Laptop computer with a cover that is rotatably attached to the base, which rotates to cover the keyboard.

Abstract

Laptop computer comprehensive: a lid (102); a base (104) attached to the lid at a first end section (202) of the base, the base comprising a keyboard (108) next to the first end section of the base and an open section (118) next to a second end section (204) of the base, the second end section of the base being opposite the first end section; and a cover (110) rotatably attached to the base between the keyboard and the open section, the cover being configured to pivot from a first position covering the open section of the base to a second position covering the keyboard, wherein the cover includes a trackpad (112) configured to process click and drag inputs when the cover is in the first position covering the open section of the base, and wherein the base further comprises a sensor (210, 222) configured to determine whether the cover is in the first position or the second position, the sensor being coupled to the at least one processor; wherein at least one processor is configured to activate the keyboard and trackpad when the sensor determines that the cover is in the first position; and which has at least one processor configured to disable the keyboard and trackpad when the sensor determines that the cover is in the second position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The proposed solution relates to laptop computers as disclosed in CN101776938A, US 2015 / 0212588 A1, US 2009 / 0154085 A1 or DE 699 08 566 T2. GENERAL STATE OF THE ART

[0002] A laptop computer may include a lid with a display. The lid may be pivotally attached to a base with a keyboard. A user can rotate the lid so that the display faces the user and away from the base, placing the laptop computer in a tablet position. In this position, the user may inadvertently press the keyboard on the opposite side of the laptop computer from the display, resulting in an unpleasant "spongy" sensation. SUMMARY

[0003] According to one general aspect, a laptop computer may include a lid, a base, and a cover. The base may be attached to the lid at a first end portion of the base. The base may include a keyboard adjacent to the first end portion of the base and an open portion adjacent to a second end portion of the base. The second end portion of the base may be opposite the first end portion. The cover may be pivotally attached to the base between the keyboard and the open portion. The cover may be configured to pivot from a first position covering the open portion of the base to a second position covering the keyboard.

[0004] Aspects of the proposed solution are further defined by independent claims 1, 15 and 18.

[0005] The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the following description. Other characteristic features will be apparent from the description and drawings and from the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a laptop computer with a cover in a first position covering an open portion of a base of the laptop computer. Fig. 1B is a perspective view of the laptop computer of Fig. 1A, with the cover in an upright position. Fig. 1C is a perspective view of the laptop computer of the Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B, with the cover in a second position covering a keyboard. Fig. 1D shows a trackpad included in the cover according to an example embodiment. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the base of the laptop computer of the Fig. 1A, Fig. 1B and Fig. 1C. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cover of the laptop computer of the Fig. 1A, Fig. 1B and Fig. 1C. Fig. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing a process performed by the laptop computer of Fig. 1A, Fig. 1B and Fig. 1C is executed. Fig. 5 shows an example of a computing device and a mobile computing device that may be used to implement the techniques described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0006] A laptop computer may include a lid with a display. The lid may be attached to a base with a keyboard. The lid may be pivotally attached to the base, for example, by one or more hinges or magnets. The base may also include a cover pivotally attached to the base near the keyboard. The cover may be pivotally attached to the base by one or more hinges or magnets. The cover may rotate from a first position covering an open portion of the base to a second position covering the keyboard. In the first position, the cover may present a trackpad and / or a tactile input device to a user.

[0007] Fig. Figure 1A is a perspective view of a laptop computer 100 having a cover 110 in a first position defining an open portion (in Fig. 1B) from a base 104 of the laptop computer 100. As shown in Fig. 1A, the laptop computer 100 may include a lid 102 and a base 104. The lid 102 may be rotatably attached to the base 104 and / or the base 104 may be attached to the lid 102 at a first end portion (labeled in Fig. 2) be rotatably mounted to the base 104. The rotatable attachment between the lid 102 and the base 104 may allow the lid 102 to rotate three hundred and sixty degrees (360°) relative to the base 104 from a first closed position in which a display 106 of the lid 102 faces a keyboard 108 of the base 104 to a second tablet position in which the display 106 and the keyboard 108 face each other in opposite directions.

[0008] The lid 102 may include a display 106. The display 106 may present a graphical output to a user. The display 106 may include a touchscreen that also receives tactile input and / or touch input from the user. The display 106 may be connected to a processor (not shown in Fig. 1A) may be electronically coupled in the base 104, allowing the display 106 to send tactile and / or touch input to the processor and the processor to send graphical output data to the display 106.

