Abstract:
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of converting a computer from a folded position into an alternate position is disclosed. The method includes: providing a display; providing a base coupled to the display; providing a base flap pivotally attached to the display and the base, the base flap being attached to the display at a distance sufficiently away from edges of the display to provide a reduced volumetric size of the computer in a laptop position.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/367,378, filed on Feb. 14, 2003. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to the field of computer systems. More particularly, an embodiment of the present invention provides methods and apparatus related to convertible and/or detachable laptops.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0003]    Notebook (also called laptop) computers are lightweight personal computers, which are quickly gaining popularity. The popularity of the notebook computers has especially increased since their prices have been dropping significantly, while maintaining similar performance as their larger siblings (i.e., desktop computers or workstations).  
           [0004]    One clear advantage of notebook computers is their ease of portability. The lighter weight and increased battery life has made the use of notebook computers more commonplace. Aside from size, a major difference between notebook computers and personal computers is the graphical display system. Notebook computer designers employ a variety of techniques to produce lightweight graphical display systems.  
           [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 shows a typical notebook computer in accordance with the prior art. A notebook computer  100  typically includes a liquid crystal display (LCD)  102  for displaying graphical images and a base unit  104  for encasing different hardware elements of the notebook computer. The hardware elements include a keyboard  106 , a battery  108 , a hard drive (not shown), and a central processing unit (CPU, not shown).  
           [0006]    In some applications, the notebook computers may be utilized as a tablet (also called a convertible laptop), i.e., where a user may input data by inputting it directly onto the LCD  102 . Some users, however, dislike tablet computers because their usage requires a different approach (e.g., using a pen instead of a pointing stick). Additionally, the current convertible laptops use their own proprietary or nonstandard operating systems (OSes). The nonstandard implementation of the convertible laptops creates compatibility issues with other computer systems in use at the user&#39;s home or office.  
           [0007]    The wider use of notebook computers has also created problems for their users, including physical ones. Incidents of carpal tunnel syndrome, eyestrain, and backache are on the rise. For example, increased passenger capacity in airplanes has resulted in reduced leg and shoulder room, in turn, increasing the stress on laptop users&#39; posture when utilizing their computers. For example, with respect to FIG. 1, users often rest their palms on the hand rest area of the keyboard ( 210 ) while typing on the keyboard  106 , which increases the stress on the user&#39;s hands. Similarly, user eyestrain may result when the LCD panel  102  cannot be tilted back far enough (e.g., due to space restrictions), thereby rendering a less than ideal brightness yield from the incorrectly angled LCD panel.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar or identical elements, and in which:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a prior art depiction of a notebook computer;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a computer system  200  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary side view of a computer system  300  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary side view of a computer system  400  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary front, side view of a computer system  500  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary top view of a folded computer system  600  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary top view of an unfolded computer system  700  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary top view of a computer system  800  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary top view of a computer system  900  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 10 through 16 illustrate exemplary side views of computer systems in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]    In the following detailed description of the present invention numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.  
         [0020]    Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a computer system  200  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The computer system  200  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  202  coupled to a bus  205 . In one embodiment, the CPU  202  is a processor in the Pentium® family of processors including the Pentium® II processor family, Pentium® III processors, Pentium® IV processors available from Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif. Alternatively, other CPUs may be used, such as Intel&#39;s XScale processor, Intel&#39;s Banias Processors, ARM processors available from ARM Ltd. of Cambridge, the United Kingdom, or OMAP processor (an enhanced ARM-based processor) available from Texas Instruments, Inc., of Dallas, Tex.  
         [0022]    A chipset  207  is also coupled to the bus  205 . The chipset  207  includes a memory control hub (MCH)  210 . The MCH  210  may include a memory controller  212  that is coupled to a main system memory  215 . Main system memory  215  stores data and sequences of instructions that are executed by the CPU  202  or any other device included in the system  200 . In one embodiment, main system memory  215  includes dynamic random access memory (DRAM); however, main system memory  215  may be implemented using other memory types. Additional devices may also be coupled to the bus  205 , such as multiple CPUs and/or multiple system memories.  
         [0023]    The MCH  210  may also include a graphics interface  213  coupled to a graphics accelerator  230 . In one embodiment, graphics interface  213  is coupled to graphics accelerator  230  via an accelerated graphics port (AGP) that operates according to an AGP Specification Revision 2.0 interface developed by Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif.  
         [0024]    In addition, the hub interface couples the MCH  210  to an input/output control hub (ICH)  240  via a hub interface. The ICH  240  provides an interface to input/output (I/O) devices within the computer system  200 . The ICH  240  may be coupled to a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus adhering to a Specification Revision 2.1 bus developed by the PCI Special Interest Group of Portland, Oreg. Thus, the ICH  240  includes a PCI bridge  246  that provides an interface to a PCI bus  242 . The PCI bridge  246  provides a data path between the CPU  202  and peripheral devices.  
