Collapsible Key Type Patents (Class 361/679.13)
  • Patent number: 11914429
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a host, a display, a sliding plate, and a keyboard. The host has an operating surface. The display is pivoted to the host. The sliding plate is slidably disposed in the host, where the display is mechanically coupled to the sliding plate, and the sliding plate includes a plat portion and a recess portion that are arranged side by side. The keyboard is integrated to the host. The keyboard includes a key structure, where the key structure includes a key cap and a reciprocating element, and the key cap is exposed from the operating surface of the host. The reciprocating element is disposed between the key cap and the sliding plate and has a first end connected to the key cap and a second end contacting the sliding plate. The second end is located on a sliding path of the plat portion and the recess portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventors: Hung-Chi Chen, Shun-Bin Chen, Huei-Ting Chuang, Yen-Chieh Chiu, Yu-Wen Lin, Yen-Chou Chueh, Po-Yi Lee
  • Patent number: 11886676
    Abstract: An exemplary an access control device generally includes a keypad assembly, an antenna, and a controller. The keypad assembly includes a capacitive touch keypad matrix, and the antenna is substantially coplanar with the capacitive touch keypad matrix. The controller is connected with each of the keypad assembly and the antenna such that the controller is operable to receive access codes via each of the keypad assembly and the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Jenna Lopez, Maxwell Watson, Sukanya Ranganathan, Frank A. Nardelli
  • Patent number: 11776774
    Abstract: A keyboard including a base plate, a plurality of keycaps, a plurality of supporting structures and a membrane switch element is provided. The base plate has a through hole. The keycaps are disposed on the base plate. The supporting structures are respectively disposed between the keycaps and the base plate. The membrane switch element is disposed on the base plate. The vertical projection of two adjacent keycaps of the keycaps relative to the base plate overlaps the through hole, and the membrane switch element has a shielding portion covering the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yung-Nien Chai
  • Patent number: 11681377
    Abstract: A keyboard (110) includes a base board (116), keys (112), pitfalls (120) and a mode control mechanism (118). The keys (112) include cups (1124), and the mode control mechanism (118) may switch the keyboard (110) especially the key cups (1124) between different modes. In case that the keyboard (110) is not in use, these cups (1124) can be received in the pitfalls (120) to reduce the profile of the keyboard (110). In case that the keyboard (110) is to be used, the keys (112) may be raised up and arranged on the base board (116) in order to enable long keystroke and provide good typing experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Masaaki Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 11640187
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a host, a display, a sliding plate, and a keyboard. The host has an operating surface. The display is pivoted to the host. The sliding plate is slidably disposed in the host, where the display is mechanically coupled to the sliding plate, and the sliding plate includes a plat portion and a recess portion that are arranged side by side. The keyboard is integrated to the host. The keyboard includes a key structure, where the key structure includes a key cap and a reciprocating element, and the key cap is exposed from the operating surface of the host. The reciprocating element is disposed between the key cap and the sliding plate and has a first end connected to the key cap and a second end contacting the sliding plate. The second end is located on a sliding path of the plat portion and the recess portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventors: Hung-Chi Chen, Shun-Bin Chen, Huei-Ting Chuang, Yen-Chieh Chiu, Yu-Wen Lin, Yen-Chou Chueh, Po-Yi Lee
  • Patent number: 10228731
    Abstract: A controller and methods for controlling a retractable keyboard are disclosed. The controller may control and monitor an extend operation of the retractable keyboard using a first pin, and control and monitor a retract operation of the retractable keyboard using a second pin. Open drain signaling may be used on the pins to allow control and monitoring through the same pin. To control and monitor the extend (or retract) operation using a single pin, the controller releases the voltage at the pin to a floating high state to activate the muscle wire to extend (or retract) the keyboard. During the operation, the controller checks the voltage state at the pin. If the voltage at the pin has been pulled to low by the closing of a limit switch, the controller determines that the extend (or retract) operation has completed and in response drives the pin to a low voltage state to deactivate the muscle wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Adolfo S. Montero, Merle J. Wood, III
  • Patent number: 9727090
    Abstract: Portable electronic apparatus includes a display component, a base, a keyboard component, and a slidable structure. The display component includes an interlocking structure. The base includes a pivotally-connected portion, pivotally-connected to the display component. The keyboard component disposed on the base can move toward or away from the base. The slidable structure disposed between the base and the keyboard component can slide relative to the base. The slidable structure includes a protruding portion, protruding along a side of the slidable structure away from the base. While the display component is rotated away from the base, the interlocking structure of the display component is actuated by the rotated display component, and drive the slidable structure to slide away from the pivotally-connected portion, moved relative to the base. Subsequently, the first protruding portion of the slidable structure pushes the keyboard component moving away from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignees: Inventec (Pudong) Technology Corporation, INVENTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yi-Lun Cheng, Chih-Kai Yang
  • Patent number: 9678535
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a moveable keyboard lattice frame for a portable electronic device. According to one embodiment, the portable electronic device includes a display housing and a base housing. The base housing is attached to the display housing via hinge members and also includes a keyboard input area comprising of a plurality of input keys. Furthermore, a moveable keyboard lattice frame is formed within the base housing and includes key openings corresponding with positions of the plurality of input keys. Moreover, the keyboard lattice frame is configured to rise and lower based on rotational movement of the display panel and hinge members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Mark David Senatori
  • Patent number: 9324514
    Abstract: There is provided a key input device including a supporting member including groove portions inclined with respect to a horizontal direction, a plurality of keytops each including a sliding portion which is fitted in a corresponding groove portion of the groove portions and slides along the groove portion, and a control member configured to cause two or more keytops of the plurality of keytops to slide obliquely downward along the groove portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Junichiro Misawa, Masahiro Kobori, Shuichi Chihara, Hitoshi Kubota, Akihito Kinoshita, Yasushi Tsuji
  • Patent number: 9153396
    Abstract: A keyboard module adapted to be used in an electronic device. The electronic device has a casing. The casing has a containing opening. The keyboard module contained in the containing opening includes a bottom plate, an elastic component, a cover and a key cap disposed on the elastic component. The bottom plate disposed within the casing has a circuit. The elastic component is disposed on the bottom plate or the circuit. The cover movably disposed in the containing opening is located above the bottom plate. The cover has an opening aligned to the elastic component. A portion of the key cap protrudes from the opening. Another portion of the key cap interferes with the opening, such that the key cap resists elasticity of the elastic component and moves to shorten a distance between the key cap and the bottom plate when the cover moves toward the bottom plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Kuo-Wei So, Wen-Tai Lin, Ying-Chen Lin
  • Patent number: 9019694
    Abstract: A portable keyboard is disclosed, by which portability can be enhanced with a simple configuration. The present invention includes a plurality of key assemblies, a body part and a flexible connecting member. When the portable keyboard is carried, a plurality of the key assemblies are rolled up around an outer circumference of the body part in a manner that the flexible connecting member between a plurality of the key assemblies is folded. When the portable keyboard is used, a plurality of the key assemblies are unfolded by being rolled down centering on the body part in a manner that the flexible connecting member between a plurality of the key assemblies is unfolded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seungjin Lee, Keetae Kim, Dongguk Kang, Hojung Lee
  • Patent number: 9007753
    Abstract: A cover for a portable electronic device includes a keyboard for electrically communicating with the portable electronic device. The cover includes a back cover body for coupling to a back side of the portable electronic device, and a front cover body coupled to the back cover body and foldable relative thereto. The back cover body is movable relative to the portable electronic device such that a first portion of the back cover body slides away from a back side of the portable electronic device. The front cover body is foldable to stack a keyboard portion, on which the keyboard is disposed, and a support portion of the front cover body. The first portion of the back cover body, the support portion, and the keyboard portion are stacked when the keyboard is exposed for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventor: Jason Tyler Griffin
  • Patent number: 8917499
    Abstract: A foldable keyboard comprises a pair of keyboard panels with a proximal panel pivotal over a distal panel about a keyboard hinge oriented laterally with respect to and located between two adjacent rows of keys of the keyboard. A stand panel is pivotally coupled to the distal panel at a stand hinge oriented laterally with respect to the keyboard, and pivotal over the proximal panel of the keyboard. A kickstand can be pivotally coupled to a back of the stand panel. A shelf can be pivotally coupled to a front of the stand panel at a shelf hinge located proximate to the stand hinge to receive the tablet computer thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: ZAGG Intellecutal Property Holding Co.
