Patent Publication Number: US-9423895-B2

Title: Dual touch surface multiple function input device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein generally relate to touch sensitive input. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of an electronic device in an open configuration having a touch input device providing dual touch surfaces with a single touch sensor; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of the electronic device in a partially closed configuration; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of the electronic device in a closed configuration; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the touch input device of the electronic device; 
         FIGS. 5A-5B  illustrate a top view of an embodiment of the touch input device of the electronic device in which a first touch surface includes a touchpad area; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of an example system of the electronic device; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates, for one embodiment, an example flow diagram to perform an operation of mapping a touch input across the first touch surface and/or the second touch surface of the touch input device to the display device of the electronic device; and 
         FIG. 8  illustrates, for one embodiment, an example flow diagram to perform an operation for power management by the power management controller of the electronic device. 
     
    
    
     The figures of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description sets forth example embodiments of apparatuses, methods, and systems relating to dual touch surface multiple function input devices. Features, such as structure(s), function(s), and/or characteristic(s) for example, are described with reference to one embodiment as a matter of convenience; various embodiments may be implemented with any suitable one or more described features. 
     With traditional laptops or notebook computers, a user must open the notebook computer in order to view displayed information or interact with the notebook. As a result, most users today only use their notebook computers when they are stationary such as while they are at their desk or when they are sitting at a coffee shop. One ergonomic drawback of current notebook computer designs is that they are not conducive to being used while the user is in motion, such as when walking, or when the user is standing because the display of the notebook computer is typically viewable only when the lid of the notebook computer is open. 
     Particular embodiments described herein provide for an electronic device, such as a notebook computer, having a touch sensor sandwiched between a top and bottom sheet of transparent material, such as one or more of glass and/or plastic, that provides a clear window configured to allow a user to view through a base portion of the electronic device. In one embodiment, respective surfaces of the two sheets of transparent material function as touch surfaces of a touch input device. In one particular embodiment, the clear window is provided below a keyboard disposed on or supported by the base portion of the electronic device. In another particular embodiment, the clear window is in a palm rest portion of the electronic device. In still another embodiment, the clear window is below a space bar of a keyboard of the electronic device. When the notebook computer is open, a touch surface of the top sheet is used as a traditional touchpad mouse device to allow movement of a cursor on a display of the electronic device in one particular embodiment. In one particular embodiment, when the electronic device is closed, the touch surface of the bottom sheet serves as a touchscreen for a portion of the display of the electronic device that is visible through the clear window. In one or more embodiments, this allows a user to see a portion of the display and use the electronic device when the lid of the electronic device is closed for a variety of different content consumption opportunities via a software application that reformats content for the smaller display area when the lid is closed. In one particular embodiment, the software application reformats content provided by software applications such as, but not limited to, e-mail, a calendar application, and/or social media applications. These social media applications may include applications such as Facebook, Twitter, or RSS feed applications. In still another embodiment, the software application may allow viewing and/or lightweight editing of photos displayed on the visible portion of the display screen using the touchscreen functionality of the touch input device when the lid of the notebook is closed. 
     Electronic Device with Dual Touch Surface Multiple Function Input Device 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of an electronic device  100  in an open configuration having a touch input device  102  providing dual touch surfaces with a single touch sensor. Touch input device  102  is disposed on/in a lower housing  104  of electronic device  100 . In the particular embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , touch input device  102  is disposed within/on and/or supported by a base portion  106  of lower housing  104  below a keyboard  108 . In the particular embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , base portion  106  of lower housing  104  includes a palm rest area of electronic device  100 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , touch input device  102  extends across a substantial portion of a length of base portion  106  of lower housing  104 . Electronic device  100  further includes a display device  110  disposed within/on and/or supported by an upper housing  112 . In one or more embodiment, display device  110  includes a display screen that may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) display screen, a light-emitting diode (LED) display screen, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display screen, a plasma display screen, or any other suitable display screen. 
     In one embodiment, upper housing  112  is a lid portion of electronic device  100 . In at least one embodiment, lower housing  104  and upper housing  112  are hingedly coupled via a first hinge  114   a  and a second hinge  114   b  in a clamshell configuration such that lower housing  104  and an upper housing  112  may be at least partially rotated to allow touch input device  102  and display device  110  to be folded toward one another in a closed configuration and to be unfolded away from one another in an open configuration. In one or more embodiments, electronic device  100  is a notebook computer or laptop computer. In still other embodiments, electronic device  100  may be any suitable electronic device having a touchpad and a display such as a mobile device, a tablet computers and/or tablet devices, a personal digital assistant (PDA), etc. In one embodiment,  FIG. 1  shows electronic device  100  in an open configuration and touch input device  102  is disposed below keyboard  108  in a location in which a user of electronic device  100  would normally rest his or her palms. 
