Portable computer with multiple display configurations

• US 8,289,688 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2008
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LiTL LLC (TRI Ventures, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LiTL LLC (TRI Ventures, Inc.)
• Inventors: Behar, Yves, Morenstein, Joshua, Hibmacronan, Christopher, Edahiro, Naoya, Day, Matthew David
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US12/170,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20090244832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.21, 361/679.26, 361/679.27, 4555751-5754, 345/168
• US Class Current: 361/679.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• 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 1/1618 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 1/162 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• 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 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 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 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A portable computer that is configurable between a plurality of display modes including a laptop mode (in which the portable computer has a conventional laptop appearance) and an easel mode in which the base of the computer and its display component stand vertically forming an inverted “V.” The portable computer includes a hinge assembly that couples the display component to the base of the computer, and allows the display component to be rotated about an axis along an interface between the display component and the base to configure the portable computer between a closed position, the laptop mode and the easel mode. The portable computer further comprises a scroll wheel and optional navigation buttons that permit a user to control or manipulate various aspects of operation of the portable computer (such as volume or display brightness) and/or content displayed the computer.

Claims

1. A portable computer configurable between a plurality of display modes including a closed mode, a laptop mode and an easel mode, the portable computer comprising:

a single display component including a display screen;

a base including a keyboard;

a hinge assembly at least partially housed within the base and the display component configured to pivotably couple the display component to the base, wherein the hinge assembly defines a single longitudinal axis running along an interface between the display component and the base, and wherein the display component and the base are rotatable about the single longitudinal axis;

wherein, in the closed mode, the display screen is disposed substantially against the base;

wherein rotating either the single display component or the base by an operator about the single longitudinal axis up to approximately 180 degrees from the closed mode configures the portable computer into the laptop mode, wherein in the laptop mode the single display component is oriented towards the operator and the keyboard is oriented to receive input from the operator;

wherein rotating either the single display component or the base by the operator about the single longitudinal axis beyond approximately 180 degrees from the closed mode configures the portable computer into the easel mode; and

wherein in the easel mode the single display component is oriented facing the operator with the keyboard oriented away from the operator.

2. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the single display component is rotatable about the single longitudinal axis up to approximately 320 degrees from the closed mode.

3. The portable computer of claim 1, further comprising a display orientation module that displays content on the display screen in one of a plurality of content orientations relative to the single longitudinal axis.

4. The portable computer of claim 3, further comprising a mode sensor which detects a current display mode of the portable computer;

and

wherein the display orientation module displays content on the display screen in the one of the plurality of content orientations dependent on the current display mode detected by the mode sensor.

5. The portable computer of claim 3, wherein the display orientation module is configured to display the content in a first content orientation relative to the single longitudinal axis when the portable computer is configured into the laptop mode and in a second content orientation relative to the single longitudinal axis when the portable computer is configured into the easel mode.

6. The portable computer of claim 5, wherein the second content orientation is 180 degrees relative to the first orientation.

7. The portable computer of claim 3, wherein the plurality of display modes further comprises a flat mode in which the single display component is disposed at an angle of approximately 180 degrees, measured about the single longitudinal axis, relative to the base.

8. The portable computer of claim 7, wherein the plurality of content orientations comprises a first content orientation relative to the single longitudinal axis, a second content orientation relative to the single longitudinal axis, and a third content orientation relative to the single longitudinal axis;

and

wherein, in the flat mode, the content displayed on the display screen is configurable among the first, second and third content orientations responsive to a user input.

9. The portable computer of claim 8, wherein the second content orientation is 90 degrees relative to the first content orientation;

and

wherein the third content orientation is 180 degrees relative to the first content orientation.

10. The portable computer of claim 1, further comprising:

a foot disposed along at least a portion of the base and configured to support the portable computer when in the easel mode.

23. The portable computer of claim 1, further comprising at least one integrated navigation hardware control, wherein at least one of the at least one integrated navigation hardware control is accessible in at least the laptop and easel modes, and wherein the integrated navigation hardware can be operated by a user to control features and manipulate content displayed on the portable computer, including any mode wherein the keyboard is inaccessible or oriented away from the user.

