Patent Publication Number: US-2018046225-A1

Title: Three-part computing device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The following disclosure relates to the technical field of portable computing devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A conventional portable computing device, such as a laptop computer or notebook computer can include a lid and a base. The lid can include a display (e.g., a LED, LCD, or touchscreen display) and the base can include one or more input devices such as a keyboard, a trackpad, a touchpad, or a fingerprint reader, for example. The base can also include one or more processors, memory, a power source, and other components that provide computing functionality. Generally, the lid and the base of the portable computing device are attached such that the lid can be moved and/or rotated with respect to the base and placed in several configurations. For example, in a closed configuration, the bottom of the lid can be in contact with the top of the base with the lid and the base rotated to an approximate 0-degree position with respect to each other. In such a closed configuration, the display on the bottom of lid may contact, or be in close proximity to, the input devices on the top of the base. 
     Some portable computing devices utilize touchscreen displays which can be used by users to provide input to the portable computing device. Such portable computing devices may be operable in two different modes—a conventional laptop mode and a tablet mode—and may be referred to as convertible computing devices. In the laptop mode, a user may provide input to the portable computing device via a keyboard or other input device disposed on the base of the portable computing device, and the lid may be rotated with respect to the base at an angle (e.g., a 130-degree angle) such that the user can view the display on the lid while providing input via the input devices located on the base. In the tablet mode, the lid may be rotated around a longitudinal axis of a hinge of the portable computing device by approximately 360 degrees with respect to the base so that the touchscreen display is on one side of the convertible computing device, leaving the input devices on the top of the base exposed on the other side the of the convertible computing device. 
     When in tablet mode, a convertible computing device may disable the input devices so users do not inadvertently provide input to the convertible computing device. As a result, the input devices are not needed while the convertible computing device is in tablet mode. Accordingly, some portable computing devices—often referred to as detachable computing devices—allow users to detach the base and its input devices from the lid (and therefore the computing device) when operating in tablet mode. But, in such devices, the one or more processors, memory, power source, and other components that provide computing functionality may be disposed in the lid portion of the detachable computing device so that the display has the necessary hardware to provide computing functionality when the base has been detached. As a result, the lid (housing the display) can be quite heavy relative to the base causing instability when operating the detachable in laptop mode. Stability may be addressed by adding an additional support to the lid, or moving the attachment point between the lid and the base away from the back edge of the base toward the middle of the base. But, such solutions are generally effective in situations where the detachable computing device is used on rigid and/or even surfaces, such as table or desk. Instability remains when a detachable computing device is used on a non-rigid or uneven surface, such as a user&#39;s lap, because the computing components in the lid cause the device to be top-heavy. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, a portable computing device includes a display portion, a base portion, and a keyboard portion. The display portion can include a touchscreen, and the keyboard portion can include a keyboard having a plurality of keys. The base portion can include a central processing unit, memory, and a battery. The display portion, the base portion, and the keyboard portion are mechanically coupled to a common connector. The display portion can be pivotably rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the common connector with respect to the base portion and the keyboard portion. The keyboard portion is detachably coupled to the common connector and can be detached from the common connector while the display portion and the base portion remain coupled to the common connector. 
     Various implementations of this aspect may include one or more of the following features. In some implementations, the display portion can be pivotably rotatable through more than 180 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the common connector with respect to the base portion or the keyboard portion. In some implementations, the keyboard portion can be pivotably rotatable through more than 180 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the common connector with respect to the base portion or the display portion. In some implementations, the base portion can be pivotably rotatable through more than 180 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the common connector with respect to the keyboard portion or the display portion. The common connector can include a hinge, and in some implementations, the display portion comprises a first barrel hinge, the base portion comprises a second barrel hinge, the keyboard portion comprises a third barrel hinge, and the common connector comprises a fourth barrel hinge. In some implementations, the common connector includes a cavity through which a wire passes power from the base portion to the display portion. The base portion can include a power supply in some embodiments. 
