Apparatus for automatically deploying a computer keyboard into an operative position from a storage position

• US 5,982,612 A
• Filed: 06/18/1997
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mallinckrodt & Mallinckrodt
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt & Mallinckrodt
• Inventors: Roylance, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): FEILD, LYNN DIANA
• Application Number:
  US08/878,274
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680, 364/708.1, 341/22, 345/168, 400/479, 400/488-492, 400/682
• US Class Current: 361/679.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1622 with enclosures rotating around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define or with ball-joint coupling, e.g. PDA with display enclosure orientation changeable between portrait and landscape by rotation with respect to a coplanar body enclosure
• 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 2223/052 reductible in size, e.g. for transportation

Abstract

A method and apparatus is described for automatically deploying to an operative position a keyboard where the width of the keyboard has been reduced. The invention is applicable to keyboards of portable computing devices of the type commonly incorporating a processor, a display and a keyboard system. The apparatus has a first and a second keyboard section, propelling device for driving the keyboard sections from the storage position to the operative position, latching apparatus for retaining the second keyboard section in operative position, and signaling apparatus for communicating signals from the first keyboard section to the processor.

Claims

1. A keyboard for a portable computing device of the type commonly incorporating a processor, a display, and a keyboard, the keyboard capable of automatically deploying from a storage position to an operative position and comprising:

first and second keyboard sections each having a plurality of keys;

a propelling apparatus for driving the first and second keyboard sections from respective storage positions to respective operative positions, the propelling apparatus including a belt that passes in a loop over a drive pulley and an idler pulley forming upper and lower belt portions, the first and second keyboard sections being engaged with opposite portions of the belt such that rotation of the belt in one direction drives the first and second keyboard sections in opposite directions from respective storage positions to respective operative positions and rotation in the opposing direction drives the keyboard sections from respective operative positions to respective storage positions;

a signaling apparatus for communicating signals from the first and second keyboard sections to the processor; and

wherein the first and second keyboard sections lie in the same plane when in the respective operative positions and the first and second keyboard sections lie in parallel but different planes when in the respective storage positions.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the propelling apparatus includes a second belt, with second drive and idler pulleys corresponding to the first belt, with the respective drive pulleys interconnected by an axle such that the belts move synchronously.

3. The keyboard of claim 1 wherein the propelling apparatus comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a spring and an electric motor.

4. The keyboard of claim 1 further comprising a latching apparatus for holding the keyboard in operative position.

5. The keyboard of claim 1 further comprising a carrier having a slot within which the second keyboard section is engaged, the second keyboard section sliding within the slot as the keyboard deploys from storage position to operative position.

6. The keyboard of claim 5 further comprising latching apparatus for holding the keyboard in the operative position, the latching apparatus engaging between the carrier and a stationary component of the portable computing device.

7. A method of deploying a keyboard from a storage position into an operative position comprising:

providing a keyboard including first and second keyboard sections, wherein each section has an operative position and a storage position, the storage positions of the first and second keyboard sections being in different planes;

providing a propelling apparatus for moving the first and second sections in opposite directions from the respective storage positions to the respective operative positions;

in the case of when a portable computing device to which the keyboard is attached is being opened, automatically propelling the first and second sections from the respective storage positions to the respective operative positions; and

automatically engaging a latch coupling the first or second section to another component of the keyboard system, thereby retaining the first and second sections in their respective operative positions.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the propelling apparatus is energized by energy stored within the portable computing device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of automatically propelling the second section from the storage position to the operative position is initiated upon a catch being released.

10. A keyboard for a portable computing device of the type commonly incorporating a processor, a display and a keyboard system, the keyboard having storage and operative positions and comprising:

first and second keyboard sections each having a respective storage position and a respective operative position, and each keyboard section having a plurality of keys;

a locking mechanism for retaining the movable keyboard sections in the respective operative positions;

a propelling apparatus for deploying the keyboard sections from the respective storage positions to the respective operative positions, the propelling apparatus including a source of mechanical energy sufficient to deploy the keyboard sections and engage the locking mechanism, the propelling apparatus including a belt that passes in a loop over a drive pulley and an idler pulley forming upper and lower belt portions, the first and second keyboard sections being engaged with opposite portions of the belt such that rotation of the belt in one direction drives the respective keyboard sections in opposite directions from the respective storage positions to the respective operative positions and rotation in the opposite direction drives the keyboard sections from the respective operative positions to respective storage positions, and further including apparatus selected from the group consisting of a spring and an electric motor; and

signaling apparatus for communicating signals from the keyboard sections to the processor.

11. The keyboard of claim 10, wherein the second section is not in the same plane as the first section when the keyboard is in the storage position.

12. The keyboard of claim 10 further comprising a carrier having a slot within which the second keyboard section is slidably engaged, the second keyboard section sliding within the slot as the keyboard deploys from storage position to operative position.