Patent Publication Number: US-2022229467-A1

Title: Display devices of computing devices

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The emergence and popularity of mobile computing has made portable computing devices, due to their compact design and light weight, a staple in today&#39;s marketplace. Within the mobile computing realm, notebook computers, or laptops, are one of the more widely used devices and generally employ a clamshell-type design consisting of two housings connected together at a common end via hinges, for example. In most cases, a first housing includes a display device to provide a viewable display to a user, while a second housing or base member includes an area for user input (e.g., touchpad and keyboard). In addition, the viewable display may be a touchscreen (e.g., touchscreen laptop), allowing the user to interact directly with what is displayed by touching the screen with simple or multi-touch gestures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A-B  illustrate a computing device including a first display device and a second display device, according to an example; 
         FIGS. 2A-D  illustrate synchronized movement of the second display device of computing device as the first housing is rotated open, according to an example; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a mechanism for allowing synchronized movement of a second display device in response to rotation of a first housing relative to a second housing, according to an example; and 
         FIGS. 4A-B  illustrate synchronized movement of the second display device of computing device as the first housing is rotated open, according to an example. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Examples disclosed herein provide an additional display device for computing devices, such as the notebook computer described above. As an example, the additional display device, or secondary display device may be disposed in a second housing of the computing device, separate from the primary display device disposed in the first housing of the computing device. As an example, the secondary display device may be included on a “C” deck of a notebook computer (e.g., a topside of the base member). As will be further described, the portion of the “C” deck including the secondary display device may be elevated as the first housing is rotated with respect to the second housing, thereby providing an appropriate viewing angle of the secondary display device. In addition, movement or elevation of the secondary display device may be synchronized with the opening and closing of the computing device, such that the primary and secondary display devices may provide a seamless look. In addition to providing a desirable viewing angle as the computing device is opened, the elevation of the portion of the “C” deck including the secondary display device creates a gap underneath to allow for additional thermal venting, to allow for more efficient cooling. As a result, more air may flow through the computing device, through the opening or gap created when the portion of the “C” deck including the secondary display device is lifted. 
     With reference to the figures,  FIG. 1A  illustrates a computing device  100  including a first display device  106  and a second display device  110 , according to an example. As illustrated, the first display device  106  may be disposed in a first housing  104  of the computing device, and the second display device  110  may be disposed in a second housing  108  that is rotatably coupled to the first housing  104  via a hinge  102 . As illustrated, the second display device  110  may be included on a “C” deck of the computing device  100 , or a topside of the second housing  108  (e.g., base member of a notebook computer). 
     As will be further described, as the first housing  104  is rotated opened or closed, the second display device  110  may synchronously move with the rotation of the first housing  104 . For example, in response to a rotation of the first housing  104  relative to the second housing  108 , a first end  116  of the second display device  110  may slide along a surface of the second housing  108  and a second end  114  of the second display device  110  may slide along a surface of the first housing  104 . As a result, the synchronized movement of the second display device  110  may allow for the second end  114  of the second display device  110  to cover at least a substantial portion of the bottom bezel on the first housing  104  as the first housing  104  is rotated, thereby providing a seamless look between the first display device  106  and second display device  110 , as illustrated. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1B , portions of the computing device  100  are illustrated in phantom, in order to provide details on the mechanism for allowing synchronized movement of the second display device  110  in response to rotation of the first housing  104  relative to the second housing  108 , according to an example. As an example, a connector  112  may be coupled to the hinge  102  and the second display device  110 . As illustrated, the connector  112  may be pivotally attached to the second display device  110 , for example, at  118 . As will be further described, magnetic members may allow for the synchronized movement of the second display device  110  in response to rotation of the first housing  104  relative to the second housing  108 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1B , a magnetic track  120  may be disposed in the second housing  108 , to provide an attracting force to hold a portion of the second display device  110  in contact with the surface of the second housing  108 , for example, the first end  116  of the second display device  110 . As an example, a magnetic member  122  may be included in the second housing  110  to be magnetically attached along the magnetic track  120 . Similarly, a magnetic track  124  may be disposed in the first housing  104 , to provide an attracting force to hold a portion of the second display device  110  in contact with the surface of the first housing  104 , for example, the second end  114  of the second display device  110 . As an example, a magnetic member  126  may be included in the second housing  110  to be magnetically attached along the magnetic track  124 . The arrangement of the magnetic tracks and associated magnetic members may vary, and are not limited to the arrangement illustrated. As a result of magnetic tracks  120 ,  124  and their associated magnets  122 ,  126 , synchronized movement of the second display device  110  may be possible in response to rotation of the first housing  104  relative to the second housing  108 , as will be illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-D . 
       FIGS. 2A-D  illustrate synchronized movement of the second display device  110  of computing device  100  as the first housing  104  is rotated open, according to an example. Referring to  FIG. 2A , the computing device  100  is closed, where the first housing  104  is closed onto the second housing  108 . In this position, the second display device  110  is disposed within a cavity of the second housing  108 . Magnetic member  122  is magnetically attached to magnetic track  120  and magnetic member  124  is magnetically attached to magnetic track  124 . Referring to  FIG. 28 , as the first housing  104  is rotated open, magnetic member  122  remains magnetically attached to magnetic track  120  and magnetic member  124  remains magnetically attached to magnetic track  124 . However, as magnetic member  122  moves further along magnetic track  120 , compared to the position illustrated in  FIG. 2A , magnetic member  126  correspondingly moves along magnetic track  124 . As a result, the movement of the second display device  110  may be synchronized with the rotation of the first housing  104 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2B , by magnetic member  126  moving further up the magnetic track  124  as the first housing  104  is rotated open, the viewing angle of the second display device  110  may be raised from the flat position illustrated in  FIG. 2A , which may be desirable for a user while utilizing the computing device  100 . The raised viewing angle of the second display device  110  may reduce neck fatigue and discomfort for the user. Referring to  FIG. 2C , as the first housing  104  continues to be opened, magnetic member  122  continues to move further along magnetic track  120 , for example, to the end of the magnetic track  120 , and magnetic member  126  correspondingly moves along magnetic track  124  as well. Similar to how the computing device  100  is opened, the second display device  110  may return into the cavity of the second housing  108  when the first housing  104  is rotated back closed. 
