Notebook Computer Palmrest/Keyboard Interconnect
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer palmrest assembly comprising:
- a circuit board;
a keyboard controller mounted to the circuit board;
a connection point to receive a keyboard assembly, the connection point having a plurality of electrical connections connected through the circuit board to the keyboard controller; and
a first connector to pass decoded keystroke information from the keyboard controller to another device located off the palmrest assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable information handling system, user interface components thereof, and methods of user control interface and assembly are disclosed. In one embodiment a keyboard assembly, including a large plurality of contacts for a keyboard matrix, connects directly to a palmrest assembly. The palmrest assembly includes a keyboard controller, which decodes keystrokes and then passes the decoded keystrokes to, e.g., an I/O controller on the motherboard of the portable information handling system. This arrangement can greatly improve layout and usage of the motherboard routing spaces, can improve reliability, and can simplify assembly, among other advantages.
54 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A computer palmrest assembly comprising:
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a circuit board; a keyboard controller mounted to the circuit board; a connection point to receive a keyboard assembly, the connection point having a plurality of electrical connections connected through the circuit board to the keyboard controller; and a first connector to pass decoded keystroke information from the keyboard controller to another device located off the palmrest assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A keyboard comprising:
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a rigid lower frame having a connection tab along its bottom edge for mechanical connection of the keyboard to a palmrest assembly; and a conductor matrix overlying the rigid frame and defining conductor crossing points substantially aligned with key locations on the keyboard, the conductor matrix comprising extensions of the matrix conductors onto the connection tab to form a plurality of contacts for electrical connection of the keyboard to the palmrest assembly. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of coupling a keyboard assembly to a portable information handling system, the method comprising:
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assembling a keyboard connector into the palmrest assembly of a portable information handling system; inserting a substantially rigid keyboard assembly connector tab, integral to a keyboard assembly and having electrical connections for the keyboard assembly, into the keyboard connector of the palmrest assembly as part of a process of aligning the keyboard assembly in its final position in the information handling system; and securing the keyboard assembly to the information handling system. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification