초록 ▼

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a portable computer, such as a laptop or notebook computer, a subnotebook computer, a personal digital assistant, a wireless phone or the like, that can be set up in a closed configuration, a laptop configuration or a tablet configuration. The por

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a portable computer, such as a laptop or notebook computer, a subnotebook computer, a personal digital assistant, a wireless phone or the like, that can be set up in a closed configuration, a laptop configuration or a tablet configuration. The portable computer may include a base unit having a primary input device, such as a keyboard or pointing device, and a display unit having a display device. The base unit and the display unit may be coupled so that the display unit can be moved relative to the base unit to place the portable computer in a desired configuration.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A portable computer configurable in a tablet configuration, a laptop configuration, and a closed configuration, said portable computer comprising:a display unit having a display device and a back surface; a base unit having a primary input device and a bottom surface; and a hinging assembly coupl

1. A portable computer configurable in a tablet configuration, a laptop configuration, and a closed configuration, said portable computer comprising:a display unit having a display device and a back surface; a base unit having a primary input device and a bottom surface; and a hinging assembly coupling said display unit to said base unit, said hinging assembly having a first hinge with a first axis of rotation and a second hinge with a second axis of rotation, wherein said back surface of said display unit is in contact with said bottom surface of said base unit when said portable computer is in said tablet mode, said primary input device and said display device are between said back surface of said display unit and said bottom surface of said base unit when said portable computer is in said closed configuration, one of said first hinge and said second hinge is rotated to reconfigure said portable computer between said closed configuration and said laptop configuration, said first hinge and said second hinge are rotated to reconfigure said portable computer between said closed configuration and said tablet configuration, and a first friction force resists rotation of said first hinge about said first axis of rotation, a second friction force resists rotation of said second hinge about said second axis of rotation, and said first friction force is of a smaller magnitude than said second friction force. 2. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein a separating force applied to separate said display unit from said base unit causes said first hinge to rotate until an angle of rotation of said first hinge equals a maximum angle of rotation associated with said first hinge and the second hinge does not rotate and a larger magnitude application of said separating force causes said second hinge to rotate, wherein the portable computer does not include a latching mechanism and the first hinge and the second hinge do not include a locking mechanism.3. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein said first friction force resists rotation of said first hinge in a first direction and a third friction force resists rotation of said first hinge in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said third friction force having a greater magnitude than both sad first friction force and said second friction force, which allows the first hinge to rotate first when the portable computer is opened to said laptop configuration from said closed configuration and the first hinge to rotate second when the portable computer is changed from said laptop configuration to said closed configuration.4. The portable computer according to claim 3, wherein said second hinge has a first amount of friction when rotated in a first direction and a second amour of friction when rotated in a second direction opposite to said first direction.5. The portable computer according to claim 1, said hinging assembly further including an armature, wherein said first hinge is coupled to said armature at a first pivot point and said second hinge is coupled to said armature at a second pivot point.6. The portable computer according to claim 5, wherein said first hinge is coupled to said display unit so as to permit rotation of said display unit relative to said armature and said second hinge is coupled to said base unit so as to permit rotation of said base unit relative to said armature.7. The portable computer according to claim 5, wherein said first hinge is coupled to said base unit so as to permit rotation of said base unit relative to said armature and said second hinge is coupled to said display unit so as to permit rotation of said display unit relative to said armature.8. A portable computer configurable in a tablet configuration, a laptop configuration, and a closed configuration, said portable computer comprising:a display unit having a display device and a back surface; a base unit having a primary input device and a bottom surface; a hinging assembly coupling said display unit to said base unit, said hinging assembly having a first hinge with a first axis of rotation and a second hinge with a second axis of rotation; and a latching assembly to maintain said portable computer in one of said closed configuration and said tablet configuration, wherein said back surface of said display unit is in contact with said bottom surface of said base unit when said portable computer is in said tablet mode, said primary input device and said display device are between said back surface of said display unit and said bottom surface of said base unit when said portable computer is in said closed configuration, one of said first hinge and said second hinge is rotated to reconfigure said portable computer between said closed configuration and said laptop configuration, said first hinge and said second hinge are rotated to reconfigure said portable computer between said closed configuration and said tablet configuration, said latching assembly includes a latching arm having a first projection and a latch body having a first cavity adapted to receive said first projection to maintain said portable computer in one of said closed configuration and said tablet configuration, and said latching arm includes a second projection, wherein said first cavity is also adapted to receive said second projection, and further wherein said first projection is received by said first cavity to maintain said portable computer in said closed configuration, and further wherein said second projection is received by said first cavity to maintain said portable computer in said tablet configuration. 