Detachable Keyboard Patents (Class 361/679.17)
  • Patent number: 8218301
    Abstract: A keyboard includes a casing, a retaining frame, and a keyboard module. The casing is made from a metallic sheet and has upper and lower parts. The lower part is bent from front and rear ends of the upper part so as to define a gap between the upper and lower parts and two opposite side openings. The casing is formed with a central hole extending through the upper part and in spatial communication with the gap and the side openings. The retaining frame is received detachably in the gap of the casing, has a loop-shaped frame body disposed around the central hole of the casing, and is insertable through one of the side openings of the casing into the gap of the casing. The keyboard module is received in the central hole of the casing and engages the frame body of the retaining frame in a tongue-and-groove engaging manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sunrex Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Chien-Chung Lee
  • Patent number: 8193466
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Dell Products, LP
    Inventors: Gurmeet Singh Bhutani, Shih-Wei Yang, Kuo-Hsiang Huang
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120039033
    Abstract: An assembling/disassembling keyboard structure for a portable device includes a main body, a keyboard, and at least one fastening unit. The main body has a surface which forms a containing cavity with at least one side wall and a plurality of holes defined on the side wall. The keyboard is capable of being assembled to/disassembled from the containing cavity. The fastening unit is disposed on the other surface in opposite to the surface where the containing cavity was formed and has at least one engaging portion which can be correspondingly inserted into one of the holes for assembling/disassembling the keyboard to/from the containing cavity. Accordingly, the present invention is not only capable of easily assembling/disassembling the keyboard by the engaging portion but also prevents the keyboard from being possibly scratched or damaged during a process of utilizing an auxiliary tool to assembling/disassembling the keyboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Elitegroup Computer Systems Co., LTD.
    Inventors: HSIAO-HUI LEE, Kuang-liang Chen, Ping-yang Fan
  • Patent number: 8081429
    Abstract: An electronic device workable on electric power and able to avoid troublesome connection and handling of a power cable, and a frame that supports the electronic device. A power terminal of an image display module, a power terminal of a main unit module, and a power terminal of a connector module are supplied with electric power from power terminals of frames provided in the frames and a joint part, in a state where a frame receiving section of the image display module, a frame receiving section of the main unit module, and a frame receiving section of the connector module are supported on the frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Takefumi Horie
  • Patent number: 8050020
    Abstract: A keyboard base includes a frame, a key panel, and a latching assembly having a stop plate, a sliding block and an elastic member. The frame includes a housing defined therein, a hook formed on a bottom of the housing, and a blind slot defined on a side wall of the housing. The key panel is received in the housing of the frame and includes a clasp snapped in the blind slot of the housing. The stop plate is perpendicularly mounted on the key panel facing the hook of the frame. The sliding block is slidably positioned between the stop plate and the hook of the frame. The elastic member is positioned between the sliding block and the stop plate for keeping the sliding block retaining on the hook of the frame to detachably fasten the key panel and the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignees: Hong fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gang-Hua Liu
  • Patent number: 8027156
    Abstract: A keyboard includes a keyboard unit and casing. The keyboard unit is rectangular and includes a first and second surface, the first surface including at least one key disposed thereon, the second surface including a protrusion portion that protrudes therefrom. The protrusion portion includes an engagement hole open toward a first direction that corresponds to a longitudinal direction of the rectangle. The casing includes a third surface on which the keyboard unit is mounted, the third surface including an insertion or through hole into which the protrusion portion is insertable, the casing including an engagement protrusion provided at a position opposed to the engagement hole of the protrusion portion that is inserted into the through hole, the engagement protrusion being engaged with the engagement hole of the inserted protrusion portion when the keyboard unit is moved in the first direction. A method of assembling the keyboard is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Kobayashi, Hideki Hanamura, Masanori Akiyama
  • Patent number: 8023254
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a main body, a cover, and a keyboard. The main body includes a receptacle having an opening. The cover is coupled to the main body. The keyboard is positioned in the receptacle of the main body. The keyboard is slidable in the receptacle and is detachable from the main body via the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jian Zhou
  • Patent number: 7957127
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, an electronic apparatus comprises a housing including a keyboard mount portion. A keyboard is mounted on the keyboard mount portion. The keyboard has a plurality of fixing pieces. The fixing pieces are protruded at the rear of the keyboard mount portion, and are removably fixed to the housing. A receptacle on which a module is removably mounted is provided in the housing. The receptacle is located between the fixing pieces at the rear of the keyboard mount portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Minaguchi, Hidemi Itakura, Takayuki Arisaka
  • Patent number: 7932890
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a casing having a display part (2) provided with an image display panel (1), a operation part (4) provided with operation keys (3), and a joint part (5) that connects together the display part and the operation part, and a lightguide plate (6) disposed in the casing. The lightguide plate is an edge-light type lightguide plate having a display illuminating part (6a) illuminating the image display panel, a key illuminating part (6b) illuminating the operation keys, and a connecting part (6c) that connects together the display illuminating part and the key illuminating part and that guides light therebetween. The lightguide plate is deformable in accordance with the deformation of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Onikiri, Daisaku Okuwaki, Yasuaki Kayanuma
