Lid-closed detector

• US 7,428,142 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2004
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hotelling, Steven P., Ligtenberg, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong; Hung V
• Application Number:
  US10/927,576
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-157, 345/173, 345/701, 361679-687, 361724-727, 343/700.MS, 455 89- 90
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• 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 1/1677 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 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

In one exemplary embodiment, a portable computer having a display assembly coupled to a base assembly to alternate between a closed position and an open position. An input device disposed on the base assembly senses a contact with a portion of the display assembly to detect the display assembly in the closed position.

Claims

1. A portable computer, comprising:

a display assembly coupled to a base assembly to alternate between a closed position and an open position; and

an input device disposed on said base assembly, said input device having a capacitive sensing surface to sense a proximity with a portion of said display assembly to detect said display assembly in said closed position.

2. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein said input device comprises a touchpad.

3. The portable computer of claim 2, further comprising a keyboard disposed near said touchpad, said touchpad having a width that is substantially similar to a width of said keyboard.

4. The portable computer of claim 3, wherein said keyboard comprises a full-size keyboard layout.

5. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein said portion of said display assembly comprises a conductive material.

6. The portable computer of claim 5, wherein said portion of said display assembly comprises a bezel to frame a display screen, and wherein said bezel contacts a touchpad in said closed position.

7. The portable computer of claim 6, wherein said bezel comprises a substantially metallic material.

8. A portable computer detector, comprising:

a capacitive sensing surface to detect one or more objects in a manner that can be interpreted by a portable computer to generate cursor movement, said sensing surface having a first region and a second region which, when said second region receives a first input, indicates that a lid portion of said portable computer is in a closed position.

9. The portable computer detector of claim 8, wherein when said first region is sensed, indicates that the lid portion of said portable computer is in an open position.

10. The portable computer detector of claim 8, wherein said sensing surface comprises a conductive touch-sensor pad.

11. A method, comprising:

providing a portable computer system having a display assembly coupled to a base assembly, said base assembly having a touchpad;

sensing with said touchpad whether said display assembly is closed over said base assembly or open over said base assembly; and

activating an input mode for said portable computer system when said touchpad senses that said display assembly is open over said base assembly.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein sensing further comprises activating a sleep mode for said portable computer system when said touchpad senses that said display assembly is closed over said base assembly.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising repeating a sensing operation continuously while said portable computer system is in a power “

ON”

mode.

14. A method, comprising:

providing a portable computer system having a display assembly coupled to a base assembly, said base assembly having a touchpad, said touchpad having a first sensing region and a second sensing region; and

detecting said display assembly over said base assembly, wherein a portion of said display assembly comes into close proximity with a substantial portion of said second sensing region and while no portion of said first sensing region contacts said display assembly to indicate that said portable computer system is in a lid-closed position.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein closing further comprises contacting said first sensing region with a bezel of said display assembly.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein detecting further comprises reporting a lid-closed signal to said portable computer system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein detecting further comprises activating a sleep mode for said portable computer system.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein detecting further comprises repeating a sensing operation continuously while said portable computer system is in a power “

ON”

mode.