Portable computer and method of controlling the same

• US 20070018956A1
• Filed: 07/20/2006
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Yong-duck, Park, Hong-kil, Kim, Tae-yoon, Kim, Hyung-jun
• Granted Patent: US 7,570,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment

Abstract

A portable computer and a method of controlling the same that can secure safety of circuit and system by interrupting or providing an output of power and/or image signal supplied to a display panel in accordance with results of sensing an operation of a locking unit.

Claims

1. A portable computer comprising:

a system body;

a display panel to which a power signal and an image signal are supplied from the system body;

a locking unit provided in the system body to attach and detach the display panel to/from the system body, wherein the display panel cannot be detached from the system body if the locking unit is closed;

a locking sensing unit to sense an operational state of the locking unit; and

a control unit to interrupt power supplied from the system body to the display panel if a locking sensing signal of the locking sensing unit indicates that the locking unit is opened.

2. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit interrupts the power signal and the image signal supplied from the system body to the display panel if the locking sensing signal of the locking sensing unit indicates that the locking unit is opened.

3. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system body comprises a wireless LAN unit to supply a wireless LAN signal, wherein the control unit interrupts the wireless LAN signal supplied from the wireless LAN unit to the display panel if the locking sensing signal of the locking sensing unit indicates that the locking unit is opened.

4. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system body comprises:

a connector to which the display panel is connected, wherein the connector comprises a power supply pin to transmit the power signal and an image signal supply pin to transmit the image signal; and

a connector sensing unit to sense whether the display panel is connected to the connector.

5. The portable computer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control unit allows or maintains a transmission of the power signal and the image signal to the display panel if the locking sensing signal of the locking sensing unit indicates that the locking unit is closed and a connector sensing signal of the connector sensing unit indicates that the display panel is connected to the connector.

6. The portable computer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control unit interrupts the power signal and the image signal provided to the display panel if the locking sensing signal of the locking sensing unit indicates that the locking unit is closed and the connector sensing signal of the connector sensing unit indicates that the display panel is not connected to the connector.

7. The portable computer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control unit interrupts the power signal and the image signal provided to the display panel if the locking sensing signal of the locking sensing unit indicates that the locking unit is opened.

8. The portable computer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the system body further comprises an internal output mode of outputting the image signal to the display panel and an external output mode of outputting the image signal to an external display device, wherein:

the control unit uses the external output mode if the locking sensing signal of the locking sensing unit indicates that the locking unit is closed and the connector sensing signal of the connector sensing unit indicates that the display panel is not connected to the connector; and

the control unit uses the internal output mode if the locking sensing signal of the locking sensing unit indicates that the locking unit is closed and the connector sensing signal of the connector sensing unit indicates that the display panel is connected to the connector.

9. The portable computer as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control unit comprises:

a sensor circuit to determine whether the display panel is connected to the connector based on the connector sensing signal of the connecting sensor unit, and whether the locking unit is opened or closed based on the locking sensing signal of the locking sensing unit; and

an execution circuit to control an output of the power signal, an output of the image signal, and a use of the external output mode or internal output mode in accordance with the determined results of the sensor circuit.

10. The portable computer as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control unit comprises:

a microcomputer to determine whether the display panel is connected to the connector based on the connector sensing signal of the connecting sensor unit, and whether the locking unit is opened or closed based on the locking sensing signal of the locking sensing unit; and

a BIOS to control an output of the power signal and an output of the image signal from the system body to the display panel.

11. The portable computer as claimed in claim 10, wherein the BIOS comprises:

a system BIOS to control an on function and an off function of power supplied to the display panel, and

a video BIOS to control an on function and an off function of the image signal.

12. The portable computer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control unit:

provides a wireless LAN signal to an antenna provided on the display panel if the locking sensing signal of locking sensing unit indicates that the locking unit is closed, and the connector sensing signal of the connector sensing unit indicates that the display panel is connected to the connector; and

interrupts the wireless LAN signal if the locking sensing signal of the locking sensing unit indicates that the locking unit is closed, and the connector sensing signal of the connector sensing unit indicates that the display panel is not connected to the connector.

13. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display panel comprises an LCD panel.

14. A method of controlling a portable computer comprising a system body, a display panel that can attach to and detach from the system body, and a locking unit to attach and detach the display panel, the method comprising:

outputting a locking sensing signal in accordance with an operational state of the locking unit; and

interrupting a power signal and an image signal supplied from the system body to the display panel if the locking sensing signal indicates that the locking unit is opened.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising outputting a connector sensing signal to indicate whether the display panel is connected to a connector provided on the system body.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the connector comprises a power supply pin to transmit the power signal to the display device, and an image signal supply pin to transmit the image signal to the display device.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the interrupting of the power signal and the image signal comprises interrupting the power signal and the image signal to the display panel if the connector sensing signal indicates that the display panel is not connected to the connector.

18. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising allowing or maintaining a transmission of the power signal and the image signal to the display panel if the locking sensing signal indicates that the locking unit is closed and the connector sensing signal indicates that the display panel is connected to the connector.

19. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the interrupting of the power signal and the image signal comprises interrupting the power signal and the image signal supplied from the system body to the display panel if the locking sensing signal indicates that the locking unit is closed and the connector sensing signal indicates that the display panel is not connected to the connector.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the method further comprises:

using an external output mode if the locking sensing signal indicates that the locking unit is closed and the connector sensing signal indicates that the display panel is not connected to the connector, wherein the external output mode comprises outputting the image signal from the system body to an external display device; and

using an internal output mode if the locking sensing signal indicates that the locking unit is closed and the connector sensing signal indicates that the display panel is connected to the connector, wherein the internal output mode comprises outputting the image signal from the system body to the display panel.

21. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising interrupting a wireless LAN signal to the display panel supplied from a wireless LAN unit provided in the system body if the locking sensing signal indicates that the locking unit is opened.

22. The method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising interrupting a wireless LAN signal to the display panel supplied from a wireless LAN unit provided in the system body if the locking sensing signal indicates that the locking unit is closed, and the connector sensing signal indicates that the display panel is not connected to the connector.

23. A portable computer comprising:

a system body;

a display panel to connect to the connector and to which a power signal and an image signal are supplied from the system body;

a locking unit provided on a surface of the system body to attach and detach the display panel to/from the system body, wherein the display panel cannot be detached from the system body if the locking unit is closed;

a locking sensing unit to sense an operational state of the locking unit;

a connector provided on the system body to connect the display panel;

a connector sensing unit to sense whether the display panel is connected to the connector; and

a control unit to interrupt power supplied from the system body to the display panel if a locking sensing signal of the locking sensing unit indicates that the locking unit is opened.

24. The portable computer as claimed in claim 23, wherein the control unit comprises:

a sensor circuit to determine whether the display panel is connected to the connector based on a connector sensing signal of the connecting sensor unit and whether the locking unit is opened or closed based on a locking sensing signal of the locking sensing unit; and

an execution circuit to control an output of the power signal, an output of the image signal, and a use of an external output mode or an internal output mode in accordance with determining results of the sensor circuit.

25. The portable computer as claimed in claim 23, wherein the control unit comprises:

a microcomputer to determine whether the display panel is connected to the connector based on a connector sensing signal of the connecting sensor unit and whether the locking unit is opened or closed based on a locking sensing signal of the locking sensing unit; and

a BIOS to control an output of the power signal and an output of the image signal from the system body to the display panel.

26. The portable computer as claimed in claim 25, wherein the BIOS comprises:

a system BIOS to control an on function and an off function of power supplied to the display panel, and

a video BIOS to control an on function and an off function of the image signal.

27. A method of controlling a portable computer comprising a system body, a display panel that can attach to and detach from the system body, a connector provided on the system body to attach and detach the display panel, and a locking unit to attach and detach the display panel, the method comprising:

outputting a locking sensing signal in accordance with an operational state of the locking unit;

outputting a connector sensing signal to indicate whether the display panel is connected to the connector; and

interrupting a power signal and an image signal supplied from the system body to the display panel if the locking sensing signal indicates that the locking unit is opened.