Cover closing mode and tablet mode detection

Abstract

The invention relates to cover closing mode and tablet mode detection for an electronic device. The invention relates to a device and a method for performing context recognition. The context recognition detection device is in a cover closing mode or a tablet mode. The context recognition is configured to handle abnormal conditions including a first abnormal condition in which the context recognition begins when the device is in an upright mode and a second abnormal condition in which the context recognition begins when the device is in a cover closed mode or a tablet mode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for detecting whether an electronic device is in a lid-closed mode or a tablet mode. Background Art

[0002] Many electronic devices support power management features to improve the user experience and optimize power consumption. For example, many devices support low-power states, such as sleep or hibernate states, which are between the off state (e.g., the device is completely turned off and consumes no power) and the on state (e.g., the device is powered on and ready for use by the user). Power management features are particularly important for portable devices, such as foldable devices, because their power supply is limited.

[0003] Context recognition is typically used to customize transitions between power states. Context recognition determines whether the device is in a mode selected from a plurality of modes including a lid-closed mode and a tablet mode. As an example, a foldable laptop can switch from the on state to a low-power state in response to detecting that the laptop is in the lid-closed mode (e.g., the display of the laptop is folded onto the keyboard).

[0004] Context recognition is typically implemented by using a Hall sensor and a magnet. For example, for a laptop, the magnet is placed on the screen panel of the laptop, and the corresponding Hall sensor is placed on the keyboard panel of the laptop. When the laptop is closed, the magnet approaches the Hall sensor, and the Hall sensor senses the magnetic field generated by the magnet. When the detected magnetic field exceeds a threshold, the lid-closed mode is detected.

[0005] Unfortunately, this solution using a Hall sensor and a magnet has several drawbacks. For example, the Hall sensor is dedicated to detecting the magnetic field generated by the corresponding magnet and may not be used for other applications. In addition, the Hall sensor and the magnet are placed near the edges of the screen panel and the keyboard panel, and result in a complex printed circuit board design to accommodate the Hall sensor and the magnet. In addition, the presence of the magnet typically causes the device itself to be magnetized, which can have an adverse effect on the performance of other electronic components and sensors. Another drawback is that other magnetic field sources, such as another magnet, can cause false alarms in the Hall sensor. In addition, the Hall sensor has relatively low accuracy and does not allow a magnetic field threshold corresponding to the exact angle between the screen panel and the keyboard panel. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for performing context recognition. A host processor and a first multi-sensor device are included in a first lid portion (e.g., an upper lid) of the device, and a second multi-sensor device is included in a second lid portion (e.g., a lower lid) of the device. Each multi-sensor device includes one or more types of motion sensors, including but not limited to an accelerometer and a gyroscope that generate motion measurements.

[0007] The context recognition detects whether the device is in the lid-closed mode or the tablet mode. The context recognition is configured to handle exceptional situations, which include a first exceptional situation and a second exceptional situation. In the first exceptional situation, the context recognition starts in the upright mode, and in the second exceptional situation, the context recognition starts when the device is in the lid-closed mode or the tablet mode.

[0008] Compared with the use of Hall sensors and magnets, the use of multi-sensor devices allows the multi-sensor devices to be used for other applications besides context recognition, such as orientation and lid angle detection. In addition, the use of multi-sensor devices does not involve complex printed circuit board designs because many devices already include such multi-sensor devices. Moreover, the multi-sensor devices have no risk of inadvertently magnetizing the device and are not susceptible to false alarms caused by other magnetic sources. The context recognition disclosed herein also has high detection accuracy because customizable and precise thresholds can be set for lid-closed mode or tablet mode detection. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote similar features or elements. The dimensions and relative positions of the features in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0010] Figure 1 is a device in the flip-open mode according to an embodiment disclosed herein;

[0011] Figure 2 is a device in the lid-closed mode according to an embodiment disclosed herein;

[0012] Figure 3 is a device in the tablet mode according to an embodiment disclosed herein;

[0013] Figure 4 is a device in the upright mode according to an embodiment disclosed herein;

[0014] Figure 5 is a block diagram of a device according to an embodiment disclosed herein; and

[0015] Figure 6 is a flowchart of a method for performing context recognition according to an embodiment disclosed herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various aspects of the disclosed subject matter. However, the disclosed subject matter can be practiced without these specific details. In some cases, known structures, functions, and methods of manufacturing electronic devices, electronic components, and sensors are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the description of other aspects of the present disclosure.

[0017] Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and the following claims, the word "comprise" and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising" should be interpreted in an open and inclusive sense, i.e., "including but not limited to".