    Inventor: John Robert Read
  • Patent number: 8908362
    Abstract: A foldable keyboard includes a first input module, a second input module, a folding support member, a magnetic element and a ferromagnetic element. The magnetic element and the ferromagnetic element put on the second input module and the folding support member separately that the folding support member can close with the second input module. Using magnetic element avoid wearing away by traditional fastener and reducing the complexity of production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Dexin Corporation
    Inventor: Ting-Sheng Wang
  • Patent number: 8811032
    Abstract: A handheld electronic device includes a housing, a flexible display associated with the housing, and an input portion linked to the flexible display. The input portion is movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position. The flexible display has a first viewing area when the input portion is in the first position and a second viewing area when the input portion is in the second position. The second viewing area is smaller than the first viewing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Norman Miner Ladouceur, Jason Tyler Griffin
  • Patent number: 8735753
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses are disclosed that enable ultrathin keyboards and the storing keys of an associated physical keyboard to a storage position. The systems comprise a keycap, a keyswitch mechanism coupled to the keycap, a translatable base frame and a spring mechanism to bias the keycap into an operating position. The biasing mechanism may be an arch-shaped spring mechanism or a magnetic biasing mechanism. A portion of the biasing mechanism may be coupled to the base frame. The base frame is translatable between a first position in which the biasing mechanism imparts a force to bias the keycap into the operating position and a second position in which the portion of the biasing mechanism is repositioned such that the force to bias the keycap is at least partially eliminated. A control member may be provided to translate natural user movement into movement of the base frame for collapsing the keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Feng-Hsiung Hsu
  • Patent number: 8724301
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device and a method for a multi-screen laptop book by integrating a plurality of features including a tablet, an electronic book reader, and a notebook. The multi-screen display laptop book provides a capability in one simple and easy to use device. The integrated device utility includes applications for education, healthcare, industrial control, mobile point-of-sale, event self-registration, augmentative communication, personal computing and word processing, multimedia home use and home automation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Inventor: Mohamed K. Mahmoud
  • Patent number: 8542482
    Abstract: A key assembly includes a key member, the key member includes a main body and a securing portion extending from each end of the main body; and a pressing member for operating the key, the pressing member defines a receiving groove for receiving the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Ming-Chun Hsiung
  • Patent number: 8503175
    Abstract: A variable form handheld computer may be configurable either as a short form handheld computer or as long form handheld computer. The variable form handheld computer comprises a variable form housing frame configurable as either a short form housing frame or a long form housing frame. The variable form housing frame comprises a plurality of handheld computing modules comprising a keyboard module, a circuitry module, a battery module and a variable form display screen. The variable form display screen is configurable either as a short form display screen or a long form display screen. The long form housing frame securely frames the handheld computing modules when the variable form display screen is configured as the long form display screen, and the short form housing frame securely frames the plurality of computing modules when the variable form display screen is configured as the short form display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Psion Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh Nataly Gandhi, Michael Gleeson
  • Patent number: 8472173
    Abstract: An electric apparatus is provided in which it is possible to connect a signal line to multiple key panels which are rotatably attached to a main body chassis. The electric apparatus has multiple first hinges and multiple second hinges. The first hinge rotatably attaches a panel to the second hinge. Further, the second hinges are rotatably attached to a main body of the electric apparatus. The multiple second hinges are rotatably connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuru Sendoda
  • Patent number: 8451595
