Portable computer with multiple display configurations

• US 9,563,229 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2012
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LiTL LLC (TRI Ventures, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LiTL LLC (TRI Ventures, Inc.)
• Inventors: Behar, Yves, Morenstein, Joshua, Hibmacronan, Christopher, Edahiro, Naoya, Day, Matthew David
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US13/651,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20130141854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• 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 1/1618 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 1/162 changing, e.g. reversing, the face orientation of the screen with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, e.g. for folding into tablet PC like position or orienting towards the direction opposite to the user to show to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• 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 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A portable computer that is configurable between a plurality of display modes including a laptop mode (in which the portable computer has a conventional laptop appearance) and an easel mode in which the base of the computer and its display component stand vertically forming an inverted “V.” The portable computer includes a hinge assembly that couples the display component to the base of the computer, and allows the display component to be rotated about an axis along an interface between the display component and the base to configure the portable computer between a closed position, the laptop mode and the easel mode. The portable computer further comprises a scroll wheel and optional navigation buttons that permit a user to control or manipulate various aspects of operation of the portable computer (such as volume or display brightness) and/or content displayed the computer.

Claims

1. A portable computer configurable between a plurality of display modes including at least a laptop mode, a frame mode, and an easel mode, the portable computer comprising:

a display component;

a base;

an accelerometer configured to generate orientation information indicative of a current display mode among the plurality of display modes of the portable computer;

a display manager configured to display computer content on the display component and vary the computer content displayed responsive to the orientation information indicating a transition between at least the laptop and easel modes, wherein the display manager is further configured to enlarge the computer content displayed on the display component responsive to a transition from the laptop mode to the easel mode;

an interface between the display component and the base defining a longitudinal axis running along the display component and the base about which the display component and the base are rotatable;

wherein the interface is constructed and arranged such that rotating either the display component or the base about the longitudinal axis up to approximately 180 degrees from a closed mode configures the portable computer into the laptop mode, wherein in the laptop mode the display component is oriented towards an operator and a keyboard disposed within the base is oriented to receive input from the operator;

wherein the interface is constructed and arranged such that rotating either the display component or the base about the longitudinal axis beyond approximately 270 degrees from the closed mode transitions the portable computer for viewing in the frame mode or the easel mode, wherein during operation in the frame mode the display component is positioned toward the operator, the base contacts a substantially horizontal surface, and the keyboard is directed towards the substantially horizontal surface, and wherein during operation in the easel mode the display component is oriented facing the operator with the keyboard oriented away from the operator; and

wherein the portable computer is configured to detect a transition to at least the easel mode and the frame mode based on the orientation information, automatically determine a display orientation of content, and disable the keyboard when the portable computer is in the frame mode.

2. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the display component is rotatable about the longitudinal axis up to approximately 320 degrees from the closed mode.

3. The portable computer of claim 1, further comprising:

a display orientation module that displays content on the display screen in one of a plurality of content orientations relative to the longitudinal axis;

a mode sensor which incorporates the accelerometer and detects the current display mode of the portable computer based on the orientation information; and

wherein the display orientation module displays content on the display screen in the one of the plurality of content orientations dependent on the current display mode detected by the mode sensor.

4. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the base and the display are only rotatable with respect to each other at the interface.

5. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the interface further comprises a multiple axis hinge.

6. The portable computer of claim 5, wherein the interface further comprises multiple hinges.

7. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the interface defines a single longitudinal axis.

8. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the interface includes a hinge assembly, wherein the hinge assembly is at least partially housed within one of the base and the display component.

9. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises means for rotating the display component along the longitudinal axis relative to the base to transition the portable computer for viewing in the frame mode.

10. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a plurality of axles.

11. The portable computer of claim 1, further comprising at least one integrated navigation hardware control, wherein at least one of the at least one integrated navigation hardware control is accessible in at least the laptop and frame modes, and wherein the integrated navigation hardware can be operated by a user to control features and manipulate content displayed on the portable computer, including in any mode wherein the keyboard is inaccessible or oriented away from the user.

19. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the portable computer further disables the keyboard in response to an orientation of the portable computer.

20. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the portable computer is further configured to connect to a docking station in the plurality of display modes, including the laptop mode and the frame mode.

21. The portable computer of claim 1, further comprising a cushioning strip configured to stabilize the portable computer in a plurality of modes.

22. The portable computer of claim 11, wherein the at least one integrated navigation hardware control includes a clickable scroll wheel configured to scroll along the longitudinal axis to select an item displayed by the display screen.

23. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the display component is further configured to display a segmented user interface comprising a plurality of modes of content.

24. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the display component and base include an overlapping portion such that responsive to rotation of display component and base, the display component contacts the base preventing further rotation, and the base directly supports the display in the frame mode configuration.

25. The portable computer of claim 3, wherein the display module is configured to display content in a first orientation during the frame and laptop display modes of operation and display content in a second orientation during the easel display mode, the second orientation being rotated 180 degrees relative to the first orientation.

