Notebook computer having an off-motherboard keyboard controller
First Claim
1. A diagnostic system for a portable computer, the diagnostic system comprising:
- a motherboard having a first I/O controller;
a palmrest assembly having a second I/O controller;
a bus connection linking the first I/O controller to the second I/O controller through the motherboard and palmrest assembly;
a keyboard assembly connected to the palmrest assembly through the connection of a keyboard assembly connector on the keyboard assembly and a palmrest assembly connector on the palmrest assembly, wherein the palmrest assembly connector is operable to receive the keyboard assembly connector while the palmrest assembly is assembled to a housing that houses the motherboard; and
a first loopback circuit on the palmrest assembly and keyboard assembly, the loopback circuit allowing the second I/O controller to test the continuity of the connection between the keyboard assembly and the palmrest assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable information handling system, user interface components thereof, and methods of user control interface and assembly are disclosed. In one embodiment a keyboard assembly, including a large plurality of contacts for a keyboard matrix, connects directly to a palmrest assembly. The palmrest assembly includes a keyboard controller, which decodes keystrokes and then passes the decoded keystrokes to, e.g., an I/O controller on the motherboard of the portable information handling system. This arrangement can greatly improve layout and usage of the motherboard routing spaces, can improve reliability, and can simplify assembly, among other advantages.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A diagnostic system for a portable computer, the diagnostic system comprising:
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a motherboard having a first I/O controller; a palmrest assembly having a second I/O controller; a bus connection linking the first I/O controller to the second I/O controller through the motherboard and palmrest assembly; a keyboard assembly connected to the palmrest assembly through the connection of a keyboard assembly connector on the keyboard assembly and a palmrest assembly connector on the palmrest assembly, wherein the palmrest assembly connector is operable to receive the keyboard assembly connector while the palmrest assembly is assembled to a housing that houses the motherboard; and a first loopback circuit on the palmrest assembly and keyboard assembly, the loopback circuit allowing the second I/O controller to test the continuity of the connection between the keyboard assembly and the palmrest assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A portable information handling system comprising:
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a housing; a motherboard located within the housing; a palmrest assembly assembled to the housing and coupled to the motherboard through at least one serial bus; a pointing device assembled to the housing to allow user pointing inputs, the pointing device coupled to the motherboard through the palmrest assembly, wherein the palmrest assembly connects to the pointing device while the palmrest assembly is assembled to the housing; a keyboard assembled to the housing to allow user keyboard inputs, the keyboard coupled to the motherboard through the palmrest assembly, wherein the palmrest assembly connects to the keyboard while the palmrest assembly is assembled to the housing; at least one I/O controller, located off the motherboard in the palmrest assembly, to decode the user pointing inputs and decode user keyboard inputs, wherein the at least one serial bus is operable to communicate the decoded user pointing inputs and the decoded user keyboard inputs to the motherboard; and a loopback circuit to test the continuity of the connection between each of the keyboard and pointing device with the palmrest assembly. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification