Patent Application
20250117052
Subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to technology for computing devices.
A computing device can include two portions that may be coupled via a hinge assembly where, for example, the two portions may include a base portion and a display portion that can be rotatable via the hinge assembly. In such an example, the computing device may be a clamshell computing device that can be transitioned from a closed position to an open position. A computing device can include one or more ports, for example, for data, power or power and data.
A computing device can include a processor; memory accessible to the processor; a display housing that includes a display operatively coupled to the processor; a base housing that includes a base side, a top side, a front edge, a back edge, a left edge, and a right edge; a hinge assembly that couples the base housing and the display housing; and a bar mountable to the base side of the base housing, where the bar includes one or more feet and an adjustable port end that includes one or more ports. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
Features and advantages of the described implementations can be more readily understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with examples of the accompanying drawings.
The following description includes the best mode presently contemplated for practicing the described implementations. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but rather is made merely for the purpose of describing general principles of various implementations. The scope of invention should be ascertained with reference to issued claims.
As an example, the computing device 100 may include one or more processors 112, memory 114 (e.g., one or more memory devices), one or more network interfaces (NIs) 116, and one or more power cells 118. Such components may be, for example, housed within the base housing 120, the display housing 140, or the base housing 120 and the display housing 140.
As shown, the base housing 120 includes a base side 121, a top side 123, a front edge 122, a back edge 124, a right edge 126 and a left edge 128, where left and right may be defined by left and right hands of a user when the front edge 122 is closest to the user. As shown, the display housing 140 includes a back side 141, a display side 143, a front edge 142, a back edge 144, a right edge 146 and a left edge 148, where left and right may be defined by left and right hands of a user when the front edge 122 of the base housing 120 is closest to the user. As shown, the display housing 140 may include a front edge unit 190 that may be utilized for one or more purposes.
As an example, the computing device 100 may be defined using two or more coordinate systems, for example, consider a first coordinate system that may be used to define the base housing 120 and a second coordinate system that may be used to define the display housing 140. In such an example, a first Cartesian coordinate system may have a width along an x-axis (x1), a depth along a y-axis (y1) and a height or thickness along a z-axis (z1) that extends in a direction outwardly away from the top side 123 of the base housing 120 where the top side 123 may be a keyboard side with a keyboard of keys (e.g., consider a QWERTY keyboard). As to a second Cartesian coordinate system, it may be used to define the display housing 140 and include a width along an x-axis (x2), a depth along a y-axis (y2) and a height or thickness along a z-axis (z2) that extends in a direction outwardly away from the display side 143 of the display housing 140. As an example, a coordinate system may be right-handed or left-handed. While various Cartesian coordinate systems are mentioned, a cylindrical or other type of coordinate system may be utilized, for example, consider a cylindrical coordinate system with a longitudinal axis that is aligned with a pivot axis of the hinge assembly 130, noting that a hinge assembly may include multiple pivot axes (e.g., consider a dual axis hinge).
As shown in
As shown, the computing device 100 can include a bar 200 mountable to the base side 121 of the base housing 120, where the bar 200 includes one or more feet and an adjustable port end 216 that includes one or more ports 222 and 224. As an example, the adjustable port end 216 may be part of a translatable unit 210 that may translate generally in a direction of a pivot axis of the hinge assembly 130. As shown, the translatable unit 210 can include a base side 211, a front side 212 and a back side 214.
As shown in
As shown in
In various instances, thickness of a computing device may be a sum of a keyboard housing thickness and a display housing thickness. In general, a display housing may have a thickness that is less than that of a keyboard housing. In such an approach, various types of components may be housed in the keyboard housing where a volume and a mass of the keyboard housing exceeds that of a display housing. In such an approach, the keyboard housing may help to stabilize a computing device when the display housing is positioned at an open angle. For example, at an open angle of approximately 110 degrees of a display housing with respect to a keyboard housing, the mass of the keyboard housing may be sufficient to prevent the computing device from tipping backwards.
