Portable computer with multiple display configurations
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.
1. A portable computer configurable between a plurality of display modes including first, second, and third display modes, the portable computer comprising:
at least one processor;
a display screen having a height dimension and a length dimension perpendicular to the height dimension; and
an orientation sensor configured to:
detect a first orientation transition from a first orientation mode to a second orientation mode of the portable computer at least in part by determining a first relative orientation of the display screen with respect to a first axis that is parallel to one of the height and length dimensions;
output, to the at least one processor responsive to detecting the first orientation transition, a first detection result to trigger a first display transition from the first display mode to the second display mode,
wherein the first display transition comprises rotating a visual display on the display screen by 180 degrees;
detect a second orientation transition from the second orientation mode to a third orientation mode at least in part by determining a second relative orientation of the display screen with respect to a second axis that is perpendicular to the height and length dimensions; and
output, to the at least one processor responsive to detecting the second orientation transition, a second detection result to trigger a second display transition from the second display mode to the third display mode,
wherein the second display transition comprises rotating the visual display on the display screen by 180 degrees.
2. The portable computer of claim 1 , wherein the first relative orientation transition comprises a rotation of the display screen by more than 180 degrees and less than or equal to 320 degrees with respect to the first axis.
3. The portable computer of claim 2 , wherein the second relative orientation transition comprises a rotation of the display screen by at least 180 degrees with respect to the second axis.
4. The portable computer of claim 3 , wherein:
the first orientation mode and the first display mode correspond to a laptop mode;
the second orientation mode and the second display mode correspond to an easel mode; and
the third orientation mode and the third display mode correspond to a frame mode.
5. The portable computer of claim 4 , further comprising:
a display component comprising the display screen; and
a keyboard rotatably coupled to the display component about the first axis.
6. The portable computer of claim 5 , wherein the keyboard is rotatably coupled to the display component about a single-axis hinge positioned coincident with the first axis.
7. The portable computer of claim 5 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to prevent the portable computer from responding to pressed keys of the keyboard when the portable computer is in the third orientation mode.
8. The portable computer of claim 1 , wherein:
the visual display comprises a home screen including a plurality of icons providing access to a plurality of applications including a media player, messaging, email, and internet browsing; and
the transition further comprises rotating the plurality of icons by 180 degrees.
9. The portable computer of claim 1 , wherein the orientation sensor includes an accelerometer.
10. A portable computer configurable among a plurality of display modes including a first display mode and a second display mode, the portable computer comprising:
at least one processor;
a single display component comprising a display screen having a height dimension and a length dimension perpendicular to the height dimension;
a keyboard rotatably coupled to the single display component about an axis, wherein the axis is parallel to one of the height and length dimensions;
an orientation sensor configured to:
detect an orientation transition from a first orientation mode to a second orientation mode of the portable computer at least in part by determining a relative orientation of the display screen with respect to the axis;
output, to the at least one processor responsive to detecting the orientation transition, a detection result to trigger a display transition from the first display mode to the second display mode,
wherein the display transition comprises rotating a visual display on the display screen by 180 degrees,
wherein the orientation sensor is further configured to:
detect a second orientation transition from the second orientation mode to a third orientation mode at least in part by determining a second relative orientation of the display screen with respect to a second axis perpendicular to the height and length dimensions; and
output, to the at least one processor responsive to detecting the second orientation transition, a second detection result to trigger a second display transition from the second display mode to a third display mode,
wherein the second display transition comprises rotating the visual display by 180 degrees.
11. The portable computer of claim 10 , wherein the single display component is rotatably coupled to the keyboard component by a single-axis hinge.
12. The portable computer of claim 11 , wherein the single-axis hinge is coincident with the axis.
13. The portable computer of claim 12 , further comprising a base including the keyboard and rotatably coupled to the single display component about the single-axis hinge.
14. The portable computer of claim 10 , wherein, responsive to a user input received while the portable computer is in the second orientation mode, the at least one processor is configured to display a home screen on the display screen.
15. The portable computer of claim 10 , wherein the relative orientation transition comprises a rotation of the display screen by more than 180 degrees and less than or equal to 320 degrees with respect to the axis.
16. The portable computer of claim 10 , wherein the first orientation mode and the first display mode correspond to a laptop mode, and the second orientation mode and the second display mode correspond to an easel mode.
17. The portable computer of claim 10 , wherein the third orientation mode and the third display mode correspond to a frame mode.
18. The portable computer of claim 17 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to prevent the portable computer from responding to pressed keys of the keyboard when the portable computer is in the third orientation mode.
19. The portable computer of claim 10 , wherein:
the visual display comprises a home screen including a plurality of icons providing access to a plurality of applications including a media player, messaging, email, and internet browsing; and
the transition further comprises rotating the plurality of icons by 180 degrees.
20. The portable computer of claim 10 , wherein the orientation sensor includes an accelerometer.