Low profile information handling system keyboard

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10037087-B2
Application number	US-201514926185-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2015
Priority date	Oct 29, 2015
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

A portable information handling system keyboard retracts from an extended position to a retracted position, the retracted position bring the keys into the portable information handling system housing to provide a compressed closed position of the housing. The keyboard keys are biased to the extended position with a metal dome that interacts with a scissor support structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable information handling system comprising:
a housing;
a processor disposed in the housing and operable to execute instructions to process information;
a memory disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processor, the memory operable to store the information;
a display disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processor and memory, the display operable to present the information as visual images;
a keyboard disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processor, the keyboard having plural keys, each key generating an input by pressing downward against a contact location on a transparent medium supported by a support surface, the support surface having a thickness, the transparent medium having light emitted into it by an emitter and sensed by a sensor, each input detected by changes in light characteristics in the transparent medium, the support surface having a notch directly vertically aligned with each key contact location on the transparent medium, the support surface deflecting at the notch when a key presses on the transparent medium, the deflecting providing light characteristic changes in light passing through the transparent medium;
a biasing device aligned with each key to bias the key distal the input detector; and
a sliding structure associated with each key and operable to selectively alter alignment of the biasing device to establish a keyboard stored state having the keys retracted proximate the input detector.

2. The portable information handling system of claim 1 wherein the biasing device comprises a metal dome raised distal the input detector and configured to deflect in response to pressure by the associated key.

3. The portable information handling system of claim 2 further comprising:
a scissors structure coupled to each key to guide movement between key positions of distal and proximate the input detector; and
a pressure point integrated with the key scissor and aligned with the metal dome to depress the metal dome in response to a key input.

4. A method for retracting a key into a portable information handling system housing, the method comprising:
biasing the key to a raised position away from an input detector with a biasing device aligned with a key support structure;
sliding the biasing device relative to the key support structure to remove the biasing; and
moving the key towards the input detector in a storage position;
wherein the input detector comprises a transparent medium disposed over a support surface, the transparent medium integrating a light emissive touch detection having light emitted into the transparent medium by an emitter and sensed by a sensor to detect key inputs by changes in light characteristics, the support surface having a varied thickness that directly vertically aligns a less thick portion with each of one or more key touch locations on the transparent medium, the one or more less thick portions of the support surface having increased deflection in response to a given key press relative to more thick portions of the support surface.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:
retaining the key in the storage position with the sliding;
sliding the biasing device relative to the key support structure to re-establish the biasing; and
in response to re-establishing the biasing, returning the key to the raised position away from the input detector.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the biasing the key further comprises:
aligning a metal dome with a pressure point of the key support structure, the metal dome biasing the pressure point away from the input detector; and
aligning a raised portion of the metal dome with an input portion of the input detector, the metal dome responding to pressure from the pressure point to bend and contact the input detector.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the sliding the biasing device relative to the key support structure further comprises moving both the metal dome and the input detector relative to the pressure point.

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• Hampton Patrick A
• Schuckle Richard W
• Files Jace W
• Morrison John T
• Bui Vinh X
• Tsen Chiu Jung
• Pelissier Gerald R
• Huang Wen-Pin

Classifications

• G06F3/0221 Primary

  Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys (G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666) · CPC title

• G06F1/1618

  the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure · CPC title

• G06F1/1624

  with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display · CPC title

• G06F1/1666 Primary

  Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys (G06F1/1664 takes precedence) · CPC title