Methods and apparatus to operate closed-lid portable computers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11379016-B2
Application number	US-201916421217-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2019
Priority date	May 23, 2019
Publication date	Jul 5, 2022
Grant date	Jul 5, 2022

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to operate closed-lid portable computers are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a camera input analyzer to analyze image data captured by a world facing camera on a portable computer when a lid of the portable computer is in a closed position. The world facing camera is on a first side of the lid. The portable computer includes a primary display on a second side of the lid opposite the first side. The example apparatus further includes a secondary display controller to render content via a secondary display of the portable computer in response to the analysis of the image data. The secondary display controller is to render the content on the secondary display while the lid of the portable computer is in the closed position and the primary display is turned off.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable computer, comprising:
a world facing camera on a first side of a lid of the portable computer;
a primary display on a second side of the lid opposite the first side, the primary display to be deactivated at a first point in time when the lid is in a closed position;
a secondary display distinct from the primary display;
camera input analyzer instructions to cause processor circuitry to analyze image data captured by the world facing camera when the lid of the portable computer is in a closed position; and
a secondary display controller to:
cause presentation of content via the secondary display in response to the analysis of the image data, the secondary display controller to cause the presentation of the content on the secondary display at the first point in time; and
cause activation of the primary display in response to a user interaction with the secondary display at a second point in time while the lid is in the closed position, the second point in time after the first point in time.

2. The portable computer of claim 1 , wherein the secondary display is disposed in a base of the portable computer, the lid rotatable relative to the base about a hinge connecting the lid to the base.

3. The portable computer of claim 2 , wherein the hinge is to automatically open the lid in response to the analysis of the image data authenticating a user.

4. The portable computer of claim 1 , wherein the camera input analyzer instructions are to cause the processor circuitry to perform facial recognition analysis on the image data to identify a person captured by the world facing camera, and further including login controller instructions to cause the processor circuitry to login the person in response to the processor circuitry recognizing the person as an authorized user of the portable computer, the processor circuitry to login the person before the lid is moved from the closed position.

5. The portable computer of claim 4 , wherein the content presented via the secondary display includes personalized information corresponding to the authorized user when the person is recognized as the authorized user, and the content presented via the secondary display includes generic information when the processor circuitry is unable to recognize the person.

6. The portable computer of claim 1 , further including a human presence sensor to detect a presence of a person nearby the portable computer, the human presence sensor to trigger activation of the world facing camera.

7. The portable computer of claim 1 , wherein the content is first content, and further including:
audio input analyzer instructions to cause the processor circuitry to analyze a voice command spoken when the lid is in the closed position; and
a microphone on the portable computer to capture the voice command when the lid is in the closed position and the voice command is spoken by a person within audible range of the microphone, the secondary display controller to cause presentation of second content via the secondary display in response to the analysis of the voice command.

8. The portable computer of claim 7 , wherein the processor circuitry is to perform voice recognition analysis of the voice command without communicating with a remote server.

9. The portable computer of claim 7 , further including:
system controller instructions to cause the processor circuitry to determine whether third content is to be presented via the primary display in a response to the voice command; and
a primary display controller to activate the primary display while the lid is still closed and cause presentation of the third content via the primary display.

10. The portable computer of claim 1 , further including a communications interface to receive a push notification from a device separate from the portable computer while the lid is in the closed position, the secondary display to present a graphic while the lid is in the closed position, the graphic including an option for a user to respond to the push notification.

11. The portable computer of claim 10 , wherein the push notification corresponds to the device sharing data with the portable computer.

12. The portable computer of claim 1 , further including touch-based input analyzer instructions to cause the processor circuitry to analyze user interactions with the secondary display detected by a touch sensor associated with the secondary display.

13. The portable computer of claim 12 , wherein the touch sensor is associated with a touchpad on a base of the portable computer, the secondary display corresponding to an extension of the touchpad, the secondary display to extend along a front edge of the base to be visible when the lid is in the closed position.

14. The portable computer of claim 1 , further including a primary display controller to cause presentation of a primary user interface via the primary display when the lid is open and the primary display is powered, the primary user interface associated with an application running on the portable computer, the secondary display to cause presentation of a secondary user interface associated with the application via the secondary display.

15. The portable computer of claim 14 , wherein the secondary user interface includes controls to enable a user to operate the application, the primary display controller to update the primary user interface based on user interactions with the controls in the secondary user interface.

16. The portable computer of claim 15 , wherein the secondary display controller is to continue to cause presentation of the secondary user interface via the secondary display after the lid is returned to the closed position and the primary display is turned off, the controls in the secondary user interface to enable the user to continue to operate the application when the lid is in the closed position.

17. The portable computer of claim 14 , wherein the primary display controller is implemented with a first processor and the secondary display controller is implemented with a second processor.

18. The portable computer of claim 17 , wherein the second processor consumes less power than the first processor.

19. The portable computer of claim 1 , wherein the world facing camera is a panamorphic camera having a field of view of at least 180 degrees.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a portable computer to at least:
analyze first image data captured by a world facing camera on the portable computer when a lid of the portable computer is in a closed position, the world facing camera on a first side of the lid, the portable computer including a primary display on a second side of the lid opposite the first side;
cause presentation of content via a secondary display of the portable computer in response to the analysis of the first image data, the portable computer to present the content on the secondary display while the lid of the portable computer is in the closed position and the primary display is turned off; and
cause the world facing camera to capture second image data when the lid is in an open position, the world facing camera having a field of view of at least 180 degrees;
cause a user facing camera to capture third image data concurrently with the world facing camera capturing the second image data, the user facing camera on the second side of the lid, the user facing camera having a field of view of at least 180 degrees; and
combine the second image data with the

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Cooper Barnes
• Magi Aleksander
• Kumar Arvind
• Raffa Giuseppe
• March Wendy
• Bartscherer Marko
• Lazutkina Irina
• Kong Duck Young
• Shi Meng
• Paranjape Vivek
• Gomathi Nayagam Vinod
• Anderson Glen J

Classifications

• G06F3/167

  Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback · CPC title

• G06F21/32

  using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints · CPC title

• G06F1/3231

  Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users · CPC title

• G06F1/1616 Primary

  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

• G06F1/1681

  Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683) · CPC title