DUAL ACCELEROMETER DETECTOR FOR CLAMSHELL DEVICES

• US 20110179864A1
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics Incorporated (STMicroelectronics NV), STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics Incorporated (STMicroelectronics NV), STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Bendiscioli, Paolo, Lin, Wen, RAASCH, William R., Ressia, Alberto
• Application Number:
  US12/694,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20110179864A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/493
• 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 1/162 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/042 due to external shock or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/043 by detecting a free-fall condition

Abstract

A clamshell device having a dual accelerometer detector includes a first keyboard portion including a first accelerometer, a second display portion including a second accelerometer, a hinge for coupling the first portion to the second portion, and circuitry coupled to the first and second accelerometers for providing an output signal in response to the position of the first and second portions of the clamshell device. The output signal is provided to indicate a shutdown or standby mode, tablet operation mode, a partially shut or power savings mode, a normal operating mode, or an unsafe operating mode.

Claims

1. A clamshell device having a dual accelerometer detector comprising:

a first portion including a first accelerometer;

a second portion including a second accelerometer;

a hinge for coupling the first portion to the second portion; and

circuitry coupled to the first and second accelerometers for providing an output signal in response to the position of the first and second portions of the clamshell device.

2. The clamshell device of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the clamshell device comprises a keyboard.

3. The clamshell device of claim 2 wherein the first accelerometer is located in or coupled to a motherboard of the keyboard.

4. The clamshell device of claim 1 wherein the second portion of the clamshell device comprises a display.

5. The clamshell device of claim 4 wherein the second accelerometer is located in a camera module or a circuit board of the display.

6. The clamshell device of claim 1 wherein the output signal is provided to indicate a shutdown or standby mode.

7. The clamshell device of claim 1 wherein the output signal is provided to indicate a tablet operation mode.

8. The clamshell device of claim 1 wherein the output signal is provided to indicate a partially shut or power savings mode.

9. The clamshell device of claim 1 wherein the output signal is provided to indicate a normal operating mode.

10. The clamshell device of claim 1 wherein the output signal is provided to indicate an unsafe operating mode.

11. A detection method for a clamshell device comprising:

providing a first portion including a first accelerometer;

providing a second portion including a second accelerometer;

coupling the first portion to the second portion; and

providing an output signal in response to the position of the first and second portions of the clamshell device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first portion of the clamshell device comprises a keyboard.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first accelerometer is located in or coupled to a motherboard of the keyboard.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the second portion of the clamshell device comprises a display.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the second accelerometer is located in a camera module or circuit board of the display.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the output signal is provided to indicate a shutdown or standby mode.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the output signal is provided to indicate a tablet operation mode.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the output signal is provided to indicate a partially shut or power savings mode.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the output signal is provided to indicate a normal operating mode.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the output signal is provided to indicate an unsafe operating mode.