[0009] The base 104 may include a keyboard 108. The keyboard 108 may be located on an outer portion of the base 104. The keyboard 108 may include alphanumeric keys, other character and / or symbol keys, and / or modifier keys to receive alphanumeric, character, symbol, and / or modified alphanumeric or character input from a user.

[0010] The base 104 may include a cover 110. The cover 110 may be rotatably attached to the base 104. In an exemplary embodiment, the cover 110 may be rotatably attached to the base 104 by one or more hinges 116A, 116B. While in Fig. 1A, two hinges 116A, 116B are shown, the cover 110 may be rotatably attached to the base 104 by any number of hinges. The cover 110 may also be rotatably attached to the base 104 by other mechanisms, such as one or more magnets forming a rotatable, magnetic attachment.

[0011] The cover 110 may be pivotally attached to the base 104 between the keyboard 108 and the open portion 118. The location of the pivotal attachment, such as by a hinge(s) 116A, 116B, may be located between the keyboard 108 and the open portion of the base 104. The location of the pivotal attachment of the cover 110 to the base 104 may be approximately at a center of the base 104, as measured in a direction extending from the first end portion of the base 104 at which the lid 102 is pivotally attached to the base 104. The location of the pivotal attachment of the cover 110 to the base 104 may, for example, be at least one-third of the length of the base 104 from the first end portion and no more than two-thirds of the length of the base 104 from the first end portion.

[0012] The cover 110 may have a greater width than the keyboard 108 and a greater length than the keyboard 108, resulting in a larger area than that of the keyboard 108. The greater width, the greater length, and the larger area of ​​the cover 110 relative to the keyboard 108 may allow the cover 110 to completely cover the keyboard 108 when the cover is in the second position and the keyboard 108 is as shown in Fig. 1C. The cover 110 may be made of a lightweight, rigid material such as plastic or metal.

[0013] The cover 110 may include a trackpad 112, which may also be considered a tactile input device and / or a tactile input sensor. The trackpad 112 may face the user and / or face away from the base 104 when the cover 110 is in the first position. The trackpad 112 may receive tactile input from the user, such as from a finger, multiple fingers, a thumb, a palm, or any combination thereof. The trackpad 112 may include capacitive sensors and / or resistive sensors, which may be arranged in a grid, to detect contact locations and pressures from the user. The trackpad 112 may process the input and may provide the input to the processor in the form of taps, clicks, drags, and / or directional inputs, which may be similar to mouse input.

[0014] Fig. 1D shows the trackpad 112 included in the cover 110 according to an exemplary embodiment. In an exemplary embodiment, the trackpad 112 may include a sensor 152 and a top surface 150 configured to receive inputs (e.g., a touch, swipe, scroll, drag, click, hold, tap, a combination of inputs, etc.) from a user. The sensor 152 may be activated when a user inputs on the top surface 150 of the trackpad 112 and may communicate electronic signals within the laptop computer 100. The sensor 152 may be, for example, a flame-retardant Class 4 (FR4) printed circuit board. Other components, such as a dome switch, adhesive sheets, and cables (not shown), may also be integrated into the laptop computer 100 to process user input via the trackpad 112 or the keyboard 108.Various elements shown on the display 106 of the laptop computer 100 may be updated based on various movements of contacts on the trackpad 112 or the keyboard 108.

[0015] The components of the input devices described herein (e.g., 110, 108) may be formed from a variety of different materials, such as plastic, metal, glass, ceramic, etc., used for such components. For example, both the top surface 150 of the trackpad 112 and the base 104 may be formed at least partially from an insulating and / or conductive material, such as a stainless steel material, such as SUS301 or SUS304.

[0016] In an example implementation, the trackpad 112 may include the top surface 150, the sensor 152, a controller 154, a bus 156, a kernel driver 158, and a gesture library 160. The top surface 150 may be configured to be contacted by a user to actuate and trigger an electrical response within the laptop computer 100. For example, the surface 150 may be located on top of the trackpad 112 and above the sensor 152, parallel and flush or nearly flush with other components of the laptop computer 100, such as a top surface of the housing 101 of the base 104 beyond a recessed area 218 (described below). The surface 150 may be operably coupled to the sensor 152. The sensor 152 may be activated when a user provides an input (e.g., a touch, swipe, or click), such as by applying pressure to the top surface 150 of the trackpad 112.The sensor 152 may, for example, be a Class 4 (FR4) flame-retardant printed circuit board. The sensor 152 may respond to the application of pressure to the surface 150 and / or the sensor 152 and may provide signals to a controller 154 indicating changes in resistance and / or capacitance in the sensor 152 based on the application of pressure.

