Patent Publication Number: US-2021191491-A1

Title: Awakening electronic devices in selected modes of operation

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Electronic devices can include various electronic components, including processors, memory devices, input/output (I/O) devices, and so forth. An electronic device can be transitioned between a lower power state and a higher power state. In the lower power state, various electronic components in an electronic device can be powered off, to conserve power. In the higher power state, electronic components of the electronic device can be powered on to allow normal operation of the electronic device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Some implementations of the present disclosure are described with respect to the following figures. 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic perspective view of an electronic device according to some examples. 
         FIG. 1B  is a block diagram of an electronic device that is able to awaken to a selected mode of operation according to some examples. 
         FIGS. 2A-2C  illustrate various different modes of operation of an electronic device according to some examples. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an electronic device according to further examples. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of a process to awaken an electronic device according to some examples. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a storage medium storing machine-readable instructions according to some examples. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the present disclosure, the article “a,” “an”, or “the” can be used to refer to a singular element, or alternatively to multiple elements unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Also, the term “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” “comprising,” “have,” or “having” is open ended and specifies the presence of the stated element(s), but does not preclude the presence or addition of other elements. 
     Examples of electronic devices include desktop computers, notebook computers, tablet computers, and so forth. Some electronic devices can be used in different modes, such as a clamshell mode (where an electronic device operates as a notebook computer) or a tablet mode (where an electronic device operates as a tablet computer). In the clamshell mode, a display unit of an electronic device is pivoted to an angle with respect to a base unit of the electronic device. The display unit includes a display device to display images to the user. The base unit can include a user input device, such as a physical keyboard, a physical touchpad, or a physical pointer device, to allow a user to make inputs to the electronic device. In the tablet mode, the display unit and the base unit of the electronic device are folded together such that the rear surfaces of the display unit and the display unit touch each other, and the display device of the display unit faces outwardly towards a user. The display device is a touch-sensitive display device that allows the user to make inputs using the touch-sensitive display device in the tablet mode, instead of using a user input device on the base unit of the electronic device. It is noted that in some cases, in the clamshell mode, a user can also make inputs using the touch-sensitive display device of the electronic device, in addition to using the user input device on the base unit. 
     Although some electronic devices can be used in multiple modes, they still do not offer flexibility in the number of modes in which the electronic device can be used, particularly in the context of awakening the electronic device from a lower power state to a higher power state. A lower power state of an electronic device refers to a state of the electronic device that consumes less power than a higher power state of the electronic device. For example, in the lower power state, an electronic component, or multiple electronic components, of the electronic device can be powered off. In the higher power state, an electronic component of the electronic device that was powered off in the lower power state is powered on in the higher power state, to allow for the electronic device to operate in a target manner. In the ensuing discussion, a lower power state is referred to as a sleep state, while the higher power state is referred to as an operational state. 
     In accordance with some implementations of the present disclosure, an electronic device can be provided with multiple displays to allow for an increased number of modes of operation of the electronic device. For example, in addition to the clamshell mode and the tablet mode, the electronic device can further be set for operation in a further mode (with some examples discussed further below). With electronic devices that can be operated in a greater number of modes of operation, some example mechanisms to awaken the electronic devices from a sleep state may not be adequate to cause the electronic devices to awaken to an operational state in the appropriate mode of operation. For example, activating a power button, opening a display unit of an electronic device, or receiving a packet over a network can trigger an interrupt to awaken the electronic device from the sleep state to the operational state. However, in some example electronic devices, mechanisms are not provided to allow the electronic devices to awaken into an appropriate mode of operation depending on a context of the electronic devices, such as its orientation, a rotational angle of a display unit relative to a base unit of the electronic device, and/or other factors. 
     In accordance with some implementations of the present disclosure, during the process of awakening an electronic device from a sleep state to an operational state (a transition between a lower power state and a higher power state), events corresponding to various sensors of the electronic device can be used to set the electronic device in a selected mode of operation, where the selected mode of operation is selected from multiple different modes of operation, depending on the context of the electronic device as determined from outputs of the sensors. The different modes of operation can correspond to different power levels. As a result, setting the electronic device to an appropriate mode of operation based on its context can enhance power savings. Also, the different modes of operation use multiple displays of the electronic device in different ways. 
