Multi-panel electronic device

• US 8,863,038 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: King, Bennett M., Kaleas, Dimosthenis, Dahl, Sten Jorgen Ludvig, Charlebois, Mark A., Daley, Robert S., Kilpatrick, Thomas E. II
• Primary Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US12/553,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20110126141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,867 Days
• Field of Search: 715/702, 715/748, 715/764, 715/765, 715/769, 715/781, 715/804, 715/810, 715/835, 715/838, 715/863, 715/864, 345/156, 345/169, 345/173
• US Class Current: 715/863
• 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 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• 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 telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable storage media for displaying an image at an electronic device are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, an electronic device is disclosed that includes a first panel having a first display surface to display a graphical user interface element associated with an application. The electronic device also includes a second panel having a second display surface. The first display surface is separated from the second display surface by a gap. A processor is configured to execute program code including a graphical user interface. The processor is configured to launch or close the application in response to user input causing a movement of the graphical user interface element in relation to the gap.

Claims

1. A method for displaying an image, the method comprising:

receiving a user input to move an application icon at a first display surface of an electronic device, the electronic device further including a second display surface that is separated from the first display surface by a gap;

determining that the application icon is to be moved beyond an edge of the first display surface into the gap based on the user input;

launching an application associated with the application icon in response to the application icon being moved beyond the edge of the first display; and

displaying at least a portion of a user interface for the application associated with the application icon at the second display surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input includes a drag operation of the application icon at a touch screen at the first display surface.

3. A method for displaying an image, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of application icons at a first display surface of an electronic device and displaying an application interface window for an application at a second display surface of the electronic device, wherein the first display surface is separated from the second display surface by a gap;

receiving a user input to move at least a portion of the application interface window at the second display surface;

determining that the at least a portion of the application interface window is to be moved beyond an edge of the second display surface into the gap based on the user input; and

closing the application interface window in response to at least the portion of the application interface window being moved beyond the edge of the second display surface.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying an application icon associated with the application at the first display surface in response to the portion of the application interface window being moved beyond the edge of the second display surface.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising closing the application in response to the portion of the application interface window being moved beyond the edge of the second display surface.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the user input includes a drag operation of at least a portion of the application interface window at a touch screen at the second display surface.

7. An electronic device comprising:

a first panel having a first display surface to display a graphical user interface element associated with an application;

a second panel having a second display surface, wherein the first display surface is separated from the second display surface by a gap; and

a processor configured to execute program code including a graphical user interface, wherein the processor is configured to launch or close the application in response to user input causing a movement of the graphical user interface element in relation to the gap.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the user input includes a drag operation of the graphical user interface element.

9. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the graphical user interface element includes at least one of an application icon and an application interface window.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the graphical user interface element is a browser icon.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first panel is coupled to the second panel.

12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first display surface is a touch screen display.

13. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program code to determine at least one of a size and a position of the gap.

14. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program code to determine a position of the graphical user interface element relative to the gap.

15. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the graphical user interface element is an application interface window and the processor is further configured to execute the program code to initiate closing the application in response to the user input.

16. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the graphical user interface element is an application icon and the processor is further configured to execute the program code to initiate launching the application in response to the user input.

17. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the movement includes a movement of the graphical user interface element to a position proximate the gap.

18. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the movement includes a movement of the graphical user interface element in a direction towards the gap.

19. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to display an application icon associated with the application at the first display surface in response to the movement of the graphical user interface element beyond an edge of the second display surface.

20. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to close the application in response to the movement of the graphical user interface element beyond an edge of the second display surface.

21. An apparatus comprising:

means for presenting images on a first display surface, wherein the first display surface includes a graphical user interface that includes a graphical user interface element associated with an application;

means for presenting images on a second display surface, wherein the first display surface is separated from the second display surface by a gap;

means for determining a movement of the graphical user interface element relative to the gap; and

means for initiating an action associated with the application in response to the determined movement.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the graphical user interface element is one of a plurality of graphical user interface elements displayed on the first display surface.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the action includes at least one of launching and closing the application.

24. A computer readable medium storing computer executable code comprising:

code for presenting images on a first display surface, wherein the first display surface includes a graphical user interface that includes a graphical user interface element associated with an application;

code for presenting images on a second display surface, wherein the first display surface is separated from the second display surface by a gap;

code for determining a movement of the graphical user interface element relative to the gap; and

code for initiating an action associated with the application in response to the determined movement.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the graphical user interface element is at least one of an application icon and an application interface window.