11. A portable computer comprising:

a base;

a display component rotatably coupled to the base;

means for rotating the display component in a single direction relative to the base to configure the portable computer between a laptop mode and an easel mode;

a display orientation module configured to automatically orient content displayed on the display component responsive to at least a transition between the laptop mode and the easel mode, wherein the display orientation module is further configured to orient the content displayed between a first display orientation and a second display orientation, the first and second display orientations being 180 degrees relative to each other; and

means for detecting an orientation of the base relative to the display component, wherein the means for detecting is further configured to identify the transition between the laptop mode and the easel mode based on a stored threshold orientation.

12. A portable computer configurable between a plurality of modes including a laptop mode and an easel mode, the portable computer comprising:

a single display component;

a base including an integrated keyboard;

a hinge assembly configured to rotatably couple the single display component to the base, wherein the hinge assembly is at least partially housed within the base and the single display component, and defines a longitudinal axis running along an interface between the single display component and the base;

wherein the hinge assembly is configured to permit rotation of the single display component and the base about the longitudinal axis to configure the portable computer between the laptop mode and the easel mode;

wherein in the easel mode the single display component is oriented facing the operator with the keyboard oriented away from the operator; and

at least one integrated navigation hardware control configured to control features and manipulate content displayed on the portable computer, wherein at least one of the least one integrated navigation hardware control is accessible in each of the plurality of modes including when the keyboard is inaccessible or oriented away from the user.

13. The portable computer of claim 12, wherein the single display component comprises a display screen configured to display content and a display orientation module configured to control an orientation of the content displayed on the display screen;

wherein the orientation of the content displayed on the display screen is configurable among a plurality of orientations relative to the longitudinal axis.

14. The portable computer of claim 13, wherein the plurality of orientations comprises a first orientation relative to the longitudinal axis and a second orientation relative to the longitudinal axis;

and

wherein when display orientation module is configured to automatically display the content in the first orientation when the portable computer is configured into the laptop mode and in the second orientation when the portable computer is configured into the easel mode.

15. The portable computer of claim 14, wherein the second orientation is 180 degrees relative to the first orientation;

and

wherein the plurality of orientations further comprises a third orientation relative to the longitudinal axis, the third orientation, wherein the third orientation is 90 degrees relative to the first orientation.

16. The portable computer of claim 13, further comprising a mode sensor configured to provide information representative of a degree of rotation of the single display component relative to the base;

and

wherein the display orientation module is configured to automatically adjust the orientation of the content displayed on the display screen responsive to the information from the mode sensor.

20. The portable computer of claim 14, wherein the second orientation is 180 degrees relative to the first orientation.

24. The portable computer of claim 12, wherein the plurality of modes includes a frame mode in which the single display component is oriented towards the operator, the base contacts a substantially horizontal surface, and the keyboard is directed towards the substantially horizontal surface.

25. The portable computer of claim 13, wherein the plurality of modes includes a frame mode in which the single display component is oriented towards the operator, the base contacts a substantially horizontal surface, and the keyboard is directed towards the substantially horizontal surface, and wherein the plurality of orientations comprises a first orientation relative to the longitudinal axis and a second orientation relative to the longitudinal axis;

and

wherein when display orientation module is configured to display the content in the first orientation when the portable computer is configured into the laptop mode and frame mode and in the second orientation when the portable computer is configured into the easel mode.

26. The portable computer of claim 24, further comprising a protection module configured to prevent keyboard operation when the portable computer is configured in the frame mode.

17. A method of automatically orienting content in a plurality of display modes displayed on a portable computer comprising a body, the body having a single display component including a display screen and a base including an integrated keyboard, the method comprising:

rotating the single display component of the portable computer about a longitudinal axis running along an interface between the single display component and the base of the portable computer;

detecting a degree of rotation of the single display component relative to the base;

providing a signal representative of the degree of rotation of the single display component;

comparing the degree of rotation with respect to a threshold degree of rotation;

determining a display mode based, at least in part, on the act of comparing the degree of rotation with respect to the threshold degree of rotation;

generating a visual display of the content for the display screen;

orienting the visual display shown on the display screen of the single display component towards an operator for operation of the portable computer in each of the plurality of display modes, wherein the plurality of display modes includes a laptop mode with the integrated keyboard and display oriented towards the operation and an easel mode with the display oriented towards the operator and the keyboard oriented away from the operator; and

