Multi-panel device with configurable interface

• US 8,836,611 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2009
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Kilpatrick, Thomas E. II, Lundgren, Steven J., Rhine, Jeffrey Jay, Dahl, Sten Jorgen Ludvig, Johnson, Gregg A, Ervin, Daniel R, Bahnemann, David M
• Primary Examiner(s): Edun, Muhammad N
• Application Number:
  US12/553,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20100079355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,839 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/1.3
• 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 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1649 the additional display being independently orientable, e.g. for presenting information to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• 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 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1635 Stackable modules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0247 comprising more than two body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

A multi-panel device is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the device includes a first hinge coupled to a first panel and coupled to a second panel. The first panel includes a first display surface and the second panel includes a second display surface. The second hinge is coupled to the second panel and coupled to a third panel that includes a third display surface. The device also includes a sensor coupled to the first hinge to detect a relative orientation of the first panel to the second panel. The device includes a processor responsive to the sensor to detect a device configuration. The processor is configured to adjust a user interface displayed at the first display surface, the second display surface, and the third display surface based on the detected device configuration.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a first hinge coupled to a first panel and coupled to a second panel, wherein the first panel includes a first display surface and wherein the second panel includes a second display surface;

a second hinge coupled to the second panel and coupled to a third panel that includes a third display surface;

a sensor coupled to the first hinge to detect a relative orientation of the first panel to the second panel; and

a processor responsive to the sensor to detect a device configuration, the processor configured to adjust a user interface displayed at the first display surface, the second display surface, and the third display surface based on the detected device configuration;

wherein the processor is further configured to execute a software application having at least three predetermined operating modes corresponding to at least three predetermined device configurations, and wherein the processor is adapted to adjust an operating mode of the software application based on the detected device configuration when the detected device configuration is one of the at least three predetermined devices configurations.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first hinge is detented to enable a stable extended configuration, a stable folded configuration, and a stable intermediate configuration of the first panel relative to the second panel.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the second hinge is detented to enable a stable extended configuration, a stable folded configuration, and a stable intermediate configuration of the second panel relative to the third panel.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the first hinge is ball detented.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the first hinge is spring-biased to enable separation of the panels during repositioning of the first panel and the second panel from a first configuration to a second configuration and to reduce a gap between the first panel and the second panel when the device is in the second configuration.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a Hall sensor, an optical sensor, or an inductive sensor.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second sensor coupled to the second hinge to detect a relative orientation of the second panel to the third panel, wherein the processor is further responsive to the second sensor to detect the device configuration.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein in the detected device configuration the first display surface, the second display surface, and the third display surface are configured to emulate a single screen having a landscape orientation.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein in the detected device configuration the first display surface is active, the second display surface is inactive, and the third display surface is inactive.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein in the detected device configuration a keyboard is displayed at the third display surface and the first display surface and the second display surface are configured to emulate a single screen having a portrait orientation.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable code that, when executed, cause one or more processors to:

detect a device configuration responsive to a first sensor and a second sensor of a device, the device comprising;

a first hinge coupled to a first panel and coupled to a second panel, wherein the first panel includes a first display surface and the second panel includes a second display surface;

a second hinge coupled to the second panel and coupled to a third panel, the third panel including a third display surface;

the first sensor coupled to the first hinge to detect a first relative orientation of the first panel to the second panel; and

the second sensor coupled to the second hinge to detect a second relative orientation of the second panel to the third panel;

adjust a user interface displayed at the first display surface, the second display surface, and the third display surface based on the detected device configuration;

execute a software application having at least three predetermined operating modes corresponding to at least three predetermined device configurations; and

adjust an operating mode of the software application based on the detected device configuration when the detected device configuration is one of the at least three predetermined devices configurations.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein in the detected device configuration, the first display surface, the second display surface, and the third display surface are configured to emulate a single screen in a landscape orientation.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein in the detected device configuration, the first display surface is active, the second display surface is inactive, and the third display surface is inactive.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein in the detected device configuration, a keyboard is displayed at the third display surface, wherein the first display surface and the second display surface are configured to emulate a single screen having a portrait orientation.

15. An apparatus comprising:

means for rotatably coupling a first panel to a second panel, wherein the first panel includes a first display surface and wherein the second panel includes a second display surface;

means for rotatably coupling the second panel to a third panel, the third panel including a third display surface;

means for detecting a relative orientation of the first panel to the second panel;

means for detecting a device configuration responsive to the detected relative orientation of the first panel to the second panel;

means for adjusting a user interface displayed at the first display surface, the second display surface, and the third display surface based on the detected device configuration; and

means for executing a software application having at least three predetermined operating modes corresponding to at least three predetermined device configurations; and

means for adjusting an operating mode of the software application based on the detected device configuration when the detected device configuration is one of the at least three predetermined devices configurations.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for rotatably coupling the first panel to the second panel comprises a detented hinge.

17. A method comprising:

detecting a device configuration responsive to a sensor of a device, the device comprising;

a first hinge coupled to a first panel and coupled to a second panel, wherein the first panel includes a first display surface and wherein the second panel includes a second display surface;

a second hinge coupled to the second panel and coupled to a third panel that includes a third display surface; and

the sensor coupled to the first hinge to detect a relative orientation of the first panel to the second panel;

modifying a user interface displayed at the first display surface, the second display surface, and the third display surface based on the detected device configuration; and

executing a software application having at least three predetermined operating modes corresponding to at least three predetermined device configurations and adjusting an operating mode of the software application based on the detected device configuration when the detected device configuration is one of the at least three predetermined devices configurations.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein modifying the user interface further comprises configuring the first display surface, the second display surface, and the third display surface to emulate a single screen having a landscape orientation.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein modifying the user interface further comprises configuring the first display surface to be active, the second display surface to be inactive, and the third display surface to be inactive.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein modifying the user interface further comprises configuring the third display surface to display a keyboard and configuring the first display surface and the second display surface to emulate a single screen having a portrait orientation.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the relative orientation of the first panel to the second panel by detecting an amount of rotation of a coupling member of the first hinge.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the amount of rotation corresponds to a first pivot member or a second pivot member of the first hinge.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the relative orientation of the first panel to the second panel by detecting an amount of rotation of the first panel relative to gravitational force.