Multifunctional foldable computer

• US 6,628,506 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2002
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Landry, Christian C., Scully, Michael J., Youens, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US10/127,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20030021086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 361/681-683, 361/680, 361/685-686, 361/724-725, 361/677-679, 361/687, 312/223--22, 163/68, 163/08, 163/41, 163/42, 708/139-142
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• 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 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A multi-functional computing device that is configurable for a plurality of applications. The technique includes a space saving and configuration technique utilizing multiple joints disposed between multiple sections to facilitate rotational orientation of the sections to adapt to space limitations and other characteristics of a desired environment or application. The multiple sections include a display assembly and a housing assembly for computing components.

Claims

1. A computer, comprising:

a transformable computer structure having at least three movably coupled sections, comprising;

a user-interactive first-stage having a display movably coupled with a multi-sectional body disposed in a generally flat configuration; and

a user-interactive second-stage having the display movably coupled with a retractable section of the multi-sectional body disposed in an angular configuration.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein the multi-sectional body comprises a user interaction device.

3. The computer of claim 1, wherein the transformable computer structure comprises a non-interactive stage having a screen of the display disposed adjacent the multi-sectional body.

4. The computer of claim 1, wherein the user-interactive first-stage has the display rotatably coupled with the multi-sectional body at a rear-portion of the multi-sectional body.

5. The computer of claim 1, wherein the retractable section comprises pivot joints at opposite ends of the retractable section.

6. The computer of claim 1, wherein the retractable section comprises a linear positioning mechanism.

7. The computer of claim 1, wherein the retractable section is pivotally coupled to an intermediate section of at least one of the display and the multi-sectional body.

8. The computer of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a flat panel display assembly.

9. The computer of claim 1, wherein the display is removably coupled to the multi-sectional body.

10. The computer of claim 1, wherein the transformable computer structure comprises a user-interactive third-stage having the multi-sectional body vertically supported by a vertical support structure.

11. The computer of claim 2, wherein the user interaction device is detachable from the multi-sectional body.

12. The computer of claim 2, wherein the user interaction device is accessible in both the first and second stages.

13. The computer of claim 3, wherein the non-interactive stage has the display screen disposed adjacent at least two sections of the multi-sectional body.

14. The computer of claim 5, wherein the retractable section is positionally secured in the user-interactive first-stage.

15. The computer of claim 10, wherein the user-interactive third-stage has the multi-sectional body supported in a folded configuration.

16. The computer of claim 10, wherein the user-interactive third-stage has the display supported in an unfolded configuration relative to the multi-sectional body.

17. The computer of claim 10, wherein the user-interactive third-stage has the display supported in a folded configuration relative to the multi-sectional body.

18. The computer of claim 10, wherein the user interactive third stage has a detachable user input device removed from a device receptacle on the multi-sectional body.

19. The computer of claim 11, wherein the user interaction device comprises a wireless communication assembly.

20. The computer of claim 11, wherein the user interaction device is separable into at least two distinct input devices.

21. The computer of claim 14, wherein a detachable input device is releasably secured over the retractable section in the user-interactive first-stage.

22. The computer of claim 11, wherein a interactive display module is disposed on the multi-sectional body under the user interaction device.

23. A method of forming a transformable computing device, comprising the acts of:

movably coupling first and second body sections at a first joint mechanism;

rotatably coupling a display section to the second body section at a second joint mechanism; and

supporting a plurality of structural transformations of the display and the first and second body sections, comprising the acts of;

mechanically supporting a first user-interactive stage having at least one of the first and second joint mechanisms disabled; and

physically supporting a second user-interactive stage having both the first and second joint mechanisms enabled.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the act of movably coupling first and second body sections comprises the act of rotatably coupling the first and second body sections at the first joint mechanism.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the act of movably coupling first and second body sections comprises the act of slidingly coupling the first and second body sections at the first joint mechanism.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the act of movably coupling first and second body sections comprises the act of disposing the first joint mechanism at an intermediate position on at least one of the first and second body sections.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the act of movably coupling first and second body sections comprises the acts of:

forming the first body section as a component housing; and

creating the second body section as an extension arm.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the act of rotatably coupling the display section to the second body section comprises the act of removably coupling the display section to the first and second body sections.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the act of supporting the plurality of structural transformations comprises the act of structurally supporting at least one non-user interactive stage having user interactive features disposed in at least one inaccessible location.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the acts of supporting the first and second user-interactive stages comprise the act of positioning user interactive features in at least one accessible location.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein the act of mechanically supporting the first user-interactive stage comprises the acts of structurally supporting a folded configuration of the first and second body sections.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein the act of mechanically supporting the first user-interactive stage comprises the act of removably securing a user input device over the first and second body sections.

