PORTABLE COMPUTER WITH DUAL SCREEN

Description

PN98U000011> Case DELL / 98 / 103 x Description of the Patent for a Utility Model by Title. "PORTABLE COMPUTER WITH DUAL SCREEN" in the name of: Mario DELLA TOFFOLA resident in: via della Centa 11, 33070 Polcenigo (PN) nationality: Italian inventor: Mario DELLA TOFFOLA registered on: with no.: The invention relates to a portable personal computer equipped with a screen that can be opened towards the operator, particularly of the type in which the screen can be rotated from a rest position, placed on the upper part of the case containing the functional units and the keyboard, to a working position, in which the screen is raised by rotating it on appropriate hinges, arranged on the upper face of the case, so that the screen is facing the operator. Although in the following this description will refer to a calculator of the type commonly known as a "personal "portable computer", it is understood that this patent applies to any type of computer, even in fixed installation, equipped with a removable screen, which can be positioned towards the operator and folded in position protected when not in use. PN98U000011 There are known portable personal computers that are essentially made up of: - from a case containing the logic units, the memory and / or disk units, the keyboard, normally located on the top of the said case, and all the circuits necessary for correct operation, from a screen, normally liquid crystal, capable of assuming at least two positions, one working position, in which it can be oriented towards the operator, and one resting position, in which the screen is turned towards the upper surface of the case and placed on it. The back wall of the screen is solidly connected to a rigid protective element adjacent and parallel to the surface of the screen, so that, when the screen is in the rest position, that is, placed on the case, the rigid protective element acts as a casing and partially from the lid. This type of personal computer is universally known and has been briefly described in one of its particular characteristics only to facilitate the introduction to this description. An example of such a type of computer is generally illustrated in US Patent 5,243,549. Normally this type of computer is perfectly adequate for the purpose when the operator has to work alone since 10 screen is located exactly in front and in the optimal position. However, there are circumstances in which the operator is not alone but there are one or more other people who must observe the screen; this occurs when group work is required, such as in demonstrations, collaborative work, multimedia presentations of new programs / software, teaching, sales presentations, etc. In this case, it is immediately apparent how difficult it is to arrange all the other observers so that they can clearly see the screen, both due to its normally limited size, and because the operator must be placed in front of the screen, and also due to the limited brightness of the screen, which normally uses liquid crystal technology, which is notoriously energy-efficient but also offers poor brightness and therefore visibility. To overcome this problem, various solutions for the construction and orientation of the screen have been disclosed: US Patent No. 5,229,920 shows a personal computer in which the screen can be moved vertically along suitable guides, independently of the rotation angle of the screen; this device allows the screen to be raised to make it easier for third parties to see from behind PN98U000011 fi the operator, but this is still a stopgap measure since these people are still forced to stay at a greater distance than is optimal. US Patent 4,497,036 presents a similar solution in the sense of raising the average height of the screen, but evidently does not solve the problem. US Patent 4,859,092 improves on the previous solution by allowing the screen to be raised to a greater height to make room for a printer underneath, but this solution also proves insufficient because it does not solve the distance problem, and furthermore it reduces the height of the screen, which worsens visibility and intelligibility rather than improving them. Furthermore, there is an undoubted worsening due to the mechanical complications imposed. US Patent 4,496,943 presents a portable personal computer with a screen that can be retracted from the case underneath, thus improving visibility for observers positioned from the side. However, this solution is currently impractical due to its poor handling and large footprint, factors that are crucial when choosing a truly portable personal computer. US Patents 4,739,316 US 5,345,362 US 5,267,123 PN 9 8 b'00 00 11 ft©| They illustrate similar solutions in the sense that the screen can be arranged in various positions and angles by means of levers, hinges and pins, which however do not resolve the problems described since, while it is undeniable that they improve the operator's visibility, it is equally true that they leave the poor visibility of third parties positioned next to him and who must observe the same screen practically unchanged. It would therefore be desirable, and it is the purpose of the invention, to improve the construction of said portable personal computers in order to radically facilitate visibility. of the screen by third parties, which can be easily produced with current technologies, which do not present excessive cost increases, which require only marginal increases in weight and volume, and which can be immediately activated by any operator. These purposes are achieved by making personal computers, preferably of the portable type, equipped with a particular assembly of a first and a second separate screen, and accessory devices, assembled according to the characteristics defined in the attached claims. The invention will be fully understood from the following description, given by way of non-limiting example only and with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view PN9 8U 00 0011 front of a laptop computer according to the invention, - Fig. 2 shows a rear perspective view of the computer in Fig. 1, - fig. 3 shows a front view of a variant embodiment of the second screen arrangement of a computer according to the invention, - fig. 3a shows a rear perspective view of a variant of the construction and assembly of said second screen, - fig. 4 shows a schematic rear view of the personal computer in fig. 3, - Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the inside of the cover of the personal computer according to the invention, - Fig. 6 shows a personal computer according to the invention, with the screens reunited and the top cover almost completely closed. With reference to the figures, the invention is based on the circumstance that the screen 1, with which the portable computer is necessarily equipped, is replicated in a second screen 2, also mobile, and which can assume different configurations, which will be discussed later. The image presented on the first screen is simultaneously launched on the second screen, and this ability is perfectly within the reach of any expert. of the sector, since normally personal computers PN98U 0000 11 laptops are equipped with video expansion port, so the description is omitted. It is of course obvious that, when the second screen is not used, it can be excluded from operation, and in particular the two screens are can be activated independently and in combination. Recalling the premises of this description, the second screen 2 is suitable to be stably applied, with the reciprocal position of back to back, against said first screen, as shown in figures 1 and 2.- This way when the operator turns on the computer, he lifts the screen in the normal reading position, that is, almost in vertical, the second screen 2 facing inwards is also activated direction opposite to the first, so that third observers, placed in front of him, are in front of the said second screen, thereby overcoming all the drawbacks described in the introduction. The second screen can advantageously assume two different configurations: with the first, shown in figures 1 and 2, the two screens are rigidly and immovably constrained to each other in a back-to-back configuration, so that the screens always face in exactly opposite directions to each other. With the second configuration, shown in figures 3 and 4, the first screen remains traditionally applied to case 3 PN98U 00 00 1 1 (V 'Yes, yes of the computer, while the second screen can be separated from the first screen and can assume the preferred position, as symbolically shown in the figures. Appropriately, in this case the so-called second screen is connected to the computer case by means of a connection 4 of the electrical conductors that carry the signals to the second screen (this solution is not mandatory in the case of back-to-back screens since, with particular construction and integrated solutions of the two screens, the conductors that carry the signals to one screen they can also carry the same signals to the second screen, simplifying the implementation of the invention). An advantageous improvement of the invention consists in equipping the second screen in removable configuration, shown in figures 3 and 4, with suitable support and adjustment means 5, such as retractable feet, lecterns, etc. known in the art and which will therefore not be illustrated further. A further variant of the invention is illustrated schematically in fig. 3a; it represents a personal computer according to the invention, in which the second screen is, when in the rest condition, placed on the backrest 14 of said first screen in such a way that it is obviously masked by said backrest 14, while it is rotatable with one of its edges. lateral 12 with respect to a contiguous lateral edge 13 of PN98U 00 00 1 1 / fi 1 said first screen by means of hinge elements^»^) 15; observe in fig. 3a the orientation of the first and second screens respectively, and the second screen has been rotated. that the directions of and second screen, opposite after that said of 180" compared to the resting position adjacent to said first screen For the closing of the computer are possible various alternatives: in the case of the solution of figures 1 and 2 the element comprising the two screens it is folded traditionally against the top face of the case and a single lid 7, of size and geometry appropriate, is arranged to cover said element consisting essentially of the said two screens. Advantageously, said cover can be hinged on the same axis as rotation and hinging "a of the carrier element simplicity of production the screens, so as to ensure and maximum screen protection upper and of the entire upper facade of the case of the computer. A useful variant, when using the solution of the second removable screen shown in figures 3 and 4, consists in producing said removable cover like the second screen, which can allow for ease in the production of the hinge elements 8, which otherwise these elements should contain both the hinges PN98U000011 used for the first screen as well as those for the second screen and for the lid. This could advantageously be provided with a plurality of side walls 10 facing downwards in so as to define a compartment, illustrated in fig. 5, such as to house both the first screen 1 and, if applicable, the second screen 2 when separated from the first as in fig. 3. Although the invention has been described on the example of preferred embodiments and with known terminology, it is not considered limited by these since the person skilled in the art can make numerous variations thereon. for ine. Mario DELLA TOFFOLA. PN98U000011