     In another aspect, a computing device includes a first housing, a second housing, and a third housing. The first housing can include a touchscreen display, the second housing can include a processor, memory and a battery, and the third housing can include a keyboard disposed on a face of the third housing. The computing device can also include a common connector mechanically connecting the first housing, the second housing, and the third housing such that the first housing, the second housing and the third housing are rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the common connector. The third housing can connect to the common connector at one of its long edges and the third housing can be detachably coupled to the common connector, such that the third housing is detachable from the common connector while the first housing and the second housing remain coupled to the common connector. 
     Various implementations of this aspect may include one or more of the following features. In some implementations, the first housing, the second housing, and the third housing can be separate housings. The first housing can be pivotably rotatable through more than 180 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the common connector with respect to the second housing or the third housing, the second housing can be pivotably rotatable through more than 180 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the common connector with respect to the first housing or the third housing, and the third housing can be pivotably rotatable through more than 180 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the common connector with respect to the first housing or the second housing, in various implementations. In some implementations, the common connector can include a hinge. In some implementations, the first housing comprises a first barrel hinge, the second housing comprises a second barrel hinge, the third housing comprises a third barrel hinge, and the hinge of the common connector can be a barrel hinge. In some implementations, a face of the first housing can be capable of touching a face of the second housing by rotating either the first housing or the second housing about the longitudinal axis of the common connector. The common connector can include a cavity through which a wire passes power from the second housing to the first housing, according to some implementations. 
     In another aspect, a method for providing a computing device includes providing a display housing comprising a touchscreen, providing a base housing comprising a processor, a memory, and a battery disposed within the base housing, and providing a keyboard housing. The method can also include detachably connecting the display housing, the base housing, and the keyboard housing to a common connector such that the display housing, the base housing, and the keyboard housing are rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the common connector. The keyboard housing may be detachably coupled to the common connector such that the keyboard housing is detachable from the common connector while the display housing and the base housing remain coupled to the common connector. 
     In some implementations of this aspect, the common connector can include a first barrel hinge, the display housing can include a first barrel hinge, the base housing can include a second barrel hinge, the keyboard housing can include a third barrel hinge, and the common connector can include a fourth barrel hinge. In this aspect, the common connect may include a cavity through which a wire passes power from the base housing to the display housing, according to some implementations. 
     The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  shows a side view of a three-part computing device consistent with disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 1B  shows a perspective view of a three-part computing device consistent with disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 2A  shows a side view of a three-part computing device in a laptop configuration consistent with disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 2B  shows a side view of a three-part computing device in a pre-tablet configuration consistent with disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 2C  shows a side view of a three-part computing device in a tablet configuration consistent with disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 2D  shows a side view of a three-part computing device in a kiosk configuration consistent with disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 2E  shows a side view of a three-part computing device in a closed configuration consistent with disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of a three-part computing device consistent with disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  shows a bottom view of a common connector consistent with disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  shows a side view of a common connector consistent with disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of a three-part computing device consistent with disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  shows another embodiment of a three-part computing device consistent with disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  shows a block diagram for a three-part computing device consistent with disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 9  shows a flowchart for a three-part computing device providing process consistent with disclosed embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments disclosed herein address problems of convertible and detachable computing devices by splitting a portable computing device into three portions as opposed to two. The three-part computing device includes a display portion or housing, a base portion or housing, and a keyboard portion or housing. In some embodiments, the display portion houses a touchscreen or other display, the base portion houses general purpose computing components such as a processor, a memory, and a power source (e.g., a power supply and/or battery), and the keyboard portion houses one or more input devices, such as a keyboard and/or touchpad. The base portion can couple with either the display portion or the keyboard portion to provide adequate counter weight in a laptop configuration, and to provide computer functionality to the display in a tablet configuration. For example, the three portions can be attached to a common connector that allows them to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the three-part computing device so that when the three-part computing device is in a laptop configuration, sufficient counterweight is supplied to the display to provide stability. Furthermore, while in the tablet configuration, the keyboard portion can be detached. 
