System and method for altering a display mode

A handheld noninvasive physiological monitor capable of an undocked portable configuration and a docked tabletop configuration, the monitor configured to accept detector signals from a noninvasive detector capable of detecting light attenuated by tissue of a patient, the monitor comprising:

• a handheld portable housing including a processor, a user interface configured to allow users to configure programs to be executed on said processor, and a display, the processor configured to process detector signals and output values indicative of physiological parameters of a patient to the display, the display configured to display said output values in a plurality of display orientations, and the housing configured to at least mechanically dock with a tabletop docking station;
• and
• a gravitational sensor included within said housing, the gravitational sensor configured to output an orientation signal indicative of an orientation of the housing,
• wherein the processor includes at least two modes of operation, a first mode corresponding to when said housing is in a docked tabletop configuration and a second mode when said housing is in an undocked portable configuration, said first mode including an automatic determination of said display orientation responsive to said orientation signal from said gravitational sensor, and said second mode including manual determination of said orientation of said display through said user interface.