Multi-function information handling system with multi-orientation stand

• US 10,133,313 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2015
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Morrison, John T., Kamepalli, Srinivas
• Primary Examiner(s): Dravininkas, Adam B
• Application Number:
  US14/976,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20160109905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 36167926-67931
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops

Abstract

A tablet information handling system processes information with processing components disposed in a planar housing for presentation as images at a display disposed at the upper surface of the planar housing. Support members extend at the lower surface of the planar housing to support the planar housing in an upright configuration having the housing in a first orientation or an inclined configuration having the housing in a second orientation. A cooling fan controller manages cooling airflow direction through the planar housing based upon the orientation of the planar housing to blow hot air exiting the housing in a direction away from the likely location of an end user relative to the planar housing.

Claims

1. A method for presenting information at a tablet information handling system, the method comprising:

extending first and second members outward from a housing of the tablet information handling system, the first and second members integrated with the housing, the housing having a planar form, having integrated processing components and having a display, the processing components processing information and presenting the information as visual images;

resting one side of the housing on a resting surface and resting the first and second members on the resting surface, the housing in an inclined configuration;

rotating the housing to rest an opposing side of the housing on the resting surface and to rest the first and second members on the resting surface, the housing in an upright configuration;

retracting the first and second members into the housing; and

resting the housing on the resting surface in a flat configuration;

wherein the resting the housing on the resting surface in the flat configuration further comprises resting the housing at least in part on a standoff extending outward from each of the first and second members after the retracting, the standoff raising a bottom surface of the housing off of the resting surface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second members have a substantially perpendicular orientation to the resting surface in the inclined configuration and a substantially parallel orientation to the resting surface in the upright configuration.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining if the housing is in the inclined, upright or flat configuration; and

in response to determining, performing a function based upon the determined configuration.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the determining if the housing is in the inclined, upright or flat configuration further comprises:

sensing a force applied through the first or second member to a sensor disposed in the housing; and

analyzing the force to determine the inclined, upright or flat configuration.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the performing a function further comprises adjusting an orientation of the visual images presented at the display to align with the determined orientation.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the performing a function further comprises adjusting a direction of a cooling airflow through the housing based upon the determined configuration.