[0018] Throughout the specification, references to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same aspect. Furthermore, in one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner.

[0019] As mentioned above, context recognition is used, for example, to customize transitions between power states and is typically implemented by Hall sensors and magnets. However, Hall sensors and magnets have several disadvantages, such as being limited to performing context recognition, resulting in complex printed circuit board designs, inadvertently magnetizing the device, being susceptible to false positives, and having limited detection accuracy.

[0020] The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for performing context recognition without using Hall sensors and magnets. Context recognition detects whether the device is in a cover closed mode or a tablet mode. Context recognition is configured to handle abnormal situations, which include a first abnormal situation and a second abnormal situation, in which the context recognition starts in the upright mode and in which the context recognition starts when the device is in the cover closed mode or the tablet mode. In the first abnormal situation, the cover angle used for context recognition cannot be calculated because the acceleration data cannot be used because the gravity vector is not projected along multiple axes in the upright mode. In the second abnormal situation, the cover closed mode with a cover angle of zero degrees and the tablet mode with a cover angle of 360 degrees cannot be distinguished from each other because the acceleration data is the same.

[0021] Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4FIG. 0 shows a foldable electronic device 10 in various modes or configurations according to embodiments disclosed herein. The device 10 is configured to detect whether the device is in a cover-closed mode or a tablet mode. The device 10 includes a first cover portion and a second cover portion that can rotate about a hinge or folding portion. In Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the device 10 is a foldable laptop. However, the device 10 can also be another type of foldable device, such as a foldable smartphone or a tablet. In addition to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown operation modes, other operation modes are also possible.

[0022] Figure 1 FIG. 20 is the device 10 in a clamshell mode according to embodiments disclosed herein. The device 10 includes a first cover portion and a second cover portion. In this example, the first cover portion is the upper cover 12, and in this example, the second cover portion is the lower cover 14 coupled to the upper cover 12.

[0023] The upper cover 12 is the first part of the device 10 (e.g., the first housing, or the first part of a single housing), which includes one or more first components, and the lower cover 14 is the second part of the device 10 (e.g., the second housing, or the second part of a single housing), which includes one or more second components. In Figure 1 shown embodiments, the upper cover 12 includes a monitor or a display, such as a touchscreen display; and the lower cover 14 includes user inputs, such as a keyboard and a touchpad. Other configurations are also possible. For example, each of the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 14 can include a touchscreen display, or the lower cover 14 can include a touchscreen display together with user inputs.

[0024] The device 10 is a foldable laptop configured to be folded into multiple different operation modes. In other words, the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 14 can be rotated to multiple different positions about a hinge or folding portion 15 (or a hinge axis 27 through which the hinge 15 extends), and the user can operate the device 10 in multiple different ways. The angle between the display of the upper cover 12 and the user inputs of the lower cover 14 with respect to the hinge 15 (or the hinge axis 27) is generally referred to as the cover angle.

[0025] The hinge 15 is as shown in Figure 1 . However, the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 14 can also be a single continuum that folds or bends onto each other. In this case, the device 10 does not include a hinge, and the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 14 fold around a folding portion.

[0026] Figure 1 is the device 10 in the clamshell mode. In the clamshell mode, the upper cover portion 12 is positioned in an upright position such that the display faces the user in front of the device 10. The lower cover 14 is horizontally positioned on a surface such as a table, with the user input facing upward. In the clamshell mode, the cover angle is typically between 75 degrees and 125 degrees. In the clamshell mode, the device 10 is used as a traditional laptop computer.

[0027] Figure 2 is the device 10 in the lid closed mode according to the embodiments disclosed herein. In the lid closed mode, the upper cover 12 is folded onto the lower cover 14 such that the display of the upper cover 12 and the user input of the lower cover 14 face each other. In the lid closed mode, the cover angle is typically considered to be zero degrees. In the lid closed mode, the device 10 is typically in transit and / or not in use by the user.

[0028] Figure 3 is the device 10 in the tablet mode according to the embodiments disclosed herein. In the tablet mode, the upper cover 12 is folded onto the lower cover 14. However, Figure 2 contrary to the lid closed mode shown, the display of the upper cover 12 and the user input of the lower cover 14 face in opposite directions. In the tablet mode, the cover angle is typically considered to be 360 degrees. In the tablet mode, the device 10 is used as a desktop device. For example, the user uses the display of the upper cover 12 as a touch screen but does not use any user input of the lower cover 14.

