Capacitive input device with removable cover

• US 8,193,466 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Bhutani, Gurmeet Singh, Yang, Shih-Wei, Huang, Kuo-Hsiang
• Primary Examiner(s): GIRARDI, VANESSA MARY
• Application Number:
  US12/333,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20100103609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 200/600, 341/33, 361/292, 361/299.3, 361/301.1
• US Class Current: 200/600
• 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 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard

Abstract

An information handling system can include a base, a printed circuit board including a capacitive switch, and a cover. The printed circuit board can be attached to the base, and the cover can lie adjacent to the printed circuit board. The capacitive switch can be configured to change state when an object is close to the cover. The cover can be configured such that it can be detached from the remainder of the information handling system while the printed circuit board remains attached to the base. The configuration of the printed circuit board and cover can be particularly useful when maintaining a keyboard or a touch pad or when replacing the cover.

Claims

1. A portable information handling system comprising:

a base including a keyboard, wherein the base has a volume defined by a top, a bottom, and peripheral walls;

a printed circuit board including a capacitive switch, wherein the printed circuit board is attached to the base; and

a cover hinged within an opening of the top of the base and lying adjacent to the printed circuit board, wherein;

the capacitive switch is configured to change state when an object is close to the cover; and

the cover is configured such that it can be detached from the opening of the top of the base and a remainder of the information handling system while the printed circuit board remains attached to the bottom of the base such that the printed circuit board is visible through the opening of the top of the base.

2. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein no compressible member is disposed between the cover and the capacitive switch.

3. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a housing of a portable information handling system, wherein the information handling system has a mass of no greater than approximately 4 Kg.

4. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a chassis of a portable information handling system, wherein the information handling system has a mass of no greater than approximately 4 Kg.

5. The information handling system of claim 1, further comprising a film overlying the cover.

6. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the cover does not include an electrical component.

7. The information handling system of claim 1, further comprising a compressible member lying between the cover and the capacitive switch.

8. The information handling system of claim 7, wherein the compressible member abuts the cover and the capacitive switch.

9. The information handling system of claim 7, wherein the compressible member is compressed by no more than approximately 0.4 mm when the cover is attached to the base.

10. The information handling system of claim 7, wherein the compressible member is compressed in a range of approximately 0.1 to approximately 0.2 mm when the cover is attached to the base.

11. The information handling system of claim 7, wherein the compressible member comprises silicon rubber.

12. A method of using a portable information handling system comprising:

providing the information handling system comprising a base having a volume defined by a top, a bottom, and peripheral walls and including a keyboard, a printed circuit board including a capacitive switch, and a first cover hinged within an opening of the top of the base, wherein;

the printed circuit board is attached to the base; and

the first cover lying adjacent to the printed circuit board, and the first cover is configured such that it can be detached from the opening of the top of the base and the a remainder of the information handling system while the printed circuit board remains attached to the bottom of the base such that the printed circuit board is visible through the opening of the top of the base;

detecting that an object is close to the first cover; and

changing a state of the capacitive switch in response to detecting the object is close to the first cover.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein no compressible member is disposed between the first cover and the capacitive switch.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising detaching the first cover from the remainder of the information handling system while the printed circuit board remains attached to the base.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising attaching a second cover onto the a remainder of the information handling system while the printed circuit board remains attached to the base, wherein the second cover is different from the first cover.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

performing maintenance on a keyboard or a touch pad of the information handling system; and

attaching the first cover onto the remainder of the information handling system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the printed circuit board remains attached to the base during detaching the first cover, performing maintenance, and attaching the first cover.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising attaching the first cover onto the remainder of the information handling system after detaching the first cover, wherein during attaching the first cover, a compressive member lying between the first cover and the printed circuit board is compressed.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the compressible member is compressed by no more than approximately 0.4 mm when the first cover is attached to the base.