Detachable keyboard

• US 6,317,061 B1
• Filed: 10/08/1998
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Batra, Sanjay, Poole, Anton R.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US09/168,602
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/22, 400/489, 400/479, 345/168, 361/680, 710/73
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0208 Arrangements for adjusting the tilt angle of a keyboard, e.g. pivoting legs for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1667
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/014 located in recess
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/028 detachable

Abstract

A detachable keyboard provides options to a computer user between a complete keyboard and a partial keyboard. The detachable keyboard comprises two sections, a docking station having a set of functions and a partial keyboard having a different set of functions. The partial keyboard is removed from the docking station when the partial keyboard is desired. If the complete keyboard is desired, then the partial keyboard section is mated with the docking station to provide a user both sets of functions. The detachable keyboard and the partial keyboard section are operable in either a wireless or wired configuration with each other and a computer system.

Claims

1. A computer keyboard for providing input to a computer, the keyboard comprising:

a first keyboard having a first set of functions; and

a docking station having a second set of functions, wherein the docking station is adapted to receive the first keyboard such that the first keyboard is coupled to the docking station to provide input to the computer, and wherein the first keyboard is operable to provide input to the computer separate from the docking station.

2. The computer keyboard of claim 1, wherein the first keyboard is coupled to the docking station via a wireless interface.

3. The computer keyboard of claim 1, wherein the first keyboard is coupled to the docking station via a wired interface.

4. The computer keyboard of claim 1, wherein the docking station is coupled to a host system and the first keyboard provides the first set of functions to the host system via the docking station.

5. The computer keyboard of claim 4, wherein the first keyboard is operable for coupling directly to the host system instead of through the docking station.

6. The computer keyboard of claim 4, wherein the docking station is coupled to the host system via a wireless interface.

7. The computer keyboard of claim 4, wherein the docking station is coupled to the host system via a wired interface.

8. The computer keyboard of claim 4, wherein the host system is coupled to the docking station via a Universal Serial Bus interface.

9. The computer keyboard of claim 8, wherein the docking station further comprises Universal Serial Bus outputs for interfacing with a plurality peripheral devices compatible with the Universal Serial Bus.

10. The computer keyboard of claim 1, wherein the first keyboard further comprises a surface having a plurality of keys arranged thereon, wherein each key corresponds to one of a set of letters, numbers, symbols, or functions.

11. The computer keyboard of claim 1, wherein the first keyboard further comprises a cursor control device.

12. A computer keyboard for providing input to a computer, the keyboard comprising:

a docking station having a first set of keys surrounding a depression in a first surface of the docking station; and

a first keyboard coupled to the docking station, wherein the first keyboard has a second set of keys and is shaped to fit in the depression such that the first and second set of keys form a full function keyboard and wherein the first keyboard is operable to provide input to the computer separate from the docking station.

13. The computer keyboard of claim 12, wherein the first keyboard is coupled to the docking station via a wireless interface.

14. The computer keyboard of claim 12, wherein the docking station further comprises a universal serial bus interface.

15. The computer keyboard of claim 12, wherein the docking station is coupled to a host system and the first keyboard provides a first set of functions to the host system via the docking station.

16. The computer keyboard of claim 15, wherein the docking station is coupled to the host system via a wireless interface.

17. A computer system, comprising:

a processor; and

a keyboard coupled to the processor for providing input to the processor, wherein the keyboard comprises;

a first keyboard having a first set of functions; and

a docking station having a second set of functions, wherein the docking station is adapted to receive the first keyboard and wherein the first keyboard is operable to provide input to the processor separate from the docking station.1. A computer keyboard comprising;

a first keyboard having a first set of functions; and

a docking station having a second set of functions, wherein the docking station is adapted to receive the first keyboard such that the first keyboard is coupled to the docking station and wherein the first keyboard is operable separate from the docking station.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the docking station is coupled to the computer system, and the first keyboard provides the first set of functions to the host system via the docking station.

19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein the first keyboard is coupled directly to the computer system.

20. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the docking station is coupled to the computer system via a wireless interface.

21. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the docking station is coupled to the host system via a wired interface.

22. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the first keyboard is coupled to the docking station via a wireless interface.

23. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the first keyboard further comprises a keyboard surface having a plurality of keys arranged thereon, wherein each key corresponds to one of a set of letters, numbers, symbols, or functions.

24. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the processor is coupled to the keyboard via a Universal Serial Bus interface.

25. The computer system of claim 24, wherein the docking station further comprises Universal Serial Bus (USB) outputs for interfacing with a plurality peripheral devices compatible with the USB.