[0029] Figure 4 is the device 10 in the upright or book mode according to the embodiments disclosed herein. In the upright mode, the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 14 can have any configuration (e.g., in the Figure 2 lid closed mode as in Figure 3 or the

[0030] Figure 5 is a block diagram of the device 10 according to the embodiments disclosed herein. For the following discussion, the device 10 is a foldable laptop as described with respect to Figure 1 、 Figure 2 、 Figure 3 and Figure 4 and the first cover portion and the second cover portion are the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 14, respectively. However, the device 10 can also be another type of foldable device, such as a foldable smartphone or tablet.

[0031] Each of the first and second lid portions (the upper lid 12 and the lower lid 14 in this example) includes a multi-sensor device 18. The second lid portion (the lower lid 14 in this example) includes a host processor 16. The device 10 may include various other components, such as user input in the lower lid 14, a display, a speaker, a battery, etc. in the upper lid 12.

[0032] The host processor 16 is a general-purpose processor for performing various functions of the device 10. For example, the host processor 16 executes an operating system, various applications, controls and coordinates the hardware components of the device 10, and communicates with any peripheral devices communicatively coupled to the device 10. The host processor 16 may include one or more processors.

[0033] The multi-sensor device 18 includes one or more types of motion sensors, including but not limited to an accelerometer 20 and a gyroscope 22 that generate motion measurements. The accelerometer 20 and the gyroscope 22 measure acceleration and angular velocity or rate along one or more axes of the device 10, respectively. The multi-sensor device 18 of the lower lid 14 is communicatively coupled to the host processor 16.

[0034] The accelerometer 20 included in the upper lid 12 measures acceleration at least along the upper lid axis 26, and the accelerometer 20 included in the lower lid 14 measures acceleration at least along the lower lid axis 28. As Figure 1 、 Figure 2 、 Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, the upper lid axis 26 extends in a direction transverse to the surface of the upper lid 12 (e.g., transverse to the direction in which the display extends), and the lower lid axis 28 extends in a direction transverse to the surface of the lower lid 14 (e.g., transverse to the direction in which the user input extends). The upper lid axis and the lower lid axis are transverse to the hinge axis 27. As will be discussed in further detail below, the accelerations measured along the upper lid axis 26 and the lower lid axis 28 are used for context recognition.

[0035] The multi-sensor device 18 also includes its own on-board memory and a processor 24 or processing circuitry. The processor 24 is configured to receive and process data generated by the accelerometer 20 and the gyroscope 22, and execute programs (such as finite state machines, machine learning algorithms, etc.) stored in the on-board memory. The processor 24 of the lower lid 14 is configured to perform lid angle and orientation detection and context recognition, which will be discussed in further detail below. The processor 24 may include one or more processors.

[0036] In one embodiment, the multi-sensor device 18 included in the lower cover 14 includes a processor 24, but the multi-sensor device 18 included in the upper cover 12 does not include a processor 24. In this embodiment, the processor 24 of the lower cover 14 processes the data of the multi-sensor device 18 included in both the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 14 to perform cover corner and orientation detection and context recognition.

[0037] Compared with a general-purpose processor such as the host processor 16, the processor 24 is an energy-saving and low-power device processor, and the consumption of its computing requirements during the processing process is between, for example, 100 microamperes and 300 microamperes. Therefore, the multi-sensor device 18 can always be turned on to perform the method 30 discussed below (including cover corner and orientation detection and context recognition) without the risk of draining the battery of the device 10. For example, the multi-sensor device 18 can continuously perform the method 30 discussed below regardless of whether the device 10 is in an on state, an off state, or a low-power state. As a result, the cover corner and orientation detection and context recognition results can always be obtained independently of the power state of the device 10.

[0038] The multi-sensor device 18 of the lower cover 14 and the multi-sensor device 18 of the upper cover 12 are communicatively coupled to each other. The multi-sensor device 18 of the lower cover 14 (more specifically, the processor 24) is configured to receive and process the data generated by the accelerometer 20 and the gyroscope 22 included in the multi-sensor device 18 of the upper cover 12.

[0039] In Figure 5 the cover corner and orientation detection and context recognition are performed by the processor 24 of the lower cover 14. In this case, the multi-sensor device 18 of the lower cover 14 acts as the main multi-sensor device, and the multi-sensor device 18 of the upper cover 12 acts as the auxiliary multi-sensor device. The multi-sensor device 18 of the lower cover 14 (more specifically, the processor 24) is configured to receive the data generated by the accelerometer 20 and the gyroscope 22 included in the multi-sensor device 18 of the upper cover 12, and process the data generated by the accelerometer 20 or the gyroscope 22 included in the multi-sensor devices 18 of both the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 14 for cover corner and orientation detection and context recognition.

[0040] Figure 6 is a flowchart of a method 30 for performing context recognition according to an embodiment disclosed herein.

