Convertible computer with selective activation of input devices and power consumption level based on a tablet or notebook mode

An apparatus for managing a system mode in a portable computer including a notebook computer mode and a tablet computer mode, comprising:

• a display module;
• monitoring means for monitoring a rotational state of the display module;
• and
• setting means for setting a system mode as one selected from a notebook computer mode and a tablet computer mode based on the rotational state of the display module, the setting means further for setting a different system power consumption level based upon the set system mode;
• and
• controlling means for:
• controlling, when the set system mode is the notebook computer mode, an input unit to be active and controlling a touch screen to be inactive, the input unit including at least one of a keyboard, a stick pointer or a touch pad, and
• controlling, when the set system mode is the tablet computer mode, the input unit to be inactive and controlling the touch screen to be active.

A method, comprising:

• operating a portable computer in a notebook computer mode or a tablet computer mode selectively according to a rotational state of the portable computer, wherein devices in the portable computer operate in a way that corresponds to each of the notebook computer mode and the tablet computer mode;
• operating at least one device in the portable computer at a first power consumption level in the notebook computer mode and a second power consumption level in the tablet computer mode, wherein the devices in the portable computer include an input unit and a touch screen, the input unit including at least one of a keyboard, a stick pointer or a touch pad;
• and
• selectively operating at least one device in the portable computer according to whether the portable computer operates in the notebook computer mode or in the tablet computer mode, wherein the input unit is configured to be inactive and the touch screen is configured to be active when the portable computer operates in the tablet computer mode, and the input unit is configured to be active and the touch screen is configured to be inactive when the portable computer operates in the notebook computer mode.

A method for managing a system mode in a portable computer having a configuration that switches a system mode to a notebook computer mode or a tablet computer mode, comprising:

• monitoring a rotational state of a display of the portable computer;
• setting a system mode as one selected from a notebook computer mode and a tablet computer mode based on the rotational state of the display;
• setting a control value necessary for switching a system performance based upon the set system mode,
• wherein the control value for a processor speed in the notebook computer mode is set to be faster than the control value for the processor speed in the tablet computer mode;
• and
• controlling, when the set system mode is the notebook computer mode, an input unit of the portable computer to be active and controlling a touch screen of the portable computer to be inactive, the input unit including at least one of keyboard, stick pointer or a touch pad;
• and
• controlling, when the set system mode is the tablet computer mode, the input unit to be inactive and controlling the touch screen to be active.

An article including a machine-readable storage medium containing instructions for managing a system mode in a portable computer including a display module whose rotation state allows the system mode to be switched to a notebook computer mode or a tablet computer mode, the instructions, when executed, causing the portable computer to:

• monitor the rotation state of the display module;
• switch the system mode to the notebook computer mode or the tablet computer mode according to the rotation state;
• read, from a memory, a control value necessary for setting a system environment based upon the switched system mode when the system mode is switched,
• wherein the control value for a processor speed in the notebook computer mode is set to be faster than the control value for the processor speed in the tablet computer mode;
• set the system environment based upon the read control value;
• controlling, when the system mode is switched to the notebook computer mode, an input unit to be active and controlling a touch screen to be inactive, the input unit including at least one of a keyboard, a stick pointer or a touch pad;
• and
• controlling, when the system mode is switched to the tablet computer mode, the input unit to be inactive and controlling the touch screen to be active.