Compact computing device having a compressible keyboard

• US 5,870,034 A
• Filed: 05/06/1997
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Wood, Anthony B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): HILL, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US08/852,215
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/22, 345/168, 345/169, 364/708.1, 400/489, 400/490, 400/492, 400/495, 200/345
• US Class Current: 341/22
• 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

Abstract

A compressible keyboard utilizing flexible key skirts is disclosed to provide portable electronic devices, such as notebook computers with the capability of a full-size or nearly full-size keyboard allowing greater flexibility and easier input for the user without compromising the format. In specific embodiments, the present invention provides laptops, notebooks and sub-notebooks with increased size keyboards which approximate the size of a typical desktop computer keyboard when in use, but when in a non-use configuration smaller dimensions conforming to conventional form factors for these devices.

Claims

1. A portable computing device comprising:

a. a top and a bottom housing;

b. a display associated with the top housing and a keyboard associated with the bottom housing;

c. a pivot hinge connecting the keyboard housing to the display housing for pivotally deploying the keyboard from a storage position; and

d. a keyboard with a plurality of keys, the keyboard having more than one section for compressing the keyboard when in the storage mode by moving the keys of adjacent sections laterally closer to one another, wherein said keyboard has keys with flexible skirts at least along the edges of the sections such that the skirts are collapsed when the keyboard is laterally compressed.

2. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein said keyboard has a plurality of sections which move laterally, and the sections are comprised of keys in roughly vertical rows separated from an adjacent section by a jagged line between the keys.

3. The portable computer of claim 2, wherein said keyboard has 6 sections which move laterally closer to a fixed center section.

4. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein said keyboard is a QWERTY keyboard of the layout and size of a typical desktop computers when in the expanded mode.

5. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein said keys include a solid section in the upper portion of the key attached to the flexible skirt.

6. A portable computing device comprising:

a. a top and a bottom housing;

b. a display associated with the top housing and a keyboard associated with the bottom housing;

c. a pivot hinge connecting the keyboard housing to the display housing for pivotally deploying the keyboard from a storage position; and

d. a keyboard with a plurality of individual keys, wherein the individual keys comprise individual key structures not formed from a molded sheet, the keyboard having more than one section for compressing the keyboard when in the storage mode by moving the keys of adjacent sections laterally closer to one another;

wherein the individual keys have flexible skirts at least along the edges of the sections such that the skirts are collapsed when the keyboard is laterally compressed, and wherein said keyboard has 6 sections which move laterally closer to a fixed center section, and the sections are comprised of keys in roughly vertical row separated from an adjacent section by a jagged line between the keys.

7. The portable computing device of claim 6, wherein said keyboard is a QWERTY keyboard of the layout and size of a typical desktop computers when in the expanded mode.

8. The portable computing device of claim 6, wherein said keys include a solid section in the upper portion of the key attached to the flexible skirt.

9. A portable computing device comprising a keyboard with a plurality of keys, wherein said keys have flexible skirts such that the skirts are collapsed when the keyboard is laterally compressed.

10. The portable computing device of claim 9, wherein said keyboard has a plurality of sections which move laterally, and the sections are comprised of keys in roughly vertical rows separated from an adjacent section by a jagged line between the keys.

11. The portable computing device of claim 9, wherein said keyboard has 6 sections which move laterally closer to a fixed center section.

12. The portable computing device of claim 9, wherein said keyboard is a QWERTY keyboard of the layout and size of a typical desktop computers when in the expanded mode.

13. The portable computing device of claim 9, wherein said keys include a solid section in the upper portion of the key attached to the flexible skirt.

14. A compressible keyboard comprising:

a. a plurality of keys having individual structures and not integrally molded; and

b. more than one keyboard section for compressing the keyboard to a storage mode by moving the keys of adjacent sections laterally closer to one another;

wherein said keyboard keys have flexible skirts at least along the edges of the sections such that the skirts are collapsed when the keyboard is laterally compressed.

15. The keyboard of claim 14, wherein said keyboard is a QWERTY keyboard of the layout and size of a typical desktop computers when in the expanded mode.

16. The keyboard of claim 14, wherein said keys include a solid section in the upper portion of the key attached to the flexible skirt.

17. The keyboard of claim 14, wherein said keyboard has a plurality of sections which move laterally, and the sections are comprised of keys in roughly vertical rows separated from an adjacent section by a jagged line between the keys.

18. The portable computing device of claim 17, wherein said keyboard has 6 sections which move laterally closer to a fixed center section.