Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     An information handling device (“device”, “apparatus”), for example a tablet computing device, a hybrid laptop/tablet device, a smart phone, an e-reader, etc., may be formed with hand-held use in mind. Certain devices implement a contoured edge that makes holding the device in one hand easier. For example, the LENOVO YOGA tablet computing device includes a cylindrical edge at one end of the housing facilitating hand-held use. YOGA is a registered trademark of Lenovo (Beijing) Limited Corporation in the United States and other countries. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     In summary, one aspect provides an apparatus, comprising: a housing; a processor operatively coupled to a memory; and a display device displaying output from the processor; the display, the processor and the memory being disposed in the housing; said housing substantially forming a quadrilateral and including a shaped edge at one end thereof; said housing further comprising a contoured input device substantially matching the shaped edge. 
     Another aspect provides an apparatus, comprising: a housing; a processor operatively coupled to a memory; a display device displaying output from the processor; the display, the processor and the memory being disposed in the housing; and a stand element attached to the housing; said housing substantially forming a quadrilateral and including a shaped edge at one end thereof; said housing further comprising a contoured input device substantially matching the shaped edge. 
     A further aspect provides a method, comprising: forming a substantially quadrilateral housing having disposed therein a processor operatively coupled to a memory; providing a display device in said housing, said display device being operatively coupled to the processor; said housing including a shaped edge at one end thereof; and incorporating a contoured input device with said shaped edge, said contoured input device substantially matching the shaped edge. 
     The foregoing is a summary and thus may contain simplifications, generalizations, and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. 
     For a better understanding of the embodiments, together with other and further features and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example of information handling device circuitry. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates another example of an information handling device. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example view of a device including a contoured edge control. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates another example view of a device including a contoured edge control. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations in addition to the described example embodiments. Thus, the following more detailed description of the example embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments, as claimed, but is merely representative of example embodiments. 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” (or the like) means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” or the like in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
     Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, et cetera. In other instances, well known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obfuscation. 
     While certain devices incorporate a contoured or shaped edge, e.g., a cylindrical edge included with a tablet computing device, when using the camera or other peripheral device with such a form factor, it is necessary to tap an existing control, e.g., a soft control on the touch screen, to take a picture (or perform another function associated with another peripheral device). As may be appreciated, this is often cumbersome, especially in a single-handed use scenario. 
     An embodiment thus provides one or more input devices, e.g., a contoured button that is/are embedded into the shaped or contoured edge. This permits a user to simply provide a tap (e.g., using a thumb on the hand holding the device) to operate a function of the device, e.g., to take a picture using the camera. It should be noted that integration of the contoured control with the camera is just an example function for such a contoured input device. Thus, another contoured input device, e.g., a button or touch sensitive surface, optical input device, etc., may also be used (in addition to or in lieu of a button or like input control) for various other functions, e.g., depending on the state or configuration of the device, and/or application(s) running or active on the device, etc. 
     The illustrated example embodiments will be best understood by reference to the figures. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain example embodiments. 
     While various other circuits, circuitry or components may be utilized in information handling devices, with regard to smart phone and/or tablet circuitry  100 , an example illustrated in  FIG. 1  includes a system on a chip or circuit design found for example in tablet or other mobile computing platforms. Software and processor(s) are combined in a single chip or circuit  110 . Processors comprise internal arithmetic units, registers, cache memory, busses, I/O ports, etc., as is well known in the art. Internal busses and the like depend on different vendors, but essentially all the peripheral devices ( 120 ) may attach to a single chip or circuit  110 . The circuitry  100  combines the processor, memory control, and I/O controller hub all into a single chip  110 . Also, systems  100  of this type do not typically use SATA or PCI or LPC. Common interfaces, for example, include SDIO and I2C. 
     There are power management chip(s) or circuit(s)  130 , e.g., a battery management unit, BMU, which manage power as supplied, for example, via a rechargeable battery  140 , which may be recharged by a connection to a power source (not shown). In at least one design, a single chip or circuit, such as  110 , is used to supply BIOS like functionality and DRAM memory. 
