IP Library Granted Patent US 10,754,390
Granted Patent B2
US 10,754,390 · App. 16/259,703 · Granted Aug 25, 2020

Multi-form factor information handling system (IHS) with layered, foldable, bendable, flippable, rotatable, removable, displaceable, and/or slideable component(s)

Inventors: Liam B. Quinn (Austin, TX); Christopher Alan Robinette (Alameda, CA); Michiel Sebastiaan Emanuel Petrus Knoppert (Amsterdam, NL)
Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
G06F1/1669G06F1/1616G06F1/1618G06F1/1624G06F1/1643G06F1/1656G06F1/1681G06F1/1688G06F3/0231G06F2200/1632
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,754,390
App. No.
16/259,703
Granted
Aug 25, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of a multi-form factor Information Handling System (IHS) with layered, foldable, bendable, flippable, rotatable, removable, displaceable, and/or slideable component(s) 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 further comprises a bendable, foldable, or flippable layer having: (i) a screen surface, and (ii) a keyboard surface opposing the screen surface.

Claims (31)

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

a first display; and

a second display coupled to the first display, wherein the second display further comprises a screen surface and a keyboard surface disposed on a back side of the screen surface, and wherein at least one of: (i) in a first configuration, the screen surface faces up and the keyboard surface faces down, and, in a second configuration, a first portion of the screen surface folds over a second portion of the screen surface, and the keyboard surface faces up; or (ii) in the first configuration, the screen surface faces up, the keyboard surface faces up, and the keyboard surface sits behind a first portion of the screen surface, and, in the second configuration, the first portion of the screen surface folds over a second portion of the screen surface to reveal the keyboard surface.

2. The IHS of claim 1 , further comprising a first hinge coupling the first display to the second display.

3. The IHS of claim 2 , wherein the first portion of the screen surface folds over the second portion of the screen surface via a second hinge.

4. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the screen surface folds over the second portion of the screen surface via a deformation action.

5. The IHS of claim 1 , further comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution, cause the IHS to:

provide a User Interface (UI) feature in response to the IHS being moved from the first configuration to the second configuration.

6. The IHS of claim 5 , wherein to provide the UI feature, the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to render a ribbon area on the first display alongside a long edge of the keyboard surface.

7. The IHS of claim 6 , wherein to provide the UI feature, the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to reveal a touch input area on another layer of the second display that sits under the bendable, foldable, or flippable layer when the IHS is in the first configuration.

8. The IHS of claim 7 , wherein the other layer comprises another screen surface.

9. The IHS of claim 5 , wherein to provide the UI feature, the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to render an image on a selected portion of the second display.

10. The IHS of claim 1 , further comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution, cause the IHS to:

provide a User Interface (UI) feature on the first display in response to the IHS being moved from the first configuration to the second configuration.

11. The IHS of claim 10 , wherein to provide the UI feature, the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to reveal a touch input area opposing the first portion of the screen surface.

12. In an Information Handling System (IHS) having a first display and a second display coupled to the first display, wherein the second display comprises a screen surface and a keyboard surface disposed on a back side of the screen surface, a method, comprising:

placing the IHS in a first configuration, wherein the screen surface faces up and the keyboard surface faces down; and

placing the IHS in a second configuration, wherein a first portion of the screen surface folds over a second portion of the screen surface and the keyboard surface faces up.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising providing a User Interface (UI) feature in response to the IHS being moved from the first configuration to the second configuration.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein providing the UI feature comprises rendering a ribbon area on the first display alongside a long edge of the keyboard surface.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein providing the UI feature comprises rendering an image on a selected portion of the second display.

16. In an Information Handling System (IHS) having a first display and a second display coupled to the first display, wherein the second display comprises a screen surface and a keyboard surface disposed on a back side of the screen surface, a method, comprising:

placing the IHS in a first configuration wherein the screen surface faces up, the keyboard surface faces up, and the keyboard surface sits behind a first portion of the screen surface; and

placing the IHS in a second configuration wherein the first portion of the screen surface folds over a second portion of the screen surface to reveal the keyboard surface.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising providing a User Interface (UI) feature in response to the IHS being moved from the first configuration to the second configuration.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein providing the UI feature comprises rendering a ribbon area on the first display alongside a long edge of the keyboard surface.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein providing the UI feature comprises rendering an image on a selected portion of the second display.

Assignments (5)
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 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 057682/0830 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2019
From: QUINN, LIAM B.; ROBINETTE, CHRISTOPHER ALAN; KNOPPERT, MICHIEL SEBASTIAAN EMANUEL PETRUS
To: DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.
Reel/Frame 048159/0484 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16050494 · Jul 31, 2018
Related Publication 20200042045A1 · Feb 6, 2020
Cited By (3)
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