       FIG. 1A  shows a side view of a three-part computing device  100 . In some embodiments three-part computing device  100  includes display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130 . As shown in  FIG. 1A , display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130  may be connected to common connector  140  along a long inner edge of each housing. As used herein, display housing  110  may be referred to as a display portion, a display component, or the like. Similarly, base housing  120  may be referred to as a base portion, a base component or the like, and keyboard housing  130  may be referred to as a keyboard portion, a keyboard component, or the like. 
     In some embodiments, display housing  110  includes touchscreen  115 . Touchscreen  115  can be any display screen capable of detecting touch input events on its surface. For example, touchscreen  115  may be a capacitive touchscreen that detects a change in capacitance at a location on touchscreen  115  when a user touches touchscreen  115  at that location. Touchscreen  115  can also be a resistive touchscreen in some embodiments. In some embodiments, touchscreen  115  can be connected to a processor located within base housing  120  and touchscreen  115  may send signals corresponding to touch events to the processor within base housing  120 . Likewise, the processor within base housing  120  may send electronic signals to touchscreen  115  that touchscreen  115  can interpret for rendering graphics. In some embodiments, and as described in more detail with respect to  FIG. 9  below, display housing  110  can also include a graphics processor and a display and control interface that can be used to process touch input events and/or can be used for interpreting signals sent from the processor within base housing  120  to render graphics. 
     According to some embodiments base housing  120  can include general-purpose computing components that perform functions and operations consistent with a computing device, such as a laptop or tablet. For example, base housing  120  can include a CPU or processor, a memory, buses, communication circuits (e.g., Ethernet adapters, Wi-Fi modules, cellular network modulators, Bluetooth modules), buses, and one or more power sources such as a battery or a power source that can convert AC to DC. In some embodiments, base housing  120  can also include components for receiving and producing audio such as microphones and speakers. Base housing  120  can also include one or more ports for connecting three-part computing device  100  to peripheral devices. The one or more ports can include for example, USB ports, serial ports, parallel ports, FireWire ports, or any other ports capable of providing input to or receiving output from peripheral devices. 
     Three-part computing device  100  can also include keyboard housing  130 . Keyboard housing  130 , in some embodiments, may include keyboard  135  disposed on a face of keyboard housing  130 . Keyboard  135  can include a plurality of keys, such as ASCII character keys, numeric keys, function keys, and control keys that can be used by a user of three-part computing device  100  to provide input to three-part computing device  100 . Keyboard housing  130  may also include other components for providing input to three-part computing device  100 . For example, keyboard housing  130  can include a trackpad, touchpad, pointing stick, fingerprint reader, retinal scanner, microphone, and the like. 
     Three-part computing device  100  can also include common connector  140 . Common connector  140  may be disposed at the center of three-part computing device  100  and may connect to display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130  along their long inner edges. In some embodiments, common connector  140  can include pivot point  146 . Pivot point  146  can include, in some embodiments, a pin or a barrel for a hinge of common connector  140 . For example, pivot point  146  can be cylindrical and allow for 180-degrees of rotation of one of display housing  110 , base housing  120 , or keyboard housing  130  around a longitudinal axis of common connector  140 . In some embodiments, pivot point  146  includes a friction element that provides some resistance and/or support to display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130 . In some elements, pivot point can be a barrel hinge. 
     In some embodiments, display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130  each include a pivot point ( 116 ,  126 ,  136  respectfully). Pivot points  116 ,  126 ,  136  can include, in some embodiments, a pin or a barrel for a hinge of their respective housings. For example, pivot points  116 ,  126 ,  136  can be cylindrical and allow for 180-degrees of rotation of display housing  110 , base housing  120 , or keyboard housing  130  with respect to each other. In some embodiments, pivot points  116 ,  126 ,  136  can include a friction elements that provides some resistance and/or support to display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130 . In some elements, pivot points  116 ,  126 ,  136  can be barrel hinges. 
