IP Library Granted Patent US 11,740,665
Granted Patent B1
US 11,740,665 · App. 17/817,745 · Granted Aug 29, 2023

Foldable computer to sense contact of touch-enabled surface with other portion of computer while computer is closed

Inventors: Mark K. Summerville (Apex, NC); Sandy Collins (Durham, NC); Mark Christopher Heidenfeldt (Morrisville, NC); Justin Ringuette (Morrisville, NC)
Assignee: Lenovo (United States) Inc.
G06F1/1677G06F1/1616G06F1/1643G06F3/044G06F11/32
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,740,665
App. No.
17/817,745
Granted
Aug 29, 2023
Kind
B1
Abstract

In one aspect, a laptop computer or other type of foldable computer may include a processor, a touch-enabled surface accessible to the processor, and storage accessible to the processor. The storage may include instructions executable by the processor to determine that, while the foldable computer is closed, a portion of the foldable computer has contacted the touch-enabled surface. Responsive to the determination, the instructions may be executable to execute at least one action at the foldable computer that is related to the portion contacting the touch-enabled surface while the foldable computer is closed.

Claims (33)

1. A foldable computer, comprising:

at least one processor;

a touch-enabled surface accessible to the at least one processor; and

storage accessible to the at least one processor and comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor to:

determine that, while the foldable computer is closed, a portion of the foldable computer has physically contacted the touch-enabled surface, the portion being different from the touch-enabled surface, the touch-enabled surface not being touchable by a user while the foldable computer is closed;

responsive to the determination, execute at least one action at the foldable computer;

wherein the at least one action comprises storing data in a log, the data indicating that, while the foldable computer was closed, the portion of the foldable computer contacted the touch-enabled surface.

2. The foldable computer of claim 1 , wherein the touch-enabled surface comprises a touch-enabled display, the touch-enabled display established by one or more of: a capacitive touch-enabled display, a resistive touch-enabled display.

3. The foldable computer of claim 2 , wherein the touch-enabled display is established by a capacitive touch-enabled display, and wherein the portion is configured with a capacitive element that can be sensed by the capacitive touch-enabled display.

4. The foldable computer of claim 3 , wherein the capacitive element comprises a capacitor.

5. The foldable computer of claim 3 , wherein the capacitive element comprises a capacitive coating.

6. The foldable computer of claim 1 , wherein the portion comprises a touch pad at which input is receivable to move a display cursor.

7. The foldable computer of claim 1 , wherein the portion comprises a key of a keyboard.

8. The foldable computer of claim 1 , wherein the storing of the data is executed by the foldable computer's basic input/output system (BIOS).

9. The foldable computer of claim 8 , comprising a system board, wherein the log is stored in a storage area on the system board, the storage area accessible to the BIOS.

10. A method, comprising:

determining that, while a foldable computer is folded closed, a portion of the foldable computer has physically contacted a touch-enabled surface of the foldable computer, the touch-enabled surface being different from the portion, the touch-enabled surface not being touchable by a user while the foldable computer is closed; and

responsive to the determination, executing at least one action at the foldable computer that is related to the portion contacting the touch-enabled surface while the foldable computer is folded closed;

wherein the at least one action comprises storing data in a log, the data indicating that, while the foldable computer was folded closed, the portion of the foldable computer physically contacted the touch-enabled surface.

11. The method of claim 10 , comprising: using the foldable computer's basic input/output system (BIOS) to store the data in nonvolatile random-access memory (NVRAM) on the foldable computer's motherboard.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the portion comprises a key of a keyboard.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one computer readable storage medium (CRSM) that is not a transitory signal, the at least one computer readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by at least one processor to:

determine that, while a foldable computer is closed, a touch-enabled display of the foldable computer receives touch input, the touch-enabled display not being touchable by a user while the foldable computer is closed; and

responsive to the determination, execute at least one action at the foldable computer that is related to the touch-enabled display receiving touch input while the foldable computer is closed, the at least one action comprising presenting, on a first display, a graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI comprising a graphical warning indicating the display location at which the touch-enabled display received the touch input while the foldable computer was closed.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first display is located on a second device different from the foldable computer, the second device being in wireless communication with the foldable computer.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the instructions are executable to:

determine that the second device is currently in use by a user; and

based on the determination that the second device is currently in use by a user, present the GUI on the first display.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least one action comprises storing data in a log, the data indicating that, while the foldable computer was closed, the touch-enabled surface of the foldable computer received touch input.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the storing of the data is executed by the foldable computer's basic input/output system (BIOS).

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the log is stored in nonvolatile random-access memory (NVRAM) on a motherboard using the foldable computer's BIOS.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first display is the touch-enabled display.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 070269/0092 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 19, 2025
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD.
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 070266/0925 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2023
From: LENOVO (UNITED STATES) INC.
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 064222/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2022
From: SUMMERVILLE, MARK K; COLLINS, SANDY; HEIDENFELDT, MARK CHRISTOPHER; RINGUETTE, JUSTIN
To: LENOVO (UNITED STATES) INC.
Reel/Frame 061592/0839 →