33. The method of claim 23, wherein the act of physically supporting the second user-interactive stage comprises the act of structurally supporting the second body section in an outwardly extended position relative to the first body section.

34. The method of claim 23, comprising the act of disposing computing components in at least one section of the first and second body sections.

35. The method of claim 23, wherein the act of supporting the plurality of structural transformations comprises the act of structurally supporting a third user-interactive stage having the display and the first and second body sections all disposed in a substantially upright orientation.

36. The method of claim 23, wherein the act of supporting the plurality of structural transformations comprises the act of structurally supporting a third user-interactive stage having the display and the first and second body sections all disposed in a substantially upright interfolded orientation.

37. The method of claim 23, wherein the act of supporting the plurality of structural transformations comprises the act of structurally supporting a third user-interactive stage having the first and second body sections disposed in a substantially upright interfolded orientation.

38. The method of claim 30, wherein the act of positioning user interactive features in the at least one accessible location comprises the act of providing access to a user input device.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the act of structurally supporting the second body section in the outwardly extended position comprises the act of positioning the first joint mechanism at a central position on the first body section.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein the act of physically supporting the second user-interactive stage comprises the act of providing a detachable user input device that is removably attachable to at least one of the first and second body sections.

41. A method for transforming a computing device, comprising the acts of:

manipulating at least two sections of a plurality of movably coupled device sections, which comprise a display section and body sections, to a first user-interactive stage having at least one of a plurality of intersection joint mechanisms disabled; and

transforming the plurality of movably coupled device sections to a second user-interactive stage by releasing the at least one intersection joint mechanism and by manipulating at least three sections of the plurality of movably coupled device sections.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the act of manipulating comprises the act of pivoting the display section about at least one of the body sections.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the act of transforming comprises the act of moving one of the at least three sections away from an intermediate joint position on an intercoupled pair of the plurality of movably coupled device sections.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the act of transforming comprises the act of moving an intercoupled pair of the body sections about the at least one intersection joint mechanism.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the act of transforming comprises the act of providing user access to at least one user interaction device disposed on at least one of the body sections for each of a plurality of user-interactive stages.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein the acts of manipulating and transforming comprise the act of maintaining user access to an input device disposed on at least one of the body sections.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein the act of transforming comprises the act of physically positioning the display and the first and second body sections in a substantially upright orientation.

48. The method of claim 41, wherein the act of transforming comprises the acts of:

interfolding the body sections;

unfolding the display section from the body sections; and

positioning the plurality of movably coupled device sections in a substantially upright orientation.

49. The method of claim 41, wherein the act of transforming comprises the act of physically positioning the plurality of movably coupled device sections in a substantially upright interfolded orientation.

50. The method of claim 42, wherein the act of pivoting comprises the act of positioning the display section in an upright orientation at a rear portion of the body sections.

51. The method of claim 42, wherein the act of pivoting comprises the act of providing user access to at least one user interaction device disposed on at least one of the body sections.

52. A multi-stage computing system, comprising:

section coupling means for joining at least three device sections comprising a display, a user interaction device, and computing components; and

structural transformation means for altering the at least three device sections between at least two user-interactive configurations having access to the display and the user interaction device.

53. The multi-stage computing system of claim 52, comprising display detachment means for detaching the display.

54. The multi-stage computing system of claim 52, comprising device detachment means for detaching the user interaction device.

55. The multi-stage computing system of claim 52, comprising vertical support means for supporting the at least three device sections in an upright orientation.

56. The multi-stage computing system of claim 52, comprising section closing means for closing the at least three device sections in a non-user-interactive configuration.