As to whether or not a computing device will be stable at a particular open angle can depend on a variety of factors. For example, consider center of mass of the base housing 120 and/or an angle of the base housing 120 as supported on a support surface (e.g., a desktop, a countertop, a tabletop, etc.), which may be substantially horizontal. In such an example, an increase in the angle where the back edge 124 is higher than the front edge 122 may provide for increased stability when the display housing 140 is open with respect to the base housing 120. While an option may be to shift a center of mass of the base housing 120 toward the front edge 122 to create a longer lever arm to combat gravity induced torque of an opened display housing 140, such an approach may make the computing device 100 relatively unbalanced when carried by a user. For example, a user may wish to carry the computing device 100 with a hand cupping the back edges 124 and 144 of the base housing 120 and the display housing 140 when the computing device 100 is in a closed position (e.g., angle Δ of approximately 0 degrees). In such an example, the computing device 100 may be more stable in the hand of the user when the center of mass is closer to the back edges 124 and 144 (e.g., the center of mass of the base housing 120 is closer to the back edge 124 than to the front edge 122).
As an example, the bar 200 may be mounted to the base housing 120 in a detachable or integrated manner whereby a mass of the bar 200 acts to shift a center of mass of the base housing 120 (e.g., with the bar 200) toward the back edge 124. Further, the bar 200 may be utilized as a finger grip, which may further stabilize the computing device 100 when held in a hand of a user (e.g., cupped within a hand with the back edges 124 and 144 resting in a palm and/or a number of fingers near the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints of the hand).
As an example, the bar 200 may provide for elevating the base housing 120 near its back edge 124 when the computing device 100 is positioned on a support surface (e.g., a horizontal support surface, etc.). As an example, the bar 200 may provide multiple functions that can make the computing device 100 more stable when positioned on a support surface and/or when carried in the hand of a user. As an example, the inclusion of the bar 200 may allow for making the base housing 120 thinner along one or more portions, which may help to contribute to an overall reduction in mass of the computing device 100. As an example, the base housing 120 may be of approximately the same thickness as the display housing 140 at one or more positions along the y-coordinate. For example, consider the two housings 120 and 140 as having approximately the same thickness along the distance dy1. In such an example, the thicknesses may be within approximately 20 percent of one another, approximately 15 percent of one another, approximately 10 percent of one another, approximately 5 percent of one another, approximately 1 percent of one another, etc.
As shown in
As an example, the thickness of the base housing 120 along the display distance dy1 may be less than a thickness of one or more types of serial ports. For example, a plug or male HDMI connector (e.g., type A) may have outer dimensions of 1.39 cm by 0.445 cm, while the female port may have inside dimensions of 1.4 cm by 0.455 cm.
As another example, consider a USB-A type connector that may be specified as having a length of 1.4 cm and a height of 0.65 cm. As such a port (e.g., a receptacle) may be expected to have a height that is greater than 0.65 cm. In the example of
As to a USB-C type of port or receptacle, it may be approximately 0.84 cm wide, approximately 0.26 cm high, and approximately 0.665 cm deep. As an example, a USB-C type connector may be usable in one of two orientations (e.g., a symmetric connector); whereas, a USB-A type of connector may be usable in a single orientation (e.g., an asymmetric connector). As mentioned, the port 222 may be a USB-C port, which may have a thickness of approximately 0.26 cm.
As an example, by positioning one or more ports in the bar 200, the base housing 120 may be made thinner along other portions. As an example, the bar 200 may be customizable via selection of the translatable unit 210 from various translatable units and/or selectable from one or more types of bars with different features, which may include different ports, arrangements of ports, etc.
As an example, the bar 200 may provide for housing one or more types of features, which can include circuitry, which may include battery circuitry (e.g., a battery or batteries as a type of circuitry) and/or other circuitry. As explained, the bar 200 can provide for input and/or output (I/O) for the computing device 100. As explained, such an approach may allow for not including I/O on a side edge of the base housing 120 such that the base housing 120 may be made slimmer along various portions. As an example, the bar 200 may provide for an arrangement of mass of various components to be distributed in an improved manner for one or more purposes. As an example, the bar 200 may be of a height that can accommodate various types of I/O (e.g., ports, etc.). As an example, the bar 200 may provide for housing a motherboard of the computing device 100 and/or a daughterboard of the computing device 100. As explained, the translatable unit 210 may be selectable from a group of different translatable units with one or more different features. As an example, the translatable unit 210 may be a type of dongle, which may include, for example, one or more security features (e.g., a security key, security circuitry, etc.). As an example, the translatable unit 210 may include one or more memory components and/or a port for one or more memory components (e.g., an SD card port, etc.).
As explained, the computing device 100 may include the one or more processors 112, the memory 114 (e.g., as accessible to at least one processor of the one or more processors 112); the display housing 140 that includes a display (e.g., display circuitry operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more processors 112); the base housing 120 that includes the base side 121, the top side 123, the front edge 122, the back edge 124, the left edge 128, and the right edge 126; the hinge assembly 130 that couples the base housing 120 and the display housing 140; and the bar 200 mountable to the base side 121 of the base housing 120, where the bar 200 can include one or more feet and an adjustable port end 206 that includes the one or more ports 222 and 224, which may be one or more types of ports.
In the example of
As an example, the back side 121 may include various features 127 and 129, which may provide for one or more of mechanical strength, improved grip, support, and enhanced heat transfer. For example, the back side 121 of the base housing 120 may include one or more ribs or other structural features that may provide for one or mechanical strength, improved grip, support, and enhanced heat transfer. For example, the back side 121 can include a number of ribs that extend widthwise and/or lengthwise. As an example, one or more front-most ribs may provide for support, for example, as a foot or feet to support the base housing 120 on a support surface.
As shown in
As an example, the bar 200 may be removably mountable to the base housing 120 of the computing device 100. For example, the base housing 120 can include a latch 180 that may be a tool-less, hand operable latch or, for example, a tool-based latch where a tool such as a pin, a screwdriver, a wrench, etc., may be utilized to release the latch 180 and/or to actuate the latch 180. In the example of
As explained, the display housing 140 may include the front edge unit 190 that may be utilized for one or more purposes. For example, the unit 190 may be utilized as a finger grip for opening the computing device 100 to position the display housing 140 at a desired open angle with respect to the base housing 120. As an example, the unit 190 may include one or more media related features such as, for example, one or more cameras (e.g., forward and/or backward facing), one or more microphones, one or more lights (e.g., flashes, video lights, etc.), etc. In such an approach, the thickness of the display housing 140 may be made thinner as various components may be housed at least in part in the unit 190 which may provide the display housing 140 with a greater thickness over an extent of the unit 190 (e.g., consider a greater thickness of 105 percent to 200 percent of dz4). Referring to the example of
In
In the views of
As an example, a connector may have a thickness that does not allow for the connector to move inwardly with the translatable unit 210 due to space constraints. As an example, a connector may have a thickness that does allow for the connector to move inwardly with the translatable unit 210. For example, an HDMI video connector may be relatively thick (e.g., due to overmolding support, etc.) and demand that the translatable unit 210 is in an extended position such that space exists to accommodate the HDMI video connector; whereas, for example, a USB-C type of connector may be thinner and received by a port of the translatable unit 210 in either an extended position or a retracted position.
As shown in
As an example, in an extended position, the translatable unit 210 may provide space for receipt of an HDMI connector and/or a USB-A type connector, each of which may have a surrounding housing (e.g., molded plastic, etc.) that secures the electronic components of such types of the connectors. As an example, a surrounding housing may be an overmolded type of surrounding material that effectively enlarges one or more dimensions of at least a portion of a connector. In such an example, a translatable unit may provide for translating outwardly in a manner that provides space to accommodate overmolding of a connector.
As an example, wireless circuitry may include one or more types of wireless circuitry such as, for example, cellular circuitry, satellite circuitry, WiFi circuitry, BLUETOOTH circuitry, etc. As an example, a bar and/or a unit that can be coupled to the bar may include one or more subscriber features such as, for example, cellular, satellite, etc., subscriber features (e.g., consider a SIM card, etc.).
As an example, a bar may include features for coupling to multiple units, which may be at opposing ends of the bar and/or stacked at one end of the bar. As to the latter, consider a unit that can be coupled to a bar on one side and that can receive another unit on another, opposing side (e.g., consider USB-C type of port/connector coupling(s), etc.). In such an example, the additional unit may extend outwardly from a side edge of a computing device and/or the bar and/or one or more of the units may provide for translation such that an end of the additional unit may be moved inwardly and/or outwardly, optionally inwardly to be even and/or recessed from an edge of the computing device.
As an example, the interface and/or latch component 285 may provide for interaction with the latch 180 of the base housing 120 and/or the interface 185 of the base housing 120. As an example, the latch 180 may provide for securing the bar 200 in the recess 125 of the base housing 120 and, for example, for operatively coupling circuitry of the bar 200 and circuitry of the base housing 120.
As to the one or more magnets 734, consider, for example, a computing device that includes a base housing and a bar that can be coupled via a magnetic attraction force using the one or more magnets. As an example, a bar and an adjustable port end may include one or more magnets. For example, consider a bar with an adjustable port end that may be translatable and/or removably attachable where translation, attachment and/or detachment may be facilitated by magnetic force or forces, which may include one or more of an attraction force and a repulsion force. As an example, a removably attachable adjustable port end may include one or more magnets and/or one or more ferromagnetic materials that can generate a magnetic attraction force with an end of a bar that includes one or more ferromagnetic materials and/or one or more magnets.
As an example, a computing device can include a processor; memory accessible to the processor; a display housing that includes a display operatively coupled to the processor; a base housing that includes a base side, a top side, a front edge, a back edge, a left edge, and a right edge; a hinge assembly that couples the base housing and the display housing; and a bar mountable to the base side of the base housing, where the bar includes one or more feet and an adjustable port end that includes one or more ports. In such an example, the adjustable port end may be slidably adjustable in a direction toward and away from one of the left edge and the right edge of the base housing.
As an example, an adjustable port end may be slidably adjustable a distance less than 6 cm and greater than 0.2 cm.
As an example, an adjustable port end may be slidably adjustable from a flush position flush with one of the left edge and the right edge of a base housing to a recessed position recessed from the one of the left edge and the right edge of the base housing.
As an example, an adjustable port end may be footless (e.g., without a foot). In such an example, the adjustable port end may be movable without contacting a support surface on which a computing device is positioned.
As an example, an adjustable port end, as a unit, may be replaceably adjustable with a different adjustable port end, as another, different unit. For example, consider a unit that is selected from a number of different units where a user may select one of the units to customize a computing device, for example, as to one or more ports and/or one or more other features. As an example, an adjustable port end, as a unit, may include one or more female features and/or one or more male features. In such an example, consider one end of a unit as including at least one male feature that can plug into a receptacle (e.g., a port) of a bar and an opposing end as including at least one female feature that can be a receptacle (e.g., a port) for a connector. In such an example, one or more of data and/or power may be transmitted from one end to the other end of the unit where, for example, the unit may include circuitry that alters the data and/or power and/or that does not alter the data and/or power. As an example, a unit may include circuitry that receives data and/or power according to one standard and that transmits the data and/or power according to another standard (e.g., HDMI to other, DisplayPort to other, Ethernet to other, etc.).
As an example, a bar can include a fixed end opposite an adjustable port end where, for example, the fixed end may include one or more ports. As an example, a fixed end may be substantially flush with one of the right edge and the left edge of a base housing. As to substantially flush, it may be within approximately 1 cm of an edge, or, for example, within approximately 0.5 cm of an edge.
As an example, a processor may be disposed in a cavity of a bar. For example, a processor of a computing device may be disposed in a bar that may be detachable from a base housing of the computing device via one or more mechanisms (e.g., a mechanical latch, a magnetic attraction force, etc.). In such an example, the computing device may be customizable by selecting a bar from a number of different bars with different processors and/or numbers of processors.
As an example, a bar may include at least one vent. In such an example, the vent may provide for heat transfer, for example, via flow of air. In such an example, the flow of air may be via natural convection and/or via an air mover such as, for example, a fan or fans.
As an example, a computing device can include at least one magnet where a bar mounts to a base housing of the computing device via a magnetic attraction force.
As an example, a computing device can include an interface that includes a base housing portion and a bar portion that electrically couple circuitry of the bar to circuitry of the base housing. In such an example, the interface may be or include an electrical contact interface and/or the interface may be or include a wireless interface.
As an example, a computing device can include one or more batteries. As an example, a base housing of a computing device can include a base housing battery and a bar may include a bar battery, which may be within the bar and/or via a detachable component of the bar, which may be detachable from an end of the bar and which may include one or more ports. In such an example, the detachable component may be a unit that may be charged via one or more ports. As an example, such a unit may be detachable and utilized to power one or more other devices (e.g., consider an auxiliary battery for a cellular phone, etc.).
As an example, a bar may be selectable from a plurality of different bars. In such an example, each of the plurality of different bars may include different circuitry (e.g., at least one type of circuitry that differs).
