Microsoft aims to kill screen rotation rage with new Surface Duo patent

At the Surface Event last week, Microsoft announced the long-rumoured Surface Neo and Surface Duo dual-screen devices.

So far, it’s been confirmed that the Surface Duo will be powered by Android and a Snapdragon 855 processor; and will have a dual 5.3 inch (combined 8.3 inches) screen and a USB-C port.  The Surface Neo will be powered by an Intel Lakefield processor and comes with dual 9-inch displays connected by a 360-degree hinge in the middle.

While we’re greatly anticipating the debut of Windows 10X to the Surface Neo; a new patent from Microsoft will give us something to look forward to in both the Neo and Duo.

I’m sure you’re all too familiar with the issue of your screen either failing to change orientation or rotating at inappropriate times.  Subsequently, many choose to disable the rotation feature and re-enable it only when needed.

Microsoft has just released a patent which describes a sensor system that precisely determines the different orientations of the display halves relative to one another:

To sense other orientational states, a computing device may include a sensor system. However, the physical placement of the sensor system may be impractical. Alternatively or in addition, a computing device may include accelerometers or housed within each portion. Such a configuration may allow a relative orientation to be sensed by the accelerometer. However, in some orientations, the computing device may or may not be adapted to the different orientations of the individual portions, for example, when the respective accelerometers are oriented both gravity vectors are directed along a connecting portion).

Thus, examples are disclosed in that which relate to sensing the relative orientation between portions of a computing device. One example provides a computing device comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion comprises a first three-dimensional orientation sensor system and the second portion comprises a second three-dimensional orientation sensor system first and second three-dimensional orientation sensing systems, and a relative orientation between the first and second sections of the three-dimensional orientation sensing systems.

To detect other orientation conditions, a computing device may include a sensor system mounted on a mechanical hinge connecting the sections. However, the physical arrangement of the sensor system on the hinge may be impractical. Alternatively or additionally, a computing device may include acceleration sensors each housed in each section. Such a configuration may allow a relative orientation to be determined based on the movements detected by the acceleration sensors. However, in some orientations, the computing device may not be able to distinguish the respective orientations of the individual sections, eg, if the respective acceleration sensors are aligned, that the gravitational vector of each section does not change when rotating (eg when both gravitational vectors are directed along a hinge connecting the sections). In such situations, a computing device may not respond as intended to rotational movement between sections.

Therefore, examples are disclosed herein that relate to detecting the relative alignment between parts of a computing device in a manner that can avoid such problems. An example provides a computing device comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion comprises a first three-dimensional orientation sensor system and the second portion comprises a second three-dimensional orientation sensor system. The computing device receives data from the first and second three-dimensional orientation sensor systems, determines a relative orientation between the first and second sections based on the data from the three-dimensional orientation sensor systems, and adjusts a function of the computing device based on the relative orientation.

There isn’t much specific information regarding the upcoming Surface devices as of now; but Microsoft will reveal more throughout next year, before the devices’ release in the conclusion of 2020.

Source: windowsunited