Electronic device system with a configurable display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10353435-B2
Application number	US-201315026046-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2013
Priority date	Nov 14, 2013
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

Particular embodiments described herein provide for an electronic device, such as a notebook computer or laptop, that includes a circuit board coupled to a plurality of electronic components (which includes any type of components, elements, circuitry, etc.). One particular example implementation of the electronic device may include a keyboard portion that includes a plurality of keys; a display portion that includes a first display interconnect for operating the electronic device in a first configuration, and a second display interconnect for operating the electronic device in a second configuration; and a docking portion that includes a keyboard interconnect configured to be mated with at least one of the first display interconnect and the second display interconnect.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a plurality of electronic components;
a keyboard portion that includes a plurality of keys;
a display portion that includes:
a display, wherein the display can face towards the keyboard portion in a first configuration and face away from the keyboard portion in a second configuration;
a first display interconnect for operating the electronic device in a landscape configuration; and
a second display interconnect for operating the electronic device in a portrait configuration; and

a docking portion that includes a keyboard interconnect configured to be mated with the first display interconnect and the second display interconnect, wherein the keyboard interconnect includes a plurality of pin-out pins wherein at least a portion of the plurality of pin-out pins in a first configuration pin-out are opposite to at least a portion of the plurality of pin-out pins in a second configuration pin-out, wherein a pin of the plurality of the pin-out pins is positive voltage in the first configuration and the pin of the plurality of the pin-out pins is ground in the second configuration;
wherein the first configuration pin-out is corresponding to the first configuration, and the second configuration pin-out is corresponding to the second configuration;
a sensor to at least partially determine a current configuration and a control logic to determine a correct pin-out for the current configuration; and
wherein a second pin of the plurality of the pin-out pins is data+ in the first configuration and the second pin of the plurality of the pin-out pins is data− in the second configuration.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first display interconnect is located on a first side of the display portion and the second display interconnect is located on a second side of the display portion, and wherein the first side is adjacent to the second side.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the display portion can be connected to the keyboard portion in a landscape clamshell mode configuration when the display portion is coupled to the keyboard portion using the first display interconnect and the display is facing the keyboard portion, a landscape movie mode configuration when the display portion is coupled to the keyboard portion using the first display interconnect and the display is facing opposite of the keyboard portion, a portrait clamshell mode configuration when the display portion is coupled to the keyboard portion using the second display interconnect and the display is facing the keyboard portion, and a portrait movie mode configuration when the display portion is coupled to the keyboard portion using the second display interconnect and the display is facing opposite the keyboard portion.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the keyboard interconnect is a pogo pin connector that can mate with the first display interconnect and the second display interconnect.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the docking portion includes at least one securing tab that operates to removably secure the display portion to the keyboard portion and at least one display support to help align the display portion with the keyboard portion.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor and control logic are located in the display portion.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor and control logic are located in the keyboard portion.

8. A method comprising:
connecting a display portion to a keyboard portion in a first configuration of an electronic device, wherein the display portion includes a display, wherein the display can face towards the keyboard portion in a first configuration and face away from the keyboard portion in a second configuration, a first display interconnect for operating in the first configuration, and wherein the electronic device includes a plurality of electronic components, a keyboard portion, and a docking portion that includes a keyboard interconnect;
removing the display portion from the keyboard portion; and
re-connecting the display portion to the keyboard portion in a second configuration of the electronic device, wherein the display portion includes a second display interconnect for operating in the second configuration, wherein the keyboard interconnect includes a plurality of pin-out pins adapted to connect to the first display interconnect and the second display interconnect, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of pin-out pins in a first configuration pin-out are opposite to at least a portion of the plurality of pin-out pins in a second configuration pin-out, wherein a pin of the plurality of pin-out pins is positive voltage in the first configuration and the pin of the plurality of pin-out pins is ground in the second configuration;
wherein the first configuration pin-out is corresponding to the first configuration, and the second configuration pin-out is corresponding to the second configuration;
a sensor to at least partially determine a current configuration and a control logic to determine a correct pin-out for the current configuration; and
wherein a second pin of the plurality of the pin-out pins is data+ in the first configuration and the second pin of the plurality of the pin-out pins is data− in the second configuration.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first display interconnect is located on a first side of the display portion and the second display interconnect is located on a second side of the display portion, and wherein the first side is adjacent to the second side.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the display portion can be connected to the keyboard portion in a landscape clamshell mode configuration when the display portion is coupled to the keyboard portion using the first display interconnect and the display is facing the keyboard portion, a landscape movie mode configuration when the display portion is coupled to the keyboard portion using the first display interconnect and the display is facing opposite of the keyboard portion, a portrait clamshell mode configuration when the display portion is coupled to the keyboard portion using the second display interconnect and the display is facing the keyboard portion, and a portrait movie mode configuration when the display portion is coupled to the keyboard portion using the second display interconnect and the display is facing opposite the keyboard portion.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the keyboard interconnect is a pogo pin connector that can mate with the first display interconnect and the second display interconnect.

12. An electronic device, comprising:
a plurality of electronic components;
a keyboard portion that includes a keyboard interconnect, wherein the keyboard interconnect includes at least one securing tab that operates to removably secure a display portion to the keyboard portion, at least one display support to help align the display portion with the keyboard portion, and a plurality of pin-out pins; and
the display portion, wherein the display portion includes a display, a first display interconnect, and a second display interconnect, wherein the display portion can face towards the keyboard portion in a first configuration and face away from the keyboard portion in a second configuration, wherein the display portion is connected to the keyboard portion in a landscape clamshell mode configuration when the display portion is coupled to the keyboard portion using the first display interconnect and the display is facing the keyboard portion, a landscape movie mode configuration when the display portion is coupled to the keyboard portion using the first

Assignees

• Intel Corp
• Deng Shanjun
• Wong Hong W
• Liang Xiaoguo
• Tao Jiancheng Johnson
• Kwong Wah Yiu

Inventors

• Deng Shanjun
• Wong Hong W
• Liang Xiaoguo
• Tao Jiancheng Johnson
• Kwong Wah Yiu

Classifications

• G06F1/1632

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• H01R2201/06

  for computer periphery · CPC title

• G06F1/1654 Primary

  the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use · CPC title

• G06F1/1616

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• G06F1/1662

  Details related to the integrated keyboard · CPC title