System and method for a thin capacitive split keyboard stack including a light-emitting diode (LED) layer and light guide layer and metal support plate sealed input surface

An information handling system having a keyboard with a split keyboard structure comprising:

• a hardware processor, a data storage device, and a power management unit (PMU) to provide power to the hardware processor and data storage device formed in a keyboard chassis of the information handling system;
• the split keyboard structure including a first removable tactile input layer to receive user input and formed on top of a sealed input surface of the keyboard chassis, wherein the first removable tactile input layer structure is removable from the split keyboard structure and replaceable with a second removable tactile input layer structure without replacing a keyboard sensing hardware structure formed below the sealed input surface;
• the split keyboard structure including a keyboard sensing hardware structure formed onto a non-conductive keyboard sensing hardware structure substrate below the sealed input surface of the keyboard chassis to detect capacitive changes in a capacitive sensing field of a plurality of capacitive pad sensors from user input above the sealed input surface and on or above the first removable tactile input layer, wherein the keyboard sensing hardware structure includes the plurality of capacitive pad sensors in a capacitive pads layer and a light-emitting diode (LED) layer comprising a plurality of LEDs formed coplanar with the capacitive pad sensors of the capacitive pads layer on a top surface of the non-conductive keyboard sensing hardware structure substrate, and a plurality of active shielding pads in an active shielding layer on a second surface of the non-conductive keyboard sensing hardware structure substrate;
• and
• the sealed input surface of the keyboard chassis includes a light guide layer and a metal support plate having a plurality of holes bonded to a top surface of the light guide layer and formed over the keyboard sensing hardware structure to transmit light from the plurality of LEDs upwards into the first removable tactile input layer, wherein the sealed input surface seals the keyboard sensing hardware structure in the keyboard chassis from contaminants.

An information handling system having a keyboard with a split keyboard structure comprising:

• a hardware processor, a data storage device, and a power management unit (PMU) to provide power to the hardware processor and data storage device formed in a keyboard chassis of the information handling system;
• a recessed housing well formed in a top cover of the keyboard chassis of the information handling system for receiving a first removable tactile input layer of the split keyboard structure among a plurality of removable tactile input layers wherein the recessed housing well includes an edge rim portion and a base floor that is a sealed input surface of the keyboard chassis, wherein the first removable tactile input layer to receive user input on or above the first removable tactile input layer and is removable from the split keyboard structure and replaceable with a second removable tactile input layer structure without replacing a keyboard sensing hardware structure formed below the sealed input surface;
• the split keyboard structure including the keyboard sensing hardware structure formed onto a non-conductive keyboard sensing hardware structure substrate below the sealed input surface of the keyboard chassis to detect capacitive changes in a capacitive sensing field of a plurality of capacitive pad sensors from user input above the sealed input surface, wherein the keyboard sensing hardware structure includes the plurality of capacitive pad sensors in a capacitive pads layer, a light-emitting diode (LED) layer comprising a plurality of LEDs, and a plurality of active shielding pads in an active shielding layer;
• and
• the sealed input surface of the keyboard chassis includes a light guide layer and a metal support plate having a plurality of holes bonded to a top surface of the light guide layer and formed over the keyboard sensing hardware structure to transmit light from the plurality of LEDs upwards into the first removable tactile input layer, wherein the sealed input surface seals the keyboard sensing hardware structure in the keyboard chassis from contaminants.