As an example, a bar may include at least one intermediate serial bus connector that is inaccessibly covered upon connection to the adjustable port end (e.g., as unit). As explained, an adjustable port end may be a unit that may be attachable and detachable from a bar that is mounted to a computing system. As explained, a bar may include a fixed end that may include one or more ports and an adjustable port end that may include one or more ports or, for example, two adjustable port ends where each includes one or more ports. As explained, an adjustable port end may be an end of a unit removably attachable to a bar and/or otherwise translatable with respect to a bar.
As an example, a computer program product can include instructions to instruct a computing device, a computing system, etc., to perform one or more methods.
The term “circuit” or “circuitry” is used in the summary, description, and/or claims. As is well known in the art, the term “circuitry” includes all levels of available integration (e.g., from discrete logic circuits to the highest level of circuit integration such as VLSI, and includes programmable logic components programmed to perform the functions of an embodiment as well as general-purpose or special-purpose processors programmed with instructions to perform those functions) that includes at least one physical component such as at least one piece of hardware. A processor can be circuitry. Memory can be circuitry. Circuitry may be processor-based, processor accessible, operatively coupled to a processor, etc. Circuitry may optionally rely on one or more computer-readable media that includes computer-executable instructions. As described herein, a computer-readable medium may be a storage device (e.g., a memory chip, a memory card, a storage disk, etc.) and referred to as a computer-readable storage medium, which is non-transitory and not a signal or a carrier wave.
While various examples of circuits or circuitry have been discussed,
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In the example of
The core and memory control group 820 include one or more processors 822 (e.g., single core or multi-core) and a memory controller hub 826 that exchange information via a front side bus (FSB) 824. As described herein, various components of the core and memory control group 820 may be integrated onto a single processor die, for example, to make a chip that supplants the conventional “northbridge” style architecture.
The memory controller hub 826 interfaces with memory 840. For example, the memory controller hub 826 may provide support for DDR SDRAM memory (e.g., DDR, DDR2, DDR3, etc.). In general, the memory 840 is a type of random-access memory (RAM). It is often referred to as “system memory”.
The memory controller hub 826 further includes a low-voltage differential signaling interface (LVDS) 832. The LVDS 832 may be a so-called LVDS Display Interface (LDI) for support of a display device 892 (e.g., a CRT, a flat panel, a projector, etc.). A block 838 includes some examples of technologies that may be supported via the LVDS interface 832 (e.g., serial digital video, HDMI/DVI, display port). The memory controller hub 826 also includes one or more PCI-express interfaces (PCI-E) 834, for example, for support of discrete graphics 836. Discrete graphics using a PCI-E interface has become an alternative approach to an accelerated graphics port (AGP). For example, the memory controller hub 826 may include a 16-lane (x16) PCI-E port for an external PCI-E-based graphics card. A system may include AGP or PCI-E for support of graphics. As described herein, a display may be a sensor display (e.g., configured for receipt of input using a stylus, a finger, etc.). As described herein, a sensor display may rely on resistive sensing, optical sensing, or other type of sensing.
The I/O hub controller 850 includes a variety of interfaces. The example of
The interfaces of the I/O hub controller 850 provide for communication with various devices, networks, etc. For example, the SATA interface 851 provides for reading, writing or reading and writing information on one or more drives 880 such as HDDs, SDDs or a combination thereof. The I/O hub controller 850 may also include an advanced host controller interface (AHCI) to support one or more drives 880. The PCI-E interface 852 allows for wireless connections 882 to devices, networks, etc. The USB interface 853 provides for input devices 884 such as keyboards (KB), one or more optical sensors, mice and various other devices (e.g., microphones, cameras, phones, storage, media players, etc.). On or more other types of sensors may optionally rely on the USB interface 853 or another interface (e.g., I2C, etc.). As to microphones, the system 800 of
In the example of
The system 800, upon power on, may be configured to execute boot code 890 for the BIOS 868, as stored within the SPI Flash 866, and thereafter processes data under the control of one or more operating systems and application software (e.g., stored in system memory 840). An operating system may be stored in any of a variety of locations and accessed, for example, according to instructions of the BIOS 868. Again, as described herein, a satellite, a base, a server or other machine may include fewer or more features than shown in the system 800 of
Although examples of methods, devices, systems, etc., have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as examples of forms of implementing the claimed methods, devices, systems, etc.
