Notebook computers have become a tool of choice for today's computer users, such as knowledge workers, students and others. A notebook computer can provide similar functionality to a desktop computer in a package which the user can readily take with him/her as convenience dictates. Such flexibility can produce enhanced user satisfaction and/or user productivity. While current notebook computers satisfy many user needs, enhanced functionality is desired to further enhance the user experience.
Systems and methods relating to notebook computers providing enhanced display features are described. In one instance, an exemplary notebook computer includes a housing. The housing includes a base that has a keyboard positioned on the base. The housing also includes a lid attached to the base via a hinge means and configured to swing from a transport-position against the keyboard to a user-position away from the keyboard. The notebook computer also includes a first display device positioned on the lid and generally opposing the keyboard. The notebook computer further includes a second optionally-deployable display device attached to the notebook computer and configured to deploy from a first storage-position to a second user-position in which the second optionally-deployable display device is configured to collectively create a user workspace with the first display device for a user positioned in front of the keyboard and generally opposite the hinge means. The second optionally-deployable display device is further configured to deploy to a third presentation-position configured to be perceptible to a non-user.
Overview
Exemplary notebook computers are described below which are configured to provide enhanced display features for a user. At least some implementations can maintain a general look and feel of a traditional notebook computer in some configurations while providing enhanced display features in other configurations. For instance, some implementations have a first display configured to generate a first display area for the user in a traditional manner. These implementations also have one or more optionally-deployable display devices. The optionally-deployable display devices can be stored in a storage position where the notebook computer maintains a generally traditional look and feel. The optionally-deployable display devices are configured to provide additional display area for displaying a user-interface for the user when deployed from the storage position to a user position. In some of these implementations, the optionally-deployable display devices can be alternatively deployed to a presentation-position where the optionally-deployable display devices can be visible to other viewers who may not be positioned to view a display which is oriented for the user.
Exemplary Implementations
Various exemplary implementations are described below by way of example. For purposes of comparison consider
First Exemplary Implementation
In contrast to the traditional notebook computer of
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In addition to first display device 312, notebook computer 300 also has at least one other optionally-deployable display device. In this implementation, notebook computer 300 also has a second optionally-deployable display device 316, and a third optionally-deployable display device 318. The second and third optionally-deployable display devices 316, 318 are in a storage-position in
In instances, where a user desires increased display area, such as for displaying the user-interface, the first, second, and/or third display devices 312, 316, and 318 can be utilized to collectively display the user-interface on their respective display areas. Such a configuration satisfies a user desire of increased number of square inches of display area while still allowing the notebook computer to have relatively small transport dimensions when the optionally-deployable second and third display devices 316, 318 are in a storage-position.
As a further user option, in at least some implementations, the optionally-deployable second and/or third display devices 316, 318 can be further configured to deploy to a third presentation-position which is configured to be perceptible to a non-user. In this instance, the optionally-deployable second and third display devices 316, 318 are configured to rotate about a cc-axis and a dd-axis respectively to achieve a presentation position. In this particular instance, the cc-axis and a dd-axis are orthogonal to the aa-axis about which the lid deploys. Other configurations are described below.
An example of a presentation-position is illustrated in
A presentation-position configuration allows viewers who cannot easily see the first display device 312 to view some or all of the first display device's user-interface content on the optionally-deployable second and/or third display devices 316, 318. For instance, assume that a user places notebook computer 300 on a conference table and is explaining ways to access and utilize a new application of the user-interface to colleagues positioned around the table. The presentation-position allows display device 312 to be visible to the user while one or more optionally-deployable display devices can be directed to viewers who cannot readily see the display area 314 of display device 312. In this instance, each display device 312, 316, and 318 is configured to individually display the entire user-interface. So for instance, relative to the example mentioned above, such a configuration can allow the user to show the colleagues a tool bar from which the application can be accessed or a specific icon which can be selected to access the application. Individual colleagues can view any of the three display devices 312, 316, 318 which are most convenient.
Consider another presentation scenario where a user has a set of digital slides which comprise a subset of the user-interface displayed on display device 312. Assume once again that the user is seated at a conference table and that the user wants the slides to be visible to other viewers who cannot readily see the display area 314 of display device 312. In this configuration, the user may have the slides and additional notes on the user-interface which the user wants to be able to see, but the user only wants the slides displayed for the other viewers. At least some implementations allow the user to designate a sub-portion of the user-interface, which in this instance is the slides, to be displayed on optionally-deployable display devices 316, 318 when these display devices are in the presentation-position.
For ease of explanation,
Second Exemplary Implementation
In some implementations, notebook computer 300A may include a sensor means for determining a relative position of optionally-deployable display devices 316A, 318A. For instance, in but one configuration, the sensor means may be associated with hinge means 802 to provide positional data from the hinge means which relates to an associated optionally-deployable display device which in this instance is display device 316A. Various other types of sensor means for determining a relative position of an optionally-deployable display device should be recognized by the skilled artisan.
