Keyboard and terminal system comprising same

• US 10,372,171 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2015
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Sangchul, Noh, Boram
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaker, Nidhi
• Application Number:
  US15/744,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20180203484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 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 Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1667 Arrangements for adjusting the tilt angle of the integrated keyboard independently from the main body adjusting the tilt angle integrally with the main body G06F1/166
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a keyboard formed so as to be attachable to and detachable from a terminal main body and capable of comprising: a keyboard main body having key buttons formed on one surface; an accommodation part formed on the one surface so as to accommodate at least a portion of the terminal main body; and a cover formed so as to be rotatable from the one surface such that the cover covers at least a portion of the accommodation part in a closed state and exposes the accommodation part in an open state. In addition, the keyboard according to the present invention is preferably formed such that the keyboard main body is turned on or off according to the opening or closing of the cover.

Claims

1. A keyboard detachably disposed on a terminal body, comprising:

a keyboard body provided with key buttons on one surface;

a receiving portion disposed on the one surface to receive at least a part of the terminal body; and

a cover rotatably disposed on the one surface to cover at least a part of the receiving portion in a closed state and to expose the receiving portion in an open state,

wherein the keyboard body is turned on and off depending on the opening and closing of the cover;

a hinge module disposed at one end of the cover so that the cover can be rotated from the one surface of the keyboard body by a preset angle;

a switch disposed on at least one of the one end of the cover and a part of the keyboard body facing the one end of the cover; and

an opening and closing module disposed on the keyboard body to open and close the cover depending on an attachment and detachment of the terminal body,

wherein the opening and closing module comprises;

a mounting portion disposed on one side of the receiving portion to be movable along a mounting direction of the terminal body depending on the attachment and detachment of the terminal body; and

a driving portion having one side connected to the mounting portion and being movable on the terminal body in cooperation with the movement of the mounting portion.

2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein a signal corresponding to a control command related to the off operation of the keyboard body is generated when the switch is pressed in the closed state.

3. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the switch is disposed on the keyboard body, and the one end of the cover presses the switch in one of the closed state and the open state and does not press the switch in the other of the closed state and the open state.

4. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the switch is disposed on the one end of the cover, and the part of the keyboard body facing the one end of the cover presses the switch in one of the closed state and the open state and does not press the switch in the other of the closed state and the open state.

5. The keyboard of claim 3, wherein the switch is provided with a dome-shaped button portion, and

wherein the switch is disposed on the keyboard body so that a thickness direction of the button portion can cross a thickness direction of the keyboard body.

6. The keyboard of claim 1, further comprising a hook portion disposed on a surface defining the one side of the receiving portion to prevent the terminal body from being rotated due to a touch pressure applied to the terminal body.

7. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein a guide rail extending in a direction crossing the one surface is disposed on the mounting portion, and a guide protrusion movable on the guide rail is disposed on one side of the driving portion.

8. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein a stopper for limiting rotation of the cover by being caught in a recess portion disposed at the one end of the cover is disposed on an other side of the driving portion.

9. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein a pressing unit for applying force to the cover for opening the cover is disposed at the one end of the cover.

10. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the driving portion comprises an elastic portion deformable along a moving direction of the driving portion.

11. The keyboard of claim 10, wherein a groove is formed in the driving portion along a longitudinal direction of the driving portion so that the elastic portion can be disposed therein, and a compressing portion for penetrating the driving portion through the groove and compressing the elastic portion is disposed on the keyboard body.

12. The keyboard of claim 11, wherein a support portion for supporting the elastic portion is provided in the elastic portion and is disposed on the driving portion, and a penetrating portion is disposed in the compressing portion so that the support portion can penetrate therethrough.

13. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein a first magnet is disposed on a surface of the receiving portion contacting the terminal body, and a second magnet is disposed on the terminal body to generate attractive force with the first magnet.

14. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein a connection terminal for electrical connection between the keyboard body and the terminal body is disposed on a surface of the receiving portion contacting the terminal body.

15. A terminal system, comprising a terminal body and a keyboard detachably disposed on the terminal body,

wherein the keyboard comprises:

a keyboard body provided with key buttons on one surface;

a receiving portion disposed on the one surface to receive at least a part of the terminal body;

a cover rotatably disposed on the one surface to cover at least a part of the receiving portion in a closed state and to expose the receiving portion in an open state;

a wireless communication unit for connecting communication between the keyboard and the terminal body;

a switch disposed on at least one of the one end of the cover and the part of the keyboard body facing the one end of the cover; and

an opening and closing module disposed on the keyboard body to open and close the cover depending on an attachment and detachment of the terminal body,

wherein the opening and closing module comprises;

a mounting portion disposed on one side of the receiving portion to be movable along a mounting direction of the terminal body depending on the attachment and detachment of the terminal body; and

a driving portion having one side connected to the mounting portion and being movable on the terminal body in cooperation with the movement of the mounting portion.

16. The terminal system of claim 15, wherein a signal corresponding to a control command related to an off operation of the keyboard body is generated when the switch is pressed in the closed state.

17. The terminal system of claim 15, wherein the switch is disposed on the keyboard body, and the one end of the cover presses the switch in one of the closed state and the open state and does not press the switch in the other of the closed state and the open state.

18. The terminal system of claim 15, wherein the switch is disposed on the one end of the cover, and the part of the keyboard body facing the one end of the cover presses the switch in one of the closed state and the open state and does not press the switch in the other of the closed state and the open state.