     According to some embodiments, pivot point  146  can form a dual pivot hinge with the pivot points disposed within display housing  110 , base housing  120 , or keyboard housing  130  allowing for approximately 360 degrees of rotation for each of display housing  110 , base housing  120 , or keyboard housing  130  with respect to each other. For example, pivot point  146  can form a dual pivot hinge with pivot point  116  of display housing  110 , and as pivot point  146  and pivot point  116  each provide approximately 180 degrees of rotation, together they enable display housing  110  to rotate approximately 360 degrees from either base housing  120  or keyboard housing  130 . Similarly, pivot point  146  can form a dual pivot hinge with pivot point  126  of base housing  120 , and as pivot point  146  and pivot point  116  each provide for approximately 180 degrees of rotation, together they enable base housing  120  to rotate approximately 360 degrees from either display housing  110  or keyboard housing  130 . Likewise, pivot point  146  can form a dual pivot hinge with pivot point  136  of keyboard housing  130 , and as pivot point  146  and pivot point  136  each provide approximately 180 degrees of rotation, together they enable keyboard housing  130  to rotate approximately 360 degrees from either base housing  120  or display housing  110 . 
     In some embodiments, common connector  140  can also include a cavity in which a conductive element is disposed. The conductive element can include a wire or a plurality of wires to transfer power and/or data from base housing  120  to display housing  110  and keyboard housing  130 . For example, the conductive element within common connector  140  may send electrical signals from the processor of base housing to touchscreen  115  of the display housing  110 . The conductive element within common connector  140  may also send power from the power source within base housing  120  to touchscreen  115  of display housing  110 . Keyboard housing  130  can also send input signals from keyboard  135  to the processor of base housing  120 , as another example. 
     According to some embodiments, common connector  140  may have disposed on it one or more contacts that engage with contacts disposed on display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130 . The one or more contacts of common connector  140  may be electrically connected to the conductive element disposed within the cavity of common connector  140 . For example, common connector  140  may have 3 USB type-c micro plugs (or female connectors) and display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130  may each have a USB type-c micro jacks (or male connectors). When the type C micro jacks of display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130  engage with the type C micro plugs of common connector  140 , power and data can be sent to and from each of display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130  via the conductive element disposed within the cavity of common connector  140 . 
       FIG. 1B  shows a perspective view of three-part computing device  100 . As noted above, in some embodiments, display housing  110  can rotate approximately 360 degrees with respect to base housing  120  and keyboard housing  130  about longitudinal axis  180  of common connector  140 . Similarly, base housing  120  can rotate approximately 360 degrees with respect to display housing  110  and keyboard housing  130  about longitudinal axis  180  of common connector  140 . Likewise, keyboard housing  130  can rotate approximately 360 degrees with respect to display housing  110  and base housing  120 . Such rotation may be enabled by the dual pivot hinges formed by pivot point  146  and pivot point  116  (for display housing  110 ), pivot point  146  and pivot point  126  (for base housing  120 ) and pivot point  146  and pivot point  136  (for keyboard housing  130 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 1B , display housing  110  can include long inner edge  181  that runs the length of common connector  140  and serves as an engaging surface for common connector  140 . Similarly, base housing  120  can include long inner edge  182  that runs the length of common connector  140  and serves as an engaging surface for common connector  140 . Likewise, keyboard housing  130  can include long inner edge  183  the runs the length of common connector  140  and serves as an engaging surface with common connector  140 . 
     Display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130  can each include faces that will, in some configurations, of three-part computing device  100  touch and/or engage with each other as display housing  110 , base housing  120 , a keyboard housing  130  rotate about longitudinal axis  180 . For example, display housing  110  can include face  191   a  (on which touchscreen  115  is disposed) and face  191   b . Base housing  120  can include face  192   a  and face  192   b  and keyboard housing  130  can include face  193   a  (on which keyboard  135  is disposed) and  193   b.    
