Information processing apparatus having switch for inputting key data

• US 8,102,646 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2010
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Client Solutions CO., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Shimamoto, Hajime, Araki, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jinhee
• Assistant Examiner(s): WRIGHT, INGRID D
• Application Number:
  US12/699,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20100134966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.08, 361/679.21, 361/679.09, 361/679.26, 361/679.3, 361/679.55, 361/679.56, 341 22- 33, 345168-172, 400472-496, 248917-924
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/162 changing, e.g. reversing, the face orientation of the screen with a two degrees of freedom mechanism, e.g. for folding into tablet PC like position or orienting towards the direction opposite to the user to show to a second user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/021 using combined folding and rotation motions combined with translation movement H04M1/0235

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes a housing with a top surface and a rear surface, a CPU (central processing unit) provided in the housing, a keyboard placed on the top surface of the housing and including a plurality of keys which input key data to the CPU, a display unit attached to the housing rotatably between a closed position in which the display unit covers the keyboard and an open position in which the keyboard is exposed, and at least one switch provided on the rear surface of the housing and configured to input key data to the CPU.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a first unit comprising a top surface, a bottom surface and a back side surface, the first unit comprising a keyboard provided on the top surface;

a second unit attached to the first unit and comprising a rear surface and a front surface on which a touch screen device is placed, the second unit being set in one of a first position in which the touch screen device and the keyboard are exposed and a second position in which the rear surface of the second unit covers the keyboard while the touch screen device is exposed;

a central processing unit (CPU) provided in the first unit;

first and second keys provided at a right-end and left-end side portions of a back surface of the first unit, the back surface being exposed regardless of whether the second unit is in either the first position or the second position; and

a controller configured to supply first key data to the CPU in response to an operation of the first key if the second unit is set in the first position, supply second key data to the CPU in response to the operation of the first key if the second unit is set in the second position, supply third key data to the CPU in response to an operation of the second key if the second key unit is set in the first position, and supply fourth key data to the CPU in response to the operation of the second key if the second unit is set in the second position.

2. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first key functions as an auxiliary key to support a key-input operation of the keyboard when the second unit is in the first position.

3. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first key functions as an enter key when the second unit is in the second position.