         [0025]    The PCI bus  242  includes an audio device  250  and a disk drive  255 . However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other devices may be coupled to the PCI bus  242 . In addition, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the CPU  202  and MCH  210  could be combined to form a single chip. Furthermore, graphics accelerator  230  may be included within MCH  210  in other embodiments.  
         [0026]    In addition, other peripherals may also be coupled to the ICH  240  in various embodiments. For example, such peripherals may include integrated drive electronics (IDE) or small computer system interface (SCSI) hard drive(s), universal serial bus (USB) port(s), a keyboard, a mouse, parallel port(s), serial port(s), floppy disk drive(s), digital output support (e.g., digital video interface (DVI)), and the like. Moreover, the computer system  200  is envisioned to receive electrical power from one or more of the following sources for its operation: a battery, alternating current (AC) outlet (e.g., through a transformer and/or adaptor), automotive power supplies, airplane power supplies, and the like.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary side view of a computer system  300  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the computer system  300  may be similar to or identical to the computer systems discussed with respect to the figures herein. In one embodiment, the computer system  300  may be a laptop (also known as a notebook) computer, which may be converted to a tablet computer (i.e., a convertible laptop).  
         [0028]    The computer system  300  includes a pen receptacle  302  (e.g., to receive a pen for the tablet embodiment), a display  304  (which may also be used as a tablet), a base  306 , and a base flap  308 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the pen receptacle  302  may be embedded in the display  304 . In another embodiment of the present invention, the display unit  304  may be an LCD, plasma display, and the like. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the display unit may include hardware elements such as a CPU, peripherals, interfaces, chipsets, and the like (such as those discussed with respect to FIG. 1). In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the base  306  houses hardware devices such as batteries, storage devices, communication ports, a keyboard, and the like.  
         [0029]    The base flap  308  may be wrapped around the tablet  304  and attached to it by a latch  310 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the latch  310  permits the base flap  308  to pivotally rotate against the base  306  (e.g., utilizing a hinge, screw, pin, and other like fasteners). The base flap  308  may be constructed with material such as leather, plastic, fabric, metal, flexible cable, and the like. In an embodiment of the present invention, the base flap  308  may have one or more embedded and/or surface-attached solid and/or semi-solid structures (e.g., at select locations) to provide structural rigidity sufficient to support the tablet  304  and/or other components provided within the base flap  308  while being able to wrap around the tablet  304  (as illustrated in FIG. 3).  
         [0030]    The tablet  304  further includes openings  312  to permit airflow for cooling purposes. The base  306  may include a keyboard as will be discussed with respect to for example FIG. 7. Both the tablet  304  and the base  306  may include additional connections  314  for attachment of external devices such as ear phones, microphones, speakers, communication devices, AC adaptors, and the like. The tablet  304  may further include a locking tap  316  (e.g., to engage/disengage the base  306  from the tablet  304 ).  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary side view of a computer system  400  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the side view illustrated may of an opposite side of the computer system  300  of FIG. 3. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the computer system  400  may be similar to or identical to the computer systems discussed with respect to the figures herein.  
         [0032]    The computer system  400  includes the tablet  304 , the base  306 , openings  412  (e.g., to permit airflow to cool the computer system  400 ), a locking tap  416  (e.g., to engage/disengage the base  306  from the tablet  304 ), connectors  414  (e.g., to provide communication facilities for external peripherals such as expansion ports, microphones, speakers, earphones, and the like), port(s)  418  (e.g., USB ports or its varieties such as USB2.0), and controls (e.g., to control volume, brightness of the display, and the like (not shown)).  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary front, side view of a computer system  500  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the computer system  500  may be similar to or identical to the computer systems discussed with respect to the figures herein. The computer system  500  includes the base  306 , the tablet  304 , and indicators  502 . The indicators  502  may illustrate one or more of the following: battery power remaining, hard drive access, floppy access, power mode (e.g., on or off), suspend mode, and the like.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary top view of a folded computer system  600  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the computer system  600  may be similar to or identical to the computer systems discussed with respect to the figures herein. The computer system  600  includes one or more latches  602  to engage/disengage the base flap  308  from the tablet  304 .  
         [0035]    The computer system  600  further includes a display  604 , a scroll contact  606  with one or more functions (e.g., for scrolling up or down and selecting), and a return button  608  (e.g., for navigating backwards). In an embodiment of the present invention, the display  604  may be an always-on display to provide information to a user. The display  604  may be an LCD. The display  604  may also receive input data directly (for example, by on-screen writing). In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the display  604  is envisioned to provide data to a user while the computer system  600  is in a folded position, e.g., for faster access to data without having to unfold the computer system  600 . Additionally, the use of the display  604  in place of the tablet  304  may provide reduced power consumption, thereby extending the battery life of the computer system  600 . The computer system  600  may further include a speaker portion  610  to provide sound signals.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary top view of an unfolded computer system  700  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the computer system  700  may be similar to or identical to the computer systems discussed with respect to the figures herein. The computer system  700  includes a keyboard  702  mounted in the base  306 , a pointing stick  704  (e.g., to navigate), one or more selection buttons  706  (e.g., to use for right-click/left-click functionality, or otherwise configurable for automating other tasks), one or more alignment tabs  710  in the tablet  304 , and one or more alignment tabs  712  in the base  306  (to match up with the tablet alignment tabs  710 ). In an embodiment of the present invention, the base alignment tabs  712  and the tablet alignment tabs  710  may be complementary (i.e., dimples versus extrusions) to provide proper alignment of the tablet  304  and the base  306  in a folded position such as shown in the FIG. 6.  