[0017] The controller 154 may be operatively coupled to the sensor 152. The controller 154 may be an embedded microcontroller chip and may include, for example, read-only firmware. The controller 154 may comprise a single integrated circuit including a processor core, memory, and programmable input / output peripherals. The bus 156 may be a PS / 2, I2C, SPI, WSB, or other bus. The bus 156 may be operatively coupled to the controller 154 and may communicate with a kernel driver 158. The kernel driver 158 may include firmware and may also include and / or communicate with a gesture library 160. The gesture library 160 may include executable code, data types, functions, and other files (such as JavaScript files) that can be used to process input to the trackpad 112 (such as multi-finger input gestures).The gesture library 160 may be used in combination with the kernel driver 158, the bus 156, the controller 154, the sensor 152, and the surface 150 to implement various processes, such as the processes described herein.

[0018] The components of trackpad 112 and their interrelationships, as described above, are merely an example. Functionalities of gesture library 160 may be executed by kernel driver 158 and / or controller 154, an operating system, or an application running on laptop computer 100. For example, the functionalities may be stored on and / or embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor or controller of laptop computer 100, are configured to cause laptop computer 100 to perform any combination of the functionalities or processes described herein. Or, trackpad 112 may be designed as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) to perform the functions described herein.

[0019] Fig. 1B is a perspective view of the laptop computer 100 of Fig. 1A, with the cover 110 in an upright position. In this example, the cover 110 is rotated away from the open portion 118 of the base 104 and toward the keyboard 108. The cover 110 has been rotated away from the open portion 118 via the hinge(s) 116A, 116B, or another rotatable attachment mechanism(s). When the cover 110 is in the upright position, both the open portion 118 and the keyboard 108 are exposed.

[0020] The base 104 may include a housing 101. The housing 101 may enclose portions of the laptop computer 100 and / or the base 104, such as at least one processor, a memory device, and / or a battery or other power source. The housing 101 may also enclose the keyboard 108.

[0021] Fig. Figure 1C is a perspective view of the laptop computer 100 of the Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B, wherein the cover 110 is in a second position covering the keyboard 108 (not shown in Fig. 1C). In this example, the cover 110 covers the keyboard 108 and prevents a user from pressing keys on the keyboard 108. When the lid 102 is rotated so that a back surface of the lid 102 (opposite the display 106) faces a bottom surface of the base 104 (opposite the keyboard 108 and the open portion 118) to position the laptop computer 100 in a tablet position in which the user uses the display 106 as an interface, covering the keyboard 108 with the cover 110 can prevent the user from inadvertently pressing keys on the keyboard 108, preventing unwanted inputs to the laptop computer 100 and also avoiding a "squishy" sensation when the user presses the keys while holding the laptop computer 100 like a tablet.

[0022] In an exemplary implementation, the cover 110 may function as a trackpad when positioned as shown in Fig. 1C is in the second position. In an exemplary implementation, the trackpad 112 may include a sensor on both sides of the cover 110, including the side of the cover 110 that is viewed from the perspective of Fig. 1C. In an exemplary implementation, the sensor 152 on the trackpad 112 can detect input from either side of the cover 110. The user can control the laptop computer using the trackpad 112 on the cover 110 with the cover 110 in the second position, as shown in Fig. 1C shown.

[0023] Fig. 2 is a plan view of the base 104 of the laptop computer 100 of the Fig. 1A, Fig. 1B and Fig. 1C. As in Fig. 2, the keyboard 108 is located closer to a first end portion 202 of the laptop computer 100 where the base 104 is attached to the lid 102 (not shown in Fig. 2) is rotatably mounted than at a second end portion 204 opposite the first end portion 202, and / or the keyboard 108 may be located adjacent the first end portion 202 of the base 104.

[0024] The base 104 may have a recessed area 218 surrounding and / or located around the keyboard 108. The recessed area 218 and / or the second recess may be defined by the housing 101. The recessed area 218 may receive the cover 110 (not shown in Fig. 2) when the cover 110 is in the second position, such that the cover 110 is flush with the surrounding portions of the base 104. The flushness of the cover 110 with the surrounding portions of the base 104 can create a smooth, flat feel and appearance for the base 104 when the cover 110 is in the second position.

[0025] The open portion 118 may also include a recessed area 220. The recessed area 220 and / or the first recess may be defined by the housing 101. The open portion 118 and the recessed area 220 may be located between the keyboard 108 and / or the hinge portions 206A, 206B and the second end portion 204. The recessed area 220 may receive the cover 110 when the cover 110 is in the first position, such that the cover 110 is flush with the surrounding portions of the base 104.