     Touch input device  102  includes a first touch surface layer  116  over which touches may be detected and a second touch surface layer  118  over which touches may be detected. First touch surface layer  116  is disposed within/on and/or supported by an upper side of lower housing  104 , and second touch surface  118  is disposed within/on and/or supported by a lower side of lower housing  104 . In various embodiments, a single touch sensor  120  (e.g., see  FIG. 4 ) is disposed between first touch surface layer  116  and second touch surface layer  118 , and first touch surface layer  116  and second touch surface layer  118  are disposed within and/or supported by lower housing  104 . In at least one embodiment, first touch surface layer  116 , second touch surface layer  118 , and touch sensor  120  of touch input device  102  each has an at least partially transparent material. In one embodiment, touch sensor  120  is configured to detect a first touch input associated with first touch surface layer  116  and/or a second touch input associated with second touch surface layer  118 . In a particular embodiment, first touch surface layer  116  and second touch surface layer  118  includes one or more of a glass sheet or plastic sheet. In still other embodiments, any suitable transparent or semi-transparent material may be used to form first touch surface layer  116  and second touch surface layer  118 . In at least one embodiment, touch input device  102  is a capacitive touch device configured to detect a touch on both first touch surface layer  116  and second touch surface layer  118  using a single touch sensor  118 . 
     Although touch sensor  120  described in various embodiments as being touch-sensitive to a user&#39;s finger, in still other embodiments touch sensor  120  may be touch-sensitive to any suitable one or more objects, including a user&#39;s finger, a stylus, and/or a pen, for example. 
     In accordance with various embodiments, touches (or contacts) by a user on first touch surface layer  116  and second touch surface layer  118  are interpreted differently by electronic device  100  depending on whether electronic device  100  is in an open configuration or a closed configuration. This can be inclusive of the possible detection by the system of these configurations. In at least one embodiment, when electronic device  100  is in an open configuration touches on a first touch surface layer  116  are interpreted by electronic device  100  as touches on a touchpad. In at least one embodiment, when electronic device  100  is in a closed configuration touches on second touch surface layer  118  are interpreted by electronic device  100  as touchscreen touches on display device  110 . In one or more embodiments, touches on first touch surface layer  116  and second touch surface layer  118  are interpreted as touchpad touches and/or touchscreen touches by touch control logic  624  (see  FIG. 6 ). 
     As previously discussed,  FIG. 1  illustrates electronic device  100  in an open configuration. In the open configuration, touch input device  102  is configured to function as a touchpad in which a user may touch a portion of first touch surface layer  116  to provide touch inputs to electronic device  100 . These touch inputs are mapped to allow the user to interact with the entire portion of a screen of display device  110  when electronic device  100  is determined to be in the open position as will be further described herein. For example, a user may touch a portion of first touch surface layer  116  to allow the user to manipulate a cursor displayed by display device  110 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of electronic device  100  in a partially closed configuration. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , as electronic device  100  is in the process of being transitioned from an open configuration to a closed configuration, display device  110  and touch input device  102  are brought in closer proximity to one another. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of electronic device  100  in a closed configuration. In one embodiment, folding electronic device  100  into the closed configuration may help make electronic device  100  more compact for easier mobility and/or storage relative to the open configuration. In the closed configuration, touch input device  102  and display device  110  are positioned in close proximity to and/or substantially parallel with one another. In the closed configuration, in one embodiment, due to the transparent nature of touch input device  102 , at least a portion of touch input device  102  functions as or includes an at least partially transparent window to allow a portion of the screen of display device  110  to remain visible to a user. In particular embodiments, one or more software applications are configured such that they are displayed within the portion of display device  110  still visible when electronic device  100  is in the closed configuration. In one embodiment, when electronic device  100  is in the closed configuration, a touch on second touch surface layer  118  of touch input device  102  operates as a touchscreen allowing a user to interact with the portion of display device  110  still visible through touch input device  102 . In one or more embodiments, substantially the entire portion of second touch surface layer  118  may be used as a touchscreen for the portion of display device  110  underlying touch input device  102  when electronic device  100  is in the closed configuration. In the closed configuration, in one embodiment, touch inputs to second touch surface layer  118  are mapped, for example by touch control logic  624  of  FIG. 6 , such that they are interpreted by electronic device  100  as touchscreen interactions with display device  110  as will be further described herein. 
     In one embodiment, electronic device  100  is provided with a software application that can reformat content on display device  110  to correspond to the smaller visible display area when the lid is closed. In one particular operation, the software application reformats content provided by software applications such as (but not limited to), e-mail, a calendar application, games, and/or social media applications. These social media applications may include applications such as Facebook, Twitter, or RSS feed applications. In still another embodiment, the software application may allow viewing and/or lightweight editing of photos displayed on the visible portion of the display screen using the touchscreen functionality of the touch input device when the lid of the notebook is closed. In one or more embodiments, the software application is user-configurable to allow a user to choose which applications (e.g., Word processing applications, social media applications, etc.) will be reformatted for display in the closed configuration and/or in what manner or format the reformatting will be performed. 
