Low profile information handling system keyboard

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9964996-B2
Application number	US-201514926176-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2015
Priority date	Oct 29, 2015
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 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 biased away from an input detector and movable in response to an end user input at the key to actuate the input detector to communicate an input to the processor, each key actuation contacting the input detector at a key contact location on the input detector associated with the key;
a support structure having a support layer and a transparent medium layer, the support structure disposed below the keyboard, the transparent medium having upper and lower surfaces and having light introduced from an emitter and reflected between the upper and lower surfaces to a detector, the support layer having a first thickness, the support layer having a notch formed directly proximate at least the one key contact location, the notch having a second thickness of less than the first thickness, the support layer flexing responsive to a press by the at least one key at the at least one key' contact location, the flexing at the notch responsive to the press greater that the flexing at the first thickness, the flexing disrupting the light reflected between the upper and lower surfaces; and
an input detector that detects the key input to generate communication of an input to the processor.

2. The portable information handling system of claim 1 wherein the input detector further comprises:
the transparent medium integrated in the support structure;
a light emitter interfaced with the transparent medium and operable to inject light into the transparent medium; and
a light detector interfaced with the transparent medium and operable to detect light injected by the light emitter, the light altered by a touch of the transparent medium.

3. The portable information handling system of claim 1 further comprising a rubber dome disposed beneath each key, the rubber dome biasing the key away from the input detector.

4. The portable information handling system of claim 1 further comprising a metal dome disposed beneath each key, the metal dome biasing the key away from the input detector and flexing in response to a user input to contact the input detector.

5. The portable information handling system of claim 4 further comprising a sliding portion operable to slide the key relative to the metal dome, the sliding of the key removing the biasing of the metal dome to the key.

6. The portable information handling system of claim 1 wherein the transparent medium comprises a total internal reflection material.

7. A method for detecting keyboard key inputs into a portable information handling system, the method comprising:
biasing the keys with a biasing device to a raised position away from an input detector;
determining an input in response to pressing on a key to cause a contact with the input detector at a contact location where the key contacts the upper surface of a transparent medium layer, the input detector having a support layer disposed below the transparent medium layer, the transparent medium layer internally reflecting light, the contact detected by disruption of the light;
detecting key inputs by the disruption of the light the disruption enhanced with flexing of the transparent medium directly proximate the contact location, the support layer having a first thickness directly proximate the contact location that is less than a second thickness distal the contact location, the transparent medium layer having a first light disruption associated with a contact at the transparent medium proximate a support layer of the first thickness and a second light disruption associated with a contact at the transparent medium proximate a support layer of the second thickness;
overcoming the biasing of the biasing device to bring all keys into a retracted position having contact with the rigid sensing surface; and
retaining the keys in the retracted position.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the input detector comprises a light emitter to inject light and a light detector to detect light.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein:
the biasing the key further comprises placing a rubber dome under each key, the rubber dome compressing to touch the transparent medium in response to an input; and
the overcoming the biasing further comprises pressing down on all of the keys to force retraction of all keys over the biasing device and against the transparent medium.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein:
the biasing the key further comprises placing a biasing device on the transparent medium aligned with each key; and
the overcoming the biasing further comprises moving the transparent medium relative to the key so that the biasing device moves out of alignment with each key.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising emitting visible light in the transparent medium, the visible light providing key backlight to illuminate the keys.

12. A portable information handling system keyboard comprising:
plural keys, each key associated with an input value by a press of the key against an input detector at a contact location associated with the key;
the input detector disposed below the plural keys and operable to detect the input value upon depression of each of the plural keys to the key's associated contact location, the input detector having a transparent medium layer that is contacted by a press of each key at each key's associated contact location and a support layer disposed below the transparent medium layer, a light emitter that emits light through the transparent medium and a light detector that detects light emitted by the emitter, the input detected based upon one or more characteristics of the light detected by the detector;
a biasing device biasing the plural keys away from the input detector; and
a storage structure interfaced with the biasing device and operable to selectively overcome the biasing device to lower the plural keys to the input position resting against the rigid sensor surface
wherein the support layer has a first thickness and a second thickness, the light emitted through the transparent medium having a first characteristic responsive to an input at a contact location directly proximate the first thickness and a second characteristic responsive to an input at a contact location distal the second thickness, each of the plural key's contact location directly proximate a portion of the support layer having the first thickness; wherein the first thickness is less the second thickness.

13. The portable information handling system keyboard of claim 12 wherein the light emitter comprises at least a visible light frequency that illuminates the keyboard keys.

14. The portable information handling system keyboard of claim 12 wherein the biasing device comprises a metal dome coupled to a fixed position on the input detector, the storage structure overcoming the biasing by moving the metal domes relative to the keys.

15. The portable information handling system keyboard of claim 12 wherein the biasing device comprises a rubber dome compressed by the storage structure to retract the keys.

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

• G06F1/1616

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · 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

• G06F3/023

  Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes · CPC title