Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that may be implemented to provide keycap lighting to a spring loaded mechanical key switch assembly using a light conductive structure, such as a light pipe, and without requiring a chassis housing of the mechanical key switch assembly to include a dedicated power-consuming light source mounted to or otherwise positioned at the location of the individual key switch assembly chassis housing. Additionally, the disclosed systems and methods may be implemented to use one or more common power-consuming light source/s to simultaneously provide key cap lighting to multiple such spring loaded mechanical key switch assemblies, for example, by feeding light to each key cap though a common light spreader and through an individual non-power consuming light pipe provided for each key switch assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for user configurable pressure sensitive keys and techniques for controlling these keys for keyboards. User configuration information, including information for user configurable granularity scales for pressure levels, can be communicated from a host system to the keyboard and stored for later use by a keyboard controller to control the operation of the pressure sensitive keys. In this way, greater control of the pressure sensitive keys can be provided. This configurability is of particular use for applications such as where the keyboard is being used for gaming by a user running a gaming application on an information handling system.

Abstract: Systems and methods that may be implemented to provide supplemental cooling air for a portable information handling system from one or more mechanically-adjustable cooling air supply outlets that may be positioned and/or repositioned at multiple different locations relative to a portable information handling system, such as notebook computer or laptop computer. In one example, the disclosed systems and methods may be implemented to have one or more mechanically-adjustable cooling air supply outlets that may be positioned and/or repositioned to align with differing geometries of cooling air inlet opening locations that correspond to different portable information handling system sizes and/or designs.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein that may be implemented to use multiple light sources to visually display non-graphics positional audio information based on multi-channel audio information produced by a computer application executing on a processor of an information handling system. The multiple light sources may be operated separately and independently from a user's computer display device, and the non-graphics positional audio information may be separate and different from any visual graphics data that is generated by the computer application or information handling system.

Abstract: Systems and methods that may be implemented using an external cooling dock that is configured to provide supplemental cooling to a portable information handling system by blowing sub-ambient temperature air into one or more existing external air intake-vents of the chassis of the portable information handling system. The external cooling dock may be further configured to electronically dock or otherwise mate in bidirectional signal communication with the portable information handing system to allow the cooling dock processing device to operate cooperatively in a closed loop with the internal processing device/s of the portable information handling system so as to control operation of the cooling dock components and/or the operation of the processing devices within the portable information handling system.

Abstract: User input devices with variable pressure buttons are configured. A user may specify a range of pressure to be associated with a pressure level. In some embodiments, a user may also associate a command or other instruction to an application with an identity of a variable pressure button and a pressure level of the button. In some embodiments, the associations may be represented in a configuration profile. In further embodiments, a microcontroller for a mouse may translate signals from variable pressure buttons into pressure levels based upon the configuration file. In many embodiments, a user may associate a reporting rate with a variable pressure button. A legacy application may receive reports of the state of the variable pressure button at the associated reporting rate.

Abstract: A gaming keyboard and related methods are disclosed that provide features to enhance the computer gaming experience. A keyboard connection pod is disclosed that improves power capabilities of the keyboard thereby allowing for enhanced features that require more power. A panic mechanism is disclosed that can be triggered to cause one or more selected keys to change states. Keycap rim-lighting is disclosed that provides improved visual indication of key positions. A hand registration enhancement is disclosed including a spacebar having a thumb notch and/or WASD and spacebar keys with different tactile response than other keys. Function keys are disclosed that are positioned proximate to allow reduced movement of the left hand. An integrated cord wrap tray is disclosed for a peripheral such as a mouse. Other features and variations are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods that may be implemented to orchestrate external graphics, for example to support and extend switchable graphics capability beyond internal system components of a host information handling system so as to include an external discrete graphics processing unit (xGPU) that is not integrated or embedded within the chassis enclosure of the host information handling system, and that is coupled to the host information handling system from outside the host system chassis enclosure.

Abstract: Systems and methods that may be implemented to orchestrate external graphics, for example to support and extend switchable graphics capability beyond internal system components of a host information handling system so as to include an external discrete graphics processing unit (xGPU) that is not integrated or embedded within the chassis enclosure of the host information handling system, and that is coupled to the host information handling system from outside the host system chassis enclosure.

Abstract: User input devices with variable pressure buttons are configured. A user may specify a range of pressure to be associated with a pressure level. In some embodiments, a user may also associate a command or other instruction to an application with an identity of a variable pressure button and a pressure level of the button. In some embodiments, the associations may be represented in a configuration profile. In further embodiments, a microcontroller for a mouse may translate signals from variable pressure buttons into pressure levels based upon the configuration file. In many embodiments, a user may associate a reporting rate with a variable pressure button. A legacy application may receive reports of the state of the variable pressure button at the associated reporting rate.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that may be implemented to provide keycap lighting to a spring loaded mechanical key switch assembly using a light conductive structure, such as a light pipe, and without requiring a chassis housing of the mechanical key switch assembly to include a dedicated power-consuming light source mounted to or otherwise positioned at the location of the individual key switch assembly chassis housing. Additionally, the disclosed systems and methods may be implemented to use one or more common power-consuming light source/s to simultaneously provide key cap lighting to multiple such spring loaded mechanical key switch assemblies, for example, by feeding light to each key cap though a common light spreader and through an individual non-power consuming light pipe provided for each key switch assembly.