     In still other embodiments, electronic device  100  may include a hybrid mode in which touches to first touch surface layer  116  of touch input device  102  when electronic device  100  is in the open configuration may be treated as indirect touchpad interactions by the user in which touches to touch input device  102  are mapped as indirect cursor movements to display device  110  and/or indirect touchscreen interactions by the user in which touches to touch input device  102  are mapped to display device  110  as gestures.  FIG. 1  shows electronic device  100  in the open configuration. In this orientation, electronic device  102  is operating in the hybrid mode where touches are either for a touchpad in which touches are mapped to indirect cursor movements on the screen of display device  110  or indirect touchscreen in which touches are mapped to the screen of display device  110  as gestures. To use electronic device  102  in direct touchscreen mode, the user closes upper housing  112  (or lid) as illustrated in  FIG. 2  and rotates electronic device  102  so that a bottom of the lower housing  104  is facing the user with a portion of display device  110  visible through touch input device  102  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In this orientation, touch input device  102  of electronic device  100  is operating in a direct touch touchscreen mode. In the direct touch touchscreen mode in which electronic device  100  is in a closed configuration, touches to second touch surface layer  118  of touch input device  102  are mapped directly to the screen of display device  110 . Accordingly, in a particular embodiment, electronic device  100  is in the hybrid mode when electronic device  100  is open and in a direct touch touchscreen mode when electronic device  100  is in a closed configuration. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of touch input device  102  of electronic device  100 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , touch input device  102  is comprised of touch sensor  120  being sandwiched between first touch surface layer  116  and second touch surface layer  118  and disposed within and/or supported by lower housing  104 . In one or more embodiments, touch sensor  120  is a single touch sensor configured to detect touches on both first touch surface layer  116  and second touch surface layer  118 . In one or more embodiments, first touch surface layer  116 , second touch surface layer  118 , and touch sensor  120  have an at least partially transparent material. In particular embodiments, both first touch surface layer  116  and second touch surface layer  118  have transparent material that includes one or more of glass and/or plastic sheets. In still other embodiments, other suitable transparent or semi-transparent materials may be used to construct first touch surface layer  116 , second touch surface layer  118 , and touch sensor  120 . In some embodiments, first touch surface layer  116  and second touch surface layer  118  include a tinted material. In various embodiments, touch input device  102  may be constructed using capacitive touch-sensitive technology, resistive touch-sensitive technology, or any other suitable touch-sensitive technology. 
       FIGS. 5A-5B  illustrate a top view of an embodiment of touch input device  102  of electronic device  100  in which first touch surface layer  116  includes a touchpad area  502 . In various embodiments, touchpad area  502  covers a portion of the area of first touch surface layer  116  of touch input device  102 . In one or more embodiments, touchpad area  502  is a region of first touch surface layer  116  that a user interacts with when electronic device  100  is in a touchpad mode, such as when electronic device  100  is in an open configuration. In a particular embodiment, touchpad area  502  is a region within the center third of first touch surface layer  116 . In one or more embodiments, to aid in cursor movement mapping, touchpad area  502  has the same or similar aspect ratio as display device  110 . In various embodiments, when electronic device  100  is in touchpad mode touches will be ignored until the touchpad has been activated. In one embodiment, a user activates the touchpad by touching touchpad area  502  within a touchpad activation area  504  as shown in  FIG. 5B . Once the touchpad mode has been activated, the user can then move a cursor in display device  110  by dragging the user&#39;s finger within touchpad area  502 . In one or more embodiments, to exit touchpad mode the user removes a finger from (i.e. stops touching) touchpad area  502 , or alternately drags his or her finger outside of touchpad area  502 . In the particular embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5B , touchpad activation area  504  is smaller than touchpad area  502 . In a particular embodiment, touchpad activation area  504  has an oval shape. In one or more embodiments, touchpad activation area  504  is provided to avoid accidentally activating the cursor while the user is using keyboard  108  to type or when the user is resting his or her palms upon first touch surface layer  116 . 
     In the particular embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5B , first touch surface layer  116  further includes one or more gesture areas  506   a  and  506   b  along both outside edges of first touch surface layer  116 . In one or more embodiments, touches in gesture areas  506   a  and  506   b  are interpreted as gestures used, for example, for scrolling, flicking, or bringing up operating system menus within display device  110 . In one embodiment, touchpad area  502  and/or gesture areas  506   a  and  506   b  are marked on first touch surface layer  116  by a visual indication showing the boundaries of these areas upon the surface of first touch surface layer  116 . In still another embodiment, touchpad area  502  and/or gesture areas  506   a  and  506   b  are marked on first touch surface layer  116  by a change in surface texture on first touch surface layer  116  such as a transition from a rough to smooth texture. In one embodiment, electronic device  100  may be further enhanced with palm rejection technology so that only purposeful touches with a finger are interpreted as a “touch” while touches that are determined to not be purposeful on first touch surface layer  116  of touch input device  102 , such as a user resting his or her palm on first touch surface layer  116 , are ignored. 