     In addition to providing a desirable viewing angle, the second display device  110  may cover at least a substantial portion of the bottom bezel on the first housing  104  as the first housing  104  is rotated, for example, via the magnetic tracks  120 ,  124  and their associated magnets  122 ,  126 . As a result, a seamless look may be provided between the first display device  106  and second display device  110 , essentially reducing the gap between the second display device  110  and first display device  106 , which may be desirable to a user. 
     In addition to providing a desirable viewing angle as the computing device  100  is opened, the elevation of the portion of the “C” deck including the secondary display device  110  creates a gap underneath as illustrated, for example, to allow for additional thermal venting. As a result, more air may flow through the computing device  100 , through the opening or gap created when the portion of the “C” deck including the secondary display device  110  is lifted. 
     In addition to the gap created underneath the second display device  110 , area in the cavity of the second housing  108 , by the first end  116  of the second display device  110 , becomes available for use as well. As an example, a component may be disposed in the cavity of the second housing  108 , available for use when second display device  110  is elevated out of the cavity. Examples of such components include, but are not limited to, an input device, an output device, or a structure associated with thermal management of computing device  100 . For example, the components may be a set of keys for input, a set of vents for thermal management, or an audio component, such as a set of speakers for output. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2D , in addition to following magnetic track  120 , if an opposing force is applied to overcome the magnetic attraction between magnetic track  120  and magnetic member  122 , the angle of the second display device  110  may be adjusted by lifting up the second display device from its first end  116 , as illustrated. Similarly, an opposing force may be applied to overcome the magnetic attraction between magnetic track  124  and magnetic member  126 , in order to separate the second display device  110  from the first housing  104  at its second end  116 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates portions of a computing device  300  in phantom, in order to provide details on the mechanism for allowing synchronized movement of the second display device  110  in response to rotation of the first housing  104  relative to the second housing  108 , according to an example. Elements of the computing device  300  may be similar to computing device  100  and, as a result, may share the reference numbers for such elements. As an example, a connector  112  may be coupled to the hinge  102  and the second display device  110 . As illustrated, the connector  112  may be pivotally attached to the second display device  110 , for example, at  118 . 
     As an example, in order to allow for the synchronized movement of the second display device  110  in response to rotation of the first housing  104  relative to the second housing  108 , the connector  112  may include a spring mechanism  302  to bias the connector  112  towards the first housing  104  and, as a result, to cause the second end  114  of the second display device  110  to slide along a surface of the first housing  104  while the first housing  104  is rotated relative to the second housing  108 . The arrangement of the spring mechanism  302  may vary, and is not limited to the arrangement illustrated. 
     In addition to the spring mechanism  302 , in order to allow for the synchronized movement of the second display device  110 , a magnetic track  120  may be disposed in the second housing  108 , to provide an attracting force to hold a portion of the second display device  110  in contact with the surface of the second housing  108 , for example, the first end  116  of the second display device  110 . As an example, a magnetic member  122  may be included in the second housing  110  to be magnetically attached along the magnetic track  120 . As a result of the combined effort from the spring mechanism  302  and the magnetic members (i.e., magnetic track  120  and associated magnetic member  122 ), synchronized movement of the second display device  110  may be possible in response to rotation of the first housing  104  relative to the second housing  108 , as will be illustrated in  FIGS. 4A-B . 
       FIGS. 4A-B  illustrate synchronized movement of the second display device  110  of computing device  300  as the first housing  104  is rotated open, according to an example. Referring to  FIG. 4A , the computing device  300  is closed, where the first housing  104  is closed onto the second housing  108 . In this position, the second display device  110  is disposed within a cavity of the second housing  108 . Magnetic member  122  is magnetically attached to magnetic track  120 . In addition, spring mechanism  302  may be held under tension while the computing device  300  is closed, in order to bias the connector  112  towards the first housing  104  as it is rotated (e.g., see  FIG. 4B ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 4B , as the first housing  104  is rotated open, spring mechanism  302  may bias the connector  112  towards the first housing  104  and, as a result, cause the second end  114  of the second display device  110  to slide along a surface of the first housing  104 . In addition, by relying on the spring mechanism  302  to bias the connector  112  towards the first housing  104 , magnetic member  122  moves further along magnetic track  120 , compared to the position illustrated in  FIG. 4A . As an example, the spring mechanism  302  may continue to be held under tension while the first housing  104  is rotated open, in order for the connector  112  to remain biased towards the first housing  104 . Similar to how the computing device  300  is opened, the second display device  110  may return into the cavity of the second housing  108  when the first housing  104  is rotated back closed. 
     Although spring mechanisms or magnetic members, or a combination of them were described in order to provide synchronized movement of a second display device in response to rotation of a first housing relative to the second housing, other mechanisms may be relied upon as well. For example, gear mechanisms may be relied on to provide for the synchronized movement. 
     It is appreciated that examples described may include various components and features. It is also appreciated that numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the examples. However, it is appreciated that the examples may be practiced without limitations to these specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures may not be described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the examples. Also, the examples may be used in combination with each other. 
     Reference in the specification to “an example” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one example, but not necessarily in other examples. The various instances of the phrase “in one example” or similar phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same example. 
     It is appreciated that the previous description of the disclosed examples is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to these examples will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other examples without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.