Display management for multi-form factor information handling system (IHS)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10852769-B2
Application number	US-201816173321-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2018
Priority date	Oct 29, 2018
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

Embodiments of systems and methods for display management for a multi-form factor Information Handing System (IHS) are described. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, an IHS may include a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the processor, cause the IHS to: identify a posture of a first display relative to a second display, where the second display is coupled to the first display via a hinge; and based on the identification, produce a work area on an external display.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An Information Handling System (IHS), comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the processor, cause the IHS to:
identify a posture of a first display relative to a second display, wherein the second display is coupled to the first display via a hinge;
retrieve a docked height of the IHS associated with the posture; and
based on the identification, produce a work area on an external display.

2. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein to identify the posture, the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, further cause the IHS to identify an angle of the hinge.

3. The IHS of claim 2 , wherein the posture is identified as a laptop posture in response to the first display being placed at an obtuse angle with respect to the second display, and the second display being placed in a horizontal position with a display surface facing up.

4. The IHS of claim 2 , wherein the posture is identified as a canvas posture in response to the first display being placed at a straight angle with respect to the second display, and the first and second displays being placed in a horizontal position with first and second display surfaces facing up.

5. The IHS of claim 2 , wherein the posture is identified as a tablet posture in response to: a first display surface of the first display being placed facing up, and a back surface of the first display being placed against a back surface of the second display.

6. The IHS of claim 2 , wherein the posture is identified as a stand posture in response to the first display being placed at an acute angle with respect to the second display.

7. The IHS of claim 2 , wherein the posture is identified as a tent posture in response to the first display surface of the first display being placed at an obtuse angle with respect to a second display surface of the second display.

8. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, further cause the IHS to create a pass-through area between the external display and at least one of the first or second displays based upon the docked height.

9. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, further cause the IHS to:
detect a change in posture; and
modify the work area in response to the change.

10. The IHS of claim 9 , wherein to modify the work area, the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, further cause the IHS to: re-order two or more work areas across two or more of: the first display, the second display, or the external display.

11. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, further cause the IHS to:
detect movement of the IHS; and
modify the work area in response to the movement.

12. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein to detect the movement, the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, further cause the IHS to:
detect a change in orientation; and
modify the work area in response to the change.

13. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, further cause the IHS to:
detect a keyboard placed on a display surface of the second display; and
modify the work area in response to the detection.

14. The IHS of claim 13 , wherein to detect the keyboard, the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, further cause the IHS to:
determine that the keyboard has been moved from a first position of the display surface to a second position of the display surface; and
modify the work area in response to the movement.

15. The IHS of claim 13 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, further cause the IHS to:
detect that the keyboard is removed from the display surface; and
restore the work area in response to the detection.

16. A method, comprising:
identifying a posture of a first display relative to a second display of an Information Handling System (IHS);
based on the identification, producing a work area on an external display;
detecting a keyboard placed on a display surface of the second display;
determining that the keyboard has been moved from a first position of the display surface to a second position of the display surface; and
modifying the work area in response to the movement.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
detecting a change of posture or orientation; and
modifying the work area in response to the change.

18. A hardware memory device having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a processor of an Information Handling System (IHS), cause the IHS to:
identify a posture of a first display relative to a second display of the IHS;
based on the identification, produce a work area on an external display;
retrieve a docked height of the IHS associated with the posture; and
create a pass-through area between the external display and at least one of the first or second displays based upon the docked height.

19. The hardware memory device of claim 18 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, further cause the IHS to:
detect a change of posture or orientation; and
modify the work area in response to the change.

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• Yildiz Yagiz Can
• Bryan Rex W
• Seibert Philip M

Classifications

• G06F1/1679

  for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA (G06F1/1681 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/1677

  for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment · CPC title

• G06F1/1647 Primary

  including at least an additional display (G06F1/1692 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F2200/1637

  Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer · CPC title

• G06F1/1618 Primary

  the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure · CPC title