Multi-panel device with configurable interface

• US 8,860,632 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2009
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Kilpatrick, Thomas E. II, Ervin, Daniel R, Johnson, Gregg A, Dahl, Sten Jorgen Ludvig, Rhine, Jeffrey Jay, Bahnemann, Dave M, Lundgren, Steven J
• Primary Examiner(s): Edun, Muhammad N
• Application Number:
  US12/553,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20100085274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,867 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 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/026 Video wall, i.e. juxtaposition of a plurality of screens to create a display screen of bigger dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0492 Change of orientation of the displayed image, e.g. upside-down, mirrored
• 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 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

A multi-panel device with a configurable interface is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the device includes a hinge rotatably coupled to a first panel of the device via a first pin and rotatably coupled to a second panel of the device via a second pin. The first pin is engaged within a slot of the first panel to enable a lateral movement of the first panel relative to the second panel such that the first panel has a first range of motion relative to the second panel when the hinge is in an extended configuration and a second range of motion when the hinge is in a retracted configuration. The first range of motion is larger than the second range of motion.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a first panel comprising a first display surface;

a second panel comprising a second display surface;

a hinge comprising;

a coupling member coupled to a first pin and a second pin, and

an elongated slot in the first panel, the slot having a first end and a second end;

wherein the hinge is rotatably coupled to the first panel of the device via the first pin and rotatably coupled to the second panel of the device via the second pin;

wherein the first pin is engaged within the elongated slot to enable a lateral movement of the first panel relative to the second panel such that the first panel has a first range of motion relative to the second panel when the hinge is in an extended configuration, wherein in the extended configuration the first pin is at the first end of the elongated slot;

wherein the first panel has a second range of motion relative to the second panel when the hinge is in a retracted configuration, wherein in the retracted configuration the first pin is at the second end of the slot and the coupling member is received by an extended recessed portion of a first cavity within the first panel; and

wherein the first range of motion is larger than the second range of motion.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the hinge is recessed in the first panel and a second portion of the hinge is recessed in the second panel.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first panel is rotatably coupled to the second panel along a first hinged edge of the second panel, and wherein a third panel comprising a third display surface is rotatably coupled to the second panel along a second hinged edge of the second panel.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the hinge further comprises:

the coupling member coupled to the first pin and coupled to the second pin, wherein the first panel defines a first aperture, wherein the first aperture is dimensioned to receive at least a first portion of the coupling member, wherein the second panel defines a second aperture, wherein the second aperture is dimensioned to receive at least a second portion of the coupling member.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the hinge is in the retracted configuration when the first panel and the second panel form a fully folded device configuration.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the hinge is in the extended configuration when the first panel and the second panel form a fully extended device configuration, wherein the first display surface of the first panel and the second display surface of the second display panel are substantially coplanar in the fully extended device configuration.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the hinge is detented to enable the first panel and the second panel to be held by the detented hinge in one or more configurations.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the hinge is ball detented.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the hinge has one or more intermediate stops between the extended configuration and the retracted configuration.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor coupled to the hinge to detect a relative orientation of the first panel to the second panel.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the sensor is integrated into the hinge.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the sensor is external to the hinge.

13. A foldable electronic device having a plurality of movable panels, the device comprising:

a coupling member coupled to a first pivot member and coupled to a second pivot member;

a first panel defining a first aperture, wherein the first aperture is dimensioned to receive at least a first portion of the coupling member;

a second panel defining a second aperture, wherein the second aperture is dimensioned to receive at least a second portion of the coupling member; and

wherein at least one of the first pivot member and the second pivot member is engaged in an elongated slot such that a first range of motion of the first panel with respect to the second panel when the at least one of the first pivot member and the second pivot member is at a first end of the slot is greater than a second range of motion of the first panel with respect to the second panel when the at least one of the first pivot member and the second pivot member is at a second end of the slot.

14. The foldable electronic device of claim 13, further comprising a sensor coupled to detect a relative orientation of the first panel to the second panel.

15. The foldable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a Hall sensor, an optical sensor, or an inductive sensor.

16. The foldable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the sensor comprises one or more electrodes, one or more pressure sensors, or a combination of electrodes and pressure sensors.

17. The foldable electronic device of claim 14, 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 coupling member.

18. The foldable electronic device of claim 14, 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 one of the first pivot member or the second pivot member.

19. The foldable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the relative orientation of the first panel to the second panel by detecting an amount of rotation relative to a direction of gravitational force.

20. The foldable electronic device of claim 13, further comprising one or more detents to enable a stable extended configuration, a stable folded configuration, and a stable intermediate configuration of the first panel relative to the second panel.

21. The foldable electronic device of claim 13, wherein the hinge mechanism 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 after the repositioning.

22. The foldable electronic device of claim 13, further comprising an angle stop configured to hold the first panel stationary and at a predetermined angle with respect to the second panel.

23. A foldable electronic device having a plurality of movable panels, the device comprising:

a first display panel;

a second display panel; and

means for rotatably coupling the first display panel to the second display panel via a first pin and a second pin, wherein the first pin is engaged within an elongated slot to enable a lateral movement of the first display panel relative to the second display panel, wherein the first display panel has a first range of motion relative to the second display panel when the first pin is at a first end of the slot and a second range of motion when the first pin is at a second end of the slot, wherein the first range of motion is larger than the second range of motion.

24. The foldable electronic device of claim 23, further comprising means for detecting a relative orientation of the first display panel to the second display panel.