Sliding Display Mechanism for Configurable Computing Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional computing devices with integrated input and display mechanisms often face challenges in terms of usability, speed, and accuracy due to cumbersome designs and limited configurational flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A computing device featuring a base portion with a keyboard and a display portion that can rotate and translate via a hinge and guide system, allowing for configurations such as laptop, tablet, and closed modes, with automatic activation/deactivation of input devices based on configuration changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the display portion is fixed in position relative to the base portion, then the device structure is simple, but the device lacks configurational flexibility and adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The display portion is made dynamically repositionable through a combination of hinge mechanism (for rotation about an axis) and guide mechanism (for translation along a path). This allows the display to transition between multiple configurations (laptop mode, tablet mode, closed mode) rather than being fixed, thereby achieving configurational flexibility without requiring completely separate devices for different form factors.
Solution Approach 2:
A single integrated mechanism system serves multiple functions by enabling the display portion to assume different positions and orientations. The same hinge and guide system that enables laptop configuration also enables tablet and closed configurations, making the mechanism universal across different usage scenarios rather than requiring separate specialized mechanisms for each mode.
2Loss of energy
If input devices are always active, then user interaction is consistent, but power consumption increases and unnecessary input processing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the physical position and configuration state of the display portion through sensors or position detection mechanisms. Based on this feedback about whether the device is in laptop mode, tablet mode, or closed mode, the system automatically adjusts the activation state of input devices (keyboard, trackpad, touchscreen) to match the current configuration, thereby avoiding power waste while ensuring input availability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively changes the activation state of input devices in anticipation of configuration changes. When transitioning to a configuration where certain input devices will be inaccessible or unnecessary (such as closing the lid), the system preemptively deactivates those devices to save power and processing resources, rather than waiting for the configuration change to occur first.
Data Source
AI summary
In one general aspect, a computing device can include a base portion including a keyboard, and a guide included in the base portion. The computing device can also include a display portion including a display and having a bottom portion coupled to the base portion via a hinge. The display portion can be configured to rotate about an axis using the hinge. The bottom portion of the display portion can be configured to slidably move along the guide over the keyboard of the base portion in a translational direction orthogonal to the axis.