Mobile computer device display postures

• US 8,194,001 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Miller, Michael C., Parks, Gregory H., Fuller, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nitin
• Application Number:
  US12/412,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20100245209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 345 11- 13
• US Class Current: 345/1.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• 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 1/1677 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 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode

Abstract

Embodiments of mobile computer device display postures are described. In embodiments, a first display is integrated in a first housing of a dual-display mobile computer device, and a second display is integrated in a second housing of the dual-display mobile computer device. Position data can be sensed from a binding that movably connects the first housing and the second housing, and a position angle can be determined between the first housing and the second housing that correlates to a display posture of the first display and the second display.

Claims

1. A dual-display mobile computer device, comprising:

a first display integrated in a first housing of the dual-display mobile computer device;

a second display integrated in a second housing of the dual-display mobile computer device, the second housing movably connected to the first housing to position the first display and the second display in a display posture;

a position controller configured to;

receive binding position data that indicates a position angle between the first and second displays;

receive application context data that indicates a context of an application interface that is displayed on one or both of the first and second displays;

receive device setting data that indicates a device setting; and

determine the display posture based on the binding position data, the application context data, and the device setting data.

2. A dual-display mobile computer device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a binding that movably connects the first housing and the second housing, and wherein the position controller is configured to initiate a user feedback that locks the binding and holds the first and second housings securely in the display posture.

3. A dual-display mobile computer device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a multi-axis hinge that movably connects the first housing and the second housing, and wherein the first housing is configured to rotate in at least two directions relative to the second housing.

4. A dual-display mobile computer device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a binding sensor configured to generate the binding position data that indicates the position angle between the first display and the second display.

5. A dual-display mobile computer device as recited in claim 1, wherein the position controller is further configured to initiate a presentation mode of the application interface according to the display posture of the first display and the second display.

6. A dual-display mobile computer device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a first housing position sensor configured to generate first housing position data that indicates a first housing orientation;

a second housing position sensor configured to generate second housing position data that indicates a second housing orientation; and

wherein the position controller is further configured to determine the display posture from the first housing orientation and the second housing orientation, and initiate a presentation mode of the application interface according to the display posture.

7. A dual-display mobile computer device as recited in claim 1, wherein the position angle between the first display and the second display is one of:

approximately one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

) which correlates to a surface display posture;

or

approximately three-hundred and sixty degrees (360°

) which correlates to a tablet display posture.

8. A dual-display mobile computer device as recited in claim 1, wherein one of:

the first display and the second display are each positioned to display in a landscape mode, and wherein the position angle between the first display and the second display is less than one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

) which correlates to a laptop display posture;

or

the first display and the second display are each positioned to display in a portrait mode, and wherein the position angle between the first display and the second display is less than one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

) which correlates to a book display posture.

9. A dual-display mobile computer device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first display and the second display are each positioned to display in approximate opposing directions, and wherein the position angle between the first display and the second display is greater than one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

) and less than three-hundred and sixty degrees (360°

) which correlates to a presentation display posture.

10. A dual-display mobile computer device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a binding that movably connects the first housing and the second housing, and wherein the position controller is configured to initiate a user feedback that stiffens the binding and resists movement of the first and second housings from the display posture.

11. A dual-display mobile computer device as recited in claim 1, wherein the position controller is configured to initiate a haptic feedback of binding detents when the first and second housings are moved to change the position angle between the first and second displays.

12. A method implemented in a dual-display mobile computer device, the method comprising:

displaying an application interface on a first display that is integrated in a first housing of the dual-display mobile computer device;

displaying the application interface on a second display that is integrated in a second housing of the dual-display mobile computer device;

sensing position data from a binding that movably connects the first housing and the second housing;

determining a position angle between the first housing and the second housing that correlates to a display posture of the first display and the second display; and

initiating a user feedback that one of;

locks the binding and holds the first and second housings securely in the display posture;

or

stiffens the binding and resists movement of the first and second housings from the display posture.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the position data is sensed from a binding sensor and the position data indicates the position angle between the first housing and the second housing.

14. A method as recited in claim 12, further comprising determining the display posture and initiating a presentation mode of the application interface according to the display posture of the first display and the second display.

15. A method as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

sensing the position data from a first housing position sensor that indicates a first housing orientation;

sensing the position data from a second housing position sensor that indicates a second housing orientation;

determining the display posture from the position data that correlates to the first housing orientation and the second housing orientation; and

initiating a presentation mode of the application interface according to the display posture of the first display and the second display.

16. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the position angle between the first display and the second display is approximately one of:

one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

) which correlates to a surface display posture;

or

three-hundred and sixty degrees (360°

) which correlates to a tablet display posture.

17. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the application interface is displayed in one of:

a landscape mode on the first display and on the second display, and wherein the position angle between the first display and the second display is less than one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

) which correlates to a laptop display posture;

or

a portrait mode on the first display and on the second display, and wherein the position angle between the first display and the second display is less than one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

) which correlates to a book display posture.

18. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the application interface is displayed in approximate opposing directions on the first display and on the second display, and wherein the position angle between the first display and the second display is greater than one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

) and less than three-hundred and sixty degrees (360°

) which correlates to a presentation display posture.

19. A mobile computer device, comprising:

a binding system that movably connects a first housing and a second housing of the mobile computer device, the first housing including a first integrated display and the second housing including a second integrated display;

a position controller configured to;

receive binding position data that indicates a position angle between the first and second integrated displays;

correlate the position angle to a display posture that corresponds to a position of the first and second integrated displays; and

initiate a user feedback that one of;

locks the binding system and holds the first and second housings securely in the display posture;

stiffens the binding system and resists movement of the first and second housings from the display posture;

or

is a haptic feedback of binding detents when the first and second housings are moved to change the position angle between the first and second integrated displays.

20. A mobile computer device as recited in claim 19, wherein the position controller is further configured to:

receive application context data that indicates a context of an application interface that is displayed on one or both of the first and second integrated displays;

receive device setting data that indicates a device setting; and

determine the display posture based on the binding position data, the application context data, and the device setting data.