Further, in this implementation, optionally-deployable display devices 316A, 318A are at least partially protected by housing 302A when the display devices are in the storage position. Other examples of how the housing can protect the optionally-deployable display device in their storage position are described above and below. In this particular configuration, the storage position of second and third optionally-deployable display devices 316A, 318A is at least partially within the housing's lid 308A. In such a configuration, the housing provides protection to the second and third optionally-deployable display devices when they are stored. So, for example, if the user is transporting the notebook computer 300A with optionally-deployable second and third display device in the storage position and bumps the notebook computer into an object, such as a chair, the housing 302A provides mechanical protection to the optionally-deployable second and third display devices 316A, 318A.
Third Exemplary Implementation
In notebook computer 300B, the lid 308B is configured to swing from the transport-position of
Fourth Exemplary Implementation
This particular implementation provides an example where, in the storage position of the optionally-deployable display devices 316C, 318C as indicated in
Fifth Exemplary Implementation
Sixth Exemplary Implementation
Exemplary System Environment
Portable computing device 300F includes a variety of computer readable media, examples of which include both volatile and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media. The memory 2306 includes computer-readable media in the form of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 2310, and/or non-volatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM) 2312. A basic input/output system (BIOS) 2314 maintains the basic routines that facilitate information transfer between components within notebook computing device 300F, such as during start-up, and is stored in ROM 2312. RAM 2310 typically contains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presently operated on by one or more of the processors 2304.
Notebook computing device 300F may include other removable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer storage media. By way of example, a hard disk drive 2316 reads from and writes to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media (not shown), a magnetic disk drive 2318 reads from and writes to a removable, non-volatile magnetic disk 2320 (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical disk drive 2322 reads from and/or writes to a removable, non-volatile optical disk 2324 such as a CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD), or any other type of optical media. In this example, the hard disk drive 2316, magnetic disk drive 2318, and optical disk drive 2322 are each connected to the bus 2308 by one or more data media interfaces 2326. The disk drives and associated computer readable media provide non-volatile storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data for notebook computing device 300F.
Any number of program modules can be stored on the hard disk 2316, magnetic disk 2320, optical disk 2324, ROM 2312, and/or RAM 2310, including by way of example, an operating system 2326, one or more application programs 2328, other program modules 2330, and program data 2332. Each of such operating system 2326, application programs 2328, other program modules 2330, and program data 2332 (or some combination thereof) may include an embodiment of the systems and methods described herein for providing enhanced display features.
A user can interface with notebook computing device 300F via any number of different input devices such as a keyboard 2334 and trackpad 2336. Other input devices (not shown specifically) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, controller, satellite dish, serial port, scanner, and/or the like. These and other input devices are connected to the processors 2304 via input/output interfaces 2340 that are coupled to the system bus 2308, but may be connected by other interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, game port, and/or a universal serial bus (USB).
A plurality of display devices such as 2342A-2342C or other type of display device can be connected to the system bus 2308 via an interface, such as a video adapter 2344. Input/output interfaces 2340 can also be utilized to connect other components such as speakers or a printer to the notebook computing device 300F. The notebook computing device 300F also can be communicably coupled to various networks via a network interface or adapter 2354 or other communication means.
Exemplary Processes
At block 2402, the process generates a user-interface. The user interface can be generated by any combination of the operating system and/or various applications operating in cooperation with the operation system.
At block 2404, the process causes the user-interface to be displayed by a first display means when a second display means is in a storage position. In at least some implementations, in such an instance, the second display means is not intended to generate an image for a user. As such, in these implementation when the second display means is in the storage position the user-interface is displayed on the first display means. Various first display means are described above. For instance, in but one common implementation, the first display means is a liquid crystal device (LCD) and is attached to a notebook computer lid generally opposing the notebook computer's keyboard.
At block 2406, the process causes the user-interface to be collectively displayed on the first display means and the second display means when the second display means is in a user-position. In such an instance, an overall amount of square inches available for displaying the user-interface for a user can be increased compared to the square inches of display area utilized at process block 2404. Such a process may occur automatically through receiving sensory information that the second display means is in the user-position. In other implementations, the user may enter a command to cause the user-interface to be distributed between the first and second display means. The skilled artisan should recognize still other configurations.
Some of these processes may offer still another configuration, referred to here as a presentation configuration where the second display means is positioned to be viewed by a viewer other than the user. Some implementations allow a user to designate what content is displayed on the second display means when the second display means is positioned in a presentation position. For instance, the user may be allowed to specify that the entire user-interface be displayed on each of the first and second display means or to specify that the entire display means be displayed on the first display means and a sub-set of the user-interface, such as a specific application, be displayed on the second display means.
Although implementations relating to providing enhanced display features relative to a notebook computer have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the subject of the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods provide examples of implementations for the concepts described above and below.
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