12. A portable computer configurable between a plurality of operating display modes, the portable computer comprising:

a display component including a single display screen for viewing content;

a base;

an accelerometer configured to generate orientation information indicative of a current display mode among the plurality of display modes of the portable computer;

a display manager configured to display computer content on the display component and vary the computer content displayed responsive to the orientation information indicating a transition between at least two operating display modes of the plurality of operating display modes, wherein the display manager is further configured to enlarge the computer content displayed on the display component responsive to a transition from a first operating display mode of the plurality of operating display modes to a second operating display mode of the plurality of operating display modes;

an interface connecting the display component and the base, defining a longitudinal axis running along the display component and the base about which the display component and the base are rotatable;

wherein the interface is constructed and arranged so that the display component and the base are rotatable with respect to each other about the longitudinal axis;

wherein the interface is constructed and arranged so that rotating either the display component or the base about the longitudinal axis from a closed mode to a first position configures the portable computer into the first operating display mode of the plurality of operating display modes, wherein in the first operating display mode the display component is oriented towards an operator of the portable computer, and the base is disposed on an opposite side of the display, wherein at least a portion of the base is configured to support the display in position when in the first operating display mode;

wherein the interface is constructed and arranged so that reorienting the portable computer while the display component and the base are in the first position configures the portable computer into the second operating display mode of the plurality of operating display modes, wherein in the second operating display mode the display component is oriented towards an operator of the portable computer, the base lies flat on a substantially horizontal surface, and a keyboard of the base is disabled and disposed towards the substantially horizontal surface, wherein at least a portion of the base is configured to support the portable computer in position when in the second operating display mode, a display orientation of content is automatically changed when transitioning between the first and second operating display modes.

13. The portable computer of claim 12, wherein the first operating display mode is configured so that at least a portion of display component and at least a portion of the base define an inverted v configuration and wherein the second operating display mode is configured so that at least a portion of the display component and at least a portion of the base define a sideways v configuration.

14. The portable computer of claim 12, wherein the interface comprises means for rotating the display component relative to the base.

15. The portable computer of claim 13, wherein the interface is constructed and arranged to enable rotation of the base and the display component from a second position where the base and display component are disposed against each other to the first position where at least a portion of the base and the at least a portion of the display component are in a v configuration.

16. A method of managing user interaction with content displayed on a portable computer having a plurality of display modes, the portable computer comprising a display component including a display screen, a base including a keyboard, and an interface connecting the display component and the base defining a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:

rotating at least one of the display component and the base of the portable computer about the longitudinal axis to configure the portable computer in at least one of the plurality of display modes, wherein the longitudinal axis is configured to run along the connection between the display component and the base of the portable computer;

positioning at least a portion of the portable computer in a sideways v configuration for operation by a user, responsive to the act of rotating, wherein the act of positioning includes acts of;

positioning the display component in an orientation directed towards the user; and

positioning the base to lie flat on a surface and support the portable computer in the sideways v configuration;

generating, by an accelerometer, orientation information indicative of an orientation of the device;

determining a current display mode of the plurality of display modes based on the orientation of the device, including distinguishing between a first display mode and a second display mode of the plurality of display modes where either the display component or the base is rotated about the longitudinal axis beyond approximately 270 degrees from a closed state;

executing software protection configured to disable the keyboard when the portable computer is in the sideways v configuration; and

displaying computer content and varying the computer content displayed responsive to the orientation information indicating a transition between at least two display modes of the plurality of display modes, wherein the act of varying the computer content includes;

enlarging the computer content displayed on the display component responsive to detecting a transition from the first display mode to the second display mode.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the base includes a keyboard and the act of positioning the base on the opposite side of the display component includes positioning the keyboard such that the keyboard towards the surface.

18. A portable computer configurable between a plurality of display modes including at least a laptop mode, a frame mode, and an easel mode, the portable computer comprising:

a display component;

a base;

an accelerometer configured to generate orientation information indicative of a current mode of operation;

a display manager configured to display computer content on the display component and vary the computer content displayed responsive to the orientation information indicating a transition between at least the laptop and easel modes, wherein the display manager is further configured to enlarge the computer content displayed on the display component responsive to a transition from the laptop mode to the easel mode;

an interface between the display component and the base defining a longitudinal axis running along the display component and the base about which the display component and the base are rotatable;

wherein the interface is constructed and arranged such that rotating either the display component or the base about the longitudinal axis up to approximately 180 degrees from a closed mode configures the portable computer into a laptop mode, wherein in the laptop mode the display component is oriented towards an operator and a keyboard disposed within the base is oriented to receive input from the operator;

wherein the interface is constructed and arranged such that rotating either the display component or the base about the longitudinal axis beyond approximately 270 degrees from the closed mode transitions the portable computer for viewing in the frame mode or the easel mode, wherein during operation in the frame mode the display component is positioned toward the operator, the base contacts a substantially horizontal surface, and the keyboard is directed towards the substantially horizontal surface, and wherein during operation in the easel mode the display component is oriented facing the operator with the keyboard oriented away from the operator; and

wherein the portable computer is configured to detect a transition to at least one of the easel mode and the frame mode based on the orientation information, automatically determine a display orientation of content, and disable the keyboard in response to detecting the portable computer is in the frame mode.