System and method for display power management for dual screen display device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9727134-B2
Application number	US-201314066484-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2013
Priority date	Oct 29, 2013
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

An information handling system may have two display screens including a first integrated display device and a second integrated display device attached via a hinge. A processor determines a first relative orientation of the first integrated display device to the second integrated display device from a plurality of orientation sensors and further determines working software application context by detecting at least one software application running on the information handling system. The system further includes a controller module deploys a power savings strategy. For example, the controller may restrict power usage to the first or second integrated display device based on the first relative orientation and the working software application context.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An information handling system comprising:
a first integrated display device and a second integrated display device attached via a hinge;
a processor to determine a first relative orientation of the first integrated display device to the second integrated display device from a plurality of orientation sensors;
the processor to determine a working software application context by detecting at least one software application running on the information handling system; and
a controller module for restricting power usage by either the first integrated display device or the second integrated display device based on the first relative orientation and the working software application context while keeping the non-restricted first integrated display device or second integrated display device at a previous power level,
wherein the first relative orientation is selected from a plurality of orientation modes determined from hinged relative angle positions of the first integrated display device to the second relative display device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first relative orientation further is determined from a hinge azimuth orientation.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the orientation sensors further comprise a solid state magnetometer, a gyroscope, and an accelerometer.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the first integrated display device further includes an integrated camera as an orientation sensor to detect gaze;
the working software application context includes a reading application; and
the controller module dims the second integrated display device upon receiving gaze identification data indicating a user is viewing the first integrated display device.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first relative orientation is in laptop mode with the hinged relative angle position between 85 and 130 degrees.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the first relative orientation is in laptop mode;
the second integrated display device displays a virtual keyboard;
the working software application context includes office applications; and
the controller module dims the second integrated display device to reduce power consumption.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the first relative orientation is in a tablet mode with the hinged relative angle position between 340 and 360 degrees;
the first integrated display device is designated a primary display device; and
the controller module powers down the second integrated display device.

8. A computer-implemented method of display power savings for an information handling system having a first integrated display device connectably hinged to a second integrated display device, comprising:
determining, via a processor executing instructions, a first relative orientation of the first integrated display device to the second integrated display device from a plurality of orientation sensors;
determining a working software application context by detecting at least one software application running on the information handling system; and
restricting power usage to either the first integrated display device or the second integrated display device, via a controller module, based on the first relative orientation and the working software application context while keeping the non-restricted first integrated display device or second integrated display device at a previous power level,
wherein the first relative orientation is selected from a plurality of orientation modes selected from at least a laptop mode, a book mode, a tablet mode, and a double tablet mode.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein first relative orientation is determined from hinged relative angle positions of the first integrated display device to the second integrated display device.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first relative orientation is further determined from a hinge azimuth orientation.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of orientation modes further comprises a tent mode.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the working software application context is in a reading or note-taking application, further comprising:
detecting a gaze direction to the first integrated display device via an integrated camera in the information handling system;
dimming the second integrated display device via the controller module to reduce power consumption;
wherein the first relative orientation is in book mode.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
detecting that the gaze direction switches to the second integrated display device via an integrated camera in the information handling system;
restoring the second integrated display device via the controller module to full power;
dimming the first integrated display device to reduce power consumption.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
reducing CPU power consumption while maintaining full power to the integrated camera.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the working software application context is in a reading or note-taking application, further comprising:
detecting that the first integrated display device is receiving active touch screen inputs;
dimming the second integrated display device via the controller module to reduce power consumption;
wherein the first relative orientation is in dual tablet mode.

16. An information handling system comprising:
a first integrated display device and a second integrated display device attached via a hinge;
a processor to determine a first relative orientation of the first integrated display device to the second integrated display device from a plurality of orientation sensors;
the processor to determine a working software application context by detecting at least one software application running on the information handling system; and
a controller module for restricting power usage by either the first integrated display device or the second integrated display device based on the first relative orientation and the working software application context while keeping the non-restricted first integrated display device or second integrated display device at a previous power level,
wherein the first relative orientation is selected from a plurality of orientation modes selected from at least a laptop mode, a book mode, a tablet mode, and a tent mode.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first relative orientation is determined from hinged relative angle positions of the first integrated display device to the second relative display device.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first relative orientation is further determined from a hinge azimuth orientation.

19. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:
the processor determining that the first relative orientation is tent mode;
the controller module powering down the second integrated display device; and
the processor prompting on the first integrated display device whether a dual screen sharing working software application context is desired.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising:
the processor receiving data indicating the working software application context includes dual screen sharing; and
the processor initiating a duplicate display driver to simultaneously display applications on both the first integrated display device and the second integrated display device.

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• Aurongzeb Deeder M
• Knepper Lawrence E
• Bryan Rex W
• Srinivasan Preeth K

Classifications

• G06F1/1686

  the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera · CPC title

• Y02B60/32

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• G06F1/1649

  the additional display being independently orientable, e.g. for presenting information to a second user · 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

• G06F3/013 Primary

  Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence) · CPC title