Multi-function information handling system with multi-orientation stand

• US 9,229,477 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2012
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• 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): Haughton, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): DHILLON, MATT S
• Application Number:
  US13/710,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20140160656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 36167921-6793, 348/787, 348/836, 345/204, 345/619
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. An information handling system comprising:

a planar housing having an upper and lower surface;

a processor disposed in the planar housing and operable to process information;

a memory disposed in the planar housing and interfaced with the processor, the memory operable to store the information;

a display integrated in the planar housing upper surface and interfaced with the processor, the display operable to present the information as visual images;

first and second members rotationally coupled to the planar housing and operable to retract into the planar housing in a retracted position and to extend outward at the planar housing lower surface in an extended position to support the planar housing in an inclined configuration or an upright configuration; and

a standoff disposed on each of the first and second members, the standoff aligned to raise the planar housing relative to a resting surface when the first and second members are in the retracted position.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising:

first and second biasing devices interfaced with the first and second members, each biasing device operable to bias its associated member to retract into the planar housing; and

first and second dampeners interfaced with the first and second members, each dampener operable to dampen its associated member as the associated member retracts into the planar housing.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the inclined configuration has a first side of the planar housing raised relative to an opposing second side supported by a resting surface, and the upright configuration has the second side of the planar housing raised relative to the opposing first side supported by the resting surface.

4. The information handling system of claim 3 further comprising:

a sensor disposed on at least one of the members, the sensor operable to detect the resting surface to determine the whether the planar housing is in the inclined configuration or the upright configuration; and

sensing logic stored in the memory and operable to apply the inclined configuration or upright configuration determination to perform a predetermined function.

5. The information handling system of claim 4 wherein the predetermined function comprises selecting an orientation for presenting images at the display.

6. The information handling system of claim 4 wherein the predetermined function comprises selecting a direction for cooling airflow to pass through the planar housing.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising a breakaway device associated with each of the first and second members, the breakaway device operable to decouple its associated member from the planar housing in response to an excess force applied to the associated member.

8. A system for presenting information as visual images, the system comprising:

a planar housing having a display integrated in an upper surface;

first and second supports operable to extend from a bottom surface of the planar housing, the first and second supports aligned in the housing to have one extended position that disposes the display in an inclined position with a first end of the housing raised above a second end of the housing or in an upright position with the second end of the housing raised above the first end; and

a sensor disposed on at least one of the members, the sensor operable to detect a force translated from a resting surface to determine the whether the planar housing is in the inclined configuration or the upright configuration.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the first and second supports are further operable to retract into the bottom surface of the housing to dispose the display in a flat position.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the first and second supports engage a resting surface in the inclined position so that the first and second supports are substantially perpendicular to the resting surface.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the first and second supports engage a resting surface in the upright position so that that first and second supports are substantially parallel to the resting surface.