     As previously discussed, in one or more embodiments, substantially the entire portion of second touch surface layer  118  may be used as a touchscreen for the portion of display device  110  underlying touch input device  102  when electronic device  100  is in the closed configuration. Thus, in at least one embodiment, touch input device  102  is configured to have a first active touch surface comprised of touchpad area  502  when lower housing  104  and upper housing  112  are in the open configuration, and a second active touch surface comprised of substantially all of second touch layer  118  when lower housing  104  and upper housing  112  are in the closed configuration. In one embodiment, the first active touch surface is smaller than the second active touch surface. 
     Although in the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  touch input device  102  is illustrated as being generally rectangular in shape, in still other embodiments of electronic device  100  touch input device  102  may include first touch surface layer  116  and second touch surface layer  118  being configured to be of any suitable size and shape. For example, touch input device  102  for some embodiments may have first touch surface layer  116  and second touch surface layer  118 , respectively, shaped to either be rectangular, oval, square, generally rectangular with rounded corners, or any other suitable shapes. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , touch input device  102 , or an at least partially transparent window of touch input device  102 , is sized to extend across a substantial portion of a length of base portion  106  of lower housing  104 . In still other embodiments, touch input device  102  may be sized to extend three-quarters (¾) or more of the length of base portion  106  and/or keyboard  108 . In still other embodiments, touch input device  102  may be sized extend one-half (½) or more of the length of base portion  106  and/or keyboard  108 . In still more embodiments, touch input device  102  may be sized extend one-quarter (¼) or more of the length of base portion  106  and/or keyboard  108 . In another embodiment, touch input device  102  may be sized to extend one-third (⅓) or more of the length of base portion  106  and/or keyboard  108 . In another embodiment, touch input device  102  may be sized to extend two-thirds (⅔) or more of the length of base portion  106  and/or keyboard  108 . In one embodiment, inside corners of touch input device  102  may be rectangular in shape. In still other embodiments, inside corners of touch input device  102  may be rounded in shape. 
     Although described for one embodiment as comprising lower housing  104  and upper housing  112  that supports touch input device  104  and display device  110 , respectively, in a clamshell configuration, electronic device  100  may comprise any suitable housing structure to support touch input device  104  and display device  110  in any suitable manner. Suitable housing structure for one embodiment may support touch input device  104  and display device  110  near one another in any suitable configuration to allowing viewing of a portion of display device  110  through touch input device  102  when electronic device  100  is in a touchscreen configuration. 
     Example System for Electronic Device 
     Electronic device  100  may be implemented using any suitable hardware and/or software to configure electronic device  100  as desired.  FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of an example system  600  of electronic device  100 . System  600  includes touch input device  102 , a touch controller  602 , one or more processors  604 , system control logic  606  coupled to at least one of processor(s)  604 , system memory  608  coupled to system control logic  606 , non-volatile memory and/or storage device(s)  610  coupled to system control logic  606 , display controller  612  coupled to system control logic  606 , display controller  612  coupled to display device  110 , lid position sensor interface circuitry  614  coupled to system control logic  606 , lid position sensor  616  coupled to lid position sensor interface circuitry  614 , power management controller  618  coupled to system control logic  606 , and communication interfaces  620  coupled to system control logic  606 . 
     Touch input device  102  includes touch sensor  120  and may each be implemented using any suitable touch-sensitive technology such as, for example and without limitation, capacitive, resistive, surface acoustic wave (SAW), infrared, and optical imaging. The touch-sensitive technology used for touch input device  102  for one embodiment may not require actual touching over first touch surface layer  116  and/or second touch surface layer  118 , respectively, but rather may sense the presence of an object near first touch surface layer  116  and/or second touch surface layer  118 , respectively. Such technology may nevertheless be considered touch-sensitive because such technology will similarly sense an object that actually touches over first touch surface layer  116  and/or second touch surface layer  118  and because first touch surface layer  116  and/or second touch surface layer  118  are likely to be actually touched when electronic device  100  is used. Touch input device  102  for one embodiment may be implemented using any suitable multi-touch technology. 
     Display device  110  includes a display screen that may be implemented using any suitable display technology, such as that for an LCD display screen, an LED display screen, an OLED display screen, a plasma display screen, or any other suitable display screen. 
     System control logic  606  for one embodiment may include any suitable interface controllers to provide for any suitable interface to at least one processor  604  and/or to any suitable device or component in communication with system control logic  606 . System control logic  606  for one embodiment may include one or more memory controllers to provide an interface to system memory  608 . System memory  608  may be used to load and store data and/or instructions, for example, for system  600 . System memory  608  for one embodiment may include any suitable volatile memory, such as suitable dynamic random access memory (DRAM) for example. System control logic  606  for one embodiment may include one or more input/output (I/O) controllers to provide an interface to display device  110 , touch controller  602 , and non-volatile memory and/or storage device(s)  610 . 