[0041] Method 30 is performed by device 10. More specifically, method 30 is implemented as a program or instruction set that is downloaded and stored in the on-board memory included in multi-sensor device 18 of lower cover 14, and is executed by processor 24 included in multi-sensor device 18 of lower cover 14. The program of method 30 can also be stored in the memory of device 10 and executed by host processor 16 of device 10.

[0042] In block 32, lid corner detection is performed to determine the lid corners of device 10. The lid corners are the angles between upper lid 12 (e.g., the surface of the display in upper lid 12) and lower lid 14 (e.g., the surface of the user input in lower lid 14) relative to or around hinge 15 (or hinge axis 27). As will be discussed in further detail below, the detected lid corners are output to blocks 42, 48, and 52 for use.

[0043] The lid corners are determined based on acceleration measurements generated by accelerometer 20 and (optionally) gyroscope measurements generated by gyroscope 22 included in upper lid 12, and acceleration measurements generated by accelerometer 20 and (optionally) gyroscope measurements generated by gyroscope 22 included in lower lid 14.

[0044] In block 34, orientation detection is performed to determine whether device 10 is in an upright mode. As described with respect to Figure 4 In the upright mode, device 10 is in an upright position such that hinge axis 27 extending through hinge 15 extends perpendicular to the ground (i.e., parallel to gravity). In other words, upper lid axis 26 and lower lid axis 28 extend parallel to the ground (i.e., perpendicular to gravity). As will be discussed in further detail below, the detected upright mode is output to block 44 for use.

[0045] The upright mode is determined based on acceleration measurements generated by accelerometer 20 included in upper lid 12 and acceleration measurements generated by accelerometer 20 included in lower lid 14.

[0046] For example, in the case where acceleration measurements generated by accelerometer 20 included in both upper lid 12 and lower lid 14 indicate that hinge axis 27 extending through hinge 15 extends perpendicular to the ground (i.e., parallel to gravity), the upright mode is detected.

[0047] In block 36, device 10 determines that the current execution of method 30 is the first or initial execution of method 30. In one embodiment, the first or initial execution of method 30 is the first execution of method 30 after device 10 is set to the off state and then returns to the on state.

[0048] In the case where device 10 determines that the current execution of method 30 is the first execution of method 30, method 30 moves to block 38. In the case where device 10 determines that the current execution of method 30 is not the first execution of method 30 (i.e., method 30 has been executed one or more times), method 30 moves to block 40.

[0049] In block 38, device 10 sets the exception flag to "false" (e.g., bit 0). The exception flag indicates whether an exception situation has been processed. When the exception flag is set to "false", the exception situation has not been processed. When the exception flag is set to "true", the exception situation has been processed previously.

[0050] Exception situations include an upright exception and an initial lid closed or tablet mode exception. In the upright exception, method 30 starts when device 10 is in the upright mode. In the initial lid closed or tablet mode exception, method 30 starts when device 10 is in the lid closed mode or the tablet mode.

[0051] In the upright exception, the lid corner detection in block 32 cannot calculate the lid corner because the acceleration data cannot be used as the gravity vector is not projected along multiple axes in the upright mode. Therefore, the rotation of the device in the upright mode does not cause a change in acceleration.

[0052] In the initial lid closed or tablet mode exception, the lid closed mode with a lid corner of zero degrees and the tablet mode with a lid corner of 360 degrees cannot be distinguished from each other because the acceleration data is the same.

[0053] The upright exception, the initial lid closed or tablet mode exception, and their handling will be discussed below. Then, method 30 moves to block 40.

[0054] In block 40, device 10 determines whether the exception flag is set to "true". As described above, when the exception flag is set to "true", the exception situation has been processed.

[0055] In the case where device 10 determines that the exception flag is set to "true", method 30 moves to block 42. In the case where device 10 determines that the exception flag is not set to "true" (i.e., the exception flag is set to "false"), method 30 moves to block 44.

[0056] In block 42, device 10 performs context recognition to determine whether device 10 is in the lid closed mode or the tablet mode. As described above regarding Figure 2 In the lid closed mode, the upper lid 12 is folded onto the lower lid 14 such that the display of the upper lid 12 and the user input of the lower lid 14 face each other. As described above regarding Figure 3 In the tablet mode, the display of the upper lid 12 and the user input of the lower lid 14 face in opposite directions.

[0057] Device 10 determines whether device 10 is in the lid-closed mode or the tablet mode based on the lid corners determined in block 32.

[0058] In one embodiment, when the lid corners are less than the low threshold THS LOW device 10 determines that device 10 is in the lid-closed mode, and in response, outputs a context recognition result indicating that the lid-closed mode has been detected.

