Collapsible keyboard structure for a notebook computer, responsive to opening and closing of the computer's lid via relatively shiftable key support member and shift member

• US 5,602,715 A
• Filed: 03/04/1996
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Clancy, Kevin F., Sellers, Charles A., Lempicki, Michael S., Merkel, Harold S., Webb, Matthew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/610,216
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 400/479, 400/488, 400/490-492, 400/682, 200/5 A, 200/344, 200/345, 235/1 D, 235/145 R, 235/146, 364/708.1, 341/22, 361/680
• US Class Current: 361/679.13
• 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 1/1666 Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F1/1664 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/705 characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/068 having a not operable condition
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/125 using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser

Abstract

A notebook computer is provided with a collapsible keyboard structure having keys supported on scissored linkage arm assemblies in which, in response to closing of the computer housing lid, key return spring portions of the keyboard are shifted away from their normal underlying relationships with the keys, and the scissored linkage arm assemblies and keys are permitted to retract to a storage/transport orientation in which the overall thickness of the keyboard structure is reduced by an amount essentially equal to the stroke distance of the keys. When the lid is subsequently opened, the key return spring portions are shifted back to their normal underlying relationships with the keys, and the keys and scissored linkage arm assemblies are forced outwardly by the return spring portions to their extended, operative orientations above the return spring portions. A spaced series of elastomeric key return dome members is secured to a shift member which is slidably mounted on the top side of a multilayered signal pad structure.

Claims

1. A collapsible keyboard structure for a portable computer, comprising:

a key support structure having top and bottom sides;

a series of keys each carried on said top side of said key support structure for vertical movement relative thereto, through a vertical key stroke distance, between extended and retracted positions;

a base structure carried beneath said key support structure, having a top side facing said bottom side of said key support structure, and further having a sheet portion slidably disposed thereon, said base structure being attached to said key support structure; and

a spaced series of resilient key return members disposed on said sheet portion facing said top side of said base structure,

said key support structure and said sheet portion being horizontally shiftable relative to one another between a first position in which said key return members underlie and resiliently hold said keys in said extended positions thereof, each of said key return members being vertically compressed only when said key support structure and said sheet portion are in said first position and a corresponding one of said keys is moved between said extended and said retracted positions, and a second position in which said key return members permit said keys to be moved from said extended positions thereof to said retracted positions thereof without vertically compressing said resilient key return members.

2. The collapsible keyboard structure of claim 1 further comprising:

cooperatively engageable means on said keys and said base structure for forcibly driving said keys from said extended positions thereof to said retracted positions thereof in response to shifting of said sheet portion and said key support structure from said first position thereof to said second position thereof.

3. The collapsible keyboard structure of claim 2 wherein:

said keys are secured to said key support structure by scissored linkage arm assemblies, and

said cooperatively engageable means include portions of said scissored linkage arm assemblies and a spaced series of projections formed on said top side of said base structure and operative to drivingly engage and move said portions of said scissored linkage arm assemblies, in response to a shifting of said sheet portion and said key support structure from said first position thereof to said second position thereof, in a manner forcibly collapsing said scissored linkage arm assemblies.

4. The collapsible keyboard structure of claim 1 wherein:

said keys are secured to said key support structure by scissored linkage arm assemblies each having a central portion with mutually angled bearing and cam surfaces thereon,

said resilient key return members are hollow elastomeric dome members having upper ends and sloping side portions,

said upper ends of said dome members underlying and upwardly engaging said bearing surfaces when said sheet portion and said key support structure are in said first position thereof, and

said cam surfaces being positioned and configured to be slidingly engaged by said sloping dome member side portions in a manner driving said key members from said retracted positions thereof to said extended positions thereof in response to shifting of said sheet portion and said key support structure from said second position thereof to said first position thereof.

5. The collapsible keyboard structure of claim 1 wherein:

said key support structure is a generally rectangular monoblock support structure.

6. The collapsible keyboard structure of claim 1 wherein:

said base structure is a multilayered signal pad structure with closable electrical contact structures underlying said resilient key return members when said sheet portion and said key support structure are in said first position.

7. A collapsible keyboard structure for an electronic device, such as a portable computer, comprising:

a key support structure having top and bottom sides;

a series of keys disposed on said top side of said key support structure;

a series of scissored linkage arm assemblies interconnected between said keys and said key support structure and permitting said keys to be vertically moved relative to said key support structure, through a vertical key stroke distance, between extended and retracted positions, each of said scissored linkage arm assemblies having a central portion with mutually angled bearing and cam surfaces thereon; and

a multilayered signal pad structure carried beneath said key support structure and having a top side facing said bottom side of said key support structure, said signal pad structure having a spaced series of closeable electrical contact structures thereon, and a spaced series of elastomeric key return dome members secured to a shift member slidably disposed on said top side of said signal pad structure and overlying said contact structures, each of said key return dome members having an upper end and a sloping side surface,

said key support structure and said shift member being horizontally shiftable relative to one another between a first position in which said upper ends of said key return dome members underlie and upwardly engage said bearing surfaces and hold said key members in said extended positions thereof, with said scissored linkage arm assemblies in extended positions thereof, and a second position in which said upper ends of said key return dome members are horizontally offset from said bearing surfaces and said keys are in said retracted positions thereof with said scissored linkage arm assemblies in collapsed positions thereof, and

said cam surfaces and said sloping side surfaces of said key return dome members being relatively positioned and configured to be interengaged, in response to a shifting of said key support structure and said shift member from said second position to said first position, in a manner driving said keys from said retracted positions thereof to said extended positions thereof.