     Non-volatile memory and/or storage device(s)  610  may be used to store data and/or instructions, for example. Non-volatile memory and/or storage device(s)  610  may include any suitable non-volatile memory, such as flash memory for example, and/or may include any suitable non-volatile storage device(s), such as one or more hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), one or more compact disc (CD) drives, one or more digital versatile disc (DVD) drives, and/or Blu-ray disc (BD) drives for example. 
     Touch controller  602  may be coupled to help control touch input through touch input device  110 . Touch controller  602  for one embodiment may be coupled to system control logic  606  and/or at least one processor  604  to process touch input detected by touch controller  602  through first touch surface layer  116  and/or second touch surface layer  118  of touch sensor  120 . 
     Lid position sensor interface circuitry  614  is configured to receive a lid position signal from lid position sensor  616  and provide the lid position signal to system control logic  606 . In various embodiments, lid position sensor  616  senses the relative position of lower housing  104  with respect to upper housing  112 . In various embodiments, lid position sensor  616  and lid position sensor interface circuitry  614  are used to determine whether electronic device  100  is in an open configuration or in a closed configuration. In one or more embodiments, the lid position signal is provided to touch controller  602  by system control logic  606  to be used to determine whether first touch surface layer  116  or second touch surface layer  118  is currently active for receiving touch input from a user. For example, in one embodiment, when touch controller  602  receives an indication that electronic device  100  is in an open configuration, touch controller  602  is configured to receive one or more signals associated with touch inputs from first touch surface layer  116  of touch sensor  120 . When touch controller  602  receives an indication that electronic device  100  is in a closed configuration, touch controller  602  is configured to receive one or more signals associated with touch inputs from second touch surface layer  118  of touch sensor  120 . In a particular embodiment, lid position sensor  616  is one or more angle sensors disposed at or proximate to first hinge  114   a  and/or second hinge  114   b.    
     Power management controller  618  includes power management logic  630  configured to control various power management and/or power saving functions of electronic device  100  based upon whether electronic device  100  is in an open configuration or a closed configuration and/or a physical orientation of electronic device  100 . In one embodiment power management controller  618  is configured to reduce the power consumption of components or devices of system  600  that may either be operated at reduced power or turned off when electronic device  100  is in the closed configuration. For example, in a particular embodiment when electronic device  100  is in a closed configuration, power management controller  618  may perform one or more of the following: power down or reduce the power consumption of the unused portion of display device  110 , display controller  612 , and/or a portion of any backlight associated therewith; allow one or more of processor(s)  604  to go to a lower power state if less computing power is required in the closed configuration; and/or shutdown or reduce power to any devices and/or components, such as keyboard  108 , that are unused or not needed when electronic device  100  is in the closed configuration. In still other embodiments, power management logic  630  and/or software  626  may be configured to perform one or more of the following even when electronic device  100  is in the open configuration: shut down or reduce power to a portion of display device  110 , display controller  612 , and/or a portion of a backlight associated therewith; allow one or more of processor(s)  604  to go to a lower power state if less computing power is required; and/or shutdown any devices and/or components that are unused or not needed. 
     In one or more embodiments, electronic device  100  may further include one or more orientation sensor(s)  632  coupled to orientation sensor interface circuitry  634 . Orientation sensor interface circuitry  634  is further coupled to system control logic  606 . In a particular embodiment, orientation sensor(s)  632  may include a gyro sensor. In still other embodiments, any other suitable orientation sensor may be used. Orientation sensor(s)  632  provide one or more signals representative of the current physical orientation of electronic device  100  to orientation sensor interface circuitry  634 . Orientation sensor interface circuitry  634  then provides the orientation signals to system control logic  606 , and system control logic  606  provides the orientation signals to power management controller  618 . The orientation signals are used by power management logic  630  of power management controller  618  to control power consumption of various components and devices of electronic device  100  based on the physical orientation of electronic device  100 . 
     In one embodiment, power management controller  618  deactivates touch input device  102  and/or display device  110  based on the physical orientation of touch input device  102 . For instance, when electronic device  100  is in a closed configuration and second touch surface layer  118  of touch input device  102  and the display screen of display device  110  are facing downward as determined by orientation sensor(s)  632 , power management controller  618  may turn off and/or reduce power to display device  110  and/or touch input device  102  because the user cannot interact with touch input device  102  or view display device  100  when electronic device  100  is in this configuration and orientation. In one or more embodiments, electronic device  100  uses physical sensors, such as orientation sensor(s)  632  to detect the orientation of electronic device  100 , and display device  110  and/or touch input device  102  are turned off automatically when electronic device  100  is in the closed configuration and positioned in an orientation such that display device  110  and/or touch input device  102  are unusable, e.g. facing down. In a particular embodiment, orientation sensor(s)  632  include a gyro. In still other embodiments, power management controller  618  may turn off and/or reduce power to one or more of display device  110  and/or touch input device  102  when one or more of touch input device  102  and/or display device  110  are identified as oriented in a predetermined direction. 
