Portable computer usable in laptop and tablet configurations
AssigneeToshiba America Information Services, Inc.
InventorsKenji Shimano, Scott Yu, Trent Stoddard
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.
Claims20
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;
- and
- a cover unit having a top section affixed to said back surface of said display unit, a middle section and a bottom section, said bottom section having a front portion affixed to said bottom surface of said base unit, wherein
- said middle section of said cover unit is in contact with said back surface of said display unit when said portable computer is in the closed configuration,
- said middle section and said bottom section form a support for said display unit when said portable computer is in said laptop configuration, and
- said middle section is in contact with said bottom section and said back surface of said display unit when said portable computer is in said tablet 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 cover unit having a top section affixed to said back surface of said display unit, a middle section and a bottom section, said bottom section having a front portion affixed to said bottom surface of said base unit 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, said latching assembly including a latching arm having a first projection and a latch body having a first cavity adapted to receive said first projection to maintain said portable computer in one of said closed configuration and said tablet configuration, wherein
- said middle section of said cover unit is in contact with said back surface of said display unit when said portable computer is in the closed configuration,
- said middle section and said bottom section form a support for said display unit when said portable computer is in said laptop configuration and,
- said middle section is in contact with said bottom section and said back surface of said display unit when said portable computer is in 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 a primary input device is contained in a base unit, said method comprising:
- folding a cover unit coupled to a bottom surface of said base unit and said display unit such that a middle section of said cover unit and a portion of a bottom section of said cover unit form a supporting stand for said display unit when said portable computer is in said laptop configuration;
- and
- folding said cover unit such that a top section of said cover unit lies above said middle section and said middle section lies above said bottom section when said portable computer is in said tablet configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.