Patent ID: 11888472
Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Field: Computer technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  G | IPC G  H

Claim 10:
11. A method comprising:
receiving, at a plurality of input devices comprising a touchpad that is configured to pivot about a hinge and that has a touch surface configured to receive a touch input from a user, one or more inputs from the user;
selectively mechanically inhibiting, by a locking assembly, activation of a mechanically-activated switch, which is disposed adjacent to a first end of the touchpad and which is configured to be activated based at least in part on the touch input causing the touchpad to depress the mechanically-activated switch, by inhibiting the touchpad from pivoting about the hinge, which is coupled to a second end of the touchpad that is opposite the first end of the touchpad, depending on whether an electrical control signal is received; and
selectively actuating, by a controller, the locking assembly to inhibit the touchpad from pivoting about the hinge based at least in part on the one or more inputs from the user, wherein selectively actuating comprises:
causing the locking assembly to mechanically inhibit the activation of the mechanically-activated switch by providing the electrical control signal to the locking assembly based at least in part on at least one of a processor input or an operating system input triggered by at least one of the one or more inputs from the user.