     Communications interface(s)  620  may provide an interface for system  600  to communicate over one or more networks and/or with any other suitable device. Communications interface(s)  620  may include any suitable hardware and/or firmware. Communications interface(s)  620  for one embodiment may include, for example, a network adapter, a wireless network adapter, a telephone modem, and/or a wireless modem. 
     System control logic  606  for one embodiment may include one or more input/output (I/O) controllers to provide an interface to any suitable input/output device(s) such as, for example, an audio device to help convert sound into corresponding digital signals and/or to help convert digital signals into corresponding sound, a camera, a camcorder, a printer, and/or a scanner. 
     For one embodiment, at least one processor  604  may be packaged together with logic for one or more controllers of system control logic  606 . For one embodiment, at least one processor  604  may be packaged together with logic for one or more controllers of system control logic  606  to form a System in Package (SiP). For one embodiment, at least one processor  604  may be integrated on the same die with logic for one or more controllers of system control logic  606 . For one embodiment, at least one processor  604  may be integrated on the same die with logic for one or more controllers of system control logic  606  to form a System on Chip (SoC). 
     Although described for one embodiment as being used in system  600 , touch input device  110  may be used in other system configurations. 
     Touch Controller 
     Touch controller  602  for one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , may include touch sensor interface circuitry  622  and touch control logic  624 . Touch sensor interface circuitry  622  may be coupled to detect touch input over first touch surface layer  116  and second touch surface layer  118  by touch sensor  120  of touch input device  102 , in any suitable manner. Touch sensor interface circuitry  622  may include any suitable circuitry that may depend, for example, at least in part on the touch-sensitive technology used for touch input device  102 . Touch sensor interface circuitry  622  for one embodiment may support any suitable multi-touch technology. Touch sensor interface circuitry  622  for one embodiment may include any suitable circuitry to convert analog signals corresponding to first touch surface layer  116  and second surface layer  118  into any suitable digital touch input data. Suitable digital touch input data for one embodiment may include, for example, touch location or coordinate data. 
     Touch control logic  624  may be coupled to help control touch sensor interface circuitry  622  in any suitable manner to detect touch input over first touch surface layer  116  and second touch surface layer  118 . Touch control logic  624  for one embodiment may also be coupled to output in any suitable manner digital touch input data corresponding to touch input detected by touch sensor interface circuitry  622 . Touch control logic  624  may be implemented using any suitable logic, including any suitable hardware, firmware, and/or software logic, that may depend, for example, at least in part on the circuitry used for touch sensor interface circuitry  622 . Touch control logic  624  for one embodiment may support any suitable multi-touch technology. 
     Touch control logic  624  for one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , may be coupled to output digital touch input data to system control logic  606  and/or at least one processor  604  for processing. At least one processor  604  for one embodiment may execute any suitable software to process digital touch input data output from touch control logic  624 . Suitable software may include, for example, any suitable driver software and/or any suitable application software. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , system memory  608  may store suitable software  626  and/or non-volatile memory and/or storage device(s)  450  may store suitable software  628  for execution by at least one processor  604  to process digital touch input data. 
     Touch sensor interface circuitry  622  and/or touch control logic  624  for one embodiment may generate digital touch input data corresponding to touch inputs on at least a portion of each of first touch surface layer  116  and second touch surface layer  118 . Touch control logic  624  in one embodiment is configured to map touch inputs to display device  110  differently depending on whether electronic device  100  is in an open configuration, closed configuration and/or whether electronic device  100  is in a touchpad mode or touchscreen mode. In one embodiment, touch control logic  624  is configured to map touch input associated with first touch surface layer  116  to display device  110  as a touchpad interaction if lower housing  104  and upper housing  112  are in the open configuration. In one embodiment, touch control logic  624  is configured to map touch input associated with second touch surface layer  118  to display device  110  as a touchscreen interaction if lower housing  104  and upper housing  112  are in the closed configuration. This allows touch input device  102  having a single touch sensor  122  to function as both a touchscreen to provide direct touch mapping to a portion of display device  110  under touch input device  102  via second touch surface layer  118  when electronic device  100  is in a closed configuration, and a touchpad allowing a user to indirectly manipulate a mouse-like cursor using touch via first touch surface layer  116  when electronic device  100  is in an open configuration. In one or more embodiments, touch control logic  624  and/or a software driver within software  626  of system memory  608  interpret touches on touch input device  102  based on the open or closed configuration of electronic device  100  to determine which side of touch input device  102  the user touched (i.e., whether the user touches first touch surface layer  116  or second touch surface layer  118 ). In various embodiments, this allows touch input device  102  to serve as two different kinds of touch input devices while having a single touch sensor  120 . 
