This invention relates, in general terms, to the fields of display apparatus for data-processing devices such as computers, to computers themselves and to methods related to such devices.
More particularly, but by no means exclusively, the invention is concerned with display apparatus and the control or management of power consumption relating to tablet-style (portable) computers, to tablet-style computers themselves, and to associated methods.
In recent years, the fields of home and business computer design have evolved substantially, with the functionality and operating efficiency of both desktop and portable computers having increased greatly, in a variety of ways. In both the desktop and portable environments, processing speeds, data storage capabilities and multi-media functionalities have given rise to powerful and versatile machines, for both personal and business use, although computer designers are still faced with a number of challenges, such as optimising functionality and “user friendliness”, whilst minimising power consumption and maximising operating efficiency. In the portable world, especially, size and weight reduction, together with ergonomic considerations are also an important factor, with these requirements sometimes giving rise to considerable difficulties, bearing in mind the necessity of providing an on-board power supply, usually in the form of one or more batteries.
The current generation of home and business computers includes a portable/mobile form factor known as a “tablet computer” or, more commonly, a “tablet PC”. Whilst the term “tablet PC” is fast-becoming the industry-standard description, it will be understood, of course, that the form factor—typically comprising a “page-sized” touch/stylus-activated screen, which occupies a large proportion of the computer's front face—need not necessarily relate to a “PC” as such. For the sake of clarity, therefore, the more general term “tablet computer” is used herein, to describe such devices which, in addition to their large “page-sized” screens, are also sometimes provided with handwriting recognition and speech dictation features. Again, for reasons of clarity, it should be noted that the term “state-style” is intended to refer to tablet computers which do not, in general, have an integrated keyboard, nor a cover for the display. On the other hand, “convertible” tablet computers generally do have an integrated keyboard, with a lid housing the display. As will be understood, these may be converted to a “slate style” tablet computer, typically by turning the screen through 180?, and then folding it back onto the keyboard.
The present invention seeks to address some, at least, of the challenges set out above, with a focus on tablet computers and the like.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided display apparatus for a tablet computer, the display apparatus, in use, having a viewable area, a detector to detect the presence of a device that obscures at least part of the viewable area and a display control element to modify the viewable area when the presence of such a device is detected.
It should be understood, in this regard, that the term “viewable area” is intended to refer to that part of the display screen that is operative to convey output information to a user, such as may be produced by applications such as spreadsheets, word processors, browsers, e-mail facilities, together with directory structures, multi-media outputs, and document viewers such as (for example) Adobe's “Acrobat” (™) package.
It will also be understood that the display control element may be provided in addition to a conventional display driver (sometimes known as a display controller) which is principally responsible for image generation within the data-processing device. In other words, the display control element provides additional functionality over and above that which may be provided by such a display driver/controller, although it need not necessarily be provided as a discrete hardware or software component.
The display control element may modify the viewable area to mitigate the effect of the obscuration.
Alternatively, the display control element may modify the viewable area to compensate for the obscuration.
The display control element may select an image orientation that is appropriate for use of the detected device.
The detector may be operative to detect the presence of a variety of different devices, such as output devices in the form of audio speakers and Braille character generators and add-on data storage devices such as floppy and CD drives, but preferably is operative to detect the presence of input devices such as keyboards, touch pads, hand writing recognition devices and the like.
In this way, a user may make use of the input device, seeing the results of the input information in the modified viewable area, with the image being displayed in a manner that is convenient for the user, in that no user orientation of the display apparatus is required.
The display apparatus may have a connector for attachment of the device such that it overlies part of the screen.
The connector may allow data, input from the device, to be displayed in the modified viewable area.
The connector may act in a mechanical sense, to assist in locating the device at an appropriate position on the display apparatus and may also act electrically, to allow data to be passed to or from the device for display (in the case of an input device) in the modified viewable area.
The display apparatus may be of the flat-panel type, with the display control element being operative to blank the part of the screen that is obscured by the device.
The display apparatus may have pixels of the self-emitting type, with the display control element being operative to dim or turn off those pixels that are obscured by the device.
Alternatively, the display apparatus may be of the back-lit type, with the display control element being operative to dim or turn off the back-lighting in those parts of the screen that are obscured by the device.
In this way, the power consumption of the display apparatus may be reduced, when the device obscures part of the screen, by reducing or ceasing the supply of power to those parts of the screen that have become obscured, and which the user is thus less likely (if at all) to need to see.
The display apparatus preferably forms part of a slate-style tablet computer.
The display apparatus may have a storage facility for the device, when the device is not in use. The device may be removable from the display apparatus or may be connected thereto, perhaps by way of a hinge, pivot or swivel arrangement.
The tablet computer and device may each be provided with a wireless connection. In this way, the device may be used remotely from the display apparatus, with the display apparatus thus acting in the manner of a stand-alone monitor.
