Configurable input in a portable computing device

[0001] Modern computing devices such as notebook computers utilize a variety and combination of input devices allowing users to interface with and to provide instructions to these computing devices. Combination of keyboard and mouse are often de facto methods typically used with personal computers.

[0002] Portable computing devices such as “clamshell” type notebooks and laptops often are equipped with more options for interfacing with the computer. Referring to FIG. 1, many portable computers come with built in keyboards 15, touch pads 18 and pointing sticks 17 (sometimes referred to as eraser head pointers). Touch pads 18 are well like and are often considered indispensable in portable computers.

[0003] One other form of the portable computer is commonly known as the Tablet PC. Referring to FIG. 3, Tablet PCs combine a data input capability into a display panel 23 of Tablet PC allowing the entire display panel to be used as a digitizer. The display panel 23 is typically used together with a stylus 23 or digitizer pen which allows users to intuitively use the stylus 23 as an input device. The entire display panel 23 being used as a digitizer provides better input capability than when compared to a touch pad 18 which is much smaller in area. The Tablet PC allows user using the stylus to have highly increased convenience and allows intuitive interaction and input to the Tablet PC.

[0009] Referring to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, a configurable portable computing device such as a notebook computer 30 is shown in accordance with a present embodiment.

[0010] In the present embodiment, the notebook computer 30 comprises a first display panel 33, a second display panel 33a, a housing 34 for the second display panel 33a and a detachable keyboard module 35.

[0011] Referring to FIG. 3A, the first display panel 33 is pivotally attached to the housing 34 for the second display panel 33a. In a first configuration, the notebook computer 30 of the present embodiment resembles a typical “clamshell” style notebook computer. The detachable keyboard module 35 is a first user input device of the notebook computer 30. The keyboard module 35 may be mounted to or on the housing 34 and comprises the standard keys for text input familiar with most PC users. The keyboard module 35 may further comprise other input devices such as buttons, touch pads and pointing sticks. The keyboard module 35 is mounted over the second display panel 33a in a manner which would hide the second display panel 33a. The housing 34 is adapted for attaching or mounting the keyboard module 35. It would be appreciated that the keyboard module 35 and the housing 34 may be equipped with electrical or electronic interfaces to allow communication between the keyboard module 35 and the notebook computer 30.

[0012] Referring to FIG. 3B, in accordance with the present embodiment, in a second configuration, the keyboard module 35 is detached from the housing 34 for the second display panel 33a. When the keyboard module 35 is detached from the housing 34. The second display panel 33a is revealed.

[0013] The keyboard module 35 may be further equipped with a wireless communication device to enable communication between the keyboard module 35 and the notebook computer 30. This ensures that while the keyboard module 35 is detached from the housing 34, the keyboard module 35 may still be used as an input device to interface with the notebook computer 30. The detachable keyboard module 35 may also utilize conventional wired means such as a USB interface to communicate and act as an input to the notebook computer 30.

[0014] With the keyboard module 35 detached from the housing 34, the second display panel 33a is revealed. Referring to FIG. 3B, the second display panel 33a is built into the housing 34 of the notebook computer 30. The first display panel 33 and the second display panel 33a are first and foremost video output devices. Examples of such video output devices in such portable computers are LCD panels and LED displays. With the keyboard module 34 detached, two display panels may be used by the user to increase the available video output real estate available to the user. The notebook computer 30 may further be oriented in a “book” style display with the two display panels side by side.

[0015] In accordance with the present embodiment, the second display panel 33a is a second user input device of the notebook computer 30. The second display panel 33a in addition to providing a second video output for the notebook computer, is further adapted with a digitizer capability. In effect, the second display panel 33a is a full sized digitizer built into the notebook computer 30. Users may use a stylus 37 in conjunction with the second display panel 33a to use the digitizer capability as an advanced input device for the notebook computer 30. Alternatively, the digitizer technology incorporated into the second display panel 33a may simply be operated by a user's fingers.

[0016] Depending on the digitizer technology incorporated, the digitizer may be operated with a digitizer pen or a stylus 37 or may be operated by a user's fingers. The digitizer technology incorporated may be of passive types, active types or even hybrid digitizer technologies. Optical digitizers may also be used in conjunction with the display panels to enable the display panels to act as input interfaces. An example of digitizer technology that may be incorporated into the second display panel 33a are that developed by Wacom Technology Corporation.

[0017] In a further embodiment, the first display panel 33 and the second display panel 33a may both be incorporated with the digitizer technology allowing both display panels to act as input interfaces.

[0018] The digitizer functionality may be selectively disabled and both the first and second display panels be used simply as video outputs. The detachable keyboard module is then used as the primary user input device. The detachable keyboard module may wirelessly or even communicate with the notebook computer via conventional wired means such as a USB interface. The devices may further be capable of being even coupled to a docking station adapted for the notebook computer allowing both display panels to be used as video outputs.

[0019] In operation, a user would typically be using the notebook computer 30 in the first configuration, which is with the keyboard module 35 mounted to the housing 34. In this first configuration, the notebook computer 30 is in its “clamshell” configuration which resembles the typical way most of such portable computers are utilized. In the keyboard module 35, the direct input into the notebook computer is via the keyboard which is considered the first input device. The keyboard module 35 may further incorporate other forms of input devices such as touch pads and/or pointing sticks.

[0020] In a second configuration of the current embodiment, the detachable keyboard module 35 may be detached from the notebook computer 30. In this configuration, the removal or detaching of the keyboard module 35 reveals and allows access to the second display panel 33a of the notebook computer 30.

[0021] In effect, the notebook computer 30 is now comprised of two display panels, one pivotally attached to the other. The keyboard module 35 may now be operated in a remote manner from the notebook computer 30. The communication link between the notebook computer 30 and the keyboard module 35 may be wired as in a conventional USB cable or it may be wireless as in using a BLUETOOTH wireless link.

[0022] This second configuration advantageously provides to the user a notebook computer 30 with two displays. Furthermore, the second display panel 33a which has been revealed with the detachment of the keyboard module 35 further is incorporated with an alternative input device which is the digitizer. A substantive area of the second display panel 33a or the entire area of the second display panel 33a may now be used as a digitizer input device. This advantageously provides a large format digitizer input device to the user without the associated additional footprint required for a separate conventional digitizer pad.

[0023] Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated.