Portable electronic devices with adjustable display orientation

• US 8,355,031 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2009
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Global Communications, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hinterberger, David, Fallows, Matthew R., Dobri, Tibor
• Primary Examiner(s): HARRISON, CHANTE E
• Application Number:
  US12/405,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20100238196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 345/650, 345/156, 345/649, 345657-659, 345/654, 715/864, 715/866, 455/556.2, 455/557, 361/679.03, 361/679.26
• US Class Current: 345/659
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0492 Change of orientation of the displayed image, e.g. upside-down, mirrored
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers

Abstract

A portable electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a device body having at least one accessory interface and at least one display device positioned on a surface of the device body. The electronic device also includes a display driver device communicatively coupled to the display device and configured for receiving data for presentation on the display device and generating signals for causing the data to be presented on the display device. In the electronic device, the display driver device selects one orientation from a plurality of pre-defined orientations for the data on the display device based at least on a current orientation of the device body and a status of the accessory interface.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a device body having at least one accessory interface;

at least a first display device on a first exterior surface of the device body;

at least a second display device on a second exterior surface of the device body which is adjacent to said first exterior surface and is oriented transverse to said first exterior surface;

a display driver device communicatively coupled to the second display device and configured for receiving data for presentation on said second display device and generating signals for causing the data to be presented on the second display device and

at least a first accessory detection device comprising at least one accessory sensor, said first accessory detection device being communicatively coupled to said display driver device and said accessory interface;

at least a second accessory detection device communicatively coupled to said display driver device;

wherein said first accessory detection device is configured for generating a first presence signal exclusively indicating the presence or absence of a first particular accessory coupled to said accessory interface;

wherein said second accessory detection device is configured for generating a second presence signal indicating the presence or absence of a second particular accessory which is being used with said portable electronic device;

wherein said display driver device is configured to select one orientation from a plurality of pre-defined orientations for said data on said second display device based at least on a current orientation of said device body, said first presence signal, and said second presence signal.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein responsive to said first presence signal, indicating the presence of said first particular accessory currently coupled to said accessory interface, and said second presence signal indicating the presence of said second particular accessory, said display driver is configured to select said one orientation associated with said first and second particular accessories.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein responsive to said first presence signal indicating the presence of said first particular accessory currently coupled to said accessory device, and said second presence signal indicating the presence of said second particular accessory, said display driver device is configured to determine a type of said first and second particular accessory, and to select said one orientation associated with said accessory types.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 3, wherein said accessory sensor comprises at least one electrical load device associated with said currently coupled first particular accessory, said electrical load device and said first particular accessory configured to interact to cause at least one electrical parameter of said electrical load device to vary in response to said first particular accessory being coupled to said accessory interface.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 3, wherein said first accessory detection device comprises at least one switch associated with said currently coupled first particular accessory, said switch configured to change from a first state to a second state in response to said first particular accessory being coupled to said accessory interface.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein responsive to said first presence signal indicating the absence of an accessory at said accessory interface, said display driver selects said one orientation associated with said current orientation of said device body.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising at least one position detection device for determining said current orientation of said device body.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 7, wherein said position detection device comprises at least one accelerometer device.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said display driver device is further configured for receiving at least one user-defined signal, said display driver device configured to select a default orientation associated with said user-defined signal irrespective of said current orientation and said first and second presence signals.

10. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second particular accessories include a device holster and a speaker/microphone headset.

11. A method for operating a portable electronic device comprising a device body having at least one accessory interface, a first display device positioned on an first exterior of the device body, a second display device positioned on a second exterior surface of the device body which is adjacent to said first exterior surface and is oriented transverse to said first exterior surface, a display driver device communicatively coupled to the second display device and configured for receiving data for presentation on said second display device and generating signals for causing the data to be presented on the second display device, at least a first accessory detection device comprising at least one accessory sensor, said accessory detection device being communicatively coupled to said display driver device and said accessory interface, and at least a second accessory detection device communicatively coupled to said display driver device, the method comprising:

ascertaining a current orientation of said device body;

generating, in the first accessory detection device, a first presence signal exclusively indicating the presence or absence of a first particular accessory coupled to said accessory interface;

generating in the second accessory detection device a second presence signal indicating the presence or absence of a second particular accessory which is being used with said portable electronic device; and

selecting one orientation from a plurality of pre-defined orientations for said data on said second display device based on a current orientation of said device body, said first presence signal and said second presence signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein responsive to said first presence signal indicating the presence of said first particular accessory currently coupled to said accessory interface, and said second presence signal indicating the presence of said second particular accessory, said selecting further comprises selecting said one orientation associated with said currently coupled first particular accessory and said second particular accessory.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said first presence signal generating step further comprises:

monitoring at least one electrical parameter of at least one electrical load device in said device body configured to vary in response to said first particular accessory being coupled to said accessory interface; and

providing signals indicating the presence of said first particular accessory in response to said change in said electrical parameter.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said first presence signal generating step further comprises:

monitoring a current state of at least one switch configured to change from a first state to a second state in response to said first particular accessory being coupled to said accessory interface; and

providing signals indicating the presence of said first particular accessory in response to said current state changing from said first state to said second state.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein responsive to said first presence signal indicating the absence of said first particular accessory at said accessory interface, and said second presence signal indicating the absence of said second particular accessory, said selecting further comprises selecting said one orientation associated with said current orientation of said device body.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising monitoring for a user-defined signal, and wherein said selecting further comprises selecting a default orientation associated with said user-defined signal irrespective of said current orientation and said first and second presence signal in response to said user-defined signal.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein said first and second particular accessories are selected to include a device holster and a speaker/microphone headset.

18. A portable communications device, comprising:

a device body having at least one accessory interface;

a first display device positioned on a first surface of the device body;

a second display device positioned on a second surface of the device body, said first surface adjacent to and transverse to said second surfaces;

a display driver device communicatively coupled to the second display device and configured for receiving data for presentation on said second display and generating signals for causing the data to be presented on the second display;

at least one electrical load device communicatively coupled to said display driver device and said accessory interface, said electrical load device configured for generating a first presence signal exclusively indicating the presence or absence of a first particular accessory coupled to said accessory interface;

an accessory detection device communicatively coupled to said display driver device configured for generating a second presence signal indicating the presence or absence of a second particular accessory which is being used with said portable communication device; and

at least one accelerometer device disposed within said device body and communicatively coupled to said display driver, said accelerometer device configured for providing at least one position signal indicative of an current orientation of said device body,

wherein said display driver device selects one orientation from a plurality of pre-defined orientations for said data on said second display device based at least on a current orientation of said device body, said first presence signal, and said second presence signal.

19. The communications device of claim 18, wherein responsive to said first presence signal indicating the presence of at least one accessory currently coupled to said accessory interface, said display driver selects said one orientation associated with said currently coupled first particular accessory irrespective of said position signal.

20. The communications device of claim 18, wherein responsive to said first presence signal indicating the absence of said first particular accessory at said accessory interface, said display driver selects said one orientation associated with said position signal.

21. The communications device of claim 18, wherein at least one electrical parameter of said electrical load device is configured to change in response to an associated first particular accessory being currently coupled to said accessory interface, and said display driver selects said one orientation associated with said first particular accessory.

22. The communications device of claim 18, further comprising at least one user interface for providing at least one user-defined signal to said display driver, said display driver configured to select a default orientation associated with said user-defined signal irrespective of said current orientation and said status of said accessory interface.

23. The portable communications device according to claim 18, wherein said first and second particular accessories include a device holster and a speaker/microphone.