The device may be a computer keyboard or may include a software generated representation of a keyboard displayed on the display.
It will be understood, of course, that the inventions described above and herein differ significantly from the display facilities which can sometimes be provided on hand-held devices such as PDA's and mobile telephones. Principally, this is because they do not have screens of sufficient size or definition to enable them to function as stand-alone monitors, which are generally static, in use, and viewed from a distance of some 50-60 cm, often used in conjunction with a separate, stand-alone keyboard.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tablet computer having a display, a detachable input device and a display control element operative to modify the viewable area of the display when the input device is attached to the computer in a manner that obscures at least part of the unmodified viewable area, such that information presented in the unmodified area is reconfigured for presentation in the modified viewable area.
The input device may be a keyboard, with the viewable area conveniently being switched from landscape to portrait mode when the keyboard is so attached.
The keyboard may be located, when not in use, in a storage bay of the computer's housing.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of reducing the power consumption of a computer display, by modifying the viewable area of the display when a user's view of at least part of the display is obscured.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tablet computer having a first mode of operation in which substantially all of the screen area may be used for the display of information and a second mode of operation in which a detachable keyboard overlies a sub-area of the screen, the configuration of the displayed information being modified in the second mode, such that the information remains visible to the user, despite the sub-area of the screen being obscured by the keyboard.
In the first mode of operation, information may be displayed in a landscape operation, with a portrait orientation being used in the second mode.
In accordance with a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a tablet computer having a display and a detachable keyboard operable to receive input information, when attached to or detached from the computer, the computer having a display control element operative to modify the viewable area of the display when the keyboard is attached, such that, with the keyboard attached, the computer may function as a state-style tablet computer, but as a monitor when the keyboard is not so attached.
The invention, in its various aspects, may comprise features described herein in relation to the other aspects.
Specific and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, in its various aspects, will now be described, strictly by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Referring first to
As shown in
With the keyboard 17 in position, over part of the screen 12, it will be understood that a portion of the viewable area referred to with reference to
The computer 10 is thus provided with a detector (not shown) which is operative to detect the presence of the obscuring keyboard, so that appropriate action may be taken, insofar as the display is concerned. The detector may be a physical switch, sensor, contact or the like and may be associated with or integral with a data-passing edge connector provided on the operative edge 20 of the control panel 13.
Upon detection of the presence of the keyboard 17, a display control element (not shown), provided within the computer 10, is operative to modify the viewable area, in the manner hereafter described. The display control element may be a hardware device, but preferably is provided by an appropriate software element, perhaps forming part of the computer's operating system. The nature and location of the software element may be one of many, with it equally being possible to run different types of operating system, without affecting the spirit or scope of the disclosures contained herein.
As shown in
However, it is important to note that, in preferred embodiments, all or substantially all of the image (i.e. information) displayed in the unmodified viewable area is also available for viewing in the modified viewable area, thus allowing continuity of operation with various applications.
Reconfiguring the viewable area in the manner described offers benefits not only insofar as the user's visual experience is concerned, but also from the point of view of power consumption and operating efficiency. The fact that there is no need to display any screen-based information in the regions obscured by the keyboard 17 means that power savings may be made, which, in turn, may offer valuable advantages in terms of increased battery life and weight reductions, in the batteries themselves. Even where the computer has a mains power option, such as by way of an adapter, the power savings available, by reducing the viewable area on the screen, may be considerable.
In order to increase this benefit, the display control element may also be operative to lessen or cut off the power that is supplied to the image generating elements of the screen 12.
In the case of an LED display, in which each pixel of the display is powered individually, the display control element may be operative to cease the supply of power to the pixels which are disposed behind the obscuring keyboard, meaning that no power is wasted in illuminating pixels that, in practice, cannot be seen. In the case of back-lit displays, such as LCD-type flat panel displays, the display control element may be operative to turn off the back lighting, in a predefined sub-area of the screen, as shown somewhat schematically in
Whilst, in the drawings, the keyboard 17 is shown as a physical device, the applicants envisage that the input device might also be provided by a software representation of a computer keyboard, with it only being necessary, under such circumstances, for a template or frame of a keyboard to be detected in the manner described. Thus, in place of the generally conventional keyboard 17 (i.e. one having a plurality of mechanically-operable and moveable plastics keys), it may suffice (see
Looking lastly at
Lastly, it should be understood that certain aspects of the invention (notably the power-saving aspects) may well find application in data-processing devices other than computing apparatus and computers per se. The term “data-processing devices” is thus intended to encompass a wide range of electronic devices such as televisions, radio tuners, video/DVD recorders, mobile telephones and PDA's—indeed any device with which a display apparatus may conceivably be provided.
The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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04290206.4 | Jan 2004 | EP | regional |