8. A portable computer comprising:

a base housing portion having a top side;

a lid housing portion secured to said base housing portion for pivotal movement relative thereto between a closed position in which said lid housing portion extends across and covers said top side, and an open position in which said lid housing portion uncovers and exposes said top side; and

a collapsible keyboard structure including;

a key support structure extending across said top side of said base housing portion and having top and bottom sides,

a series of keys each carried on said top side of said key support structure for vertical movement relative thereto, through a key stroke distance, between an upwardly extended operative position and a downwardly retracted nonoperative position,

a base structure underlying said key support structure and having a top side facing said bottom side of said key support structure, and further having a sheet member slidingly disposed on said base structure top side, one of said sheet member and said key support structure being horizontally shiftable relative to the other of said sheet member and said key support structure between a first position and a second position, and

cooperatively engageable means on said keys and said sheet member for driving said keys from said retracted nonoperative positions thereof to said extended operative positions thereof in response to a shifting of said one of said sheet member and said key support structure from said second position thereof to said first position thereof.

9. The portable computer of claim 8 wherein:

said key support structure is anchored to said base housing portion, and

said sheet member is horizontally shiftable relative to said key support structure.

10. The portable computer of claim 8 further comprising:

first shifting means, responsive to opening said lid housing portion, for shifting said one of said sheet member and said key support structure from said second position thereof to said first position thereof, and

second shifting means, responsive to closing said lid housing portion, for shifting said one of said sheet member and said key support structure from said first position thereof to said second position thereof.

11. The portable computer of claim 10 wherein:

said first shifting means include spring means for resiliently biasing said one of said sheet member and said key support structure toward said first position thereof, and

said second shifting means include projecting means carried by said lid housing portion and operative, in response to closure of said lid housing portion, to engage said one of said sheet member and said key support structure and drive it from said first position thereof to said second position thereof.

12. The portable computer of claim 8 wherein:

said keys are secured to said key support structure by scissored linkage arm assemblies each having a central portion with mutually angled bearing and cam surfaces thereon,

said sheet member has a spaced series of resilient key return members projecting upwardly from said top side of said base structure, and

said cooperatively engageable means include said cam surfaces and said resilient spring return members.

13. The portable computer of claim 12 wherein:

said base structure is a multi-layer signal pad structure having closeable electrical contact structures underlying said resilient key return members on said sheet member when said sheet member and said key support structure are in said first position thereof.

14. The portable computer of claim 13 wherein:

said resilient key return members are elastomeric key return dome members.

15. An electronic device comprising:

a base housing portion having a top side;

a lid housing portion secured to said base housing portion for pivotal movement relative thereto between a closed position in which said lid housing portion extends across and covers said top side, and an open position in which said lid housing portion uncovers and exposes said top side; and

a collapsible keyboard structure including;

a key support structure anchored to said base housing portion and extending across said top side thereof, said key support structure having top and bottom sides,

a series of keys each secured to said top side of said key support structure by a scissored linkage arm structure permitting the key to move vertically relative to said key support structure, through a key stroke distance, between an upwardly extended operative position and a downwardly retracted inoperative position, each of said linkage arm structures having a central portion with mutually angled bearing and cam surfaces thereon,

a multi-layered signal pad structure having a top side underlying and facing said bottom side of said key support structure, said signal pad structure having a spaced series of resilient key return domes projecting upwardly from an upper layer slidably mounted to said signal pad structure top side,

support means for mounting said signal pad structure on said base housing portion for horizontal movement of said upper layer relative to said key support structure between a first position in which said key return domes underlie and engage said bearing surfaces and hold said keys in said upwardly extended operative positions thereof, and a second position in which said key return domes are shifted out of engagement with said bearing surfaces, said key return domes being positioned and configured to engage said cam surfaces in a manner forcibly moving said key members from said retracted positions to said extended positions in response to movement of said upper layer from said second position thereof to said first position thereof,

first shifting means for shifting said upper layer from said second position thereof to said first position thereof in response to opening said lid housing portion, and

second shifting means for shifting said upper layer from said first position thereof to said second position thereof in response to closing said lid housing portion.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 wherein said first shifting means include:

spring means interconnected within said signal pad structure and operative to forcibly move said upper layer from said second position thereof to said first position thereof in response to opening said lid housing portion.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 wherein said second shifting means include:

engagement means carried by said lid housing portion and operative, in response to closure of said lid housing portion, to engage said signal pad structure and return said upper layer to said second position against the resilient force of said spring means.

18. The electronic device according to claim 16 wherein said electronic device is a computer.

19. The electronic device according to claim 18 wherein said computer is a portable computer.

20. The electronic device according to claim 19 wherein said portable computer is a notebook computer.