IP Library Granted Patent US 12,482,444
Granted Patent B2
US 12,482,444 · App. 17/665,513 · Granted Nov 25, 2025

Computing device

Inventors: Mark K Summerville (Apex, NC); Mark Christopher Heidenfeldt (Apex, NC); Richard Todd Wall (Clayton, NC); Justin Michael Ringuette (Morrisville, NC)
Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
G10H1/0033G10H1/0016
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,482,444
App. No.
17/665,513
Filed
Feb 5, 2022
Granted
Nov 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2837
USPC
84/600
Abstract

A method can include receiving vibration signals responsive to an object forcibly contacting a location on a back surface of a display housing of a computing device; and, responsive to receipt of the vibration signals, performing at least one action via circuitry of the computing device, where the at least one action includes a user perceivable action.

Claims (30)

1 . A method comprising:

receiving vibration signals responsive to an object forcibly contacting a location on a back surface of a display housing of a computing device, wherein the display housing comprises a display that defines a display surface opposite the back surface, wherein the computing device comprises a clamshell form factor with a closed position and an open position, and wherein the receiving occurs in the closed position; and

responsive to receipt of the vibration signals, transitioning the computing device, in the closed position, to a higher power state and performing at least one action via circuitry of the computing device, wherein the at least one action comprises a user perceivable action performed with the computing device in the closed position and achieved without use of the display.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vibration signals comprise microphone signals.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vibration signals comprise accelerometer signals.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vibration signals comprise microphone signals and accelerometer signals.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user perceivable action comprises an illumination action performed via illumination circuitry.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the illumination circuitry comprises at least one LED.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user perceivable action comprises an audible action performed via audio circuitry.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the audible action comprises a digital musical instrument action.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the digital musical instrument action comprises a piano keyboard action.

10 . The method of claim 9 , comprising analyzing the vibration signals to determine the location and associating the location with a musical note.

11 . The method of claim 9 , comprising analyzing the vibration signals to determine a level of force and associating the level of force with an audio intensity of the piano keyboard action.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the digital musical instrument action comprises a percussion action.

13 . The method of claim 12 , comprising analyzing the vibration signals to determine a level of force and associating the level of force with an audio intensity of the percussion action.

14 . The method of claim 12 , comprising analyzing the vibration signals to determine the location and associating the location with a type of percussion instrument, wherein the percussion action corresponds to the type of percussion instrument.

15 . The method of claim 1 , comprising receiving additional vibration signals and, responsive to receipt of the additional vibration signals, transitioning the computing device to a lower power state.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the transitioning occurs in the closed position.

17 . A computing device comprising:

a processor;

memory accessible to the processor;

a display housing that comprises a display, a display surface and a back surface;

a base housing coupled to the display housing via a hinge assembly, wherein the display housing and base housing define a clamshell form factor with a closed position and an open position;

a vibration sensor; and

processor-executable instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to instruct the computing device to:

in the closed position, receive vibration signals via the vibration sensor responsive to an object forcibly contacting a location on a back surface of a display housing of the computing device; and

responsive to receipt of the vibration signals, transition the computing device, in the closed position, to a higher power state and perform at least one action via circuitry of the computing device, wherein the at least one action comprises a user perceivable action performed with the computing device in the closed position and achieved without use of the display.

18 . One or more computer-readable storage media comprising computer-executable instructions executable to instruct a computing device to:

receive vibration signals responsive to an object forcibly contacting a location on a back surface of a display housing of the computing device, wherein the display housing comprises a display that defines a display surface opposite the back surface, wherein the computing device comprises a clamshell form factor with a closed position and an open position, and wherein the receipt of the vibration signals occurs in the closed position; and

responsive to receipt of the vibration signals, transition the computing device, in the closed position, to a higher power state and perform at least one action via circuitry of the computing device, wherein the at least one action comprises a user perceivable action performed with the computing device in the closed position and achieved without use of the display.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2022
From: LENOVO (UNITED STATES) INC.
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 061880/0110 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2022
From: SUMMERVILLE, MARK K; HEIDENFELDT, MARK CHRISTOPHER; WALL, RICHARD TODD; RINGUETTE, JUSTIN MICHAEL
To: LENOVO (UNITED STATES) INC.
Reel/Frame 058900/0275 →