Patent Publication Number: US-2009231289-A1

Title: Portable personal computer and control method for the same

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to personal computers and control methods for the personal computers. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Some portable computers, such as notebook and laptop computers, have small bodies to be conveniently carried and used anywhere. Other portable computers, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) have rather smaller bodies that are even more convenient to move around. However, these smaller computers lack certain functions that can be accomplished by notebook and laptop computers. 
     Ultra mobile personal computer (UMPC) typically have a 7-inch screen and a body smaller than notebook and laptop computers, while slightly larger than that of PDAs. On the other hand, hardware of the UMPC is similar to that of notebook and laptop computers. Therefore, the UMPC is capable of many functions found in notebook and laptop computers, while still maintaining the convenience and portability of PDAs. However, a typical UMPC has a rather large keyboard, which is one of its main disadvantages. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a portable personal computer is disclosed that includes a first display, a second display, and an interconnection portion. The interconnection portion rotationally connects the first display to the second display. The portable personal computer generates corresponding sensor signals according to user-specific operation instructions, the first and second displays cooperatively display a joint image or separate images according to the sensor signals and current display modes of the first and second displays. 
     Other advantages and novel features of the portable personal computer and control method will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a portable personal computer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the portable personal computer including a first display and a second display; 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , and shows an example of use; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of a control method for the portable personal computer of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect and shows a second example of use; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of a control method for the portable personal computer of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a portable personal computer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment includes a first display  12 , a second display  14 , and an interconnection portion  16 . The interconnection portion  16  rotationally connects the first display  12  and the second display  14 . Therefore, the first display  12  can be folded with the second display  14  in order to save space. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the first and second displays  12 ,  14  are capable of generating separate displays. For example, the first display  12  can be used for displaying interfaces of operating systems and applications to users, while the second display  14  can be used for displaying a keyboard interface or providing a handwriting area for users to operate thereon. The second display  14  is capable of sensing operations and generating sensor signals accordingly. Therefore, the portable personal computer can be operated through the second display  14 . 
     In other embodiments, the first display  12  is capable of sensing user operations and generate the corresponding sensor signals accordingly, or the first and second displays  12 ,  14  are both capable of sensing operations and generating corresponding sensor signals. The displays capable of sensing user operations may have sensors therein for generating the sensor signals according to the received user operations. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a control method for controlling the portable personal computer of  FIG. 2  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment includes the following steps: 
     Step S 302 , the portable personal computer is powered on and the operating system is loaded, the first and second displays  12  and  14  display initial images, respectively. 
     Step S 304 , the portable personal computer receives operation instructions from users, and generates corresponding sensor signals accordingly. The operations can be triggered by touching the first or second displays  12 ,  14 , or pressing a particular key on the portable personal computer. 
     Step S 306 , the portable personal computer determines whether the sensor signals are used for controlling the operation interface to be displayed or cleared. 
     Step S 308 , if the sensor signals are not used for controlling the operation interface to be displayed or cleared, but used for other applications, the corresponding applications are operated. 
     Step S 310 , if the sensor signals are used for controlling the operation interface to be displayed or cleared, a current display mode of the first or second displays  12 ,  14  are detected. 
     Step S 312 , if the operation interface is currently displayed on the first or second displays  12 ,  14 , the sensor signals trigger the displays to clear the operation interface from the first or second display  12  or  14 . 
     Step S 314 , if there is no operation interface displayed on the first or second display  12  or  14 , the first or second display  12  or  14  loads initial settings for displaying the operation interface and starting up sensors (not shown) for receiving the operation instructions. 
     Step S 316 , the first or second display  12  or  14  displays the operation interface, and starts up the sensors according to the initial settings that have been loaded. Therefore, users can operate on the displayed operation interface, and the first or second display  12  or  14  can generate corresponding sensor signals according to the operation instructions. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the first and second displays  12  and  14  are capable of collaboratively displaying a single image. For example, when the portable computer displays a slideshow or video, the first and second displays  12 ,  14  can be used together as one display to cooperatively display a joint image. Therefore, a rather large visual area can be obtained. 
     A control method for controlling the displays  12  and  14  of  FIG. 4  includes the steps illustrated in  FIG. 5 : 
     Step S 502 , the portable personal computer is powered on and the operating system is loaded, the first and second displays  12  and  14  display initial images, respectively. 
     Step S 504 , the portable personal computer receives operation instructions from users, and generates sensor signals accordingly. The operations can be triggered by touching the first or second display  12 ,  14 , or by pressing a particular key on the portable personal computer. 
     Step S 506 , the portable personal computer determines whether the sensor signals are used for controlling the displays  12  and  14  to cooperatively display a joint image or generate separate displays. 
     Step S 508 , if the sensor signals are not used for controlling the displays  12  and  14  to display cooperatively, but used for other applications, the corresponding application is operated. 
     Step S 510 , if the sensor signals are used for controlling the displays  12  and  14  to display cooperatively, current display modes of the first and second displays  12  and  14  are detected. 
     Step S 512 , if the first and second displays  12  and  14  are displaying cooperatively, the portable personal computer generates a control signal according to the sensor signal to trigger the first and second displays  12  and  14  to display different images. 
     Step S 514 , if the first and second displays  12  and  14  are displaying separately, the portable personal computer drives the displays  12  and  14  to display cooperatively. 
     The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiment described therein.