[0059] In one embodiment, when the lid corners are greater than the high threshold THS HIGH device 10 determines that device 10 is in the tablet mode, and in response, outputs a context recognition result indicating that the tablet mode has been detected. In one embodiment, the high threshold THS HIGH is greater than the low threshold THS LOW .

[0060] Device 10 then controls the functions of device 10 based on the context recognition result. For example, host processor 16 switches device 10 from the on state to the low-power state in response to detecting the lid-closed mode, and changes the user interface of device 10 in response to detecting the tablet mode.

[0061] In block 44, device 10 determines whether the upright mode has been detected in block 34. As described Figure 4 above, in the upright mode, device 10 is in an upright position such that the hinge axis 27 extending through hinge 15 extends perpendicular to the ground (i.e., parallel to gravity).

[0062] If the upright mode is detected in block 34, method 30 moves to block 46. If the upright mode is not detected in block 34, method 30 moves to block 48.

[0063] In block 46, device 10 detects and processes an upright anomaly, in which context recognition starts when device 10 is in the upright mode. For example, method 30 starts when device 10 is in the upright mode.

[0064] The upright anomaly processing in block 46 performs context recognition that cannot be accurately determined in block 42. For example, in the case of an upright anomaly, the lid corners used in block 42 cannot be calculated because, due to the gravity vector not being projected along multiple axes in the upright mode, acceleration data cannot be used, and thus, the rotation of device 10 in the upright mode does not cause a change in the acceleration data.

[0065] In one embodiment, in the case where an upright anomaly is detected, device 10 determines that device 10 is in tablet mode, and in response, outputs a context recognition result indicating the detected tablet mode. The tablet mode is automatically detected because in the upright mode, the user is more likely to use device 10 as a tablet computer rather than in any other way (e.g., in the clamshell mode).

[0066] As described above, device 10 then controls the functions of device 10 based on the context recognition result. For example, host processor 16 changes the user interface of device 10 in response to detecting the tablet mode.

[0067] In block 48, device 10 determines whether device 10 is potentially in the lid closed mode. Device 10 determines whether device 10 is potentially in the lid closed mode based on the lid angle determined in block 32.

[0068] In one embodiment, in the case where the lid angle is less than the low threshold THS LOW device 10 determines that device 10 is potentially in the lid closed mode. In one embodiment, the low threshold THS in block 48 LOW is equal to the low threshold THS in block 42 LOW .

[0069] In the case where a potential lid closed mode is detected in block 48, method 30 moves to block 50. In the case where a potential lid closed mode is not detected in block 48, method 30 moves to block 52.

[0070] In block 52, device 10 determines whether device 10 is potentially in tablet mode. Device 10 determines whether device 10 is potentially in tablet mode based on the lid angle determined in block 32.

[0071] In one embodiment, in the case where the lid angle is greater than the high threshold THS HIGH device 10 determines that device 10 is potentially in tablet mode. In one embodiment, the high threshold THS in block 52 HIGH is equal to the high threshold THS in block 42 HIGH .

[0072] In the case where a potential tablet mode is detected in block 52, method 30 moves to block 50. In the case where a potential tablet mode is not detected in block 52, method 30 moves to block 54.

[0073] In block 50, device 10 detects and processes an initial lid closed or tablet mode anomaly, in which context recognition starts when device 10 is in the lid closed mode or tablet mode. For example, method 30 starts when device 10 is in the lid closed mode or tablet mode.

[0074] Initial cover closed or tablet mode exception handling in block 50 performs context recognition that cannot be accurately determined in block 42. For example, the cover closed mode with a cover angle of zero degrees and the tablet mode with a cover angle of 360 degrees cannot be distinguished from each other because the acceleration data is the same when the device is in the cover closed mode or the tablet mode.

[0075] Device 10 processes initial cover closed or tablet mode exceptions based on acceleration measurements generated by accelerometer 20 included in upper cover 12 and accelerometer 20 included in lower cover 14. As described above, accelerometer 20 included in upper cover 12 measures acceleration at least along upper cover axis 26, and accelerometer 20 included in lower cover 14 measures acceleration at least along lower cover axis 28. As Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, upper cover axis 26 extends in a direction transverse to the surface of upper cover 12 (e.g., the direction extending transverse to the display), and lower cover axis 28 extends in a direction transverse to the surface of lower cover 14 (e.g., the direction extending transverse to the user input).

