Electronic apparatus and controlling method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9439309-B2
Application number	US-201313968437-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2013
Priority date	Aug 17, 2012
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

An electronic apparatus and a controlling method thereof are provided. A fastened mechanism of the electronic apparatus is configured to secure a first housing and a second housing of the electronic apparatus. An operating object within a sensing range is sensed via a first sensor unit. A first sensing signal is sent to a control unit when the sensor unit sensed the operating object within the sensing range. A control signal is sent to the fastened mechanism for unlocking the fastened mechanism when the control unit receives the first sensing signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic apparatus, comprising:
a fastened mechanism, securely fastening a first housing and a second housing of the electronic apparatus;
a control unit, coupled to the fastened mechanism;
a first sensor unit, coupled to the control unit, sensing whether an operating object is existed within a sensing range so as to send out a first sensing signal; and
a second sensor unit, coupled to the control unit, sensing a motion state of the first housing so as to send out a second sensing signal to the control unit;
wherein, when the control unit receives the first sensing signal, the control unit determines whether a variance of the second sensing signal at a first preset time exceeds a set value, and when the variance of the second sensing signal at the first preset time does not exceed the set value, the control unit sends a first control signal to the fastened mechanism to release a fastened state between the first housing and the second housing.

2. The electronic apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the fastened mechanism comprises:
a fastened unit; and
a first drive unit, coupled to the fastened unit and the control unit, driving the fastened unit to perform unlocking or locking.

3. The electronic apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein when the control unit determines that the variance of the second sensing signal at the first preset time exceeds the set value, the control unit does not send out the first control signal, so that the first housing and the second housing are maintained in the fastened state.

4. The electronic apparatus as recited in claim 3 , wherein the second sensor is a g-sensor.

5. The electronic apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
a first connector, located at the first housing;
a second drive unit, coupled to the first connector and the control unit; and
a third sensor unit, coupled to the first connector and the control unit for sensing whether the first housing is connected with the second housing.

6. The electronic apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein when the second drive unit drives the first connector to generate a reverse displacement, the first connector is detached from a second connector on the second housing.

7. The electronic apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein when the control unit receives the first sensing signal from the first sensor unit, the control unit sends a second control signal to the second drive unit so as to enable the second drive unit to drive the first connector to generate a reverse displacement; and then, after a second preset time has passed, if the third sensor unit continues to sense that the first housing is still connected with the second housing, the control unit sends a third control signal to the second drive unit so as to enable the second drive unit to drive the first connector to generate a forward displacement, and the control unit drives the fastened mechanism to let the first housing and the second housing are fastened to each other.

8. The electronic apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises:
a power storage device, supplying power to the control unit when the electronic apparatus enters a sleep mode;
wherein, under the sleep mode, the control unit drives a power supply unit of the electronic apparatus to supply power to the fastened mechanism when the control unit receives the first sensing signal from the first sensor unit.

9. The electronic apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein
the first housing is configured with the control unit and the first sensor unit; and
the first housing or the second housing is configured with the fastened mechanism, or the first housing and the second housing are each configured with the fastened mechanism.

10. A controlling method of an electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus using a fastened mechanism to secure a first housing and a second housing of the electronic apparatus, the controlling method comprising:
sensing an operating object within a sensing range via a first sensor unit;
sending a first sensing signal to a control unit when the first sensor unit senses the operating object within the sensing range; and
determining whether a variance of the second sensing signal at a first preset time exceeds a set value first preset time via the control unit, wherein the second sensing signal is sent out from a second sensor and the second sensor is configured to sense a motion state of the first housing;
when the variance of the second sensing signal at the first preset time does not exceed the set value, sending a first control signal via the control unit to the fastened mechanism to release a fastened state between the first housing and the second housing; and
when the variance of the second sensing signal at the first preset time exceeds the set value, maintaining the first housing and the second housing in the fastened state by not sending the first control signal via the control unit.

11. The controlling method of an electronic apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein the second sensor is a g-sensor.

12. The controlling method of an electronic apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein when the control unit receives the first sensing signal from the first sensor unit, further comprising:
sending a second control signal to a drive unit corresponding to a first connector via the control unit, so that the drive unit drives the first connector to generate a reverse displacement, wherein the first connector is located at the first housing and is configured to connect with a second connector located at the second housing.

13. The controlling method of an electronic apparatus as recited in claim 12 , wherein after sending the second control signal to the drive unit corresponded by the first connector via the control unit to enable the drive unit to drive the first connector to generate the reverse displacement, further comprising:
after a second preset time has passed, and when the first housing is sensed by a third sensor unit as to be still connected with the second housing,
sending a third control signal to the drive unit via the control unit to enable the drive unit to drive the first connector to generate a forward displacement; and
driving the fastened mechanism via the control unit to let the first housing and the second, housing are fastened to each other.

14. The controlling method of an electronic apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein when the first sensor unit senses the operating object within the sensing range, if the electronic apparatus is in a sleep mode, then the control unit drives a power supply unit of the electronic apparatus to supply power to the fastened mechanism.

15. An electronic apparatus, configured to be a portable electronic apparatus, comprising:
a fastened mechanism, securely fastening the electronic apparatus and a cradle;
a control unit, coupled to the fastened mechanism;
a first sensor unit, coupled to the control unit, sensing whether an operating object exists within a sensing range; and
a power storage device, supplying power to the control unit and the first sensor unit when the electronic apparatus enters a sleep mode, such that the control unit and the first sensor unit are still operable during the sleep mode,
wherein, when the first sensor unit senses the operating object within the sensing range, sends a first sensing signal to the control unit and the control unit, and after the control unit receives the first sensing signal, sends a first control signal to the fastened mechanism to release the fastened state between the electronic apparatu

Assignees

• Shen Chun-Te
• Tien Yung-Ming
• Chuang Chih-Tarng
• Wang Hong-Tien
• Chen Shi-Kuan
• Gong Shih-Chin
• Chen Yung-Hsiang
• Hsu Wei-Chih
• Compal Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Shen Chun-Te
• Tien Yung-Ming
• Chuang Chih-Tarng
• Wang Hong-Tien
• Chen Shi-Kuan
• Gong Shih-Chin
• Chen Yung-Hsiang
• Hsu Wei-Chih

Classifications

• 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

• H05K5/0221 Primary

  Locks; Latches · 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

• G06F1/1654

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