[0026] The base 104 may include one or more hinge portions 206A, 206B. The hinge portions 206A, 206B may be mechanically connected to the hinge portions 310A, 310B (shown in Fig. 3) couple the cover 110 to form the hinge 116A, 116B that allows the cover 110 to be rotated, pivoted, and / or swung with respect to the base 104 from the first position covering the open portion 118 of the base 104 to the second position covering the keyboard 108.

[0027] The base 104 may include one or more wires 216 extending from within the base 104 through one or more of the hinge portions 206A, 206B into the cover 110. The one or more wires 216 may carry electrical signals, such as tactile input signals from the trackpad 112 (not shown in Fig. 2), transport to the processor.

[0028] The base 104 may include one or more base magnets 214A, 214B in the open section 118. While two magnets 214A, 214B in Fig. 2, any number of magnets may be included in the open portion 118 of the base 104. One or more of the magnets 214A, 214B may be located at an end portion of the open portion 118 adjacent to the second end portion 204 of the base 104. The magnets 214A, 214B may secure the cover 110 in the first position, such as by means of attractive magnets in the cover 110, so that the cover 110 does not fall or swing away from the base 104.

[0029] The base 104 may include one or more sensors 222 in the open portion 118. The sensor(s) 222 in the open portion 118 may detect whether the cover 110 is in the first position covering the open portion 118 or whether the cover 110 is in the second position covering the keyboard 108. The sensor(s) 222 may be coupled to the processor and send a signal to the processor indicating whether the cover 110 is in the first position or the second position.

[0030] The sensor(s) 222 in the open portion 118 may detect whether the cover 110 is in the first position covering the open portion 118, for example, by detecting the proximity of one or more magnets incorporated into the cover 110, by detecting mechanical pressure from the cover 110, and / or by detecting the engagement of a latch from the cover 110. The sensor(s) 222 may send a signal to the processor indicating whether the cover 110 is in the first position. The laptop computer 100 may enable and / or disable the trackpad 112 and / or the keyboard 108 based on whether the cover 110 is in the first position covering the open portion 118.For example, the laptop computer 100 may enable the trackpad 112 and the keyboard 108 when the cover 110 is in the first position covering the open portion 118, and may disable the trackpad 112 and the keyboard 108 when the cover 110 is in the second position covering the keyboard 108.

[0031] The base 104 may include one or more base magnets 208A, 208B in the recessed area 218 adjacent to and / or surrounding the keyboard 108, and / or one or more magnets 212 within the keyboard 108. While two magnets 208A, 208B are shown in the recessed area 218 and one magnet 212 is shown in the keyboard 108, the base 104 may include any number of magnets in the recessed area 218 and / or the keyboard 108. The magnet(s) 208A, 208B, 212 adjacent to and / or surrounding the keyboard 108 and / or within the keyboard 108 may secure the cover 110 in the second position covering the keyboard 108, such as through attractive magnets in the cover 110 that prevent the cover 110 from swinging or falling off the keyboard 108 and / or the base 104.

[0032] The base 104 may include one or more sensors 210 in the recessed area 218 and / or the keyboard 108. The sensor(s) 210 in the recessed area 218 and / or the keyboard 108 may detect whether the cover 110 is covering the keyboard 108. The sensor(s) 210 in the recessed area 218 and / or the keyboard 108 may detect whether the cover 110 is in the second position covering the keyboard 108, for example, by detecting the proximity of one or more magnets included in the cover 110, by detecting mechanical pressure from the cover 110, and / or by detecting the engagement of a latch from the cover 110. The sensor(s) 210 may send an electrical signal to the processor indicating whether the cover 110 is in the second position.The laptop computer 100 may enable and / or disable the trackpad 112 and / or the keyboard 108 based on whether the cover 110 is in the second position covering the keyboard 108. For example, the laptop computer 100 may enable the trackpad 112 and the keyboard 108 when the cover 110 is in the first position covering the open portion 118, and may disable the trackpad 112 and the keyboard 108 when the cover 110 is in the second position covering the keyboard 108.

[0033] Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cover 110 of the laptop computer 100 of the Fig. 1A, Fig. 1B and Fig. 1C. The cover 110 may include one or more hinge portions 310A, 310B. The hinge portions 310A, 310B may be mechanically coupled to the hinge portions 206A, 206B, as shown and described with respect to Fig. 2 to form the hinge(s) 116A, 116B that allow the cover 110 to rotate, swing, and / or pivot between the first position and the second position.