[0076] In one embodiment, when the acceleration Z along upper cover axis 26 UPPER is less than or equal to zero and the acceleration Z along lower cover axis 28 LOWER is greater than zero, device 10 determines that device 10 is in the cover closed mode and, in response, outputs a context recognition result indicating that the cover closed mode has been detected. The cover closed mode is detected because device 10 with the cover closed is more likely to be located on a surface with the display facing down, ready to be opened.

[0077] In one embodiment, when the acceleration Z along upper cover axis 26 UPPER is greater than zero and the acceleration Z along lower cover axis 28 LOWER is less than or equal to zero, device 10 determines that device 10 is in the tablet mode and, in response, outputs a context recognition result indicating that the tablet mode has been detected. The tablet mode is detected because device 10 in the tablet mode is more likely to be located on a surface with the screen facing up, enabling interaction with the touch screen of device 10.

[0078] As described above, device 10 then controls the functions of device 10 based on the context recognition result. For example, host processor 16 switches device 10 from the on state to the low power state in response to detecting the cover closed mode, and changes the user interface of device 10 in response to detecting the tablet mode.

[0079] In block 54, device 10 sets the anomaly flag to "true" (e.g., bit one). As described above, the anomaly flag indicates whether an anomaly condition (including an upright anomaly and an initial lid closed or tablet mode anomaly) has been processed. When the anomaly flag is set to "false", the anomaly condition has not been processed. When the anomaly flag is set to "true", the anomaly condition has been processed. Method 30 then moves to block 42, where device 10 performs context recognition to determine whether device 10 is in a lid closed mode or a tablet mode.

[0080] Various embodiments disclosed herein provide devices and methods for performing context recognition without using a Hall sensor and a magnet. Context recognition utilizes multiple multi-sensor devices to detect whether a device is in a lid closed mode or a tablet mode. Compared with the use of a Hall sensor and a magnet, the use of multi-sensor devices allows the multi-sensor devices to be used for other applications in addition to context recognition, does not involve complex printed circuit board designs, does not pose a risk of inadvertently magnetizing the device, and is not susceptible to false alarms caused by other magnetic sources. In addition, the context recognition disclosed herein also has high detection accuracy because customizable and precise thresholds can be set for lid closed mode or tablet mode detection.

[0081] A device can be generally summarized as including: a first lid portion, including: a first multi-sensor device, including: a first set of motion sensors configured to generate a first motion measurement; and a second lid portion coupled to the first lid portion, the second lid portion including: a second multi-sensor device, including: a second set of motion sensors configured to generate a second motion measurement; and a processor configured to perform context recognition based on the first motion measurement and the second motion measurement. The context recognition determines that the device is in a mode selected from a plurality of modes including a lid closed mode and a tablet mode.

[0082] The processor can be configured to: determine a lid angle between the first lid portion and the second lid portion; and determine that the device is in a mode based on the lid angle.

[0083] The processor can be configured to: determine that the device is in a lid closed mode when the lid angle is less than a first threshold; and determine that the device is in a tablet mode when the lid angle is greater than a second threshold.

[0084] In the lid closed mode, the surfaces of the first lid portion and the second lid portion face each other, while in the tablet mode, the surfaces of the first lid portion and the second lid portion face in opposite directions.

[0085] Context recognition can be performed when multiple anomaly conditions have been previously processed.

[0086] Multiple abnormal situations may include an upright anomaly and an initial lid closed or tablet mode anomaly. In the upright anomaly, context recognition starts when the device is in an upright position. In the initial lid closed or tablet mode anomaly, context recognition starts when the device is in a lid closed mode or a tablet mode.

[0087] The processor may be configured to: if the upright anomaly is detected, determine that the device is in a tablet mode.

[0088] The processor may be configured to: determine that the device is in a lid closed mode when the initial lid closed or tablet mode anomaly is detected, the first acceleration measurement along the first axis measured along a first motion is less than or equal to zero, and the second acceleration measurement along the second axis measured along a second motion is greater than zero; and determine that the device is in a tablet mode when the initial lid closed or tablet mode anomaly is detected, the first acceleration measurement is greater than zero, and the second acceleration measurement is less than or equal to zero.

[0089] The processor may be configured to: detect the lid angle between the first lid part and the second lid part; and detect the initial lid closed or tablet mode anomaly when the lid angle is less than a first threshold or greater than a second threshold.

[0090] A method may generally include: generating a first motion measurement by a first multi-sensor device included in a first lid part of the device; generating a second motion measurement by a second multi-sensor device included in a second lid part of the device; and performing context recognition by a processor included in the second multi-sensor device based on the first motion measurement and the second motion measurement. The context recognition determines that the device is in a mode selected from a plurality of modes including a lid closed mode and a tablet mode.