  • Patent number: 7929283
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a main body, a keyboard, a fastening member, and an elastic member. The main body defines an assembling groove. The keyboard is disposed in the assembling groove of the main body. The fastening member is movably disposed in the main body. The elastic member is sleeved on the fastening member, and configured for producing an elastic force to drive the fastening member to engage with the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wei-Jun Wang
  • Patent number: 7898796
    Abstract: An electronic device and a supporting structure that are designed to decrease the number of parts and assembly steps, thereby reducing manufacturing cost. A stand has a pair of arm sections of which one ends are rotatably supported on an upper side of a pair of frames each formed of two-coupled frames when an image display module stands upright; and a rod section for connecting the other ends of the pair of arm sections. The stand is rotatable among a folded state in which the stand overlaps with the image display module, a using state in which the stand is opened at predetermined degrees from the image display module and used as a stand to obliquely stand the image display module, and an opened state in which the stand is opened at approximately 180 degrees from the folded state and used as a handle when carrying the image display module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Takefumi Horie
  • Patent number: 7884803
    Abstract: A turntable-type input device includes a base, a first keyboard, a second keyboard and a turntable. The first keyboard and second keyboard are movably disposed on the base. The turntable is rotatably disposed on the base and located above the first keyboard and the second keyboard. The turntable is coupled to the first keyboard and the second keyboard. When the turntable is rotated, the turntable brings the first keyboard and the second keyboard synchronously to move in opposite directions relative to the base such that the first keyboard and the second keyboard are spread out from the base or received to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Jui-Yi Huang
  • Publication number: 20110026210
    Abstract: A configurable portable computing device having a first display panel and a second display panel, a first user input device and a second user input device. Where the second user input device is incorporated into the second display panel and the first user input device being selectively mountable over the second display panel or detached from the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Mark S. Tracy, Britt C. Ashcraft, Jeffrey A. Lev
  • Patent number: 7869200
    Abstract: An electronic device adapted to stow a keyboard therein in a way screen is exposed even after the keyboard has been stowed in the electronic device. A keyboard module is pivoted for turning on a supporting member supported on a lower section of a pair of frames each of which is made up of two-coupled frames. The keyboard is allowed to turn through a space defined with the pair of frames and also a lower edge of the display module that has been shifted upwards. Thus, the keyboard is allowed to rotate between a using state in which the keyboard is kept with keys lying upward and a stowed state in which the keyboard, after turned in a way a front edge thereof is raised, is kept standing upright and concealed behind the display module which is moved downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Takefumi Horie
  • Publication number: 20100277858
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a main body, a cover, and a keyboard. The main body includes a receptacle having an opening. The cover is coupled to the main body. The keyboard is positioned in the receptacle of the main body. The keyboard is slidable in the receptacle and is detachable from the main body via the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicants: SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., CHI MEI COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: JIAN ZHOU
  • Publication number: 20100271771
    Abstract: A detachable portable computing device is provided. The computing device comprises a display device and a main body. The main body comprises a base and a detachable member. The base is rotatably connected to the display device. The detachable member is detachably connected to the base. The computing device also includes a latching mechanism configured for detachably connecting the detachable member to the base. The latching mechanism comprises a first locking member, a second locking member, and an actuating mechanism. The first locking member is securely connected to one of the base and the detachable member. The second locking member is movably connected to the other one of the base and the detachable member. The second locking member is slidable between a first position and a second position where the second locking member engages and disengages the first locking member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: WEI WU, XIN YANG
  • Patent number: 7778016
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, an electronic apparatus comprises a housing including a keyboard mount portion. A keyboard is mounted on the keyboard mount portion. The keyboard has a plurality of fixing pieces. The fixing pieces are protruded at the rear of the keyboard mount portion, and are removably fixed to the housing. A receptacle on which a module is removably mounted is provided in the housing. The receptacle is located between the fixing pieces at the rear of the keyboard mount portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Minaguchi, Hidemi Itakura, Takayuki Arisaka
  • Patent number: 7755883
    Abstract: The invention provides a connection structure installed in a data processing apparatus. The data processing apparatus includes a keyboard and a base. The keyboard includes a bottom. The base includes a top plate. The connection structure connects the bottom and the top plate. The connection structure includes a mounted boss and a mounting hole. The mounted boss is disposed on the bottom of the keyboard. The mounted boss includes a groove. The mounting hole is disposed on the top plate of the base. The mounting hole includes a protrusion. When the bottom of the keyboard is assembled to the top of the base, the mounted boss would fit into the mounting hole, such that the protrusion is locked with the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Chih Chiang Hsu, Chia Cheng Tang, Chien Jung Su
  • Patent number: 7733637