9. A portable computer configurable in a tablet configuration, a laptop configuration, and a closed configuration, said portable computer comprising:a display unit having a display device and a back surface; a base unit having a primary input device and a bottom surface; a hinging assembly coupling said display unit to said base unit, said hinging assembly having a first hinge with a first axis of rotation and a second hinge with a second axis of rotation; and a latching assembly to maintain said portable computer in one of said closed configuration and said tablet configuration, wherein said back surface of said display unit is in contact with said bottom surface of said base unit when said portable computer is in said tablet mode, said primary input device and said display device are between said back surface of said display unit and said bottom surface of said base unit when said portable computer is in said closed configuration, one of said first hinge and said second hinge is rotated to reconfigure said portable computer between said closed configuration and said laptop configuration, said first hinge and said second hinge are rotated to reconfigure said portable computer between said closed configuration and said tablet configuration, said latching assembly includes a latching arm having a first projection and a latch body having a first cavity adapted to receive said first projection to maintain said portable computer in one of said closed configuration and said tablet configuration, and said latching arm includes a second projection and said latch body further including a second cavity adapted to receive said second projection, wherein said first projection is received by said first cavity to maintain said portable computer in said closed configuration, and further wherein said second projection is received by said second cavity to maintain said portable computer in said tablet configuration. 10. A portable computer configurable in a tablet configuration, a laptop configuration, and a closed configuration, said portable computer comprising:a display unit having a display device and a back surface; a base unit having a primary input device and a bottom surface; and a hinging assembly coupling said display unit to said base unit, said hinging assembly having a first hinge with a first axis of rotation and a second hinge with a second axis of rotation, wherein said back surface of said display unit is in contact with said bottom surface of said base unit when said portable computer is in said tablet mode, said primary input device and said display device are between said back surface of said display unit and said bottom surface of said base unit when said portable computer is in said closed configuration, one of said first hinge and said second hinge is rotated to reconfigure said portable computer between said closed configuration and said laptop configuration, said first hinge and said second hinge are rotated to reconfigure said portable computer between said closed configuration and said tablet configuration, and said base unit partially rests on one of said first hinge and said second hinge when said portable computer is in said laptop configuration. 11. A method for reconfiguring a portable computer among a tablet configuration, a laptop configuration, and a closed configuration, wherein said display device is contained in a display unit and said primary input device is contained in a base unit, said method comprising:when said portable computer is in said closed configuration such that said display device and said primary input device are contained between a back surface of said display unit and a bottom surface of said base unit, rotating a first hinge about a first axis of rotation to tilt said display unit relative to said base unit until said portable computer is in said laptop configuration; when said portable computer is in said laptop configuration, rotating a second hinge about a second axis of rotation parallel to said first axis of rotation until said portable computer is in said tablet configuration; and closing a latching assembly when said portable computer is in said tablet configuration to couple said base unit to said display unit. 12. The method according to claim 11, further including opening said latching assembly when said portable computer is in said closed configuration.13. The method according to claim 11, wherein rotating said first hinge includes applying a separating force to said display unit and said base unit and a first friction force resists rotation of said first hinge and a second friction force rotation of said second hinge.14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said first friction force is smaller than said second friction force when said portable computer is being changed from said closed configuration to said laptop configuration, which allows the first hinge to rotate before the second hinge rotates.15. The method according to claim 13, wherein said first friction force is greater than said second friction force when said portable computer is being changed from said tablet configuration to said laptop configuration, which allows the second hinge to rotate before the first hinge rotates.