DUAL-SCREEN PORTABLE COMPUTER AND A SWITCHING METHOD OF THE SAME

• US 20120243165A1
• Filed: 03/26/2012
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Inventors: CHANG, Yao-Tsung, Li, Chia-Hsien, TAU, Yi-Wei
• Application Number:
  US13/429,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20120243165A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence

Abstract

A dual-screen computer includes a display module and a body. The display module includes a first screen and a second screen, wherein these two screens are separately disposed on opposite sides of the display module. The body contains a plurality of graphics controllers. Each graphics controller is electrically connected to the first screen and the second screen separately for controlling the first screen and the second screen to display graphics individually.

Claims

1. A dual-screen portable computer comprising:

a display module which comprises;

a first screen disposed on one side of the display module; and

a second screen disposed on the opposite side of the display module; and

a body which comprises;

a plurality of graphics controllers electrically connected to the first screen and the second screen individually for controlling the first screen and the second screen to display graphics separately.

2. The dual-screen portable computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dual-screen portable computer further comprises:

a rotating device separately connected to the display module and the body for changing the relative positions of the display module and the body by rotating the display module, thereby allowing the display module to be folded to a top surface of the body or a bottom surface of the body, which is a folded state of the dual-screen portable computer, or the display module is not folded to the body, which is an opened state of the dual-screen portable computer.

3. The dual-screen portable computer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the body further comprises:

a processor electrically connected to the plurality of graphics controllers for implementing operations of the dual-screen portable computer;

a sensor for detecting the relative positions of the display module and the body; and

a mode switching module electrically connected to the sensor for switching the dual-screen portable computer to operate either in a laptop mode or in a tablet mode based on the relative positions;

wherein if the dual-screen portable computer is in the folded state, the processor executes the tablet mode;

if the dual-screen portable computer is in the opened state, the processor executes the laptop mode.

4. The dual-screen portable computer as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sensor can be an electromagnetic induction sensor, a distance sensor, or a mechanical switch.

5. The dual-screen portable computer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the body further comprises a command-input unit electrically connected to the processor for sending a mode activation command or a screen activation command.

6. The dual-screen portable computer as claimed in claim 3, wherein the quantity of the plurality of graphics controllers is two, each of which is individually electrically connected to the first screen and the second screen for controlling the first screen and the second screen to display graphics separately.

7. The dual-screen portable computer as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sensor can be an electromagnetic induction sensor, a distance sensor, or a mechanical switch.

8. The dual-screen portable computer as claimed in claim 7, wherein the body further comprises a command-input unit electrically connected to the processor for sending a mode activation command or a screen activation command.

9. The dual-screen portable computer as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second screen is a touch screen;

if the dual-screen portable computer is operated in the laptop mode, either the first screen or the second screen can be used for displaying graphics;

if the dual-screen portable computer is operated in the tablet mode, the second screen is used for displaying graphics.

10. The dual-screen portable computer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sensor can be an electromagnetic induction sensor, a distance sensor, or a mechanical switch.

11. The dual-screen portable computer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first screen and the second screen are both touch screens;

while the laptop mode is operated, either the first screen or the second screen can be used for displaying graphics, and while the tablet mode is operated, the second screen is used for displaying graphics.

12. The dual-screen portable computer as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sensor can be an electromagnetic induction sensor, a distance sensor, or a mechanical switch.

13. The dual-screen portable computer as claimed in claim 12, wherein the body further comprises a command-input unit electrically connected to the processor for sending a mode activation command or a screen activation command.

14. The dual-screen portable computer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rotating device is a double-hinge device;

by rotation of the double-hinge device, the first screen can be folded to the top surface of the body, or the second screen can be folded to the bottom surface of the body.

15. The dual-screen portable computer as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sensor can be an electromagnetic induction sensor, a distance sensor, or a mechanical switch.

16. The dual-screen portable computer as claimed in claim 15, wherein the second screen is an e-paper display module;

if the first screen is folded to the top surface of the body, the second screen is used for displaying an e-book for reading;

if the second screen is folded to the bottom surface of the body, the first screen is used for implementing operations of the dual-screen portable computer.

17. The dual-screen portable computer as claimed in claim 16, wherein the sensor can be an electromagnetic induction sensor, a distance sensor, or a mechanical switch.

18. The dual-screen portable computer as claimed in claim 17, wherein the body further comprises a command-input unit electrically connected to the processor for sending a mode activation command or a screen activation command.

19. A switching method for switching a portable computer selectively to operate in a laptop mode or in a tablet mode, wherein the portable computer comprises a display module and a body, and the switching method comprising the following steps:

detecting the relative positions of the display module and the body of the portable computer to determine whether the display module and the body are in an opened state or a folded state;

if the display module and the body are in the opened state, implement the laptop mode; and

if the display module and the body are in the folded state, implement the tablet mode.

20. The switching method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the display module comprises a first screen and a second screen;

if the portable computer implements the laptop mode, the switching method comprising the following steps;

accepting a screen activation command; and

activating the first screen or the second screen for operating in the laptop mode according to the screen activation command;

if the portable computer implements the tablet mode, the switching method comprising the following steps;

accepting a mode activation command; and

activating the first screen or the second screen for operating the tablet mode according to the mode activation command.

21. The switching method as claimed in claim 20;

if the tablet mode is operated, the second screen displays an e-book for reading.