     For example, in a first mode of operation, a first display can present a user interface device (such as a keyboard), while a second display can present an application image (an image generated by an application executed in the electronic device). Note that the user interface device (such as the keyboard) is a virtual user interface device displayed by the first display. In a second mode of operation, corresponding program images can be displayed by the multiple displays, where a “program image” can refer to an image (e.g., a graphical user interface screen, a picture, a video, text, etc.) generated by an application, an operating system, a firmware program, or any other machine-readable instructions. In yet a further mode of operation, one of the displays can be deactivated. There can be further modes of operation that use the multiple displays of the electronic device in different ways. 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  show an electronic device  100  that has a display unit  102  and a base unit  104 , where the display unit  102  is pivotally attached to the base unit  104  by a hinge  106 , or by multiple hinges  106 . The display unit  102  includes a first display  108 , and the base unit  104  includes a second display  110 . In further examples, more than two displays can be included in the electronic device  100 . 
     The displays  108  and  110  can display different information depending upon the mode of operation of the electronic device  100 . In the clamshell mode of operation depicted in  FIG. 1A , where the display unit  102  is angled with respect to the base unit  104  such that the user can see both the displays  108  and  110  of the electronic device  100 , the display  108  of the display unit  102  can be used to display information, such as program images or other information. The display  110  of the base unit  104  can be used to display a virtual user input device, such as a keyboard or other type of input device, including control elements that can be touched or selected by a user. 
     In a different clamshell orientation of the electronic device  100 , the display  110  of the base unit  104  can be used to display information, such as program images or other information, while the display  108  of the display unit  102  can be used to display a virtual user input device. 
     The electronic device  100  includes an awakening mode selector  112  according to some implementations that can be used to awaken the electronic device  100  from a sleep state to an operational state in a selected mode of operation that is selected from multiple different modes of operation that use the multiple displays  108  and  110 , where a first mode of operation uses the multiple displays in a way that is different from a second mode of operation. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 1B , the electronic device  100  includes a processor  114  that includes the awakening mode selector  112 . The processor can include any or some combination of the following: a microprocessor, a core of a multi-core microprocessor, a microcontroller, a programmable gate array, a programmable integrated circuit device, or any other hardware processing circuit. In other examples, the processor  114  can include a combination of a hardware processing circuit and machine-readable instructions executable on the hardware processing circuit. The awakening mode selector  112  includes a portion of the hardware processing circuit of the processor  114 , or alternatively, the awakening mode selector includes machine-readable instructions executable on the processor  114 . 
     The processor  114  can receive a wake event  116 , which can be an event that is responsive to an interrupt that is to trigger the electronic device  100  to awaken from a sleep state to an operational state. For example, an interrupt may be generated in response to a user pressing a power button, opening the display unit  102  from a closed position to an open position, or touching another user input device, such as a button, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchpad, and so forth. In further examples, the wake event  116  may be responsive to an interrupt generated in response to a packet received over a network by the electronic device  100 . In other examples, the wake event  116  may be responsive to an interrupt from a sensor, such as any of sensors  118  in the electronic device  100 . 
     Generally, the wake event  116  can be responsive to detecting an interrupt produced responsive to an output of a sensor, an actuation of a user input device, or a network connection. 
     Various different sensors  118  can be included in the electronic device  100 . A hinge position sensor can sense an angular position of a hinge  106  due to rotation of the display unit  102  with respect to the base unit  104 , such that the sensor  118  can cause an interrupt to be generated in response to movement of the display unit  102  relative to the base unit  104 . In further examples, the hinge position sensor can cause different interrupts to be generated for different rotational angles of the hinge. For example, a first interrupt can be triggered by the hinge position sensor in response to a first rotational angle of the hinge (e.g., the first rotational angle corresponds to the clamshell mode of operation). A second interrupt can be trigged by the hinge position sensor in response to a second rotational angle of the hinge (e.g., a 360° rotational angle corresponding to the tablet mode of operation). In further examples, additional interrupt(s) can be triggered in response to other rotational angles of the hinge. 