     System  100  typically includes one or more of a WWAN transceiver  150  and a WLAN transceiver  160  for connecting to various networks, such as telecommunications networks and wireless Internet devices, e.g., access points. Additional devices  120  may be included, for example a camera. Commonly, system  100  will include a touch screen  170  for data input and display/rendering. System  100  also typically includes various memory devices, for example flash memory  180  and SDRAM  190 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram of another example of information handling device circuits, circuitry or components. The example depicted in  FIG. 2  may correspond to computing systems such as the THINKPAD series of personal computers sold by Lenovo (US) Inc. of Morrisville, N.C., or other devices. As is apparent from the description herein, embodiments may include other features or only some of the features of the example illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     The example of  FIG. 2  includes a so-called chipset  210  (a group of integrated circuits, or chips, that work together, chipsets) with an architecture that may vary depending on manufacturer (for example, INTEL, AMD, ARM, etc.). INTEL is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries. AMD is a registered trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. in the United States and other countries. ARM is an unregistered trademark of ARM Holdings plc in the United States and other countries. The architecture of the chipset  210  includes a core and memory control group  220  and an I/O controller hub  250  that exchanges information (for example, data, signals, commands, etc.) via a direct management interface (DMI)  242  or a link controller  244 . In  FIG. 2 , the DMI  242  is a chip-to-chip interface (sometimes referred to as being a link between a “northbridge” and a “southbridge”). The core and memory control group  220  include one or more processors  222  (for example, single or multi-core) and a memory controller hub  226  that exchange information via a front side bus (FSB)  224 ; noting that components of the group  220  may be integrated in a chip that supplants the conventional “northbridge” style architecture. One or more processors  222  comprise internal arithmetic units, registers, cache memory, busses, I/O ports, etc., as is well known in the art. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the memory controller hub  226  interfaces with memory  240  (for example, to provide support for a type of RAM that may be referred to as “system memory” or “memory”). The memory controller hub  226  further includes a LVDS interface  232  for a display device  292  (for example, a CRT, a flat panel, touch screen, etc.). A block  238  includes some technologies that may be supported via the LVDS interface  232  (for example, serial digital video, HDMI/DVI, display port). The memory controller hub  226  also includes a PCI-express interface (PCI-E)  234  that may support discrete graphics  236 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , the I/O hub controller  250  includes a SATA interface  251  (for example, for HDDs, SDDs, etc.,  280 ), a PCI-E interface  252  (for example, for wireless connections  282 ), a USB interface  253  (for example, for devices  284  such as a digitizer, keyboard, mice, cameras, phones, microphones, storage, other connected devices, etc.), a network interface  254  (for example, LAN), a GPIO interface  255 , a LPC interface  270  (for ASICs  271 , a TPM  272 , a super I/O  273 , a firmware hub  274 , BIOS support  275  as well as various types of memory  276  such as ROM  277 , Flash  278 , and NVRAM  279 ), a power management interface  261 , a clock generator interface  262 , an audio interface  263  (for example, for speakers  294 ), a TCO interface  264 , a system management bus interface  265 , and SPI Flash  266 , which can include BIOS  268  and boot code  290 . The I/O hub controller  250  may include gigabit Ethernet support. 
     The system, upon power on, may be configured to execute boot code  290  for the BIOS  268 , as stored within the SPI Flash  266 , and thereafter processes data under the control of one or more operating systems and application software (for example, stored in system memory  240 ). An operating system may be stored in any of a variety of locations and accessed, for example, according to instructions of the BIOS  268 . As described herein, a device may include fewer or more features than shown in the system of  FIG. 2 . 
     Information handling device circuitry, as for example outlined in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 2 , may be used in devices that provide a contoured edge. For example, referring to  FIG. 3 , an example tablet computing device  300  is illustrated. 
     The device  300  includes a main housing  301  that includes, e.g., a touch screen display  302 . As illustrated in the example of  FIG. 3 , the device  300  may have a housing that is substantially quadrilateral (e.g., rectangular) but also includes a contoured or shaped edge  303 , here in the form of a substantially cylindrical shaped edge  303 . The device  300  may include, according to an embodiment, one or a plurality of contoured input devices, e.g., contoured input device  304 , incorporated into the contoured edge  303 . 