[0034] The cover 110 may include one or more cover magnets 308A, 308B. While two magnets 308A, 308B in Fig. 3, the cover 110 may include any number of magnets. The magnet(s) 308A, 308B may mate with the magnets in the base 104, such as the previously described magnets 208A, 208B, 212, 214A, 214B, to secure the cover 110 in the first position and / or the second position. The magnet(s) 308A, 308B may also actuate sensors, such as the previously described sensors 210, 222, to indicate whether the cover 110 is in the first position or the second position.

[0035] The cover 110 may include one or more wireless transceivers 304. The wireless transceiver 304 may send and receive wireless signals to communicate with another computing device, such as the laptop computer 100, when the cover 110 is in the first position covering the open portion 118 of the base 104. The wireless signals may include near-field communication (NFC) signals, which enable the cover 110 and the laptop computer to communicate with a smart card or other device that communicates according to the NFC protocol.

[0036] The cover 110 may include a fingerprint sensor 306. The fingerprint sensor 306 may detect and process a fingerprint input when the cover 110 is in the first position and covers the open portion 118 of the base 104. The fingerprint sensor 306 may enable the laptop computer 100 to identify and / or authenticate a user based on the fingerprint recognition.

[0037] The cover 110 may include one or more wires 312. The wire(s) 312 may couple the trackpad 112, the wireless transceiver 304, and / or the fingerprint sensor 306 to the processor of the laptop computer 100. The wire(s) 312 may extend through one or more hinge portions 310A, 310B of the cover 110 and connect and / or be continuously connected to the wire 216 that extends through one or more of the hinge portions 206A, 206B from the base 104 and couples to the processor.

[0038] Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing a method 400 performed by the laptop computer 100 of the Fig. 1A, Fig. 1B and Fig. 1C. The method 400 may also be performed by a processor included in the laptop computer 100. The laptop computer 100 may power on (402). The laptop computer 100 may power on (402) in response to a user input, such as a user pressing a power button or opening the laptop computer 100.

[0039] After powering on (402), the laptop computer 100 may activate the keyboard 108 and the trackpad 112 (404). The laptop computer 100 may activate the keyboard 108 and the trackpad 112 (404) so ​​that the keyboard 108 and the trackpad 112 process input from the user (406).

[0040] The laptop computer 100 may determine whether the cover 110 is over the keyboard 108 (408). The laptop computer 100 may determine whether the cover 110 is over the keyboard 108 (408) based, for example, on whether the sensor 210 and / or the sensor 222 is actuated. If the cover 110 is not over the keyboard 108, then the laptop computer 100 may continue processing input (406).

[0041] When the cover 110 is over the keyboard 108, the laptop computer 100 may disable the keyboard 108 and the trackpad 112 (410). While the keyboard 108 and the trackpad 112 are disabled, the laptop computer 100 may ignore input to the keyboard 108 and the trackpad 112 (412). The laptop computer 100 may also disable the wireless transceiver 304 and / or the fingerprint sensor 306 when the cover 110 is over the keyboard 108.

[0042] While the keyboard 108 and trackpad 112 are deactivated, the laptop computer 100 may continue to monitor and / or determine whether the cover 110 is over the keyboard 108 (414). If the cover 110 is still over the keyboard 108, then the laptop computer 100 may continue to ignore input to the keyboard 108 and trackpad 112 (412). If the cover 110 is not over the keyboard 108, then the laptop computer 100 may enable the keyboard 108 and trackpad 112 (404).

[0043] Fig.5 shows an example of a generic computing device 500 and a generic mobile computing device 550 that can be used with the techniques described herein. Computing device 500 is intended to represent various forms of digital computers, such as laptop computers, desktops, tablets, workstations, personal digital assistants, televisions, servers, blade servers, mainframes, and other suitable computing devices. Computing device 550 is intended to represent various forms of mobile devices, such as personal digital assistants, mobile phones, smartphones, and other similar computing devices. The components shown herein, their connections and relationships, and their functions are intended to be exemplary only and are not intended to limit implementations of the inventions described and / or claimed in this document.

[0044] Computing device 500 includes a processor 502, a memory 504, a storage device 506, a high-speed interface 508 that connects to memory 504 and high-speed expansion ports 510, and a low-speed interface 512 that connects to low-speed bus 514 and storage device 506. Processor 502 may be a semiconductor-based processor. Memory 504 may be a semiconductor-based memory. All components 502, 504, 506, 508, 510, and 512 are interconnected using various buses and may be mounted on a standard motherboard or in other ways, as appropriate.Processor 502 may process instructions for execution within computing device 500, including instructions stored in memory 504 or on storage device 506 to display graphical information for a GUI on an external input / output device, such as display 516, connected to high-speed interface 508. In other implementations, multiple processors and / or multiple buses may be used, along with multiple memories and storage types, as appropriate. Additionally, multiple computing devices 500 may be connected, with each device providing portions of the necessary operations (e.g., as a server bank, a group of blade servers, or a multiprocessor system).