       FIG. 2A  shows a side view of three-part computing device  100  in a laptop configuration. In a laptop configuration, base housing  120  rotates about the longitudinal axis of common connector  140  and engages keyboard housing  130 . According to one embodiment, face  192   b  of base housing  120  engages with a face  193   b  of keyboard housing  130  when three-part computing device  100  is in the laptop configuration. In the laptop configuration, base housing  120  and keyboard housing  130  provide counterweight to display housing  110  so that three-part computing device  100  can remain stable when on an uneven surface such as a user&#39;s lap. In the laptop configuration, display housing  110  may be rotated about the longitudinal access of common connector  140  so that touchscreen  115 —rendering graphics for display to the user—can be visible to the user. For example, display housing  110  may be rotated to form an approximate 135 degree angle with keyboard housing  130 . 
       FIG. 2B  and  FIG. 2C  show three-part computing device  100  in configurations corresponding to use as a tablet computing device. According to some embodiments, keyboard housing  130  may be detached from common connector  140  (and by extension three-part computing device  100 ) when three-part computing device  100  is used as a tablet.  FIG. 2B  shows three-part computing device  100  in a pre-tablet configuration before keyboard housing  130  has been detached from common connector  140 . In the pre-tablet configuration, base housing  120  has been rotated about the longitudinal axis of common connector  140  such that face  192   a  of base housing  120  engages with face  191   b  of display housing  110 . According to some embodiments, in the pre-tablet configuration shown in  FIG. 2B , three-part computing device  100  may be unstable and/or top-heavy. For example, keyboard housing  130  may be of insufficient weight to act as a counterbalance to the combination of display housing  110  and base housing  120 . 
       FIG. 2C  shows a side view of three-part computing device  100  and a tablet configuration where keyboard housing  130  has been detached from common connector  140 . In the tablet configuration, base housing  120  remains mechanically coupled to display housing  110  via common connector  140 , and base housing  120  may provide power and computing resources (such as a processor and memory) to display housing  110 . 
       FIG. 2D  shows a side view of three-part computing device  100  in a kiosk configuration. In some embodiments of the kiosk configuration, such as the one shown in  FIG. 2D  keyboard  135  may be resting on and touching a surface such as a table, desk, or counter, and keyboard  135  may be disabled by moving switch  137  to the off position. In other embodiments (e.g., those not shown in  FIG. 2D ), keyboard housing  130  may be removed and reattached such that when keyboard housing  130  rotates about the longitudinal axis of common connector  140 , keyboard  135  is not exposed and instead engages with face  192   b  of base housing  120 . 
     According to some embodiments, in the kiosk configuration, base housing  120  is rotated about the longitudinal axis of common connector  140  such that face  192   b  engages with face  193   b  of keyboard housing  130  (or face  193   a  of keyboard housing in some embodiments). In addition, display housing  110  may be rotated about the longitudinal axis of common connector  140  such that display housing  110  forms an acute angle with base housing  120  and display housing  110  forms an obtuse angle greater than 180 degrees with keyboard housing  130 . 
     According to some embodiments, three-part computing device  100  can be placed in a closed configuration, which is shown in  FIG. 2E . In the closed configuration, display housing  110  base housing  120  and keyboard housing  130  can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of common connector  140  such that each of the housings engage another forming an approximate 0 degree angle, touchscreen  115  on display housing  110  is concealed from view, and keyboard  135  of keyboard housing  130  is concealed from view. According to one embodiment, when three-part computing device  100  is in the closed configuration, display housing  110  engages with keyboard housing  130  and keyboard housing  130  engages with base housing  120  such that no face of keyboard housing  130  is exposed. In some embodiments, when three-part computing device  100  is in the closed configuration face  190   a  of display housing  110  engages with face  193   a  of keyboard housing  130  and face  193   b  of keyboard housing  130  engages with face  192   b  of base housing  120 . 
     According to some embodiments, display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130  are mechanically coupled to common connector  140 , and can each be detached in certain configurations. Three-part computing device  100  may employ one or more connection mechanisms so that display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130  can be selectively attached and detached from three-part computing device  100  at common connector  140 . For example, display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130  may attach and detach to common connector  140  using a tongue and groove the system, a hook system, or a magnetic system, or similar connection mechanisms. 
       FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of three-part computer device  100  where display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130  attach to common connector  140  using a tongue and groove system. Although  FIG. 3  shows a tongue and grove system with respect to keyboard housing  130 , in some embodiments display housing  110  and base housing  120  may also connect to common connector  140  using a tongue and groove system. In embodiments using a tongue and groove system, common connector  140  may include bottom  310  and top  350 . On bottom  310 , groove  320  may be exposed so that common connector  140  can accept tongue  340  of keyboard housing  130 . In some embodiments, groove  320  and tongue  340  form a pressure fit, and in some embodiments groove  320  may include a latch (not shown) that holds tongue  340  in place. To attach keyboard housing  130 , a user may line up the notches of tongue  340  with the shape of groove  320  at bottom  310  and slide keyboard housing  130  toward top  350  until keyboard housing  130  is fully engaged with common connector  140 . In some embodiments, groove  320  includes contact  330  which can be a jack or plug connected to conductive material (for example, a wire) disposed within a cavity of common connector  140 . Likewise tongue  340  may include contact  360  which can be a plug or Jack that engages with contact  330  to transmit signals captured by keyboard housing  130  to base housing  120 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a bottom view of common connector  140  in embodiments using a tongue and groove system for attachment and detachment of display housing  110 , base housing  120 , keyboard housing  130 , according to some embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 4 , common connector  140  may have 3 grooves ( 320   a ,  320   b , and  320   b ) for accepting tongues of display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130 . In addition, at the top each of the three grooves  320 , common connector  140  can include contacts  330  ( 330   a ,  330   b ,  330   c ).  FIG. 5  shows a side view of common connector  140  in embodiments using a tongue and groove system for attachment and detachment of display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130 . As shown in  FIG. 5  groove  320  may not extend the full length of common connector  140  in some embodiments to accommodate contacts  330 . 
       FIG. 6  shows one embodiment of three-part computer device  100  where display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130  attach to common connector  140  using a hook system. Although  FIG. 6  shows a hook system with respect to keyboard housing  130 , in some embodiments, display housing  110  and base housing  120  may also connect to common connector  140  using a hook system. In embodiments using a hook system, keyboard housing  130  may include one or more hooks  620  that engage with latches  610  on common connector  140 . In some embodiments hooks  620  and latches  610  may include magnetic material of opposite polarity to create a secure fit between hook  620  and latches  610 . In some embodiments latches  610  and hook  620  may engage using a pressure fit. According to some embodiments, common connector may include contacts  640  which can be a jack or plug connected to conductive material (such as a wire) disposed within a cavity of common connector  140 . Likewise, keyboard housing  130  may include contacts  650  which can be a plug or Jack that engages with contact  640  when keyboard housing  130  is attached to common connector  140 . When contact  640  engages with contact  650 , power and/or data can be transferred between keyboard housing  130  and base housing  120  via a wire in common connector  140 , in some embodiments. 
       FIG. 7  shows one embodiment of three-part computer device  100  where display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130  attach to common connector  140  using a magnetic system. In such embodiments, display housing  110  may include magnetic attachment member  710   a  that can engage with magnetic attachment member  720   a  of common connector  140 . Similarly, keyboard housing  130  can include magnetic attachment member  710   b  that can engage with magnetic attachment for  720   b  of common connector  140 . Likewise, base housing  120  may include magnetic attachment member  710   c  that can engage with magnetic attachment member  720   c  of common connector  140 . In some embodiments, magnetic attachment members  710  and magnetic attachment members  720  are of opposite polarity and are of sufficient strength to secure display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130  to common connector  140 . According to some embodiments, magnetic attachment member  710  and magnetic attachment for  720  can include one or more pins for transferring power and/or data between display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130 . In some embodiments, contacts may be disposed on magnetic attachment members  710  and magnetic attachment member  720  so that power and/or data can be exchanged between display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a block diagram of three-part computing device  100  showing the components included in three-part computing device according to one embodiment. The components shown here, their connections and relationships, and their functions, are meant to be exemplary only, and are not meant to limit implementations of the inventions described and/or claimed in this document. 
