Keyboard Mode for Portable Computers with External Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laptop and notebook computers with touch-sensitive displays lack versatility in their operational modes, particularly when used with external monitors, as they do not offer a mode that allows the keyboard to be active while the internal display is out of view, which is inconvenient for limited desk spaces.
Innovation Solution
A portable computer system that includes a hinged housing with a touch-sensitive display and physical keyboard, capable of operating in a keyboard mode where the screen is deactivated and the keyboard remains active, with a proximity sensor and timing circuit to detect when the screen is positioned on a surface, allowing the system to connect to an external display via a video port for extended use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the internal display screen is positioned out of view to optimize desk space, then the keyboard becomes inactive or deactivated, but this reduces the usability and functionality of the portable computer
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the operational state of the keyboard and display screen based on the detected configuration. When the display screen is positioned out of view, the system transitions to a mode where the keyboard remains active and the external display becomes the primary output, allowing the keyboard to be used effectively without the internal screen in the user's field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an external display as an intermediary device that mediates between the keyboard input and the visual output. This allows the keyboard to remain functional while the internal display is positioned out of view, as the external display serves as the intermediary through which the user sees the results of keyboard input.
2Reliability
If the keyboard is deactivated to prevent unwanted input when the screen is out of view, then inadvertent errors are reduced, but the versatility and adaptability of the computer is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the keyboard's operational state based on the detected configuration and presence of an external display. Rather than statically deactivating the keyboard, the system transitions to a dynamic mode where the keyboard remains active but the system monitors for potential inadvertent input through timing circuits and proximity sensors, allowing versatility while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms through proximity sensors and timing circuits that monitor the configuration and user interaction. This feedback allows the system to distinguish between intentional keyboard input and inadvertent pressing, maintaining reliability by responding appropriately to the detected state while preserving keyboard functionality for legitimate use.
3Adaptability or versatility
If proximity sensors and timing circuits are added to detect screen positioning and activate keyboard mode, then the adaptability to different configurations is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service through automatic detection and mode switching. The proximity sensors and timing circuits automatically detect the display screen's position and trigger the appropriate operational mode without requiring manual user intervention. This self-service approach improves configuration adaptability while minimizing the complexity of user interaction, as the system autonomously manages the transition between modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The proximity sensors and timing circuits serve multiple functions: detecting display screen position, determining configuration mode, triggering keyboard activation, and coordinating with the external display connection. This multi-functionality reduces the overall complexity by using a single sensor system for multiple purposes rather than requiring separate systems for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a portable computer includes a housing with a first housing member and a second housing member rotatably coupled, a processor disposed in the housing, a physical keyboard disposed in the first housing member, a display screen disposed in the second housing member, a proximity sensor disposed in the second housing member, and a video port to communicate with an external display screen. The portable computer is to operate in a keyboard mode in response to the second housing member being within a threshold distance from an object external to the portable computer based on a signal from the proximity sensor. During the keyboard mode, the display screen of the portable computer is to be inactive, the physical keyboard is to be active, and the processor is to send video data to the external display screen via the video port.