[0045] Memory 504 stores information within computing device 500. In one implementation, memory 504 is a non-volatile storage unit or units. In another implementation, memory 504 is a non-volatile storage unit or units. Memory 504 may also be another form of computer-readable medium, such as a magnetic or optical disk.

[0046] Storage device 506 is capable of providing mass storage for computing devices 500. In one implementation, storage device 506 may be or include a computer-readable medium, such as a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, an optical drive, a magnetic tape device, flash memory, or other similar solid-state storage device, or a series of devices, including devices in a storage network or other configurations. A computer program product may be tangibly embodied in an information carrier. The computer program product may also include instructions that, when executed, perform one or more methods such as those described above. The information carrier is a computer- or machine-readable medium, such as memory 504, storage device 506, or memory on a processor 502.

[0047] The high-speed controller 508 manages bandwidth-intensive operations for the computing device 500, while the low-speed controller 512 manages lower-bandwidth-intensive operations. Such allocation of functions is only exemplary. In one implementation, the high-speed controller 508 is connected to memory 504, display 516 (e.g., via a graphics processor or accelerator), and to the high-speed expansion ports 510, which can accommodate various expansion cards (not shown). In the implementation, the low-speed controller 512 is coupled to the memory device 506 and the low-speed expansion port 514. The low-speed expansion port, which can accommodate various communication ports (e.g.,USB, B, Ethernet, wireless Ethernet), may be coupled to one or more input / output devices such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a scanner, or a network device such as a switch or router, e.g., through a network adapter.

[0048] Computing device 500 may be implemented in a number of different forms, as shown in the figure. For example, it may be implemented as a standard server 520 or multiple in a group of such servers. It may also be implemented as part of a rack server system 524. Additionally, it may be implemented in a personal computer such as a laptop computer 522. Alternatively, components of computing device 500 may be combined with other components in a mobile device (not shown), such as device 550. Each such device may include one or more of computing devices 500, 550, and an entire system may be composed of multiple computing devices 500, 550 communicating with each other.

[0049] Computing device 550 includes, among other components, a processor 552, a memory 564, an input / output device such as a display 554, a communications interface 566, and a transceiver 568. Device 550 may also be equipped with a storage device, such as a microdrive or other device, to provide additional storage. All components 550, 552, 564, 554, 566, and 568 are interconnected using various buses, and several of the components may be mounted on a standard motherboard or in other ways, as appropriate.

[0050] Processor 552 may execute instructions within computing device 550, including instructions stored in memory 564. The processor may be implemented as a chipset of chips that include separate and multiple analog and digital processors. For example, the processor may provide for coordination of other components of device 550, such as control of user interfaces, applications executed by device 550, and wireless communication by device 550.

[0051] The processor 552 can communicate with a user via the control interface 558 and the display interface 556, which is coupled to a display 554. The display 554 can be, for example, a TFT-LCD (thin-film transistor liquid crystal display) or an OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display, or other appropriate display technology. The display interface 556 can include suitable circuitry for driving the display 554 to present graphical and other information to a user. The control interface 558 can receive commands from a user and convert them for input to the processor 552. Additionally, an external interface 562 can be provided in conjunction with the processor 552 to enable short-range communication of the device 550 with other devices.For example, the external interface 562 may be a wired connection in some implementations or a wireless connection in other implementations, and multiple interfaces may also be used.

[0052] Memory 564 stores information within computing device 550. Memory 564 may be implemented as one or more of a computer-readable medium, volatile memory, or non-volatile memory. Expanded memory 574 may also be provided and connected to device 550 via expansion interface 572, which may include, for example, a SIMM (Single In Line Memory Module) card interface. Such expanded memory 574 may provide additional storage space for device 550 or may also store applications or other information for device 550. In particular, expanded memory 574 may include instructions for performing or supplementing the processes described above, and may also include secure information.Thus, for example, expanded memory 574 may be provided as a security module for device 550 and may be programmed with instructions that enable secure use of device 550. Additionally, secure applications may be provided via the SIMM cards along with additional information, such as storing identifying information on the SIMM card in a manner that cannot be hacked.

[0053] The memory may, for example, include flash memory and / or NVRAM memory, as described below. In one implementation, a computer program product is tangibly embodied in an information carrier. The computer program product includes instructions that, when executed, perform one or more methods such as those described above. The information carrier is a computer- or machine-readable medium, such as memory 564, memory expansion 574, or processor memory 552, which may be received, for example, via transceiver 568 or external interface 562.

