Information handling devices with touch-based reflective display
Devices, methods and products are described that provide information handling devices with touch-based reflective display. One aspect provides an information handling device including one or more processors; a display device; and a touchable control area having one or more configurable areas, said one or more configurable areas providing both reflective display and accepting touch-based input; wherein said touchable control area is disposed in place of at least a portion of a standard component of said information handling device, other than said display device, and provides functionality equivalent thereto in one or more configurations. Other embodiments are described.
1. An information handling device comprising:
one or more processors;
a mechanical keyboard comprising a plurality of keys;
a display device; and
a touchable control area having one or more configurable areas, said one or more configurable areas providing both reflective display and accepting touch-based input;
wherein said touchable control area is disposed in place of at least one of the plurality of keys of the mechanical keyboard and does not overlap the display device and provides functionality equivalent thereto in one or more configurations;
wherein a power-on display configuration and functionality of each of said one or more configurable areas are dependent on an active application.
2. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one of the plurality of keys is a row of mechanical keys of said keyboard.
3. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one of the plurality of keys is a sub-set of a row of mechanical keys of said mechanical keyboard.
4. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one of the plurality of keys is a number pad.
5. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one of the plurality of keys is an entire keyboard.
6. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one of the plurality of keys is a bezel of said information handling device.
7. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one of the plurality of keys is a touchpad.
8. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein said display device is a reflective display device.
9. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein said display device comprises a touchscreen display device.
10. The information handling device of claim 1 , wherein said information handling device is selected from the group consisting of a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, a remote control, a keyboard, a number pad, an e- reader and a mobile phone.
11. An information handling device comprising:
one or more housings;
a mechanical keyboard comprising a plurality of keys; and
a touchable control area having one or more configurable areas, said one or more configurable areas providing both reflective display and accepting touch-based input;
wherein said touchable control area is disposed in said one or more housings;
wherein said touchable control area is disposed in place of at least one of the plurality of keys of the mechanical keyboard and does not overlap the display device, and provides functionality equivalent thereto in one or more configurations;
wherein a power-on display configuration and functionality of each of said one or more configurable areas are dependent on an active application.
12. The information handling device of claim 11 , wherein said one or more housings comprise a single housing; and
wherein said information handling device is selected from the group consisting of a display monitor, a keyboard, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, and a remote control.
13. The information handling device of claim 11 , wherein said one or more housings comprise:
a main housing containing one or more processors and a memory device; and
a display housing containing a main display, said display housing being attached to said main housing;
wherein said touchable control area is disposed within said main housing.
14. The information handling device of claim 13 , wherein said touchable control area is disposed within an integrated keyboard of said main housing.
15. The information handling device of claim 14 , wherein said touchable control area is implemented in place of at least a portion of a standard component of said integrated keyboard of said main housing.
16. An information handling device comprising:
a mechanical keyboard comprising a plurality of keys;
a touchable control area having one or more configurable areas, said one or more configurable areas providing both reflective display and accepting touch-based input;
wherein said touchable control area is configured to provide one or more outputs to a connected information handling device and is configured to receive one or more inputs from said connected information handling device;
wherein said touchable control area is disposed in place of at least one of the plurality of keys of said mechanical keyboard and does not overlap the display device and provides functionality equivalent thereto in one or more configurations;
wherein a power-on display configuration and functionality of each of said one or more configurable areas are dependent on an active application.
17. The information handling device of claim 16 , wherein said one or more outputs comprise signals sent in response to touch-based user input to said one or more areas of said touchable control area.
18. The information handling device of claim 17 , wherein said one or more inputs comprise signals for updating a configuration of said one or more areas.
19. The information handling device of claim 18 , wherein said configuration comprises one or more of: a size of said one or more areas, a shape of said one or more areas, a reflective display of said one or more areas, and a touch zone of said one or more areas.
20. The information handling device of claim 17 , wherein said information handling device is selected from the group consisting of a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, a remote control, a keyboard, a number pad, an e-reader and a mobile phone.