Lid-closed detector

• US 8,023,262 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• 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
• Application Number:
  US12/233,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20090016003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 345/169, 345/175, 345/158, 345/690, 345/619, 345/591, 345/173, 361/679.26, 361/679.01, 361/679.43, 361/679.56, 361/679.06, 361/679.27, 700/95, 348/51, 348/61, 348/148, 455/575.3, 455/575.9, 455/552.1, 713/300, 713/500
• 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. An apparatus, comprising:

a display assembly having a display screen framed by a bezel; and

a base assembly hingedly coupled to said display assembly to alternate between a closed position and an open position, said base assembly having a touchpad input device comprising a sensor region responsive to the bezel while in close proximity, wherein in said closed position, a portion of said bezel is in close proximity to said sensor region to indicate that said display assembly is in said closed position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bezel comprises a substantially metallic material.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said bezel is made of an aluminum alloy.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said touchpad comprises a capacitive touch-sensor pad.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said touchpad comprises an optical sensor pad.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said touchpad comprises a thermal sensor pad.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a display assembly having a display screen framed by a bezel; and

a base assembly hingedly coupled to said display assembly to alternate between a closed position and an open position, said base assembly having a touchpad input device, the touch pad input device having a portion overlapping a portion of the bezel in said close position, wherein in said closed position, the portion of said bezel is in close proximity to said touchpad to indicate that said display assembly is in said closed position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said bezel comprises a substantially metallic material.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said touchpad comprises a capacitive touch-sensor pad.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said touchpad comprises an optical sensor pad.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said touchpad comprises a thermal sensor pad.