Orientation specific control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11023014-B2
Application number	US-201815869602-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 12, 2018
Priority date	Jan 12, 2018
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

The description relates to orientation specific control of computing devices. One example can include an orientation specific actuator for controlling functionality of a computing device. The example can include providing a first functionality related to a first orientation of the computing device in response to engagement of the orientation specific actuator. The example can also include providing a second functionality in response to engagement of the orientation specific actuator in a second orientation of the computing device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device, comprising:
a first portion and a second portion rotatably secured via a hinge assembly such that the device is in a closed orientation where inner surfaces of the first and second portions overlay one another and such that the device is in an opened orientation where the first portion and the second portion are rotated such that the inner surfaces are apart; and,
an orientation specific actuator positioned on the first portion, the orientation specific actuator having a first stage in the closed orientation where the orientation specific actuator has a more proud position above an external surface of the first portion of the device, wherein the orientation specific actuator is movable to a second stage in the opened orientation where the orientation specific actuator has a less proud position above the external surface of the first portion of the device, the orientation specific actuator having a first stroke associated with a first functionality and a second stroke associated with a second functionality, the first and second strokes being accessible with the device in the closed orientation and the second stroke being accessible with the device in the opened orientation.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first functionality comprises causing the device to open in response to engagement of the orientation specific actuator with the first stroke.

3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising securing elements that cause the first and second portions to be released from the closed orientation responsive to the first stroke.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second functionality comprises powering up the device or powering down the device based at least in part on a current power state of the device in response to engagement of the orientation specific actuator with the second stroke.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a power switch positioned in the first portion or positioned in the second portion that causes the device to be powered up or powered down responsive to the second stroke.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein opening the device causes the orientation specific actuator to automatically lower from the first stage to the second stage.

7. The device of claim 6 , further comprising magnets that retain the orientation specific actuator at the second stage where the device is at the opened orientation.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the orientation specific actuator functions as a power, sleep, wake function button at the second stage.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein a combination of the first stroke and the second stroke corresponds to an amount a user is able to depress the orientation specific actuator where the device is in the closed orientation.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein a height of the orientation specific actuator above a surface of the first portion is greater than the combination of the first stroke and the second stroke.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein a range of functionality provided by the orientation specific actuator changes depending on a current orientation of the device, the current orientation including the opened and closed orientations.

12. A device, comprising:
a first portion and a second portion rotatably secured via a hinge assembly between opened and closed orientations; and,
an orientation specific actuator positioned on the first portion, the orientation specific actuator having a first stage corresponding to a first functionality when the orientation specific actuator is depressed a first stroke distance while the device is in the closed orientation and the orientation specific actuator having a second stage corresponding to a second functionality when the orientation specific actuator is depressed a second stroke distance, different than the first stroke distance, while the device is in the opened orientation.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the second functionality is a subset of the first functionality.

14. The device of claim 12 , wherein the second functionality is different than the first functionality.

15. The device of claim 12 , wherein the functionality provided by the orientation specific actuator automatically changes as the device transitions between the opened and closed orientations.

16. A device, comprising:
a first portion and a second portion;
a hinge assembly configured to rotate the first and second portions between opened and closed orientations; and,
an orientation specific actuator positioned on the first portion, comprising:
an interface element configured to, responsive to engagement of the orientation specific actuator, cause the device to power up or power down based at least in part on a current state of the device, and
a controlling assembly configured to cause the device to open responsive to the engagement of the orientation specific actuator where the device is in the closed orientation.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the controlling assembly comprises a magnet, and wherein the engagement of the orientation specific actuator where the device is in the closed orientation causes the magnet to release the first and second portion of the device to the opened orientation.

18. The device of claim 16 , wherein the interface element comprises a switch, and wherein the engagement of the orientation specific actuator activates the switch.

19. The device of claim 16 , wherein at least one component of the orientation specific actuator is positioned on the second portion.

20. The device of claim 16 , wherein the interface element comprises multiple interface elements.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Park Daniel C
• Aagaard Karsten
• SRINIVASAN Nishant
• Rouger Benoit Guillaume Henri
• Schweers Michael

Classifications

• G06F1/1684 Primary

  Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675 · CPC title

• G06F1/1677 Primary

  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

• G06F1/1616

  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

• G06F1/3206

  Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality · CPC title

• G06F1/3287

  by switching off individual functional units in the computer system · CPC title