Portable computer usable in laptop and tablet configurations

• US 6,771,494 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba America Information Systems Incorporated (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba America Information Systems Incorporated (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Shimano, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US10/023,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20030112588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680-683, 361/686, D14/304, D14/305, 345/173, 345/905, 345/178, 345/179
• US Class Current: 361/679.06
• 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 1/1643 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 1/166 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 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a portable computer, such as a laptop or notebook computer, a subnotebook computer, a personal digital assistant, a wireless phone or the like, that can be set up in a closed configuration, a laptop configuration or a tablet configuration. The portable computer may include a base unit having a primary input device, such as a keyboard or pointing device, and a display unit having a display device. The base unit and the display unit may be coupled so that the display unit can be moved relative to the base unit to place the portable computer in a desired configuration.

Claims

1. A portable computer configurable in a tablet configuration, a laptop configuration, and a closed configuration, said portable computer comprising:

a display unit having a display device and a back surface;

a base unit having a primary input device and a bottom surface;

a latching assembly to maintain said portable computer in one of said closed configuration and said tablet configuration; and

a hinging assembly coupling said display unit to said base unit, said hinging assembly having a first hinge with a first axis of rotation and a second hinge with a second axis of rotation, wherein

one of said first hinge and said second hinge is rotated to reconfigure said portable computer between said closed configuration and said laptop configuration,

said first hinge and said second hinge are rotated to reconfigure said portable computer between said closed configuration and said tablet configuration, and

said second hinge is oriented to rotate a shaft about a vertical axis, and includes a ball bearing having an inner race coupled to the shaft and an outer race coupled to the base unit, and the shaft is coupled to a support plate.

2. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein said first axis of rotation and said second axis of rotation are perpendicular.

3. The portable computer according to claim 2, wherein rotation of said first hinge causes said display unit to tilt with respect to said base unit and rotation of said second hinge causes said display unit to swivel with respect to said base unit.

4. The portable computer according to claim 3, wherein said display unit has a first orientation when said portable computer is in said laptop configuration, and further wherein said second hinge operates in a range of rotation having an upper limit, such that said display unit has a second orientation opposite to said first orientation when said second hinge is rotated to said upper limit of said range of rotation of said second hinge.

5. The portable computer according to claim 2, wherein said first hinge has a range of rotation with an upper limit of 90 degrees.

6. The portable computer according to claim 2, further including a cable for transmitting electronic signals, said cable having a first end coupled to said base unit and a second end coupled to said display unit, wherein a portion of said cable passes through said shaft.

7. The portable computer according to claim 2, further including a locking pin selectively insertable into a first cavity to prevent said second hinge from rotating.

8. The portable computer according to claim 7, wherein said locking pin is inserted into said first cavity when said portable computer is in said laptop configuration.

9. The portable computer according to claim 7, further including a second cavity when said portable computer is in said tablet configuration.

10. The portable computer according to claim 7, wherein said locking pin is inserted into said first cavity by movement of a mechanical actuator.

11. The portable computer according to claim 10, wherein said mechanical actuator is one of a lever arm and a push button.

12. The portable computer according to claim 2, said latching assembly further including a latching arm having a first projection and a latch body having a first cavity adapted to receive said first projection to maintain said portable computer in one of said closed configuration and said tablet configuration.

13. The portable computer according to claim 12, said latching arm further including a second projection, wherein said first cavity is also adapted to receive said second projection, and further wherein said first projection is received by said first cavity to maintain said portable computer in said closed configuration, and further wherein said second projection is received by said first cavity to maintain said portable computer in said tablet configuration.

14. The portable computer according to claim 12, said latching arm further including a second projection and said latch body further including a second cavity adapted to receive said second projection wherein said first projection is received by said first cavity to maintain said portable computer in said closed configuration, and further wherein said second projection is received by said second cavity to maintain said portable computer in said tablet configuration.

15. A method for reconfiguring a portable computer among a tablet configuration, a laptop configuration, and a closed configuration, wherein said display device is contained in a display unit and said primary input device is contained in a base unit, said method comprising:

when said portable computer is in said closed configuration such that said display device and said primary input device are contained between a back surface of said display unit and a bottom surface of said base unit, rotating a first hinge to tilt said display unit relative to said base unit until said portable computer is in said laptop configuration;

rotating a second hinge when said portable computer is in said laptop configuration to swivel said display unit relative to said base unit;

rotating said first hinge after said second hinge has been rotated to place said portable computer in said tablet configuration; and

closing a latching assembly by inserting a latching arm into a latching block, when said portable computer is in said tablet configuration to couple said base unit to said display unit, wherein said latching arm is mounted on a first portion coupled to said display unit and said latching block is mounted on a second portion coupled to said base unit.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein rotating said second hinge includes removing a locking pin from a cavity when said portable computer is in said laptop configuration.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein rotating said second hinge includes inserting a locking pin into a cavity after said display unit has been swiveled relative to said base unit.