Sensing the screen positions in a dual screen phone

1. A device comprising:

first and second screens comprising first and second display panels, respectively, the first and second display panels configured to receive input and provide a graphical output;

a hinge connected to the first and second screens;

a first magnet proximal to the first screen and a second magnet proximal to the second screen, the first and second magnets configured to resist opening of the device when the hinge is in a closed position in which the first and second screens are oriented substantially back-to-back in adjacent planes;

a processor configured to generate an electromagnetic field;

a first Hall-Effect sensor positioned on the first screen and configured to sense a first strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the processor; and

a second Hall-Effect sensor positioned on the second screen and configured to sense a second strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the processor,

wherein one or more of the first and second Hall-Effect sensors is further configured to sense a magnetic field of the first magnet,

wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine the hinge is in an open position based on both of the first strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the processor sensed by the first Hall-Effect sensor and the second strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the processor sensed by the second Hall-Effect sensor;

in response to determining the hinge is in the open position, display information across the first and second screens;

determine the hinge is in the closed position based on both of the first strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the processor sensed by the first Hall-Effect sensor and the second strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the processor sensed by the second Hall-Effect sensor; and

in response to determining the hinge is in the closed position, display a mirror image on the first screen and the second screen.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a third Hall-Effect sensor positioned proximal to the second screen.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the third Hall-Effect sensor is configured to sense a third strength of the electromagnetic field.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second display panels comprise first and second active display areas, respectively, and wherein the first and second screens have a range of rotation about the hinge of more than 180 degrees.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the hinge is configured to enable a distance between the first and second active display areas of no more than about 10 mm.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the distance is no more than about 5 mm.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the distance is no more than about 1 mm.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the distance is no more than about 0.5 mm.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the distance is no more than about 0.25 mm.

10. A method comprising:

generating an electromagnetic field by a processor of a device, wherein the device comprises:

first and second screens comprising first and second display panels, respectively, wherein the first and second display panels are configured to receive input and provide a graphical output;

a hinge connected to the first and second screens; and

a first magnet proximal to the first screen and a second magnet proximal to the second screen, the first and second magnets configured to resist opening of the device when the hinge is in a closed position in which the first and second screens are oriented substantially back-to-back in adjacent planes;

sensing, by a first Hall-Effect sensor positioned on the first screen, a first strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the processor;

sensing, by a second Hall-Effect sensor on the second screen, a second strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the processor;

determining, by the processor, the hinge is in an open position based on both of the first strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the processor sensed by the first Hall-Effect sensor and the second strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the processor sensed by the second Hall-Effect sensor;

in response to determining the hinge is in the open position, displaying, by the processor, information across the first and second screens;

determining, by the processor, the hinge is in the closed position based on both of the first strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the processor sensed by the first Hall-Effect sensor and the second strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the processor sensed by the second Hall-Effect sensor; and

in response to determining the hinge is in the closed position, displaying, by the processor, a mirror image on the first screen and the second screen.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the device further comprises a third Hall-Effect sensor positioned proximal to the second screen.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first and second display panels comprise first and second active display areas, respectively, and wherein the first and second screens have a range of rotation about the hinge of more than 180 degrees.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the hinge is configured to enable a distance between the first and second active display areas of no more than about 10 mm.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the distance is no more than about 0.25 mm.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions which, when executed by a processor of a device, causes the processor to:

generate an electromagnetic field;

sense, by a first Hall-Effect sensor, a first strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the processor;

sense, by a second Hall-Effect sensor, a second strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the processor;

determine the hinge is in an open position based on both of the first strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the processor sensed by the first Hall-Effect sensor and the second strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the processor sensed by the second Hall-Effect sensor;

in response to determining the hinge is in the open position, display information across the first and second screens;

determine the hinge is in a closed position in which the first and second screens are oriented substantially back-to-back in adjacent planes based on both of the first strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the processor sensed by the first Hall-Effect sensor and the second strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the processor sensed by the second Hall-Effect sensor; and

in response to determining the hinge is in the closed position, display a mirror image on the first screen and the second screen, wherein:

the device comprises:

first and second screens, the first and second screens comprising first and second display panels, respectively, the first and second display panels configured to receive input and provide a graphical output;

a hinge connected to the first and second screens;

a first magnet proximal to the first screen; and

a second magnet proximal to the second screen, wherein:

the first and second magnets configured to resist opening of the device when the hinge is in the closed position;

the first Hall-Effect sensor is positioned on the first screen, and

the second Hall-Effect sensor is positioned on the second screen.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the device further comprises a third Hall-Effect sensor.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first and second display panels comprise first and second active display areas, respectively, and wherein the first and second screens have a range of rotation about the hinge of more than 180 degrees.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the hinge is configured to enable a distance between the first and second active display areas of no more than about 10 mm.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the distance is no more than about 5 mm.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the distance is no more than about 0.25 mm.