Portable computer having display mode changed according to attachment/detachment of pen and control method thereof

• US 20050270277A1
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Sang-woo
• Application Number:
  US11/140,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20050270277A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/162 changing, e.g. reversing, the face orientation of the screen with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, e.g. for folding into tablet PC like position or orienting towards the direction opposite to the user to show to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/00 Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes

Abstract

Disclosed is a portable computer comprising a main body, and a display part having a tablet allowing a user to input information with a pen, and displaying a picture based on a video signal transmitted from the main body. The portable computer has a pen-mounting portion to which the pen is detachably attached; an attachment/detachment sensor detects whether the pen is attached to or detached from the pen-mounting portion; and a controller controlling the display part to have a portrait display mode when the attachment/detachment sensor detects that the pen is detached from the pen-mounting portion, and controlling the display part to have a landscape display mode when the attachment/detachment sensor detects that the pen is attached to the pen-mounting portion.

Claims

1. A portable computer comprising a main body, and a display part having a tablet allowing a user to input information with a pen, and displaying a picture based on a video signal transmitted from the main body, the portable computer comprising:

a pen-mounting portion to which the pen is detachably attached;

an attachment/detachment sensor for detecting whether the pen is attached to or detached from the pen-mounting portion; and

a controller for controlling the display part to have a portrait display mode when the attachment/detachment sensor detects that the pen is detached from the pen-mounting portion, and controlling the display part to have a landscape display mode when the attachment/detachment sensor detects that the pen is attached to the pen-mounting portion.

2. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a microcomputer generating a predetermined key code on the basis of the detected result of the attachment/detachment sensor, and a video driver changing the display mode in correspondence to the key code generated by the microcomputer.

3. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the attachment/detachment sensor comprises a switch for outputting high and low signals according to the attachment or detachment, respectively, of the pen.

4. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the attachment/detachment sensor comprises a switch for outputting low and high signals according to the attachment or detachment, respectively, of the pen.

5. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the display part further comprises a tablet that accepts inputs from the detached pen when the display is in portrait display mode.

6. A method of controlling a portable computer comprising a main body, and a display part having a tablet allowing a user to input information with a pen, and displaying a picture based on a video signal transmitted from the main body, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting the attachment and detachment of the pen; and

controlling the display part to have a portrait display mode on the basis of detecting the detachment of the pen and to have a landscape display mode on the basis of detecting the attachment of the pen.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the controlling step further comprises the steps of:

generating a predetermined key code on the basis of the detected result of the attachment/detachment sensor; and

changing the display mode in correspondence to the generated key code.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensing step further comprises outputting high and low signals according to the attachment or detachment, respectively, of the pen.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensing step further comprises outputting low and high signals according to the attachment or detachment, respectively, of the pen.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of accepting inputs from the detached pen when the display is in portrait display mode.