Keyboard for slate personal computers

• US 8,416,559 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2010
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Agata, Hiroaki, Tamura, Fumio
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US12/939,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20120113579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 36167911-67913
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• 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 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683

Abstract

A computer system may comprise an upper housing, a processor, a display screen, a keyboard case, and a lower housing. The display screen may be attached to the upper housing. The processor may be disposed within the upper housing. The lower housing may comprise a keyboard and may be mounted to and pivotable with respect to the upper housing. The keyboard cover may be adapted to cover the keyboard.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

an upper housing;

a processor within the upper housing;

a display screen attached to the upper housing;

a lower housing comprising a keyboard, the lower housing being mounted to and pivotable with respect to the upper housing and further comprising a zigzag stopper;

a keyboard cover being mounted on an upper housing surface opposite of the display screen wherein the keyboard cover moves pivotably relative to the display screen, the keyboard cover comprising a latch; and

wherein the zigzag stopper and the latch form a latch key assembly wherein the keyboard cover locks the keyboard so as to maintain the keyboard at an angle with the upper housing when the computer system is in a desktop mode.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the upper housing surface opposite of the display screen has a recess for receiving and nesting the lower housing when the computer system is in a slate mode.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the keyboard cover has a hinge structure.

4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the hinge structure is mounted transversely across the upper housing surface opposite of the display screen.

5. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the keyboard cover is adapted to move pivotally on the hinge.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the keyboard cover further comprises a biasing element for generating a biasing force to damp pivoting force due to gravity.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the upper housing surface opposite of the display screen has a recess for receiving and nesting the keyboard cover.

8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the keyboard cover is adapted to act as an easel to support the upper housing when the computer system is in the desktop mode.

9. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the lower housing further comprises a hinge whereby the lower housing is mounted to an edge of the upper housing.

10. An electronic computing device comprising:

an upper housing having a front face and an opposing rear face;

a processor within the upper housing;

a screen attached to the upper housing at the front face, the screen is coupled to be operable by the processor to display data to a user of the device; and

a lower housing having a hinge and a keyboard, the lower housing being mounted to and pivotable with respect to the upper housing, wherein the lower housing is adapted to be received and nested in a recess on the rear face of the upper housing when the electronic computing device is in a slate mode, the lower housing further having a bump configured for being received in a recess in a side of the upper housing to form an angle stopper mechanism wherein the keyboard is urged to maintain a certain angle with the upper housing when the electronic computing device is in a desktop mode.

11. The electronic computing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the lower housing pivots over substantially 120 degrees with respect to the upper housing.

12. The electronic computing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the screen is a touch screen.

13. The electronic computing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the lower housing has a biasing element for generating a biasing force to damp pivoting force due to gravity.

14. A mobile computing device comprising:

an upper housing having a screen carried on a first side;

a lower housing having a set of input keys disposed on an operational surface, the lower housing being operably coupled to the upper housing for movement between a slate mode and a desktop mode, wherein, in the slate mode, the lower housing folds into a surface of the upper housing opposite of the first side with the set of input keys facing away from the first side of the upper housing, the lower housing further having a bump configured for being received in a recess in a side of the upper housing to form an angle stopper mechanism wherein the lower housing in the desktop mode is urged to maintain a certain angle with the upper housing.

15. The mobile computing device of claim 14, wherein in the desktop mode, the lower housing is unfolded with the set of input keys facing upward.

16. The mobile computing device of claim 15, wherein in the desktop mode, the lower housing forms an angle with the upper housing.

17. The mobile computing device of claim 14, further comprising a laptop mode wherein, in the laptop mode, the lower housing is unfolded and is substantially parallel and adjacent to the upper housing.

18. The mobile computing device of claim 14, further comprising a keyboard cover being mounted on the upper housing surface opposite of the first side.