Patent Abstract:
A portable information handling system&#39;s integrated keyboard stows keys into a retracted position when the portable information handling system transitions from an open to a closed position, such as by rotating a lid to a closed position relative to a chassis having the keyboard. A cover plate disposed in the keyboard engages the keyboard keys to retract the keys into the information handling system when the lid of the information handling system rotates to a closed position and releases the keys to be biased out from the information handling systems when the lid rotates to an open position.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates in general to the field of information handling system integrated keyboards, and more particularly to a system and method for information handling system keyboard stowage. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. 
         [0005]    As processing components used to build information handling systems have increased in processing capabilities and decreased in size, manufacturers have sought to build portable information handling systems in housings having a reduced footprint. In particular, consumers have sought portable information handling systems that have reduced weight and height. A portable information handling system typically integrates all of the input/output devices that an end user uses to interact with the system, such as an integrated liquid crystal display (LCD) to present information and a keyboard to input information. In addition, portable information handling systems typically integrate a power source, such as a battery, and wireless network interface, such as an IEEE 802.11(g) interface, so that the end user can use the system free of any wired interfaces, such as an external power supply and Ethernet cable. Portable information handling systems that have reduced weight are generally easier and less awkward for end users to use and therefore provide an end user with improved mobility. 
         [0006]    Two significant restrictions on reducing the size of an information handling system housing are the inclusion of a display that provides adequate viewing and the inclusion of a keyboard that an end user may comfortably type on. Conventional portable information handling system housings have a clamshell configuration in which a lid having an integrated display rotationally couples to a chassis that contains processing components, such as the CPU, RAM, and hard disk or solid state drive. The height of the lid and width of the chassis of such a conventional system typically is set by the size of the display selected for the system. The vertical height of the chassis depends upon the size and power of the components within the chassis, with more powerful components typically requiring greater vertical height, often so that adequate cooling airflow is available for the processing components. In addition, the vertical height of the chassis typically has to include adequate space to integrate a keyboard. A typical keyboard has keyboard caps that travel approximately 2.5 mm. Keyboard travel provides an end user with tactile feeling so that the user has some feedback when an input is made. One way to reduce chassis height is to reduce keyboard height by having reduced tactile feeling feedback, such as 2 mm, however, reducing key movement tends to make keyboards less user friendly. In some instances, keyboards are presented on touch screens that have no actual key movement. End users have difficulty using keyboards with little or no key movement because the lack of feedback makes it difficult for the end user to know when an input is made or to avoid repeated inputs by accidentally placing weight on a key. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Therefore a need has arisen for a system and method which reduces keyboard height with minimal impact on movement of keys of the keyboard. 
         [0008]    In accordance with the present invention, a system and method are provided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problems associated with previous methods and systems for integrating a keyboard into an information handling system. Keys extending from a keyboard of an information handling system retract to within the keyboard when the information handling system is transitioned to a closed position, such as when a lid closes over the keyboard. The keyboard keys extend when the information handling system transitions to an open position for normal interaction with an end user. 
         [0009]    More specifically, an information handling system processes information with processing components disposed in a housing, such as a CPU and memory disposed in a housing chassis and a display disposed in a housing lid rotationally coupled to the chassis to move between open and closed positions. Moving the lid to the open position exposes the display in the lid and a keyboard in the chassis for normal use by an end user. In order to reduce the height of the chassis, keys of the keyboard retract to within the keyboard when the lid rotates to a closed position adjacent to the keyboard. A pressure plate within the keyboard is actuate by movement of the lid relative to the chassis so that movement of the lid is translated to the keys through engagement of the pressure plate with the keys. The pressure plate moves vertically between a cover plate that has openings for the keys and a keyboard plate that supports the keyboard in the information handling system so that engagement of the keys with the pressure plate retracts the keys to within the cover plate openings with the information handling system in the closed position and extends the keys from the cover plate openings with the information handling system in the open position. 
         [0010]    The present invention provides a number of important technical advantages. One example of an important technical advantage is that keyboard height is reduced with minimal impact on movement of keys of the keyboard during end user inputs. In an open configuration, the keyboard keys are released to provide an end user with normal feedback movement. In a closed configuration, the keys retract into the chassis so that the amount of room between the lid and keyboard is minimized providing a reduced system height. Key retraction and extension occurs automatically so as to be indistinguishable by an end user, who uses the system as though a conventional keyboard is installed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference number throughout the several figures designates a like or similar element. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts a side cutaway view of an information handling system having keys that move between exposed and retracted positions with a cam and follower actuator; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts a side cutaway view of a keyboard having keys biased into an exposed position; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  depicts a side cutaway view of a keyboard having keys moved by a pressure plate and magnet actuator to a retracted position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Retracting keys of a keyboard into an information handling system while in a closed position reduces the chassis vertical height by reserving less room for the keyboard in the closed position. For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components. 
         [0016]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a side cutaway view depicts an information handling system  10  having keys  12  that move between exposed and retracted positions with a cam  14  and follower  16  actuator. Information handling system  10  is built with plural processing components, such a motherboard  18 , CPU  20  and RAM  22 , disposed in a housing  24  having a lid  26  and chassis  28  in a clamshell configuration. Lid  26  rotates in the direction of lid rotation arrow  30  between an open position as depicted in which a display  32  and keyboard  34  are exposed for interaction with a user and a closed position in which lid  26  brings display  32  over top of keyboard  34  to provide a compact configuration for storage of information handling system  10 . In order to reduce the overall height of chassis  28 , keys  12  of keyboard  34  retract into chassis  28  before rotation of lid  26  brings display  32  into contact with keys  12 , thus allowing lid  26  to use the distance that keys  12  normally extend over top of a cover plate  36  to have a reduced height in the stored configuration. When housing  24  is configured in an open position by rotating lid  26  away from keyboard  34 , keys  12  extend to a normal height for use by an end user. 
         [0017]    In operation, the movement of keys  12  between an extended position and a retracted position is managed by interaction between an actuator, such as a linkage provided by cam  14  and follower  16 , and a pressure plate  38 . Pressure plate  38  is biased upwards towards cover plate  36  by a biasing mechanism, such as springs  40 . Pressure plate  38  engages with keys  12  so that a downward movement of pressure plate  38  will retract keys  12  relative to cover plate  36  and thereby provide additional room for closing lid  26  over top of keyboard  34 . Keys  12  are retracted within chassis  28  against a keyboard plate  42  that provides structural support for keyboard  34  within chassis  28 . In the example embodiment depicted by  FIG. 1 , the actuator and linkage that moves pressure plate  38  in response to an open or closed lid position is cam  14  associated with lid  26  and follower  16  associated with chassis  28 . As lid  26  rotates along lid rotation  30 , motion of lid  26  is translated through cam  14  to follower  16  to position pressure plate  38  as desired. For instance, cam  14  engages follower  16  with pressure plate  38  over the last ten degrees of rotational motion of lid  26  to move keys  12  downward from cover plate  36  just before lid  26  approaches keyboard  34 . Rotation of lid  26  from the closed position towards the open position translates through cam  14  so that pressure plate  38  releases keys  12  from the retracted position to extend over top of cover plate  36  through the first ten degrees of rotational motion of lid  26 . In alternative embodiments, the relationship between the position of lid  26  and keys  12  may be altered as appropriate and the amount of retraction of keys  12  may be set as desired to achieve a desired height of chassis  28 . For example, keys  12  extend to an extended position 2 mm above cover plate  36  when lid  26  is in the open position and retract to a retracted position at or below the level of cover plate  36  when lid  26  rotates to the closed position. In one alternative embodiment, cam  14  and follower  16  are accessible to an end user for a manual input that retracts or extends keys  12 , such with a linkage that extends to the exterior of chassis  28  to allow user interaction with pressure plate  38  by manual activation of cam  14  or follower  16 . 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a side cutaway view depicts a keyboard  34  having keys  12  biased into an exposed position. The exposed position provides an extension of keys  12  over top of cover plate  36  for normal keyboard inputs, such as 2 to 2.5 mm of key extension above cover plate  36 . Key springs  44  bias keys  12  upward to the extended position. A key lip  46  engages pressure plate  38  which, in turn, is supported against cover plate  36  to limit the upward movement of keys  12 . A keyboard magnet  48  integrates with pressure plate  38  to provide an actuator for downward movement of pressure plate  38  when an opposing pole of a magnet disposed in a lid approaches. Keyboard plate  42  provides a rigid structure or cage to install keyboard  34  into an information handling system and to manage the various forces involved in adjusting the height of keys  12  relative to cover plate  36 . Pressure plate springs  40  interact with keyboard plate  42  and pressure plate  38  to bias keys  12  upward in an extended position above cover plate  36  as depicted by  FIG. 2 . 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a side cutaway view depicts a keyboard  34  having keys  12  moved by a pressure plate  38  and magnet actuator to a retracted position. A lid magnet  50  aligns an opposing magnetic pole with keyboard magnet  48  as a lid closes over top of keyboard  34 . The aligned opposing poles force keyboard magnet  48  away from lid magnet  50  thereby pushing pressure plate  38  away from cover plate  36 . Pressure plate  38  engages the lip  46  of each key  12  to force each key  12  to retract towards keyboard plate  42 . In the example embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the retracted position of keys  12  aligns the upper surface of keys  12  with the upper surface of cover plate  36  so that a lid can close over top of cover plate  36  without impacting keys  12 . In alternative embodiments, keys  12  retract towards cover plate  36  in varying amounts as desired to provide room to close a lid over cover plate  36  as desired. When the downward force provided by the interaction of keyboard magnet  48  and lid magnet  50  is removed, pressure plate  38  biases upwards towards cover plate  36  with a biasing force applied by spring  40  to return the keys  12  to the extended position. In alternative embodiments, magnets may be arranged in varying ways to provide a desired position of pressure plate  38 . For example, a magnet may be disposed on keyboard plate  42  to attract or repel pressure plate  38  as appropriate. In one alternative embodiment, a magnet on keyboard plate  42  interacts with manual switch at the exterior of keyboard  34  so that a user can selectively move the keys between the extended and retracted positions. 
         [0020]    Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6