         [0037]    The computer system  700  further includes a guiding/locking mechanism  708  for engaging/disengaging the tablet  304  as it is adjusted against the base  306 . As illustrated the computer system  700  includes the base flap  308  and indicators  714  (e.g., embedded in the base  306 ). The indicators  714  may illustrate one or more of the following: battery power remaining, hard drive access, floppy access, power mode (e.g., on or off), suspend mode, and the like.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary top view of a computer system  800  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the computer system  800  may be similar to or identical to the computer systems discussed with respect to the figures herein. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the computer system  800  is the same as the computer system  600  of FIG. 6 with the base flap  308  detached from the tablet  304 . The computer system  800  includes the display  604 , the scroll contact  606 , the return button  608 , and the speaker portion  610 .  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary top view of a computer system  900  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the computer system  900  may be similar to or identical to the computer systems discussed with respect to the figures herein. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the computer system  900  illustrates the computer system  600  of FIG. 6 with the base flap  308  and the base  306  folded under the tablet  304 . The computer system  900  includes a pen  902  for writing on the tablet  304 . The pen  902  may be a battery-less pen such as pens provided by Wacom Company, Ltd., of Japan. In an embodiment of the present invention, the tablet  304  has a magnetic underlay, resistive underlay, and/or the like to receive signals input by the pen  902 .  
         [0040]    As illustrated in FIG. 9, in its folded position, the computer system  900  may have a portion of the base flap  308  protruding. The tablet  304  further includes a speaker portion  910  to provide sound signals, a microphone  908  to receive sound signals, one or more buttons  906  (e.g., power on/off button, security button (e.g., for safe mode operations which enable quick suspension or wake up of the computer system  900 ), and/or rotate button (e.g., to rotate the image displayed on the tablet  304  by a certain degree such as 90 or 180 degrees in clockwise or counter-clockwise directions)). Also illustrated in FIG. 9, are perimeter portions  904  of the tablet  304  which may embed (or cover) one or more types of wireless antennas for provision of global system for mobile communication (GSM), general packet radio service (GPRS), Bluetooth, institute of electrical and electronics engineers (IEEE) 802.11x, and the like.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIGS. 10 through 16 illustrate exemplary side views of computer systems in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the computer system shown in the FIGS. 10-16 may be similar to or identical to the computer systems discussed with respect to the other figures herein. FIG. 10 illustrates the side view of the computer system in a fully folded position. FIG. 11 illustrates the side view of the computer system as the base  306  and the tablet  304  are pulled apart from the fully folded position of FIG. 10. FIG. 12 illustrates the side view of the computer system as the base  306  and the tablet  304  are further pulled apart from the position shown in FIG. 11.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 13 illustrates the side view of the computer system in a laptop (or notebook) position. As shown in FIG. 13, the tablet  304  may rest on the base  306 , with the base flap  308  providing support for the tablet  304 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the tablet  304  may be locked in position (such as discussed with respect to FIG. 7). In an embodiment of the present invention, it is envisioned that the laptop position illustrated in FIG. 13 provides the laptop configuration in a relatively lower volumetric space (e.g., by reducing the amount of space required in the back of the laptop screen to achieve a screen angle required by a user in relatively tighter spaces while providing access to the keyboard and/or other input devices). In one embodiment of the present invention, the angle between the face side of the tablet  304  and the face side of the base  306  is between about 95 to 140 degrees when in the laptop position.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 14 illustrates the side view of the computer system as it is further folded into a tablet configuration. As shown in FIG. 14, the base flap  308  may be folded between the base  306  and the tablet  304 . FIG. 15 illustrates the side view of the computer system in a tablet configuration with the pen  902  providing input data to the tablet  304 . As shown in FIG. 15, in the tablet configuration, the base  306  and the base flap  308  provide support for the tablet  304 .  
         [0044]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the base  306  is automatically deactivated once the computer system assumes its tablet configuration. Similarly, it is envisioned that the base  306  may be reactivated once the computer system leaves its tablet configuration. This approach may assist in eliminating input of stray data when the computer system is switching between a tablet and laptop configuration, for example. FIG. 16 illustrates the side view of the computer system in a tablet configuration with the base  306  and/or the base flap  308  detached (such as discussed with respect to latches  602  of FIG. 6).  
         [0045]    Whereas many alterations and modifications of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description, it is to be understood that any particular embodiment shown and described by way of illustration is in no way intended to be considered limiting. Therefore, references to details of various embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claims which in themselves recite only those features regarded as essential to the invention.