     In some embodiments, three-part computing device  100  can include three portions, each contained within a separate housing: display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130 . According to some embodiments, base housing  120  can include processor  802 , memory  804 , storage device  806 , high-speed controller  808  connecting to memory  804  and high-speed expansion ports  810 , low-speed controller  812  connecting to low-speed bus  814  and storage device  806 , external interface  822  connecting to high-speed controller  808 , and peripheral ports  824  connecting to low-speed bus  814 . Processor  802  can be a semiconductor-based processor. Memory  804  can be a semiconductor-based memory. Each of the components  802 ,  804 ,  806 ,  808 ,  810 , and  812 , are interconnected using various busses, and may be mounted on a common motherboard or in other manners as appropriate. Processor  802  can process instructions for execution within the three-part computing device  100 , including instructions stored in memory  804  or on storage device  806  to display graphical information for a GUI on display  816  of display housing  110 . In other implementations, multiple processors and/or multiple buses may be used, as appropriate, along with multiple memories and types of memory. 
     Memory  804  stores information within three-part computing device  100 . In one implementation, memory  804  is a volatile memory unit or units. In another implementation, memory  804  is a non-volatile memory unit or units. Memory  804  may also be another form of computer-readable medium, such as a magnetic or optical disk. Memory  804  may include, for example, flash memory and/or NVRAM memory, as discussed below. In one implementation, a computer program product is tangibly embodied in an information carrier. The computer program product contains instructions that, when executed, perform one or more methods, such as those described above. The information carrier is a computer- or machine-readable medium, such as the memory  804 , expansion memory, or memory on processor  802 , that may be received, for example, over external interface  822 . 
     In some embodiments, expansion memory may also be provided and connected to three-part computing device  100  through one or high-speed expansion ports  810 . The expansion memory may include, for example, a SIMM (Single In Line Memory Module) card interface. Such expansion memory may provide extra storage space for three-part computing device  100 , or may also store applications or other information for three-part computing device  100 . Specifically, expansion memory may include instructions to carry out or supplement the processes described above, and may include secure information also. Thus, for example, expansion memory may be provide as a security module for three-part computing device  100 , and may be programmed with instructions that permit secure use of three-part computing device  100 . In addition, secure applications may be provided via the SIMM cards, along with additional information, such as placing identifying information on the SIMM card in a non-hackable manner. 
     Storage device  806  is capable of providing mass storage for three-part computing device  100 . In one implementation, storage device  806  may be or contain a computer-readable medium, such as a floppy disk device, a hard disk device, an optical disk device, or a tape device, a flash memory or other similar solid state memory device, or an array of devices, including devices in a storage area network or other configurations. A computer program product can be tangibly embodied in an information carrier. The computer program product may also contain instructions that, when executed, perform one or more methods, such as those described above. The information carrier is a computer- or machine-readable medium, such as memory  804 , storage device  806 , or memory on processor  802 . 
     High-speed controller  808  manages bandwidth-intensive operations for three-part computing device  100 , while low-speed controller  812  manages lower bandwidth-intensive operations. Such allocation of functions is exemplary only. In one implementation, high-speed controller  808  is coupled to memory  804 , display  816  (e.g., through graphics processor  818  which may include a graphics accelerator), external interface  822 , and high-speed expansion ports  810 , which may accept various expansion cards (not shown). In the implementation, low-speed controller  812  is coupled to storage device  806  and low-speed expansion port  814 . Low-speed expansion port  814  can be connected to peripheral ports  824  which may include various communication ports (e.g., USB, Bluetooth, Ethernet, wireless Ethernet) that may be coupled to one or more input/output devices, such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a scanner, or a networking device such as a switch or router, e.g., through a network adapter. According to some embodiments, display  816  can include a touchscreen. For example, display  816  can include a capacitive touchscreen, a resistive touchscreen, or any other display device that is capable of detecting when an object comes in contact with it. In some embodiments, display  815  can include, for example, a TFT LCD (Thin-Film-Transistor Liquid Crystal Display) or an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display, or other appropriate display technology. 
