INFERRED UNDOCKING FOR HYBRID TABLET COMPUTER

• US 20150277492A1
• Filed: 03/28/2014
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Jeganathan, Nithyananda S., Roe, Bryan Y., Chau, Han
• Granted Patent: US 9,836,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

In an example, there is disclosed a hybrid tablet computing device comprising a tablet member configured to dock to a base member. The base member may include peripherals and other elements to augment the functionality of the tablet member. While docked, the base and tablet may operate in a cooperative mode, while undocking the tablet from the base places the tablet in an independent mode. A user'"'"'s intent to undock may be inferred by natural interactions, including for example a user gripping the tablet along its top edge while simultaneously placing a hand over a trackpad on the base. If an undocking intent is inferred but the user does not complete the docking process within a timeout period, the tablet may redock and enter the cooperative mode.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an interface to mechanically lock a first housing to a second housing; and

logic, at least partly implemented in hardware, to;

receive data representing one or more non-explicit interactive gestures;

send a release-lock instruction to the interface; and

cause an electronic device housed in the first housing to enter a first mode in response to the first housing being decoupled from the second housing.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising logic to:

after a time period, determine that the first housing has not been removed from the second housing;

lock the interface; and

cause the electronic device housed in the first housing to enter a second mode.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors to detect the non-explicit interactive gesture.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a sensor to detect pressure on at least one edge of the first housing.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the one or more sensors further comprise a sensor to detect an object physically near or in contact with an input device disposed on the second housing.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a front camera, a rear camera, and one or more sensors to detect that the front camera and rear camera are substantially obstructed.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a sensor to detect a plurality of fingers substantially in a center of at least one edge of the first housing.

8. The device of claim 3, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a sensor to detect pressure substantially at a center of at least one edge of the first housing.

9. The device of claim 3, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a sensor to detect a pressure exerted on the first housing, the pressure at least partially translating to a pressure on the interface between the first housing and the second housing.

10. A system comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing;

an interface to mechanically lock the first housing to the second housing; and

logic, at least partly implemented in hardware, to;

receive data representing one or more non-explicit interactive gestures;

send a release-lock instruction to the interface; and

cause an electronic device housed in the first housing to enter a first mode in response to the first housing being decoupled from the second housing.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising logic to:

after a time period, determine that the first housing has not been removed from the second housing;

lock the interface; and

cause the electronic device housed in the first housing to enter a second mode.

12. The device of claim 10, further comprising one or more sensors to detect the non-explicit interactive gesture.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a sensor to detect pressure on at least one edge of the first housing.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the one or more sensors further comprise a sensor to detect an object physically near or in contact with an input device disposed on the second housing.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a front camera, a rear camera, and one or more sensors to detect that the front camera and rear camera are substantially obstructed.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a sensor to detect a plurality of fingers substantially in a center of at least one edge of the first housing.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a sensor to detect pressure substantially at a center of at least one edge of the first housing.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a sensor to detect a pressure exerted on the first housing, the pressure at least partially translating to a pressure on the interface between the first housing and the second housing.

19. One or more non-transitory storage mediums having encoded thereon logic operable to instruct a processor for:

receiving data representing a non-explicit interactive gesture;

responsive to receiving the data, releasing a lock on a mechanical interface coupling a first housing to a second housing; and

instructing an electronic device housed in the first housing to enter a first mode.

20. The one or more non-transitory storage mediums of claim 19, wherein the logic is further operable to instruct the processor for:

after a time period, determining that the first housing has not been removed from the second housing;

locking the interface; and

causing the electronic device housed in the first housing to enter a second mode.

21. The one or more non-transitory storage mediums of claim 19, wherein the non-explicit interactive gesture comprises grasping a top edge of the first housing.

22. The one or more non-transitory storage mediums of claim 19, wherein the non-explicit interactive gesture comprises exerting a pressure on a top edge of the first housing in a manner that at least some of the pressure is translated to the interface.

23. The one or more non-transitory storage mediums of claim 22, wherein the non-explicit interactive gesture further comprises placing an object on or near a sensor disposed on the second housing.

24. The one or more non-transitory storage mediums of claim 19, wherein the non-explicit interactive gesture comprises substantially obstructing a front camera and rear camera disposed along a common edge of the first housing.

25. The one or more non-transitory storage mediums of claim 19, wherein the non-explicit interactive gesture comprises placing a plurality of fingers substantially in the center of a top edge of the first housing.

26. The one or more non-transitory storage mediums of claim 19, wherein the non-explicit interactive gesture comprises applying pressure substantially at the center of an edge of the first housing.