    Abstract: A keyboard sled adapted to communicatively interact with a portable computer system. In one embodiment, the keyboard sled is comprised of an integral receiving portion adapted to mechanically and electronically receive a portable computer system. An interface connector is disposed within the receiving portion and adapted to provide a communicative link between the keyboard sled and a portable computer system, when a portable computer system has been inserted in the receiving portion. The keyboard sled further has at least one mounting hook disposed within the receiving portion for providing positive retention of a portable computer system when coupled with the keyboard sled. A keyboard portion also present on the keyboard sled and also coupled with the interface connector provides input keys. The keyboard sled is also comprised of an integral data storage access slot which is adapted to provide access to a data storage device receptacle of the portable computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence Lam
  • Patent number: 7719826
    Abstract: Integrated access cover arrangements for use in a portable computing devices, where the portable computing devices include a processor and are configured to house a user accessible component are presented including: a base configured to be coupled to the portable computing device; an integrated access cover housing a keyboard, the integrated access cover being slidingly connected with the base and configured to be disposed in at least a closed position and an open position with respect to the base, the user accessible component being hidden from a user when the integrated access cover is disposed in the closed position, the user accessible component being accessible by the user when the integrated access cover is disposed in the open position. In some embodiments, arrangements further include: a drive mechanism for translating the integrated access cover. Advantages include the ability to utilize lower profile configurations while maintaining functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ray Ling Chang, Dennis Yarak
  • Patent number: 7672120
    Abstract: A keyboard is to be designed as a standardized keyboard having a certain length, width and thickness. The keyboard may be used interchangeably among different mobile computer systems. A keyboard cable associated with the keyboard may be designed such that it can accommodate an interface connector at any location relative to a bottom end of the keyboard. One or more control devices may also be used in conjunction with the keyboard. The control device may be designed with standardized dimensions, electrical interface, interface connector and cable length to enable it to accompany the keyboard among the different mobile computer systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ed H. Kohlman, Hong W. Wong, Daryl J. Nelson, Wah Yiu Kwong, George H. Daskalakis
  • Publication number: 20100039761
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a main body, a keyboard, a fastening member, and an elastic member. The main body defines an assembling groove. The keyboard is disposed in the assembling groove of the main body. The fastening member is movably disposed in the main body. The elastic member is sleeved on the fastening member, and configured for producing an elastic force to drive the fastening member to engage with the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: WEI-JUN WANG
  • Patent number: 7663602
    Abstract: Keyboard input functionality is provided when a removable portion of the keyboard is docked into the base unit. The removable portion may be the undocked from the base unit. A keyboard removable portion may include alphanumeric functionality and may be of a reduced size for off-desk implementation. Since the base of the keyboard may be wired, it may also charge the removable portion of the keyboard. The base may also include the wireless receiver for cooperating with a wireless keyboard or wireless mouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory G. Jones, Steven W. Fisher
  • Patent number: 7643278
    Abstract: An electronic device and keyboard thereof. The electronic device comprises a body and a keyboard. The body has a recess. The keyboard comprises a base and a securing mechanism. The securing mechanism comprises a track and a sliding member. The track is disposed on the base. The sliding member selectively moves relative to the track between a first position and a second position. When the sliding member is in the first position, an extending part of the sliding member engages with the recess. When the sliding member is in the second position, the extending part separates from the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Wen-Kuang Hou
  • Publication number: 20090303673
    Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to provide protective enclosure for an electronic device including: front cover, back cover, and a membrane. The front cover has a plurality of independent zones, each zone having a front surface area greater than the front surface area of an electronic device's function keys. The front cover inner face having protrusions corresponding to each zone and in alignment with the electronic device's function keys. A membrane, with a central protrusion configured to overlay the front cover, includes indicia thereon corresponding to an electronic device's function keys. The back cover includes a pair of clasps and fastener for attaching to a body or object. Front and back cover are configured to sealing mate and define an interior housing for an electronic device. Exertion of a downward force on indicia of the membrane causes deflection upon a corresponding zone and protrusion and activating the corresponding electronic device's function key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Mark Holzhausen
  • Publication number: 20090284908
    Abstract: The disclosed invention is a panel-like computer with physical and electrical connections enabling it to be connected to the interior front wall of a matching bag. The resulting bag computer may further includes: a bag with means to attach matching computer equipment components; a pivoting display panel located near the exterior top front of the bag front with its display facing away from the bag; a pivoting cover for the display panel; an optional input device, such as a keyboard, located near the exterior center of the bag front. The computing unit panel is mounted to the interior of the bag's front wall using a support structure which physically and electrically holds and aligns the bag and other computing equipment while forming a rigid front to assist storage of the exterior front mounted equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventor: Charles A. Daley, III