Information handling system keyboard with replaceable modular keys
AssigneeDell Products L.P.
InventorPeng Lip Goh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An information handling system keyboard has a circuit board with snap openings to couple individual modular keys over input contact pads. The modular keys have a base with snaps to couple to the circuit board, a key cap to accept an end user input, a scissors coupled to the base and key cap to define a vertical travel of the key and rubber dome that biases the key cap away from the circuit board and includes a conductive bottom surface to contact the conductive pad when an end user presses down on the key cap as an input.
Claims20
An information handling system comprising:
- a housing;
- a processor coupled in the housing and operable to execute instructions to process information;
- a memory coupled in the housing and interfaced with the processor, the memory operable to store the instructions and information;
- an embedded controller interfaced with the processor and configured to manage inputs from input devices;
- and
- a keyboard interfaced with the embedded controller, the keyboard having plural modular keys, each modular key assembled in a base to have a single key biased by a biasing assembly in the base to a raised position, each modular key separably coupled as an independent module directly to a circuit board, each modular key accepting an end user press as an input when a conductive member of the modular key contacts a pad of circuit board, each modular key separably coupled directly to the circuit board and releasable as an independent module.
A method for coupling modular keys to an information handling system keyboard, the method comprising:
- assembling plural modular keys, each of the plural modular keys assembled in a base as a separate individual unit having a single key cap biased to a raised position over the base, each of the plural modular keys associated with one key input press;
- individually coupling each of the plural modular keys directly to a circuit board;
- and
- detecting a key input when an end user presses at the plural modular key interfaces a conductive member of the modular key against a conductive pad of the circuit board.
A keyboard comprising:
- a circuit board having plural contact pads and plural snap openings;
- and
- plural modular keys, each of the plural modular keys separably coupled directly to the circuit board with snaps that insert at the snap openings and releasable as an independent module, each modular key having a conductive member aligned with the contact pad to interface with the contact pad when an end user input presses the key towards the circuit board.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.