Electronic compensated pivot control

• US 9,035,742 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2011
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Rihn, Bernard K., Geiger, Avi R., Hill, Andrew W., Gault, Joseph B., Klein, Stephen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, An T
• Application Number:
  US13/312,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20130141209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: 248917-923, 361/679.06, 361/679.07, 361/679.21, 361/679.27, 361/679.28, 361/679.29, 361/679.44, 361/681, 700/275, 700/279, 340/4.3, 318/51, 318/53, 318/610, 318/3, 318/4, 318/5, 318/432, 318/434, 318/400.37, 318/400.38, 318/400.39, 318/400.4
• US Class Current: 340/4.3
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 3/00 Control of position or direction G05D1/00 takes precedence; numerical control to execute positioning G05B19/18
• 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 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• 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: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support

Abstract

In embodiments of electronic compensated pivot control, a computing device includes a device housing that is integrated with a display device, and the device housing tilts for multiple display positions. Pivotable components pivot in coordination to position the device housing in a display position, and sensors detect positioning inputs that are received to re-position the device housing of the computing device. Actuators are implemented for electronic actuation to limit movement of the pivotable components, and alternatively, to drive the pivotable components to re-position the device housing. A pivot controller is implemented to control the actuators based on sensor data to position the device housing in a display position.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

a device housing integrated with a display device and configured to tilt for multiple display positions;

pivotable components configured to pivot in coordination to position the device housing in a display position;

sensors configured to detect positioning inputs that are received to position the device housing;

actuators configured for electronic actuation to one of limit movement of the pivotable components, or drive the pivotable components to position the device housing, each actuator being operable independent of the other actuators; and

a pivot controller configured to control the actuators based on sensor data and control the pivotable components at multiple pivot points to counter-balance varying centers-of-mass of the computing device over a range of the multiple display positions to minimize a user input force that is applied to position the device housing in the display position.

2. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the pivot controller is configured to coordinate one or more of the pivotable components moving together to position the device housing.

3. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensors comprise torque sensors configured to detect torque forces in device axes, the torque forces detected as the user input force imparted position the device housing.

4. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensors comprise pressure sensors integrated with device supports, the pressure sensors configured to detect pressure forces as the user input force imparted to position the device housing.

5. A computing device as recited in claim 4, further comprising a device base coupled to support the device housing, and wherein the device supports are integrated into the device base to support the computing device when placed on a surface.

6. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the pivot controller is further configured to electronically-control the counter-balance of the varying centers-of-mass of the computing device over the range of the multiple display positions.

7. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the pivot controller is further configured to utilize a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control feedback to counter-balance the varying centers-of-mass of the computing device to minimize the user input force that is applied to position the device housing.

19. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the pivot controller is configured to control the actuators by electronically-actuating one or more of the actuators to drive at least one of the pivotable components to provide the counter-balance based on the sensor data received responsive to the user input force imparted to position the device housing in the display position.

20. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the pivot controller is further configured to determine an unstable position of the device housing and initiate activation of one or more of the actuators to re-position the device housing in a stable display position.

8. A method, comprising:

detecting with sensors, positioning inputs received as a user input force imparted to position a display device to one of multiple display positions;

pivoting electronically-controlled pivotable components in coordination to position the display device in the display position;

controlling actuators of the pivotable components based on sensor data received to position the display device in the display position, the actuators configured for electronic actuation to one of limit movement of the pivotable components, or drive the pivotable components to position the display device in the display position, each actuator operating independent of the other actuators; and

controlling the pivotable components at multiple pivot points to counter-balance varying centers-of-mass of the display device over a range of the multiple display positions to minimize the user input force.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the positioning inputs are detected with pressure sensors that detect pressure forces as the user input force to position the display device, the pressure sensors included with device supports integrated in a device base coupled to support the device housing.

10. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the positioning inputs are detected with torque sensors that detect torque forces in device axes, the torque forces detected as the user input force to position the display device.

11. A method as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

determining the user input force to position the display device based on the sensor data.

12. A method as recited in claim 8, further comprising electronically controlling the counter-balance of the varying centers-of-mass of the display device over the range of the multiple display positions.

13. A method as recited in claim 8, further comprising utilizing a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control feedback to counter-balance the varying centers-of-mass of the display device to minimize the user input force that is applied to position the display device.

14. An electronic compensated pivot control system, comprising:

pivotable components configured to pivot in coordination to position a display device in one of multiple display positions;

actuators configured for electronic actuation to one of limit movement of the pivotable components, or drive the pivotable components to position the display device, each actuator being operable independent of the other actuators;

a pivot controller configured to;

control the actuators based on at least one of pressure sensor data or torque sensor data to position the display device in a display position; and

control the pivotable components at multiple pivot points to counter-balance varying centers-of-mass of the display device over a range of the multiple display positions to minimize a user input force that is applied to position the display device.

15. An electronic compensated pivot control system as recited in claim 14, wherein the pivot controller is configured to receive the torque sensor data from torque sensors that detect torque forces in device axes, the torque forces detected as the user input force imparted to position the display device.

16. An electronic compensated pivot control system as recited in claim 14, wherein the pivot controller is configured to receive the pressure sensor data from pressure sensors that are integrated with device supports, the pressure sensors configured to detect pressure forces as the user input force imparted to position the display device.

17. An electronic compensated pivot control system as recited in claim 16, wherein the display device includes a device base coupled to support the display device, and wherein the device supports are integrated into the device base to support the display device when placed on a surface.

18. An electronic compensated pivot control system as recited in claim 14, wherein the pivot controller is further configured to utilize a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control feedback to counter-balance the varying centers-of-mass of the display device to minimize the user input force that is applied to position the display device.