IP Library Granted Patent US 10,852,773
Granted Patent B2
US 10,852,773 · App. 16/050,689 · Granted Dec 1, 2020

Multi-form factor information handling system (IHS) with an accessory backpack

Inventors: Liam B. Quinn (Austin, TX); Christopher Alan Robinette (Alameda, CA); Michiel Sebastiaan Emanuel Petrus Knoppert (Amsterdam, NL)
Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
G06F1/1681G06F1/1616G06F1/1635G06F1/1656G06F1/1669H05K7/1401
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,852,773
App. No.
16/050,689
Granted
Dec 1, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of a multi-form factor Information Handling System (IHS) with an accessory backpack are described. In some embodiments, an IHS may include a first display and a second display coupled to the first display, where the second display comprises a catch, and where the catch is configured to magnetically engage a corresponding hook of an accessory in response to a top surface of the accessory being placed under a back portion of the second display.

Claims (42)

1. An Information Handling System (IHS), comprising:

a first display; and

a second display coupled to the first display, wherein the second display comprises a recessed area with a catch, and wherein the catch is configured to magnetically engage a corresponding hook of an accessory in response to a top surface of the accessory being placed into the recessed back portion of the second display.

2. The IHS of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first set of catches alongside a first short side of the second display;

a first set of hooks alongside a first short side of the accessory, wherein each catch of the first set of catches is configured to magnetically engage a corresponding hook of the first set of hooks;

a second set of catches alongside a second short side of the second display; and

a second set of hooks alongside a second short side of the accessory, wherein each catch of the second set of catches is configured to magnetically engage a corresponding hook of the second set of hooks.

3. The IHS of claim 2 , further comprising an electrical charging port located between the first and second sets of catches, the electrical charging port configured to charge the accessory in response to the accessory being coupled to the second display.

4. The IHS of claim 2 , wherein the first and second sets of catches are positioned alongside the short sides of the second display at locations that enable rendering, in response to the accessory being placed atop the second display, of:

a first User Interface (UI) feature, in a display area above a first long side of the accessory, in response to the accessory being placed atop the display surface; and

a second UI feature in another display area below a second long side of the accessory, in response to the accessory being placed atop the display surface.

5. The IHS of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to translate the catch at least until it releases the hook.

6. The IHS of claim 5 , wherein the hook is spring-loaded to a disengaged position within the accessory in response to the actuator.

7. The IHS of claim 6 , wherein the hook is magnetized with an opposite polarity than a polarity of the catch.

8. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the accessory comprises a keyboard.

9. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the accessory comprises a battery.

10. A method, comprising:

attaching an accessory to an Information Handling System (IHS) having a first display and a second display coupled to the first display, wherein the second display comprises a catch, and wherein the catch is configured to magnetically engage a corresponding hook of the accessory in response to a top surface of the accessory being placed under a back portion of the second display;

detaching the accessory from the IHS;

detecting a posture of the IHS; and

in response to a laptop posture, identifying a position of the accessory disposed on the second display and rendering a graphical feature on the second display based upon the position of the accessory on the second display.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the IHS further comprises:

a first set of catches alongside a first short side of the second display;

a first set of hooks alongside a first short side of the accessory, wherein each catch of the first set of catches is configured to magnetically engage a corresponding hook of the first set of hooks;

a second set of catches alongside a second short side of the second display; and

a second set of hooks alongside a second short side of the accessory, wherein each catch of the second set of catches is configured to magnetically engage a corresponding hook of the second set of hooks.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising charging the accessory in response to the accessory being coupled to the second display.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein detaching the accessory further comprises translating the catch at least until it releases the hook.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the hook is spring-loaded to a disengaged position within the accessory.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the accessory comprises a keyboard or a battery.

16. A hardware memory device having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a processor of an Information Handling System (IHS) having a first display coupled to a second display cause the IHS to:

determine that a top surface of an accessory is placed engaged in a back portion of the second display, wherein the accessory comprises a first set of recessed hooks alongside the first short side of the accessory and a second set of recessed hooks alongside the second short side of the accessory when the accessory is disengaged; and

charge the accessory in response to the determination.

17. The hardware memory device of claim 16 , wherein the second display comprises a catch, and wherein the catch is configured to magnetically engage a corresponding hook of the accessory.

18. The hardware memory device of claim 17 , wherein the IHS further comprises:

a first set of catches alongside a first short side of the second display;

the first set of hooks alongside a first short side of the accessory, wherein each catch of the first set of catches is configured to magnetically engage a corresponding hook of the first set of hooks;

a second set of catches alongside a second short side of the second display; and

the second set of hooks alongside a second short side of the accessory, wherein each catch of the second set of catches is configured to magnetically engage a corresponding hook of the second set of hooks.

19. The hardware memory device of claim 18 , wherein the IHS further comprises an actuator configured to translate the catch at least until it releases the hook, and wherein the hook is spring-loaded to a disengaged position within the accessory in response to the actuator.

20. The hardware memory device of claim 19 , wherein the accessory comprises a keyboard or a battery.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (047648/0422) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060160/0862 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 047648 FRAME 0346 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058298/0510 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (CREDIT) Recorded Oct 12, 2018
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047648/0346 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Oct 12, 2018
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047648/0422 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2018
From: QUINN, LIAM B.; ROBINETTE, CHRISTOPHER ALAN; KNOPPERT, MICHIEL SEBASTIAAN EMANUEL PETRUS
To: DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.
Reel/Frame 046514/0853 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200042047A1 · Feb 6, 2020