[0091] The method may further include: determining, by the processor, the lid angle between the first lid part and the second lid part; in response to the lid angle being less than a first threshold, determining, by the processor, that the device is in a lid closed mode; and in response to the lid angle being greater than a second threshold, determining, by the processor, that the device is in a tablet mode.

[0092] The method may further include: determining, by the processor, that multiple abnormal situations have been previously processed; and in response to determining that multiple abnormal situations have been previously processed, performing context recognition by the processor. Multiple abnormal situations include an upright anomaly and an initial lid closed or tablet mode anomaly. In the upright anomaly, context recognition starts when the device is in an upright position. In the initial lid closed or tablet mode anomaly, context recognition starts when the device is in a lid closed mode or a tablet mode.

[0093] The method may further include: detecting, by the processor, an upright anomaly; and in response to detecting the upright anomaly, determining, by the processor, that the device is in a tablet mode.

[0094] The method may further include: detecting, by a processor, an initial lid closure or a tablet mode anomaly; in response to detecting the initial lid closure or the tablet mode anomaly, determining, by the processor, that the device is in a lid-closed mode when a first acceleration measurement along a first axis of a first motion measurement is less than or equal to zero and a second acceleration measurement along a second axis of a second motion measurement is greater than zero; and in response to detecting the initial lid closure or the tablet mode anomaly, determining, by the processor, that the device is in a tablet mode when the first acceleration measurement is greater than zero and the second acceleration measurement is less than or equal to zero.

[0095] The method may further include: detecting, by a processor, a lid angle between a first lid portion and a second lid portion; and in response to the lid angle being less than a first threshold or greater than a second threshold, detecting, by the processor, the initial lid closure or the tablet mode anomaly.

[0096] A device may be generally described as including: a first lid portion including a first multi-sensor device configured to generate a first motion measurement; a second lid portion coupled to the first lid portion, the second lid portion including a second multi-sensor device configured to generate a second motion measurement; and a processor configured to perform context recognition based on the first motion measurement and the second motion measurement. The context recognition determines that the device is in a mode selected from a plurality of modes including a lid-closed mode and a tablet mode.

[0097] The processor may be configured to: detect an upright anomaly, in which the context recognition begins when the device is in an upright position; and in response to the upright anomaly being detected, determine that the device is in a tablet mode.

[0098] The processor may be configured to: detect the initial lid closure or the tablet mode anomaly, in which the context recognition begins when the device is in a lid-closed mode or a tablet mode; in response to the initial lid closure or the tablet mode anomaly being detected, determine that the device is in a lid-closed mode when a first acceleration measurement along a first axis of a first motion measurement is less than or equal to zero and a second acceleration measurement along a second axis of a second motion measurement is greater than zero; and in response to the initial lid closure or the tablet mode anomaly being detected, determine that the device is in a tablet mode when the first acceleration measurement is greater than zero and the second acceleration measurement is less than or equal to zero.

[0099] The processor may be configured to: detect the lid angle between the first lid portion and the second lid portion; and in response to the lid angle being less than the first threshold or greater than the second threshold, detect the initial lid closure or the tablet mode anomaly.

[0100] The processor can be configured to: determine the lid corner between the first lid portion and the second lid portion; and in response to the lid corner being less than a first threshold, determine that the device is in the lid-closed mode; and in response to the lid corner being greater than a second threshold, determine that the device is in the tablet mode.

[0101] The various above-described embodiments can be combined to provide additional embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above detailed description. Generally, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed as limiting the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and claims, but should be understood to include all possible embodiments and the full scope of equivalents to which these claims are entitled. Thus, the claims are not limited by the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising: A first cover portion, comprising: A first multi-sensor device, comprising: A first set of motion sensors configured to generate a first motion measurement; and A second cover portion coupled to the first cover portion, the second cover portion comprising: A second multi-sensor device, comprising: A second set of motion sensors configured to generate a second motion measurement; and A processor configured to perform context recognition based on the first motion measurement and the second motion measurement, the context recognition determining that the apparatus is in a mode selected from a plurality of modes including a cover closed mode and a tablet mode.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to: Determine a cover angle between the first cover portion and the second cover portion; and Determine that the apparatus is in the mode based on the cover angle.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to: Determine that the apparatus is in the cover closed mode when the cover angle is less than a first threshold; and Determine that the apparatus is in the tablet mode when the cover angle is greater than a second threshold.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the cover closed mode, surfaces of the first cover portion and the second cover portion face each other, and in the tablet mode, the surfaces of the first cover portion and the second cover portion face in opposite directions.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the context recognition is performed when a plurality of exceptional situations have been previously processed.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of exceptional situations include an upright exception and an initial cover closed or tablet mode exception, in the upright exception, the context recognition starts when the apparatus is in an upright position, and in the initial cover closed or tablet mode exception, the context recognition starts when the apparatus is in the cover closed mode or the tablet mode.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to: Determine that the apparatus is in the tablet mode when the upright exception is detected.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to: Determine that the apparatus is in the cover closed mode when: the initial cover closed or tablet mode exception is detected, a first acceleration measurement along a first axis of the first motion measurement is less than or equal to zero, and a second acceleration measurement along a second axis of the second motion measurement is greater than zero; and Determine that the apparatus is in the tablet mode when: the initial cover closed or tablet mode exception is detected, the first acceleration measurement is greater than zero, and the second acceleration measurement is less than or equal to zero.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to: Detect a cover angle between the first cover portion and the second cover portion; and Detect the initial cover closed or tablet mode exception when the cover angle is less than the first threshold or greater than the second threshold.