    Abstract: An electronic device having a concealed keyboard includes a first housing, a second housing rotatably coupled to the first housing, and a concealment cover coupled to a rear of the first housing. The first housing has a coupling edge and two sides that are substantially perpendicular to the coupling edge of the first housing. The second housing has a coupling edge and two sides that are substantially perpendicular to the coupling edge of the second housing. A receiving portion is formed on a rear surface of the first housing and is configured to receive the second housing. When the second housing is in the receiving portion, each respective side of the first housing and the second housing are co-terminal with one another. The concealment cover is exteriorly positioned with respect to the second housing when the second housing is in the receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Chris Kwok Ching Leung, Archer Chi Kwong Wun
  • Patent number: 8315045
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a housing, a resisting member and a keypad. The housing has a receiving recess running through two sides of the housing. The resisting member is formed on the bottom of the receiving recess. The keypad has a plurality of receiving cavities formed at the bottom surface. The keypad is hold by engagement of a receiving cavity with the resisting member and can slid by pushing of the keypad until another receiving cavity receives the resisting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jun Li
  • Patent number: 8295038
    Abstract: A variable form handheld computer may be configurable either as a short form handheld computer or as long form handheld computer. The variable form handheld computer comprises a variable form housing frame configurable as either a short form housing frame or a long form housing frame. The variable form housing frame comprises a plurality of handheld computing modules comprising a display module, a circuitry module, a battery module and a variable form keyboard, the variable form keyboard configurable either as a short form keyboard or a long form keyboard. The long form housing frame securely frames the handheld computing modules when the variable form keyboard is configured as the long form keyboard, and the short form housing frame securely frames the plurality of computing modules when the variable form keyboard is configured as the short form keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Psion Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Gleeson, Dinesh Nataly Gandhi
  • Patent number: 8226310
    Abstract: An apparatus including: a plurality of keys each having an in-use configuration and a stowed configuration, wherein a key when in the in-use configuration is configured to travel between a first relatively raised position and a second relatively lowered position under a user applied force and is configured to return to the first relatively raised position after removal of the user applied force and wherein a key when in the stowed configuration is unable to travel to the first relatively raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Silas Joe Grant, Chee Yee Wong, Daniel Wilkinson Gratiot, Tom Eaton
  • Patent number: 8164887
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a housing, a button assembly, two positioning elements, and a resisting plate. The housing defines a plurality of through holes. The button assembly includes buttons arranged in button rows. Each button row is received in one of the through hole. The positioning elements each are positioned at one side of the housing. The resisting plate and the positioning elements fix the button assembly to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Chao-Yuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 7957126
    Abstract: A transmission structure disposed in an input device of a data processing system is disclosed. The transmission structure includes a fixed plate, a movable plate, a connection member, and a motor driving unit. The fixed plate is mounted in the input device and includes a set of grooves extending toward a first direction. The movable plate is movably disposed on a first surface of the fixed plate and includes a set of first pillars to be disposed in the set of grooves. The connection member is connected to the movable plate. The motor driving unit is connected to the connection member and drives the movable plate through the connection member to move toward the first direction or a second direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Yi Chen Wang
  • Publication number: 20100142138
    Abstract: A transmission structure disposed in an input device of a data processing system is disclosed. The transmission structure includes a fixed plate, a movable plate, a connection member, and a motor driving unit. The fixed plate is mounted in the input device and includes a set of grooves extending toward a first direction. The movable plate is movably disposed on a first surface of the fixed plate and includes a set of first pillars to be disposed in the set of grooves. The connection member is connected to the movable plate. The motor driving unit is connected to the connection member and drives the movable plate through the connection member to move toward the first direction or a second direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Yi Chen Wang