Claims

CLAIMS 1) - Portable personal computer, comprising a base case containing the functional units of the computer, the memory units, and surmounted by a control keyboard for entering data and commands to the computer, and comprising - a first display screen (1) arranged on the front face, hinged on the upper portion of said case and capable of assuming a plurality of positions between an extreme position of total closure, in which said first screen is completely lowered above said case, and a position of maximum opening, when the screen is rotated or raised so as to be visible by an observer placed behind the keyboard, characterised r from the fact that a second display screen (2) is provided, having a very limited thickness, capable of being applied, with opposite orientations, against the back of said first screen. 2) Personal computer according to claim 1, characterised in that said second screen is applied with its back against the back of said first screen, and is integral with the back wall of said first screen (1), and oriented towards the rear area of ​​said case, so that said first screen and the second screen is arranged back to back Pay them 00 0011 1 against the back forming a double screen with oriented faces in opposite directions. 3) - Personal computer according to claim 1, characterised in that said second screen (2) is removable with respect to said first screen, that it is suitable to be placed in a substantially vertical position by means of suitable support and adjustment means (5), and that a plurality of electrical connections are provided, preferably collected in a single connection cable (4), connected between said case and said second screen. 4) - Personal computer according to claim 3, characterised in that said support and adjustment means (5) are foldable against said second removable screen, and that they allow adjustment of the inclination of said second removable screen around the vertical position. 5) Personal computer according to claim 1, characterised in that said second screen can be rotated with one of its lateral edges (12) with respect to a contiguous lateral edge (13) of said first screen by means of hinge elements (15), and that the directions of orientation of said first and second screen (b, c) are riots PN 9 8 U 00 0 0 1 1 in the opposite direction after the second screen rotated 180' from the adjacent rest position to the said first screen.- 6) Personal computer according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a covering wall (7) is provided on the upper face of said case, which is suitable to cover said second screen when said first and second screens are closed against the upper face of said case. 7) - Personal computer according to rev. 6, characterised in that said cover wall is hinged on said case, preferably on its rear upper edge, with hinge elements (8) engaging the first screen (1). 8) - Personal computer according to claim 3, characterised in that the hinge axis of said case of said double screen coincides with the hinge axis (a) of said covering wall. 9) - Personal computer according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said cover wall is equipped with side walls (10) oriented downwards when its position is closed FNS3U000011 at the bottom, delimiting, together with said covering wall, a space of substantially parallelepiped shape and strongly lowered, and capable of containing both said first and second screen when integral, and also said second screen (2) when this is separable from the first screen. 10) Personal computer according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said first and second screens can be operated independently and in combination. for ine. Mario DELLA TOFFOLA Property' Industrial SRL 1? FEB. 1998