     Another sensor  118  can be a motion sensor, such as an accelerometer, to detect motion. Yet a further sensor can include a gyroscope to detect an orientation of the electronic device  100 . Another sensor  118  can include a light sensor to detect an amount of light around the electronic device  100 . A further sensor  118  can be a proximity sensor to detect proximity of a user to the electronic device  100 . In some examples, the proximity sensor can be a light sensor that measures reflected light to detect distance of a display to an object, such as a person. 
     As a further example, a sensor  118  can include a camera to perform eye tracking of a user, to determine a focus of the user. Depending on the focus of the user, selected portions of either or both of the displays  108  and  110  can be turned off in a respective mode of operation. 
     Each of the sensors  118  can trigger generation of an interrupt in response to detecting events that satisfy respective criteria (e.g., the motion detects motion of greater than a specified threshold, the light sensor detects light less than a specified threshold or greater than a specified threshold, the proximity sensor detects a user close to the electronic device  100 , etc.). 
     Although  FIG. 1A  shows the electronic device  100  in the clamshell mode of operation, it is noted that the electronic device  100  can be used in other modes of operation. The hinges  106  allow the display unit  102  to be rotated by about 360° with respect to the base unit  104  to provide the tablet mode of operation. When the display unit  102  is rotated by about 360° with respect to the base unit  104 , the rear surfaces of the display unit  102  and the base unit  104  can touch each other, and one of the displays  108  and  110  can face outwardly and towards the user. The other of the displays  108  and  110  lays on a surface, such as a desktop or a user&#39;s lap. In the tablet mode of operation, the electronic device  100  can be used as a tablet computer, where the display device  108  or  110  can be a touch-sensitive display device for displaying information as well as to accept user touch inputs. 
     Another mode of operation is a flat mode of operation, where the display unit  102  is rotated by about 180° with respect to the base unit  104 , and the electronic device  100  is laid flat on a planar surface, such as the a desktop. In the flat mode of operation, both the displays  108  and  110  can be used to display information, and both the displays  108  and  110  can accept touch inputs. For example, in the flat mode of operation, the display  108  can display a first program image, and the display  110  can display a second program image different from the first program image. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2A , another mode of operation is a tent mode of operation, where the display unit  102  is pivoted to be angled with respect to the base unit  104 , and the electronic device is placed generally in a portrait orientation. In the tent mode of operation shown in  FIG. 2A , a first display  108  can be facing a first user, while the second display  110  can be facing a second user. In this mode of operation, the displays  108  and  110  can display identical information, such that both users are seeing the same information (e.g., same program image0, or alternatively, the display  108  can present display information tailored to the first user, and the display  110  can display information tailored to the second user. 
     In some examples, in the tent mode of operation, proximity sensors of the electronic device  100  can detect if users are in the proximity of the respective displays  108  and  110 . If the proximity sensors  108  and  110  detect proximity of the users to the displays  108  and  110 , then the electronic device  100  can activate both the displays  108 . However, if the proximity sensors detect that no user is in the proximity of one of the displays  108  and  110 , then the electronic device  100  can deactivate that display. 
       FIG. 2B  shows a stand mode of operation, where the display unit  102  has been rotated by greater than 270° with respect to the base unit  104 , such that the display  108  of the display unit  102  is at an angle and faces toward the user, whereas the display of the base unit  104  faces a surface on which the electronic device  100  is placed. In the stand mode of operation, the display  108  of the display unit  102  can be activated, whereas the display  110  of the base unit  104  can be deactivated. The stand mode of operation is similar to the tablet mode of operation in that one display is activated while another display is deactivated. In a different configuration of the stand mode of operation, the display  108  of the display unit can face the surface on which the electronic device  100  is laid, while the display  110  of the base unit  104  is facing the user and presenting information. In such an alternative arrangement, the display  108  of the display unit  102  is deactivated. 