automatically configuring a content orientation, relative to the longitudinal axis, of the visual display on the display screen of the portable computer responsive to the signal and the determined display mode, wherein the act of automatically configuring includes acts of;

displaying the visual display in a first content orientation of the content for the degree of rotation that is less than the threshold degree of rotation and the portable computer is determined to be configured in the laptop mode, and

displaying the visual display in a second content orientation of the content for the degree of rotation that is greater than the threshold degree of rotation and the portable computer is determined to be configured in the easel mode, the second content orientation being at 180 degrees relative to the first orientation.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein automatically configuring the orientation of the content includes:

displaying the visual display of the content in the first content orientation relative to the longitudinal axis responsive to the signal indicating that the degree of rotation of the single display component is less than the threshold degree of rotation of approximately 180 degrees relative to the base; and

displaying the visual display of the content in the second content orientation relative to the longitudinal axis responsive to the signal indicating that the degree of rotation of the single display component is greater than the threshold degree of rotation of approximately 180 degrees relative to the base.

21. The portable computer of claim 18, wherein the orientation sensor includes an accelerometer.

22. The portable computer of claim 21, the orientation sensor is configured to detect an angle of the base relative to the display unit.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of display modes includes a frame mode wherein in the frame mode the display component is oriented towards the operator, the base contacts a substantially horizontal surface, and the integrated keyboard is directed towards the substantially horizontal surface and the act of automatically configuring includes an act of:

displaying the visual display in the first content orientation of the content for the degree of rotation that is greater than the threshold degree of rotation and the portable computer is determined to be configured in the frame mode.

28. The method of claim 17, further comprising an act of deactivating keyboard operation when the portable computer is configured in the frame mode.

19. A portable computer comprising:

a base unit comprising an integrated keyboard;

a single display unit including a single display screen configured to display content;

an orientation sensor which detects a physical orientation of the single display unit relative to the base unit; and

a display orientation module which orients the content displayed on the single display screen responsive to the physical orientation detected by the orientation sensor between at least a first content display orientation and a second content display orientation, the second content display orientation being 180 degrees relative to the first content display orientation;

wherein the display orientation module is further configured to detect a change between a laptop mode, an easel mode, and a frame mode based on the detected physical orientation of the single display unit relative to the base unit, and wherein the display orientation module is further configured to;

trigger a display inversion from one of the first and second content display orientations to the other of the first and second content display orientations responsive to the orientation sensor detecting the change between the laptop mode and the easel mode,

trigger a display inversion from one of the first and second content display orientations to the other of the first and second content display orientations responsive to the orientation sensor detecting the change between the easel mode and the frame mode.

29. A method of managing user interaction with content displayed on a portable computer having a plurality of display modes, the portable computer comprising a body, the body having:

a single display component including a display screen, a base including a keyboard, and a hinge assembly, the method comprising;

manipulating a physical configuration of the single display component relative to the base to transition the portable computer between a plurality of display modes, wherein the act of manipulating includes an act of rotating the single display component of the portable computer about a longitudinal axis running along an interface between the single display component and the base of the body of the portable computer to transition the portable computer to transition the portable computer between the plurality of display modes, including a laptop mode and an easel mode;

wherein the plurality of modes includes at least the laptop mode wherein the single display component and the keyboard are oriented towards an operator and the easel mode wherein the single display component is oriented towards an operator and the keyboard is oriented away from the operator;

determining a display mode responsive to the physical configuration of the single display component relative to the base;

configuring a content orientation, relative to the longitudinal axis, of a visual display on the display screen of the single display component responsive to the display mode, wherein configuring the content orientation includes;

displaying the visual display in a first content orientation of the content for the laptop mode, and

displaying the visual display in a second content orientation for the easel mode, the second content orientation being at 180 degrees relative to the first orientation.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the plurality of display modes includes a frame mode and the act of manipulating the physical configuration of the single display component to transition the portable computer between a plurality of display modes includes an act of orienting the single display component towards the operator, placing the base against a substantially horizontal surface, and orienting the keyboard towards the substantially horizontal surface to transition the portable computer into the frame mode.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the act of configuring the content orientation includes an act of displaying the visual display in the first content orientation of the content for the frame mode.

32. The method according to claim 30, further comprising an act of deactivating keyboard operation when the portable computer is configured in the frame mode.