     In one embodiment, depending on the orientation of touch input device  102  and which side of touch input device  102  was touched, touch control logic  624  may map touches on either first touch surface layer  116  and second touch surface layer  118  to display device  110  in a different manner. For example, in a particular embodiment touch control logic  624  may multiply touchpad coordinates in order to map relative cursor movement on the touchpad to screen pixels of display device  110 . In another embodiment, touch control logic  624  may flip or invert one or more touchpad coordinates associated with a touch when mapping to display device  110  when touch input device  102  is upside down relative to display device  110 . In still another embodiment, touch control logic  624  may scale touchpad coordinates for a direct touch to map the touchpad accordance to the portion of the screen of display device  110  covered by an visible through touch input device  102 . In this manner, processor(s)  604  for one embodiment may execute any suitable software responsive to touch input device  102  to correspond with touch inputs to touch input device  102 . 
     Operation of Touch Input Device 
       FIG. 7  illustrates, for one embodiment, an example flow diagram  700  to perform an operation of mapping a touch input across first touch surface layer  116  and/or second touch surface layer  118  of touch input device  102  to display device  110  of electronic device  100 . In one or more embodiments, the operations of  FIG. 7  are performed by one or more of touch input device  102 , touch control logic  624  system control logic  606 , processor(s)  604 , software  626  and software  628 . In block  702 , a touch input is detected by touch sensor  120  of touch input device  102 . The touch input may be detected by touch of either first touch surface layer  116  or second touch surface layer  118  by the user. In block  704 , it is determined whether the current mode of electronic device  100  is a hybrid mode or touchscreen mode. In the hybrid mode, touches to touch input device  102  may be either for an indirect touchpad interaction or indirect touchscreen interaction. In one embodiment, indirect touchpad interactions are mapped to display device  110  as indirect cursor movements, and in the indirect touchscreen mode touches are mapped to display device  110  as gestures. In one embodiment, electronic device  100  is in hybrid mode when electronic device  100  is determined to be in an open configuration and in a direct touch touchscreen mode when electronic device  100  is determined to be in a closed configuration. In a particular embodiment, electronic device  100  is determined to be in an open or closed configuration as a result of a lid position signal generated by lid position sensor  616 . 
     If it is determined in block  704  that electronic device  100  is not in the hybrid mode, electronic device  100  is determined to be in the direct touch touchscreen mode and the procedure continues to block  706 . In block  706 , touch input coordinates associated with a touch to second touch surface layer  118  are remapped to correspond to touchscreen coordinates on display  110 . In a particular embodiment, a touch to second touch surface layer  118  is remapped to correspond to a touch of a portion of display device  110  directly underneath the touched portion of second touch surface layer  118 . In one embodiment, touch control logic  624  may flip touchpad coordinates when mapping to display device  110  when electronic device  100  is in the direct touchscreen mode and touch input device  102  is upside down relative to display device  110 . In still another embodiment, touch control logic  624  may scale touchpad coordinates for a direct touch to map touches to the touchpad to the portion of the screen of display device  110  covered by and visible through touch input device  102 . In block  708 , the remapped touch input coordinates are forwarded to an operating system of electronic device  100  as a direct touchscreen multitouch input to display device  110 . After block  708 , the procedure returns to block  702 . 
     If it is determined in block  704 , that electronic device  100  is in the hybrid mode, the procedure continues to block  710 . In block  710 , it is determined whether touchpad area  502  of first touch surface layer  116  is active. In one or more embodiments, touchpad area  502  is determined to be active if there has been a previous touch within touchpad activation area  504 . If in block  710  touchpad area  502  is determined to not be active, the procedure continues to block  712  in which it is determined whether the current touch input is in touchpad activation area  504 . If the current touch input is not in touchpad activation area  504 , the procedure continues to block  714 . In block  714 , it is determined whether the current touch input is in a gesture activation area such as one or more of gesture area  506   a  and gesture area  506   b  of first touch surface layer  116 . If it is determined in block  714  that the current touch input is not in gesture area  506   a  or gesture area  506   b , the procedure returns to block  702 . If it is determined in block  714  that the current touch input is in gesture area  506   a  or gesture area  506   b , the procedure returns to block  706  in which the touch input coordinates of the current touch input within gesture area  506   a  or gesture area  506   b  is remapped to touchscreen coordinates and are forwarded to the operating system as direct multitouch touchscreen input to display device  110  as a gesture in block  708 . In one or more embodiments, gesture touch inputs may include gestures for scrolling, flicking, or bringing up operating system menus. The procedure then returns to block  702 . 
     If it is determined in block  712 , that the current touch input is in touchpad activation area  504 , the procedure continues to block  716  in which the touchpad is activated. In a particular embodiment, activating the touchpad includes activating the touchpad mode of electronic device  100 . The procedure then returns to block  702 . 
     If it is determined in block  710  that the touchpad is active, the procedure continues to block  718  in which it is determined whether the current touch input is in touchpad area  502 . If it is determined in block  718  that the current touch input is in touchpad area  502 , the procedure continues to block  720  in which a mouse movement is computed from the touch input. After block  720 , the procedure continues to block  722 . In block  722 , the mouse movement is forwarded to the operating system as a mouse input, which may be used to move a mouse cursor within display device  110 . The procedure then returns to block  702 . 
     If it is determined in block  718  that the current touch input is not in touchpad area  502 , the procedure continues to block  724 . This is representative of the current touch input being a touch upon first touch surface layer  116 , but not within a touchpad area  502 , which is interpreted as a command from the user to deactivate the touchpad. In block  724 , touchpad area  502  is deactivated and the procedure returns to block  702 . 
     It should be understood that in some embodiments operations for blocks  702 - 724  may be performed in any suitable order and may overlap in time with any other suitable operation. In addition, in some embodiments certain of blocks  702 - 724  may be omitted or modified. 
     Operation of Power Management Controller 
       FIG. 8  illustrates, for one embodiment, an example flow diagram  800  to perform an operation for power management by power management controller  618  of electronic device  100 . In one or more embodiments, one or more of the operations of  FIG. 8  are performed by power management logic  630 . 
     In block  802 , the lid position of electronic device  100  is determined. In one embodiment, the lid position is performed in response to a lid position signal generated by lid position sensor  616  indicative of the lid position of electronic device  100  in which a closed lid position is representative of electronic device  100  being in the closed configuration and an open lid position is representative of electronic device  100  being in the open configuration as previously described herein. In still other embodiments, electronic device  100  is configured to identify whether lower housing  104  and upper housing  112  are in the open configuration or the closed configuration. In block  804 , it is determined whether the lid of electronic device  100  is closed. 
     If the lid is determined in block  804  to not be closed, the procedure continues to block  806 . In block  806 , power management logic  630  of power management controller  618  instructs electronic device  100  to follow a standard power consumption profile, which may include a power profile provided by the operating system of electronic device  100  such as a high performance, balanced, or power saving profile. The procedure then returns to block  802 . 
     If the lid is determined in block  804  to be closed, procedure continues to block  808 . In block  808 , the physical orientation of touch sensor  120  and/or display device  110  is determined using an orientation signal provided by orientation sensor(s)  632 . In block  810 , power management logic  630  determines whether touch sensor  120  and/or display device  110  is oriented downward. The lid of electronic device  100  being closed and second touch surface layer  118  of touch sensor  120  and/or display device  110  being oriented downward is indicative of electronic device  100  being in a closed configuration and placed on a flat surface in which a user cannot interact with touch input device  102  or view display device  100  when electronic device  100  is in this configuration and orientation. In still other embodiments, power management controller  618  may turn off and/or reduce power to one or more of display device  110  and/or touch sensor  120  when one or more of touch input device  102  and/or display device  110  are identified as oriented in a predetermined direction. 
     If touch sensor  120  of touch input device  102  and/or display device  110  of electronic device  102  is determined in block  810  to be oriented downward, power management controller  618  powers off or reduce power to display device  110  in block  812 . In block  814 , power management controller  618  deactivates touch sensor  120 . In one embodiment, other devices and/or components may also be placed in a reduced power consumption mode or turned off. The procedure then returns to block  802 . 
     If touch sensor  120  of touch input device  102  and/or display device  110  of electronic device  102  is determined in block  810  to not be oriented downward, the procedure continues to block  816 . In block  816 , power management controller  618  powers off the unused portion of the screen of display device  110 . The unused portion of the screen of display device  110  is the portion of the screen of display device  110  that is not visible through the transparent portion of touch input device  102  when electronic device  100  is in the closed configuration. In one embodiment, power management controller  618  may power off a backlight associated with unused portion of the screen of display device  110 . In block  818 , power management controller  618  instructs one or more of processor(s)  604  to transition to a lower power state because less computing power may be required in this configuration. In block  820 , power management controller  618  shuts down one or more additional devices or components that are unused when electronic device  100  is in a closed configuration. For example, in one embodiment in block  820  power management controller  618  may shut down power to keyboard  108  in the closed configuration as keyboard  108  is no longer accessible in this configuration. The procedure then returns to block  802 . 
     It should be understood that in some embodiments operations for blocks  802 - 820  may be performed in any suitable order and may overlap in time with any other suitable operation. In addition, in some embodiments certain of blocks  802 - 802  may be omitted or modified. 
     Various embodiments described herein allow a user to use electronic device  100 , such as a notebook computer, while in movement or when standing. Various embodiments allow a user to use electronic device  100  while a lid of electronic device  100  is closed so that the user may use electronic device  100  while being carried. Various embodiments allow a user to view active content while the lid of electronic device  100  is closed by reformatting the content to fit the smaller screen viewable through transparent touch input device  102 . 
     In the foregoing description, example embodiments have been described. Various modifications and changes may be made to such embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The description and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.