Patent Publication Number: US-2013235512-A1

Title: Electronic device with retractable keyboard

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure generally relates to an electronic device, and particularly relates to an electronic device with a retractable keyboard. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Notebook (also called laptop or mobile) computers are typically light and compact comparing to desktop computers. Features of light weight and compact size have made using notebook computers common activities.  FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional notebook computer  10 , which generally includes a base member  14 , a display member  12  pivotally coupled to the base member  14 , and a keyboard  15  disposed on a working surface of the base member  14 . The keyboard  15  includes a plurality of keys  16 , which all protrude from the working surface of the base member  14 . Keycaps of the plurality of keys  16  are higher than the working surface of the base member  14  such that an extra space must be defined between the base member  14  and the display member  12  to accommodate the plurality of keys  16  when the display member  12  is moved to a closed position as shown in  FIG. 1 . The extra space makes the notebook computer  10  significantly thicker in size. 
     Therefore, a need may be desired to provide a notebook computer with an improved keyboard which does not requires extra space. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a conventional notebook computer. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a notebook computer employing an improved keyboard to advantage in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but viewed from a different aspect. 
         FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but showing the display member in a closed position. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a key of the improved keyboard in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 5 , but showing the key in a stored position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
       FIGS. 2-4 , show an electronic device  20  employing an embodiment of an improved keyboard  23  to advantage. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 , the electronic device  20  is a notebook computer. However, it should be understood that the electronic device  20  may be any type of electronic device such as, but not limited to, a tablet personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a gaming device, a digital video disk (DVD) player, a radio, a television, a coffee maker, or any other type of portable or non-portable electronic device. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 , the electronic device  20  comprises a base member  21 , a display member  22  pivotally coupled to the base member  21  to enable variable positioning of the display member  22  relative to the base member  21 . The improved keyboard  23  is disposed on a working surface of the base member  21 . The improved keyboard  23  comprises a plurality of keys  230 . The interior of the base member  21  may further comprise a number of computer components (not shown), such as a mother board, a central processing unit (CPU), storage devices, and any type of I/O device. 
     The display member  22  may be moved between an open position (shown as  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) and a closed position (shown as in  FIG. 4 ). When the display member  22  is in the open position, the display member  22  is away from the base member  21 . When the display member  22  is in the closed position, the display member  22  comes down on the base member  21 . 
     The base member  21  defines a plurality of receiving cavities  25  to receive the plurality of keys  230  of the improved keyboard  23 . The number of the receiving cavities  25  is the same as the number of the plurality of keys  230 . Namely, each receiving cavity  25  may receive a key of the plurality of keys  230 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a cross-sectional view of the key of the plurality of keys  230  is shown. The key  230  generally comprises a keycap  231 , an elastic member  232 , and a membrane circuit board (not shown). When the keycap  231  is pressed down, the elastic member  232  is deformed and the membrane circuit is touched to generate a key signal. A lifting member  233  is coupled to the bottom of each key  230 . The lifting member  233  includes a spring, a cylinder, or any other mechanism which may move one of the plurality of keys  233  upwards or downwards. A blocking mechanism  254  is defined in each of the plurality of cavities  25 . The blocking mechanism  254  comprises a blocking plate  255  located on each of two sidewalls  252  of the cavity  25 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  5 , when the display member  22  is moved to the open position, each of the lifting member  233  moves a key  230  upwards to an extended position. The keycap  231  of the key  230  is moved away from the cavity  25  to a point higher than the working surface of the base member  21 , such that a user can press down the key  230  to input key strokes. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , when the display member  22  is moved to the closed position, each of the lifting member  233  moves a key  230  downwards to a stored position, in which the keycap  231  of the key  230  is received in the cavity  25  and substantially abuts two of the blocking plates  255 , such that two of the blocking plates  255  prevent the key  230  from being pressed down further. Thus, there is no need for any extra space to accommodate the key board  230  when the display member  22  is in the closed position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the electronic device  20  further comprises a light sensor  24  disposed on the working surface of the base member  21  in accordance with another embodiment. The light sensor  24  may detect an object such as a hand or a finger appearing above the light sensor  24 . When the light sensor  24  detects an object at a predetermined distance above the light sensor  24 , such as 10 centimeters, the light sensor generates an extending instruction and all of the lifting members  233  move the keys  230  to the extended positions in response to the extending instruction. When the light sensor  24  has detected no object within the predetermined distance for a predetermined period of time, such as 6 minutes, the light sensor generates a retracting instruction and the lifting members  233  moves the keys  230  to the stored positions in response to the retracting instruction. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.