Portable computer usable in laptop and tablet configurations
AssigneeToshiba America Information Systems, Inc.
InventorKenji Shimano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a portable computer, such as a laptop or notebook computer, a subnotebook computer, a personal digital assistant, a wireless phone or the like, that can be set up in a closed configuration, a laptop configuration or a tablet configuration. The portable computer may include a base unit having a primary input device, such as a keyboard or pointing device, and a display unit having a display device. The base unit and the display unit may be coupled so that the display unit can be moved relative to the base unit to place the portable computer in a desired configuration.
Claims37
A portable computer configurable in a tablet configuration, a laptop configuration, and a closed configuration, said portable computer comprising:
- a base unit having a primary input device and a bottom surface;
- a display unit having a display device and a back surface, said display unit movably attached to said base unit such that said primary input device is between said back surface of said display unit and said bottom surface of said base unit when said portable computer is in said tablet configuration and such that said primary input device and said display device are between said back surface of said display unit and said bottom surface of said base unit when said portable computer is in said closed configuration;
- and
- a latching assembly capable of being selectively changed from an open state to a closed state, said latching assembly having a first portion coupled to said display unit and a second portion coupled to said base unit, wherein said latching assembly is changed to said closed state to maintain said portable computer in one of said tablet configuration and said closed configuration.
A portable computer configurable in a tablet configuration, a laptop configuration, and a closed configuration, said portable computer comprising:
- a display unit having a display device and a back surface;
- a base unit having a primary input device and a bottom surface;
- a latching assembly to maintain said portable computer in one of said closed configuration and said tablet configuration;
- and
- a hinging assembly coupling said display unit to said base unit, said hinging assembly having a first hinge with a first axis of rotation and a second hinge with a second axis of rotation, wherein
- one of said first hinge and said second hinge is rotated to reconfigure said portable computer between said closed configuration and said laptop configuration, and
- said first hinge and said second hinge are rotated to reconfigure said portable computer between said closed configuration and said tablet configuration.
A method for reconfiguring a portable computer among a tablet configuration, a laptop configuration, and a closed configuration, wherein said display device is contained in a display unit and said primary input device is contained in a base unit, said method comprising:
- when said portable computer is in said closed configuration such that said display device and said primary input device are contained between a back surface of said display unit and a bottom surface of said base unit, rotating a first hinge to tilt said display unit relative to said base unit until said portable computer is in said laptop configuration;
- rotating a second hinge when said portable computer is in said laptop configuration to swivel said display unit relative to said base unit;
- rotating said first hinge after said second hinge has been rotated to place said portable computer in said tablet configuration;
- and
- closing a latching assembly when said portable computer is in said tablet configuration to couple said base unit to said display unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.