Computing device with rotatable keyboard

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11927989-B2
Application number	US-202117444688-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2021
Priority date	Aug 11, 2020
Publication date	Mar 12, 2024
Grant date	Mar 12, 2024

Abstract

In one general aspect, a computing device includes a hardware processor, a memory, a first housing portion including a touch screen display, and a second housing portion coupled to the first housing portion by a hinge, where the second housing portion includes a rotatable keyboard.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computing device, comprising:
a hardware processor;
a memory;
a first housing portion including a touch screen display; and
a second housing portion coupled to the first housing portion by a hinge, the second housing portion including a rotatable keyboard and a trackpad, wherein:
the second housing portion comprises a hub mechanism disposed between the rotatable keyboard and the second housing portion,
the hub mechanism comprises a conductive slip ring that provides a path for communication between the rotatable keyboard and the hardware processor;
the rotatable keyboard rotates about the hub mechanism;
the rotatable keyboard rotates within a plane parallel to the second housing portion;
the rotatable keyboard rotates within the second housing portion to a first predefined position such that an entirety of the rotatable keyboard is oriented and accessible for use with the touch screen display to the left of the rotatable keyboard; and
the rotatable keyboard rotates 180 degrees within the second housing portion from the first predefined position to a second predefined position such that the entirety of the rotatable keyboard is oriented and accessible for use with the touch screen display to the right of the rotatable keyboard, wherein:
the touch screen display and the trackpad present on the rotatable keyboard is disabled while the rotatable keyboard is being rotated among a plurality of predefined positions comprising the first predefined position and the second predefined position.

2. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable keyboard further comprises a camera.

3. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable keyboard further comprises at least one programmable button.

4. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable keyboard further comprises at least three programmable buttons.

5. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable keyboard further comprises a trackball.

6. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable keyboard comprises:
a keyboard;
a camera;
one or more programmable buttons; and
a trackball.

7. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the first housing portion and the second housing portion pivot about the hinge to arrange the computing device such that a bottom surface of the first housing portion and a bottom surface of the second housing portion align on a horizontal plane.

8. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the first housing portion and the second housing portion further pivot about the hinge to arrange the computing device such that the bottom surface of the second housing portion aligns on the horizontal plane and the bottom surface of the first housing portion does not align on the horizontal plane.

9. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the second housing portion comprises a spring loaded bearing disposed between the rotatable keyboard and the second housing portion, wherein the rotatable keyboard rotates about the spring loaded bearing.

10. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the second housing portion includes a locking mechanism to lock the rotatable keyboard in place within the second housing portion at the plurality of predefined positions.

11. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable keyboard is configured to rotate 360 degrees within the second housing portion and the second housing portion remains fixed in place relative to the rotatable keyboard.

12. A computing device, comprising:
a hardware processor;
a memory;
a first housing portion including a touch screen display; and
a second housing portion coupled to the first housing portion by a hinge, the second housing portion including a rotatable keyboard and a hub mechanism disposed between the rotatable keyboard and the second housing portion, wherein:
the hub mechanism comprises a conductive slip ring that provides a path for communication between the rotatable keyboard and the hardware processor; and

the rotatable keyboard comprises:
a keyboard,
a trackpad,
a camera, and
one or more programmable buttons,
wherein:
the rotatable keyboard rotates about the hub mechanism;
the rotatable keyboard rotates within a plane parallel to the second housing portion;
the rotatable keyboard rotates within the second housing portion to a first predefined position such that an entirety of the keyboard is oriented and accessible for use with the touch screen display to the left of the keyboard;
the rotatable keyboard rotates 180 degrees within the second housing portion from the first predefined position to a second predefined position such that the entirety of the keyboard is oriented and accessible for use with the touch screen display to the right of the keyboard, wherein:
the touch screen display is configured to be disabled while the rotatable keyboard is being rotated among a plurality of predefined positions comprising the first predefined position and the second predefined position; and

the rotatable keyboard is configured to rotate 360 degrees within the second housing portion and the second housing portion remains fixed in place relative to the rotatable keyboard.

13. The computing device of claim 12 , wherein the second housing portion includes a locking mechanism to lock the rotatable keyboard in place within the second housing portion at the plurality of predefined positions.

14. The computing device of claim 12 , wherein the first housing portion and the second housing portion pivot about the hinge to arrange the computing device such that a bottom surface of the first housing portion and a bottom surface of the second housing portion align on a horizontal plane.

15. A computing device, comprising:
a hardware processor;
a memory;
a first housing portion including a touch screen display; and
a second housing portion coupled to the first housing portion by a hinge, the second housing portion including a rotatable keyboard and a trackpad, wherein:
the rotatable keyboard is configured to rotate 360 degrees within the second housing portion and the second housing portion remains fixed in place relative to the rotatable keyboard,
the first housing portion and the second housing portion pivot about the hinge to arrange the computing device such that a bottom surface of the first housing portion and a bottom surface of the second housing portion align on a horizontal plane,
the second housing portion comprises a hub mechanism disposed between the rotatable keyboard and the second housing portion,
the hub mechanism comprises a conductive slip ring that provides a path for communication between the rotatable keyboard and the hardware processor,
the rotatable keyboard rotates about the hub mechanism,
the rotatable keyboard rotates within a plane parallel to the second housing portion,
the rotatable keyboard rotates within the second housing portion to a first predefined position such that an entirety of the rotatable keyboard is oriented and accessible for use with the touch screen display to the left of the rotatable keyboard, and
the rotatable keyboard rotates 180 degrees within the second housing portion from the first predefined position to a second predefined position such that the entirety of the rotatable keyboard is oriented and accessible for use with the touch screen display to the right of the rotatable keyboard, wherein:
the touch screen display and the trackpad are configured to be disabled while the rotatable keyboard is being rotated among a plurality of predefined positions comprising the first predefined position and the second predefined position.

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Sleat Christopher Wiley

Classifications

• G06F1/1664 Primary

  Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of the integrated keyboard · CPC title

• G06F1/1671

  Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop (G06F1/1666 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/1677

  for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment · CPC title

• G06F1/1679

  for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA (G06F1/1681 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/1637

  Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing · CPC title