Abstract: User input devices with variable pressure buttons are configured. A user may specify a range of pressure to be associated with a pressure level. In some embodiments, a user may also associate a command or other instruction to an application with an identity of a variable pressure button and a pressure level of the button. In some embodiments, the associations may be represented in a configuration profile. In further embodiments, a microcontroller for a mouse may translate signals from variable pressure buttons into pressure levels based upon the configuration file. In many embodiments, a user may associate a reporting rate with a variable pressure button. A legacy application may receive reports of the state of the variable pressure button at the associated reporting rate.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that may be implemented to provide keycap lighting to a spring loaded mechanical key switch assembly using a light conductive structure, such as a light pipe, and without requiring a chassis housing of the mechanical key switch assembly to include a dedicated power-consuming light source mounted to or otherwise positioned at the location of the individual key switch assembly chassis housing. Additionally, the disclosed systems and methods may be implemented to use one or more common power-consuming light source/s to simultaneously provide key cap lighting to multiple such spring loaded mechanical key switch assemblies, for example, by feeding light to each key cap though a common light spreader and through an individual non-power consuming light pipe provided for each key switch assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that enable spring loaded mechanical key switch assemblies having variable displacement sensing capabilities. In one example, the disclosed key switch assemblies may be implemented in a keyboard system and used for providing variable displacement output signals that may be processed by a controller for input to a host processing device of an information handling system, such as a desktop or notebook computer. In another example, the disclosed key switch assemblies may be configured to provide both a digital “make” connection signal and separate variable displacement output signal/s that may be processed for input to a host processing device of an information handling system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are employed for implementing haptics for pressure sensitive keyboards, such as the type of keyboards having keys that produce alternating digital open/short signals that emulate actuation of conventional “momentary on” digital keys. The disclosed systems and methods may be implemented to provide haptics for both touch typing and variable pressure sensitive operation of a pressure sensitive keyboard. Users of a variable pressure keyboard may be provided with a variable pressure haptics effect, e.g., to enable the user to intuitively understand from the haptics vibration produced by the key how much pressure they are applying to a given key at any given time. Vibration characteristics (e.g., vibration rate, vibration waveform pattern, etc.) of a given pressed key may be varied in real time in coordination with, or in response to, corresponding changes in user pressure applied to the same given key.

Abstract: A gaming keyboard and related methods are disclosed that provide features to enhance the computer gaming experience. A keyboard connection pod is disclosed that improves power capabilities of the keyboard thereby allowing for enhanced features that require more power. A panic mechanism is disclosed that can be triggered to cause one or more selected keys to change states. Keycap rim-lighting is disclosed that provides improved visual indication of key positions. A hand registration enhancement is disclosed including a spacebar having a thumb notch and/or WASD and spacebar keys with different tactile response than other keys. Function keys are disclosed that are positioned proximate to allow reduced movement of the left hand. An integrated cord wrap tray is disclosed for a peripheral such as a mouse. Other features and variations are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods that may be implemented to orchestrate external graphics, for example to support and extend switchable graphics capability beyond internal system components of a host information handling system so as to include an external discrete graphics processing unit (xGPU) that is not integrated or embedded within the chassis enclosure of the host information handling system, and that is coupled to the host information handling system from outside the host system chassis enclosure.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for user configurable pressure sensitive keys and techniques for controlling these keys for keyboards. User configuration information, including information for user configurable granularity scales for pressure levels, can be communicated from a host system to the keyboard and stored for later use by a keyboard controller to control the operation of the pressure sensitive keys. In this way, greater control of the pressure sensitive keys can be provided. This configurability is of particular use for applications such as where the keyboard is being used for gaming by a user running a gaming application on an information handling system.

Abstract: A gaming keyboard and related methods are disclosed that provide features to enhance the computer gaming experience. A keyboard connection pod is disclosed that improves power capabilities of the keyboard thereby allowing for enhanced features that require more power. A panic mechanism is disclosed that can be triggered to cause one or more selected keys to change states. Keycap rim-lighting is disclosed that provides improved visual indication of key positions. A hand registration enhancement is disclosed including a spacebar having a thumb notch and/or WASD and spacebar keys with different tactile response than other keys. Function keys are disclosed that are positioned proximate to allow reduced movement of the left hand. An integrated cord wrap tray is disclosed for a peripheral such as a mouse. Other features and variations are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for user configurable pressure sensitive keys and techniques for controlling these keys for keyboards. User configuration information, including information for user configurable granularity scales for pressure levels, can be communicated from a host system to the keyboard and stored for later use by a keyboard controller to control the operation of the pressure sensitive keys. In this way, greater control of the pressure sensitive keys can be provided. This configurability is of particular use for applications such as where the keyboard is being used for gaming by a user running a gaming application on an information handling system.