Input device
First Claim
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1. An input device, comprising:
- a first base, having an edge;
a key set, located on said first base and having a side-surface; and
a sideboard, connected pivotally to a near-user end of said edge, said sideboard selectively operating in a first and a second state, wherein, said sideboard projects over said first base and covers said side-surface when said sideboard is in said first state, and wherein the height of said sideboard is reduced resulting in said side-surface being exposed, so as to prevent a user from touching said sideboard when said user operates said key set at said near-user end, when said sideboard is in said second state.
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Abstract
An external input device for a portable computer or personal digital assistant (PDA) has at least one rotatable sideboard. The sideboard operates in two states. When the sideboard is in the first state, the sideboard protects the key sets, and when the sideboard is in a second state, the sideboard facilitates input operation of user.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An input device, comprising:
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a first base, having an edge;
a key set, located on said first base and having a side-surface; and
a sideboard, connected pivotally to a near-user end of said edge, said sideboard selectively operating in a first and a second state, wherein, said sideboard projects over said first base and covers said side-surface when said sideboard is in said first state, and wherein the height of said sideboard is reduced resulting in said side-surface being exposed, so as to prevent a user from touching said sideboard when said user operates said key set at said near-user end, when said sideboard is in said second state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A foldable input device, comprising:
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a first base, having a first edge;
a second base, having a second edge;
a plurality of keys, located on said first and said second base, respectively, each of said keys having a first and a second side-surface, respectively;
a first sideboard connected pivotally to a first near-user end on said first edge, said first sideboard selectively operating in a first and a second state, wherein as said first sideboard is in said first state, said first sideboard projects over said first base and covers said first side-surface, and as said first sideboard is in said second state, the height of said first sideboard is reduced resulting in said first side-surface being exposed;
a second sideboard connected pivotally to a second near-user end on said second edge, said second sideboard selectively operating in a first and a second state, wherein as said second sideboard is in said first state, said second sideboard projects over said second base and covers said second side-surface, and as said second sideboard is in said second state, the height of said second sideboard is reduced resulting in said second side-surface being exposed; and
a connecting board, having a first and a second end, wherein said first and second end are connected pivotally to said first and said second base respectively, resulting in said first base rotating oppositely to said second base, and when a user operates said keys at said first and second near-user end, height of said first and second sideboard are reduced so as to prevent said user from touching said first and second sideboard. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An input device providing data input from a user to a portable computer, the input device comprising first and second bases supporting a set of keys and being rotably coupled to each other by a connecting board, wherein the first and second base define a shell having sidewalls about the perimeter of the input device, and wherein a rotable portion of the sidewalls closest the user is configured to rotate between a first state providing access to the key sets and a second state protecting the key sets.
Specification