10. A method, comprising: Generate a first motion measurement by a first multi-sensor device included in a first lid portion of the device; Generate a second motion measurement by a second multi-sensor device included in a second lid portion of the device; And Execute context recognition by a processor included in the second multi-sensor device based on the first motion measurement and the second motion measurement, the context recognition determining that the device is in a mode selected from a plurality of modes including a lid-closed mode and a tablet mode.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: Determine a lid angle between the first lid portion and the second lid portion by the processor; In response to the lid angle being less than a first threshold, determine by the processor that the device is in the lid-closed mode; And In response to the lid angle being greater than a second threshold, determine by the processor that the device is in the tablet mode.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: Determine by the processor that a plurality of abnormal conditions have been previously processed; And In response to determining that the plurality of abnormal conditions have been previously processed, execute the context recognition by the processor, the plurality of abnormal conditions including an upright abnormal condition and an initial lid-closed or tablet-mode abnormal condition, in the upright abnormal condition, the context recognition starts when the device is in an upright position, and in the initial lid-closed or tablet-mode abnormal condition, the context recognition starts when the device is in the lid-closed mode or the tablet mode.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: Detect the upright abnormal condition by the processor; And In response to detecting the upright abnormal condition, determine by the processor that the device is in the tablet mode.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: Detect the initial lid-closed or tablet-mode abnormal condition by the processor; In response to detecting the initial lid-closed or tablet-mode abnormal condition, a first acceleration measurement along a first axis of the first motion measurement is less than or equal to zero, and a second acceleration measurement along a second axis of the second motion measurement is greater than zero, determine by the processor that the device is in the lid-closed mode; And In response to detecting the initial lid-closed or tablet-mode abnormal condition, the first acceleration measurement is greater than zero, and the second acceleration measurement is less than or equal to zero, determine by the processor that the device is in the tablet mode.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising: Detect a lid angle between the first lid portion and the second lid portion by the processor; And In response to the lid angle being less than the first threshold or greater than the second threshold, detect the initial lid-closed or tablet-mode abnormal condition by the processor.

16. A device, comprising: A first lid portion, including a first multi-sensor device configured to generate a first motion measurement; A second lid portion, coupled to the first lid portion, the second lid portion including a second multi-sensor device configured to generate a second motion measurement; And A processor configured to perform context recognition based on the first motion measurement and the second motion measurement, the context recognition determining that the device is in a mode selected from a plurality of modes including a lid closed mode and a tablet mode.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to: Detect an upright anomaly in which the context recognition starts when the device is in an upright position; and In response to the upright anomaly being detected, determine that the device is in the tablet mode.

18. The device according to claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to: Detect an initial lid closed or tablet mode anomaly in which the context recognition starts when the device is in the lid closed mode or the tablet mode; In response to the initial lid closed or tablet mode anomaly being detected, determine that the device is in the lid closed mode if a first acceleration measurement along a first axis of the first motion measurement is less than or equal to zero and a second acceleration measurement along a second axis of the second motion measurement is greater than zero; And In response to the initial lid closed or tablet mode anomaly being detected, determine that the device is in the tablet mode if the first acceleration measurement is greater than zero and the second acceleration measurement is less than or equal to zero.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to: Detect a lid angle between the first lid portion and the second lid portion; and In response to the lid angle being less than a first threshold or greater than a second threshold, detect the initial lid closed or tablet mode anomaly.

20. The device according to claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to: Determine a lid angle between the first lid portion and the second lid portion; and In response to the lid angle being less than a first threshold, determine that the device is in the lid closed mode; and In response to the lid angle being greater than a second threshold, determine that the device is in the tablet mode.

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