Adjustable keyboard

• US 5,646,817 A
• Filed: 03/13/1996
• Issued: 07/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zenith Data Systems Corp. (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Poole, Anton R., Wu, Guoming Frank, Manser, Brian E., Ojeda, IV, Peter A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US08/614,481
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/169, 364/708.1, 400/472, 400/489, 400/682, 400/691-693, 341/22, 312/223.2, 235/145 R, 361/680
• US Class Current: 361/679.14
• 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 1/1664 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards

Abstract

An adjustable keyboard assembly for a portable personal computer includes a keyboard, split along a predetermined breakline defining two keyboard sections, removable from the portable personal computer. In order to facilitate angular positioning of the keyboard sections as well as removal of the keyboard sections from the portable personal computer housing, the keyboard sections are mechanically coupled together, for example, with a hinge at one end of the breakline. Such a configuration enables the relative angular positions of the keyboard sections to be custom positioned by the individual user for maximum adjustability in accordance with the user'"'"'s preference both on and removed from the portable personal computer housing. Unlike other known keyboards, the keyboard, in accordance with the present invention, is formed in standard QWERTY format so as not to require retraining of users.

Claims

1. A keyboard assembly for a personal computer, the keyboard assembly adapted to being carried by a support in a first configuration and operable when separated from said support in a second configuration, the keyboard assembly comprising:

a keyboard split at a predetermined breakline, defining two keyboard sections, said keyboard sections each having a complementary notch formed on a bottom surface;

means for electrically connecting said keyboard sections to said personal computer;

means for rotatably coupling said keyboard sections together about a predetermined pivot axis adjacent one end of said breakline to enable said keyboard sections to be rotated relative to one another from a first position, wherein said keyboard sections are adjacent one another, said first position being a standard keyboard configuration, to a second position wherein said keyboard sections are split apart;

means for enabling said keyboard sections to be removed from said support; and

a latch located on said support, said latch including a pin with an enlarged head in a fixed position on said support, said enlarged head adapted to engage each of said notches on the underside of said keyboard when said keyboard is located on said support in said first position to prevent movement of said keyboard in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said support.

2. A keyboard assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a hinge.

3. A keyboard assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said predetermined pivot axis is movable.

4. A keyboard assembly as recited in claim 1, further including means for preventing movement of said keyboard sections in a direction generally parallel to said pivot axis.

5. In a personal computer having a housing with a base portion for carrying a keyboard and a cover in a first configuration, said keyboard operable when separated from said base portion in a second configuration, the improvement comprising:

a keyboard split at a predetermined breakline defining two keyboard sections;

means for readily separating said keyboard from said base portion;

means for enabling said two keyboard sections to rotate relative to one another from a first position wherein said keyboard sections are adjacent one another in a standard keyboard configuration to a second position, wherein said keyboard sections are split apart, said keyboard adapted to be operational while said keyboard sections are removed from said base portion;

means for adjusting the amount of said rotation of said keyboard, said adjusting means including a notch formed in said keyboard on opposite ends of said breakline and opposite said enabling means to form a split notch, said notch located adjacent said breakline; and

a latch assembly located on said base portion, said latch assembly adapted to engage the underside of said keyboard when said keyboard is located on said base portion in said first position to prevent movement of said keyboard in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said base portion.

6. In a personal computer as recited in claim 5, wherein said enabling means includes means for rotatably coupling said keyboard sections together about a predetermined pivot axis adjacent one end of said breakline to enable said keyboard sections be rotated relative to one another.

7. In a personal computer as recited in claim 6, wherein said predetermined pivot axis is movable.

8. In a personal computer as recited in claim 6, wherein said coupling means includes a hinge.

9. In a personal computer as recited in claim 6, wherein said predetermined pivot axis moves in a direction generally perpendicular to said pivot axis when said keyboard sections are rotated relative to one another.

10. In a personal computer as recited in claim 9, further including means for limiting translational movement of said keyboard sections.

11. In a personal computer as recited in claim 10, wherein said limiting means includes means for limiting translational movement of an end of each keyboard section opposite said breakline in a direction generally perpendicular to said predetermined pivot axis.

12. In a personal computer as recited in claim 6, further including means for preventing movement of said keyboard sections in direction generally parallel to said predetermined pivot axis when said keyboard sections are in a first position.

13. In a personal computer as recited in claim 12, wherein said preventing means includes means for capturing said keyboard sections in a first position to prevent movement generally parallel to said predetermined pivot axis.

14. In a personal computer as recited in claim 6, further including an elongated electrical conductor for connecting said keyboard sections to said portable personal computer, the length of said electrical conductor being selected to enable said keyboard to be removed from said base portion of said portable personal computer.

15. In a personal computer as recited in claim 14, further including a predetermined cavity formed in said base portion, said cavity being sized to store said electrical conductor when said keyboard is carried by said base portion.

16. In a personal computer as recited in claim 6, further including means for facilitating rotation of said keyboard sections while said keyboard is in use.

17. In a personal computer as recited in claim 6, further including means for preventing rotational movement of said keyboard sections when said cover is in a closed position.

18. In a personal computer as recited in claim 17, wherein said preventing means includes a lip formed on the periphery on the inside of said cover, said lip disposed to surround at least a portion of said keyboard sections when said cover is in a closed position to prevent said keyboard sections from rotating.

19. In a personal computer as recited in claim 17, further including securing means for securing said keyboard sections in said first position.

20. In a personal computer having a housing with a base portion for carrying a keyboard and a cover in a first configuration, said keyboard having a center line and operable when separated from said base portion in a second configuration, the improvement comprising:

a keyboard split along a predetermined breakline, said breakline offset from the center line and defining two unevenly split keyboard sections;

means for enabling said keyboard sections to be readily removed from said personal computer;

a pivot axis offset from said center line for enabling said keyboard sections to be rotated relative to one another either when said keyboard sections are carried by said base portion or when said keyboard sections are removed from said personal computer, said enabling means including means for enabling said keyboard sections to be rotated while said keyboard sections are removed from said base portion; and

a latch assembly located on said base portion, said latch assembly adapted to engage the underside of said keyboard when said keyboard is located on said base portion in an unrotated position to prevent movement of said keyboard in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said base portion.

21. In a personal computer having a housing with a base portion for carrying a keyboard and a cover in a first configuration, said keyboard operable when separated from said base portion in a second configuration, the improvement comprising:

a keyboard split along a predetermined breakline defining two keyboard sections;

a pivot pin located on a bottom surface of each said keyboard section;

apertures located in said base portion adapted to accept said pivot pins;

means for preventing said keyboard sections to be moved parallel to said base portion when said keyboard is carried by said base portion and said pivot pins are in said apertures; and

means for enabling said keyboard sections to be rotated relative to one another on said pivot pins when said keyboard sections are carried by said base portion.