A and 12B , the electrical connecting prongs  30   a  can be pivotally disposed, via pivot pin  1200 , on the housing of panel  10   a , thereby allowing the prongs  30   e  to be pivotally adjusted. The prongs  30   a  can also be retracted inward within the housing to a stowed configuration when the panel  10   a  is not being used in a multi-display mode. In an operational configuration, the prongs  30   a  extend from at least one side of the housing when the panel  10   a  is ready to be plugged in to other panels for use in the multi-display mode. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the housing of panel  10   a  has a first group of electrical connecting prongs  30   a  disposed thereon and extending from at least one side, e.g., opposing sidewalls of the housing. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4A , the first group of electrical connecting prongs can extend from opposing sides of the panel  10   a . As most clearly shown in  FIG. 4B , the housing of panel  10   b  has sockets  30   b  disposed on at least one side thereof. The sockets  30   b  can be configured for receiving the first group of prongs  30   a  extending from a first side of panel  10   a  to provide multi-display functionality between panel  10   b  and panel  10   a  when the two panels are mated as shown in  FIG. 2 . Each socket may have multiple receiving holes. Similarly, panel  10   c  has sockets  30   b  disposed on at least one side of its housing, the sockets  30   b  being configured for receiving the first group of prongs  30   a  extending from a second, opposing side of panel  10   a  to provide multi-display functionality between panel  10   c  and panel  10   a  when the two panels are mated as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     It should be understood that when in the large display configuration  100   b , the multi-display mode can function across all of the panels  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c . In other words, panels  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c  can be used simultaneously. The expandable mobile device  100  can include a multi-display adapter (similar to the multi-screen technology commonly used for televisions and PC monitors) that is internal to at least one of the panels  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c . For example, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the multi-display adapter  1300  can be internal to panel  10   a  and operably connected to panels  10   b  and  10   c  to combine the display operations of the panels  10   a    10   b  and  10   c  to provide multi-display output. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the multi-display electronic panels  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c  in the large display configuration  100   b  can display a single large image application  500 , or the like. For example, the display portions of at least two of the panels  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c , can be employed together to form one complete, continuous display or screen on a level surface. 
     Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the multi-display electronic panels  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c  in the large display configuration  100   b  can present distinct application displays  600   a ,  600   b , and  600   c . For example, a user may view a web page on one display screen, while viewing an email message on a second display screen and composing an email message on a third display screen. Internal display adapter options can be set by the application software or the user to determine whether the single large image application  500  or the distinct application displays  600   a ,  600   b , and  600   c  are active. When the distinct application displays are active, the user can use more than one application at a time, thereby increasing productivity on the devices  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c.    
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  depict an alternative embodiment of the expandable mobile device, designated  700 . The expandable mobile device  700  can be configured to include the microprocessor and communication subsystem components of mobile devices known in the art, as discussed above with respect to the expandable mobile device  100 . The expandable mobile device  700  can include a pair of display panels  710   a  and  710   b  that are hingedly connected along their side edges i.e., side-by-side. The display panels  710   a  and  710   b  can be attached to each other by a pivot hinge  736  so that the devices may be pivoted to an open, coplanar arrangement as shown in  FIG. 7 . A set of electrical connecting wires  738  extend between the housing of panel  710   c  and the housing of panel  710   b  to operably connect the two panels  710   c  and  710   b  for multi-display output. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 ,  9 A and  9 B, if desired, an additional display panel  710   a  can be detachably connected to the top portions of panels  710   c  and  710   b  to provide the orientation  700   a , shown in  FIG. 8 . A first group of prongs  30   a  is disposed on a side of panel  710   c , which mates with sockets  30   d  disposed on upper portion of panel  710   b  to provide multi-display functionality between the two electronic panels  710   b  and  710   c . Similarly, a second group prongs  30   c  is disposed on the same side of panel  710   c , which mates with sockets  30   d  disposed on upper portion of panel  710   a  to provide multi-display functionality between the two panels  710   a  and  710   c . It should be understood that when the panels  710   a ,  710   c , and  710   b  are all connected together, a multi-display mode can be configured to function across all of the panels  710   a ,  710   c , and  710   b . A display adapter (as previously described with respect to expandable mobile device  100 ) internal to at least one of the panels can combine the display operations in a single larger display, e.g. tablet, similar to the multi-screen technology used at the present for televisions and PC monitors. Further, one display screen, e.g., the display screen of panel  710   c  can be used to accept user input (e.g., a virtual keyboard may be provided on a touch screen) while the other two screens can be configured to provide output to the user. 
     The housing of the panels  710   a ,  710   b , and  710   c  may be equipped with magnetic, e.g., ferromagnetic or paramagnetic surfaces in order to create a magnetic bond that can retain the devices in a narrow profile stack when the panels are not being used in the large display configuration  700   a . Panels  710   a ,  710   b , and  710   c  can be connected in a closed stacked arrangement as shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B . For example, as most clearly shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , panel  710   a  may have a paramagnetic top portion  34   a  and a paramagnetic bottom portion  34   b  that could magnetically bond to a permanently magnetized portion of panel  710   b  or panel  710   c . Panels  710   a ,  710   b  and  710   c  may be equipped with ferromagnetic and/or paramagnetic surfaces which can also be useful to create a magnetic bond that aids in retaining the panels in the large display configuration  700 . 
     Additionally, as most clearly shown in  FIG. 10 , receptive snap fit members  35   a  and insertive snap fit members  35   b  can be disposed in the housing of middle panel  710   b . Insertive snap fit members  35   b  are disposed in the housing of the top panel  710   a . Receptive snap fit members  35   a  are disposed in the housing of bottom panel  710   c . This configuration of snap fit members allows the devices to be buttoned together in a stack. The insertive snap fit members  35   b  snap and lock into the receptive snap fit members  35   a  to retain the devices  710   a ,  710   b , and  710   c  in the stacked, co-aligned configuration shown. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.