[0054] Device 550 can communicate wirelessly via communication interface 566, which may include digital signal processing circuitry if desired. Connection interface 566 can establish connections using various communication types or protocols, such as GSM voice calls, SMS, EMS or MMS messaging, CDMA, TDMA, PDC, WCDMA, CDMA2000, or GPRS, among others. Such communication can occur, for example, through radio frequency transceiver 568. Additionally, short-range communication can occur, such as using a Bluetooth, WLAN, or other such transceiver (not shown). In addition, GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver module 570 can provide additional navigation and location-related wireless data to device 550, which can be used by applications executing on device 550, if desired.

[0055] Device 550 may also communicate audibly using audio codec 560, which may receive spoken information from a user and convert it into usable digital information. Audio codec 560 may also generate audible sound for a user, such as through a speaker in, for example, a handset of device 550. This sound may include sound from voice telephone calls, may include recorded sound (e.g., voice messages, music files, etc.), and may also include sound generated by applications running on device 550.

[0056] Computing device 550 may be implemented in a number of different forms, as shown in the figure. For example, it may be implemented as a mobile phone 580. It may also be implemented as part of a smartphone 582, personal digital assistant, or other similar mobile device.

[0057] Implementations of the various techniques described herein may be implemented in digital electronic circuits or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or combinations thereof. Implementations may be implemented as a computer program product, i.e., as a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier, such as a machine-readable storage device, for execution by, or for operation control by, a data processing device, such as a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple computers. A computer program, such as theThe computer programs described above may be written in any programming language, including compiled and interpreted languages, and may be implemented in any form, including as a standalone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for a computing environment. A computer program may be implemented in one or more computers at one location or distributed across multiple locations and connected by a communications network.

[0058] Method steps can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program to perform functions by processing input data and generating outputs. Method steps can also be performed by, and a device implemented as, special-purpose logic circuits, such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

[0059] Processors suitable for executing a computer program include, for example, both general-purpose and special-purpose microprocessors, as well as all types of one or more processors of any type of digital computer. In general, a processor receives instructions and data from read-only memory or random access memory, or both. Computer elements may include at least one processor for executing instructions and one or more storage devices for storing instructions and data. In general, a computer may also include, or be operatively coupled to, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, such as magnetic, magneto-optical drives, or optical drives, to receive or transfer data therefrom, or both.Information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of permanent storage, media, and storage devices, including, for example, semiconductor memory devices such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory; magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs. The processor and memory may be supplemented with or integrated with special-purpose logic circuitry.

[0060] To provide interaction with a user, implementations may be on a computer with a display device, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor for displaying information to the user, and a keyboard and pointing device, such as a mouse or trackball, through which the user can provide input to the computer. Other types of devices may also be used to provide interaction with a user; for example, feedback provided to the user may be any form of sensory feedback, such as visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user may be received in any form, including auditory, voice, or tactile input.

[0061] Implementations may be implemented in a computer system that includes a backend component, e.g., a data server, or a middleware component, e.g., an application server, or a frontend component, e.g., a client computer with a graphical user interface or a web browser that allows a user to interact with an implementation, or any combination of such a backend, middleware, or frontend component. Components may be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication, such as a communications network. Examples of communications networks include a local area network ("LAN") and a wide area network ("WAN"), such as the Internet.

[0062] While certain characteristic features of the described implementations have been illustrated as described herein, many modifications, substitutions, alterations, and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and alterations that fall within the scope of the invention, provided they fall within the scope of the independent claims.