     In some embodiments, processor  802  may communicate with a user through display and control interface  820  coupled to a display  816 . The display and control interface  820  may comprise appropriate circuitry for driving the display  816  to present graphical and other information to a user. In some embodiments, display and control interface  820  may receive commands from a user and convert them for submission to the processor  802 . 
     In some embodiments, base housing  120  can include external interface  822  which may be provide in communication with processor  802 , so as to enable near area communication of three-part computing device  100  with other devices. External interface  822  may provide, for example, for wired communication in some implementations, or for wireless communication in other implementations, and multiple interfaces may also be used. 
     In some embodiments, base housing  120  can include one or more power sources such as battery  822  and/or power supply  826 . Battery  822  can include any time of battery suitable for powering portable computing devices, such as a lithium-ion battery, for example. Power supply  826  can include, for example, an AC/DC converter or AC adapter that is integrated into base housing  120 . In some embodiments, power supply  826  may be external to base housing  120 , and may connect to base housing  120  using a power supply port (not shown). 
     Three-part computing device  100  may communicate audibly using an audio codec, which may receive spoken information from a user and convert it to usable digital information. The audio codec may likewise generate audible sound for a user, such as through a speaker. Such sound may include sound from voice telephone calls, may include recorded sound (e.g., voice messages, music files, etc.) and may also include sound generated by applications operating on three-part computing device  100 . 
     Keyboard housing  130  may include, in some embodiments, keyboard  840  and trackpad  842 . Keyboard  840  can include any plurality of keys that can be used to receive input from a user, such as alphanumeric keys or function keys. Trackpad  842  may be a touch-sensitive surface that can detect touch and pressure applied on it and communicate corresponding electric signals representing the direction and magnitude of a touch action, or the magnitude of pressure placed on it. 
     According to some embodiments, display housing  110 , base housing  120 , and keyboard housing  130  include portion contacts  830 . Portion contacts  830  are capable of interfacing with common connector contacts  832  of common connector  140 , to transfer data to and from base housing  120  to and from each of display housing  110  and keyboard housing  130 . Portion contacts  830  and common connector contacts  832  can include proprietary contacts designed specifically for use with three-part computer system. In some embodiments, portion contacts  830  and common connector contacts  832  can include known connections such as USB connectors (e.g., mini-type connections, micro type connections). In some embodiments, portion contacts  830  can be jacks or male connectors and common connector contacts  832  can be plugs or female connectors. In some embodiments, portion contacts  830  can be plugs or female connectors and common connector contacts  832  can be jacks or male connectors 
     In some embodiments, common connector  140  can include conductive material, such as wire  836 . In some embodiments, wire  836  can be capable of transferring power and data in some embodiments. In some embodiments, wire  836  may comprise multiple-separate wires—some for transferring power and others for transferring data. The depiction of wire  836  as a singular conductive material is for explanation and exemplary purposes only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosed embodiments. Wire  836  may be connected to common connector contacts  832  and transfer data and/or power to them. Common connector contacts  832 , in turn, can transfer the power and data to portion contacts  830  for use by display housing  110  or keyboard housing  130 . 
       FIG. 9  shows a flowchart that illustrates an example process  900  for providing a three-part computing device. According to this example, the process  900  includes providing a display housing comprising a touchscreen (step  910 ), providing a base housing comprising a processor, a memory, and a battery disposed within the base housing (step  920 ), and providing a keyboard housing (step  930 ). Process  900  also includes detachably connecting the display housing, the base housing, and the keyboard housing to a common connector such that the display housing, the base housing, and the keyboard housing are rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the common connector (step  940 ). The keyboard housing may be detachably coupled to the common connector such that the keyboard housing is detachable from the common connector while the display housing and the base housing remain coupled to the common connector 
     A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     In addition, the logic flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In addition, other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 
     It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many other implementations will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding the above description. The scope of the disclosure should, therefore, be determined with reference to the aspects enumerated below, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such aspects are entitled.