     The example of  FIG. 3  includes a contoured input device  304 , e.g., a ring shaped button or other device. The contoured input device  304  may accept touch based input and be formed to coordinate with the shape (here, a contoured edge  303  that is cylindrical in form) of the edge, which allows the contoured input device  304  to be embedded in the contoured edge  303  of such a device  300 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 3 , it will be noted that the button  304  surface is curved or takes on a ring shape in order to match the cylinder of the contoured edge  303 . This configuration allows the button  304  to be placed in the contoured edge  303  such that it does not disrupt the aesthetic quality of the contoured edge, does not interrupt the hinged nature of the contoured edge, and additionally allows the button  304  to be pressed from various angles of approach. 
     Functionally, the button  304  may be implemented in a variety of forms, e.g., as a mechanical or a capacitive touch switch. A mechanical form may rely on a central axis point which is moved whenever the button  304  is pressed from any angle to activate the switch. Other configuration may be acceptable or preferable, e.g., depending on the shape of the contoured edge  303 , the functionality associated with the contoured input device  304 , etc. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a device  400  may include the contoured input device  404  in a location such that it is readily accessible during single handed use, as illustrated. For example, a contoured input device  404  may be located proximate to one of the ends of the contoured edge  403  such that it is readily tapped, e.g., using a thumb. More than one contoured input device  404  may be included in the contoured edge, e.g., to accommodate left and right handed use. For example, two contoured input devices  404  (only one being illustrated) may be included, such as incorporating a contoured input device  404  at opposite ends of the contoured edge  403 . 
     Alternatively, or in addition to inclusion of more than one contoured input device  304 , an embodiment may alter the functionality of the contoured input device(s)  404 , e.g., based on a holding orientation (e.g., as sensed via positional sensors such as an accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass), a currently running or active application, etc. For example, a contoured input device  404  may have its functionality changed, altered, removed, or adjusted depending on which hand is being used to hold the device, e.g., as determined via mapping sensed positional inputs to a predetermined pattern of device use (e.g., left handed, right handed) and/or via use selection. 
     Similarly, a particular application being used, e.g., camera application, may change or adjust the functionality of the contoured input device  404 , e.g., to map input received via the contoured input device  404  to an underlying application control action, e.g., taking a picture with a camera application responsive to detecting input via the contoured input device  404 . Likewise, one or more of the contoured input devices  404  may be deactivated or activated based on a variety of parameters, e.g., holding orientation, running application(s), or even the physical configuration of the device, e.g., position of a stand element  305  (referring back to  FIG. 3 ) with respect to the housing  301 . Thus, an embodiment may alter or adjust the contoured input device  404  functionality based on a variety of parameters. 
     As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, various aspects may be embodied as a system, method or device program product. Accordingly, aspects may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment or an embodiment including software that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects may take the form of a device program product embodied in one or more device readable medium(s) having device readable program code embodied therewith. 
     Any combination of one or more non-signal device readable storage medium(s) may be utilized. A storage medium may be, for example, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of a storage medium would include the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a storage medium is not a signal and “non-transitory” includes all media except signal media. 
     Program code embodied on a storage medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, et cetera, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. 
     Program code for carrying out operations may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on a single device, partly on a single device, as a stand-alone software package, partly on single device and partly on another device, or entirely on the other device. In some cases, the devices may be connected through any type of connection or network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made through other devices (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider), through wireless connections, e.g., near-field communication, or through a hard wire connection, such as over a USB connection. 
     Example embodiments are described herein with reference to the figures, which illustrate example methods, devices and program products according to various example embodiments. It will be understood that the actions and functionality may be implemented at least in part by program instructions. These program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose information handling device, a special purpose information handling device, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via a processor of the device implement the functions/acts specified. 
     It is worth noting that while specific blocks are used in the figures, and a particular ordering of blocks has been illustrated, these are non-limiting examples. In certain contexts, two or more blocks may be combined, a block may be split into two or more blocks, or certain blocks may be re-ordered or re-organized as appropriate, as the explicit illustrated examples are used only for descriptive purposes and are not to be construed as limiting. 
     As used herein, the singular “a” and “an” may be construed as including the plural “one or more” unless clearly indicated otherwise. 
     This disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The example embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain principles and practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 
     Thus, although illustrative example embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying figures, it is to be understood that this description is not limiting and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.

Technology Category: 3