Claims

[1] Laptop computer comprising: a lid (102); a base (104) attached to the lid at a first end portion (202) of the base, the base including a keyboard (108) adjacent the first end portion of the base and an open portion (118) adjacent a second end portion (204) of the base, the second end portion of the base being opposite the first end portion; and a cover (110) rotatably mounted on the base between the keyboard and the open portion, the cover being configured to pivot from a first position covering the open portion of the base to a second position covering the keyboard, wherein the cover includes a trackpad (112) configured to process click and drag inputs when the cover is in the first position covering the open portion of the base, and wherein the base further comprises a sensor (210, 222) configured to determine whether the cover is in the first position or the second position, the sensor coupled to the at least one processor; wherein the at least one processor is configured to activate the keyboard and the trackpad when the sensor determines that the cover is in the first position; and the at least one processor is configured to disable the keyboard and trackpad when the sensor determines that the cover is in the second position. [2] The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the trackpad is configured to process a tactile input when the cover is in the first position covering the open portion of the base. [3] The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a wireless transceiver (204) configured to wirelessly communicate with a computing device when the cover is in the first position covering the open portion of the base. [4] The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a near field communication (NFC) module configured to wirelessly communicate with a computing device according to an NFC protocol when the cover is in the first position covering the open portion of the base. [5] The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the cover includes a fingerprint sensor (306) configured to process fingerprint inputs when the cover is in the first position covering the open portion of the base. [6] The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the cover includes at least one magnet (308A, 308B) configured to secure the cover in the second position covering the keyboard. [7] The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the cover includes at least one magnet (308A, 308B) configured to secure the cover in the first position covering the open portion of the base. [8] The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the base includes at least one magnet (208A, 208B, 212) adjacent the keyboard configured to secure the cover in the second position covering the keyboard. [9] The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the keyboard includes at least one magnet (212) configured to secure the cover in the second position covering the keyboard. [10] The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the open portion of the base includes at least one magnet (214A, 214B) configured to secure the cover in the first position covering the open portion of the base. [11] The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the base includes a recessed area (218) around the keyboard such that the cover is flush with a portion of the base adjacent the cover when the cover is in the second position covering the keyboard. [12] The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the open portion includes a recessed area (220) such that the cover is flush with a portion of the base adjacent the cover when the cover is in the first position covering the open portion. [13] The laptop computer of claim 1, further comprising at least one wire (216) connected to the base and the cover, the at least one wire configured to send electrical signals from the cover to the base. [14] A laptop computer according to claim 1, further comprising: a hinge (116A, 116B) securing the cover to the base between the keyboard and the open portion of the base; and at least one wire (216) extending through the hinge and connecting the cover to the base, the at least one wire configured to send electrical signals from the cover to the base. [15] Laptop computers comprising: a cover (102) comprising a display (106); a base (104) attached to the lid, the base including a keyboard (108) on an outer portion (202) of the base and at least one processor enclosed by a housing (101) of the base, the processor coupled to the display and the keyboard; a hinge (116A, 116B) attached to the base; a cover (110) attached to the hinge, the cover configured to rotate from a first position covering an open portion of the base to a second position covering the keyboard, the cover including a trackpad (112) configured to process a tactile input when the cover is in the first position, the hinge being disposed between the keyboard and the open portion of the base; and at least one wire (216) extending from the cover through the hinge and into the base, the at least one wire configured to send electrical signals from the trackpad to the at least one processor. [16] A laptop computer according to claim 5, wherein: the base further comprises a sensor (210, 222) configured to determine whether the cover is in the first position or the second position, the sensor being coupled to the at least one processor; the at least one processor is configured to activate the keyboard and trackpad when the sensor determines that the cover is in the first position; and the at least one processor is configured to disable the keyboard and trackpad when the sensor determines that the cover is in the second position. [17] A laptop computer according to claim 5, wherein: the base comprises at least a first base magnet (214A, 214B) configured to secure the cover in the first position covering the open portion of the base, and a second base magnet (208A, 208B) configured to secure the cover in the second position covering the keyboard; and the cover comprises at least one cover magnet (308A, 308B) configured to secure the cover in the first position covering the open portion of the base and in the second position covering the keyboard. [18] Laptop computers comprising: a cover (102) comprising a display (106); a base (104) hinged to the lid, the base comprising: a keyboard (108) on an outer portion of the base adjacent a first end portion (202) of the base at which the base is hinged to the lid; a sensor (210, 222) configured to determine whether a cover is in a first position or a second position; at least one processor connected to the display, the keyboard, and the sensor, the processor configured to activate the keyboard and a tactile input device (112) when the cover is in the first position and to deactivate the keyboard and the tactile input device when the cover is in a second position; a housing (101) enclosing the at least one processor and surrounding the keyboard, the housing including an open portion (118) adjacent a second end portion (204) of the base opposite the first end portion, the housing defining a first recess (218) within the open portion and a second recess (220) around the keyboard; and at least one magnet (208A, 208B, 212) configured to secure the cover in a second position covering the keyboard; a hinge (206A, 206B) attached to the base; a cover (110) attached to the hinge, the cover being configured to rotate from the first position covering the open portion of the base to the second position covering the keyboard, and the cover including the tactile input device configured to process a tactile input when the cover is in the first position, the hinge being disposed between the keyboard and the open portion of the base; and at least one wire (216) extending from the cover through the hinge and into the base, the at least one wire configured to send electrical signals from the tactile input device to the at least one processor.

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