     Another mode of operation is the book mode of operation where the display unit  102  and the base unit  104  are pivoted with respect to one another and held in an orientation that is similar to a way a user would hold a book when the book is in an open position and the user is reading the book. Such a book orientation is shown in  FIG. 2C , where the first display  108  of the display unit  102  can display first information (e.g., one page of a book), while the second display  110  of the base unit  104  displays second information (e.g., a second page of a book). 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the electronic device  100  according to further examples. The electronic device  100  is similar to the electronic device of  FIG. 1B , except that additional components are depicted in the electronic device  100  of  FIG. 3 . The electronic device  100  of  FIG. 3  includes a power supply  302 , which is able to provide a power supply voltage (or multiple power supply voltages) to power various electronic components of the electronic device  100 , including the displays  108  and  110 , the processor  114 , and the sensors  118 . In some examples, during the sleep state of the electronic device  100 , the power supply  302  can remove power from the displays  108  and  110  and the processor  114 . However, in the sleep state, the power supply  302  can maintain active the power supply voltage that is supplied to the sensors  118 , to allow the sensors  118  to continue making measurements that may trigger an event to awaken the electronic device  100 . 
     Similarly, the power supply  302  can continue to supply power to a control button  304  and a network interface  306 . The control button  304  can include a power button or a different button of the electronic device  100 , which when actuated by a user can indicate that the user desires that the electronic device  100  be awakened from a sleep state to an operational state. The network interface  306  is able to communicate over a network with a remote device. In some examples, a portion of the network interface  306  can be maintained and powered even in the sleep state of the electronic device  100 , such that receipt of a packet by the network interface  306  can trigger a wake event to cause the electronic device  100  to be awakened. 
       FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of a process that is performed by an electronic device, such as the electronic device  100  of  FIG. 1B or 3 .  FIG. 4  depicts an example where the electronic device can transition to a sleep state from an operational state while the electronic device is in a first mode of operation, and can awaken from the sleep state in a second, different mode of operation. 
     The process of  FIG. 4  includes operating (at  402 ) the electronic device at a higher power state in the first mode of operation. The process transitions (at  404 ) the electronic device while in the first mode of operation from the higher power state to the sleep state. In response to a wake event received (at  406 ) while the electronic device is in the sleep state, the process determines (at  408 ) outputs of sensors in the electronic device. Based on the outputs of the sensors, the process awakens (at  410 ) the electronic device from the sleep state to the higher power state in the second mode of operation that is different from the first mode of operation. 
       FIG. 5  is block diagram of a non-transitory machine-readable or computer-readable storage medium  500  for storing machine-readable instructions that upon execution cause an electronic device to perform various tasks. The machine-readable instructions include wake event receiving instructions  502  to receive a wake event. In addition, the machine-readable instructions include awakening mode selection instructions  504  to, in response to a wake event, awaken the electronic device from a sleep state to a higher power state in a selected mode of operation of the electronic device that depends on outputs from sensors of the electronic device, the selected mode of operation selected from among multiple different modes of operation that used multiple displays of the electronic device. 
     The storage medium  500  can be implemented using any or some combination of the following: a semiconductor memory device such as a dynamic or static random access memory (DRAM or SRAM), an erasable and programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable and programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) and a flash memory; a magnetic disk such as a fixed, floppy and removable disk; another magnetic medium including tape; an optical medium such as a compact disk (CD) or a digital video disk (DVD); or another type of storage device. Note that the instructions discussed above can be provided on one computer-readable or machine-readable storage medium, or alternatively, can be provided on multiple computer-readable or machine-readable storage media distributed in a large system having possibly plural nodes. Such computer-readable or machine-readable storage medium or media is (are) considered to be part of an article (or article of manufacture). An article or article of manufacture can refer to any manufactured single component or multiple components. The storage medium or media can be located either in the machine running the machine-readable instructions, or located at a remote site from which machine-readable instructions can be downloaded over a network for execution. 
     In the foregoing description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the subject disclosed herein. However, implementations may be practiced without some of these details. Other implementations may include modifications and variations from the details discussed above. It is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications and variations.