Mobile computer device binding feedback

• US 9,477,268 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2015
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Miller, Michael C., Parks, Gregory H., Fuller, Andrew J., Dodge, Steven P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bukowski, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US14/935,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20160116946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• 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 1/1679 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 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

In embodiments of mobile computer device binding feedback, an application interface for a device application is displayed on a first display that is integrated in a dual-display mobile device. The application interface can also be displayed on a second display that is integrated in the dual-display mobile device. Binding position data is received from a binding system that movably couples the first display to the second display. Application context data that is associated with the device application is also received. Feedback can then be generated based on the binding position data and the application context data, where the feedback can be generated as audio feedback, video feedback, display feedback, and/or haptic feedback.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving binding position data from a binding system that movably couples a first display to a second display integrated in a dual-display mobile device;

generating feedback based on the binding position data and application context data associated with a device application; and

changing movement resistance of the binding system by adjusting an internal electromechanical drive mechanism as at least part of the generated feedback when an angle between the first display and the second display is changed.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

displaying at least one of an application user interface of the device application on the first display and an additional application user interface on the second display.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising changing rates and intensity of vibration of the generated feedback that also includes at least one of audio feedback, video feedback, or display feedback to indicate approaching a display posture.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving device setting data of the dual-display mobile device, and wherein the feedback is further generated based on the device setting data.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising locking the binding system as the generated feedback to hold the first display and the second display in a secure posture.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

stiffening the binding system to hold the first display and the second display in a display posture; and

releasing the binding system to allow movement of the first display relative to the second display.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising simulating detents of the binding system as at least part of the generated feedback to indicate the display posture in which to position the first display and the second display, the detents being simulated as at least one of physical impulses or aural clicks of the binding system to indicate acquisition during movement of the display posture.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the generated feedback indicates the display posture in which to position the first display and the second display.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving binding position data from a binding system that movably couples a first display device to at least a second display device integrated in a mobile device;

generating user feedback based on a position of the first display device with reference to the second display device as determined from the binding position data; and

changing movement resistance of the binding system by adjusting an internal electromechanical drive mechanism as at least part of the generated feedback when an angle between the first display device and the second display device is changed.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising changing rates and intensity of vibration of the generated user feedback that also includes at least one of audio feedback, video feedback, or display feedback to indicate approaching a display posture.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the user feedback is further generated based on device setting data of the mobile device.

12. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising locking the binding system as the generated user feedback to hold the first display device and the second display device in a secure posture.

13. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

stiffening the binding system of the mobile device to hold the first display device and the second display device in a display posture; and

releasing the binding system to allow movement of the first display device relative to the second display device.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising simulating detents of the binding system as at least part of the generated user feedback to indicate the display posture in which to position the first display device and the second display device, the detents simulated as at least one of physical impulses or aural clicks of the binding system to indicate acquisition during movement of the display posture.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising indicating the display posture in which to position the first display device and the second display device.

16. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a first display that is integrated in a first housing of the mobile computing device;

a second display that is integrated in a second housing of the mobile computing device;

a binding system that movably couples the first housing and the second housing, the binding system including an internal electromechanical drive mechanism to position the first housing in one of multiple display postures with respect to the second housing;

a binding sensor configured to generate binding position data that indicates a position angle between the first housing and the second housing; and

a position controller configured to receive the binding position data from the binding sensor and initiate feedback that correlates to the binding position data, the feedback including adjusting the internal electromechanical drive mechanism effective to change resistance of motion within a range of motion of the binding system.

17. The mobile computing device as recited in claim 16, wherein the feedback indicates a book display posture when a graphical interface is displayed in a portrait display mode and the binding position data indicates the position angle is less than one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°

) between the first housing and the second housing.

18. The mobile computing device as recited in claim 16, wherein the feedback indicates a surface display posture when the binding position data indicates the position angle is approximately one-hundred and eighty degrees)(180°

) between the first housing and the second housing.

19. The mobile computing device as recited in claim 16, wherein the feedback indicates a presentation display posture when the first housing and the second housing face in approximate opposing directions, and when the binding position data indicates the position angle between the first housing and the second housing is greater than one-hundred and eighty degrees)(180°

) and less than three-hundred and sixty degrees (360°

).

20. The mobile computing device as recited in claim 16, wherein the feedback indicates a tablet display posture when the binding position data indicates:

the position angle is approximately three-hundred and sixty degrees)(360°

) between the first housing and the second housing, wherein the first housing is folded onto the second housing back-to-back;

or

multiple angles that include a first angle of approximately zero (0°

) or three-hundred and sixty degrees)(360°

) and a perpendicular second angle of approximately one-hundred and eighty degrees)(180°

) between the first housing and the second housing, wherein the first housing is folded onto the second housing back-to-front.