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US 2017/0255277 A1Published application
Information Handling System Low Profile Keyboard
AssigneeDell Products L.P.
InventorJason S. Morrison
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A portable information handling system keyboard extends and retracts keys of a keyboard based upon one or more predetermined conditions, such as a power on command, a power off command and a rotational position of a housing lid and main portion. A nickel titanium alloy wire actuates retraction and/or extension of keyboard keys with application of a current to the wire.
Claims20
A portable information handling system comprising:
- a housing having an upper surface;
- a processor disposed in the housing and operable to execute instructions to process information;
- a memory disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processor, the memory operable to store the information;
- a display disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processor and memory, the display operable to present the information as visual images;
- a keyboard disposed at the upper surface, the keyboard having plural keys that move perpendicular to the upper surface to accept end user inputs;
- a support disposed in the housing and coupled to the keyboard, the support movable parallel to the upper surface between an extended position having the keys extended out of the upper surface and a retracted position having the keys retracted within the upper surface;
- a nickel titanium alloy wire coupled to the housing and the support;
- and
- a current controller operable to selectively provide current to the nickel titanium alloy wire, the current heating the wire, the heat shortening the nickel titanium alloy wire to move the support to one of the extended and retracted positions.
6 more elements
A method for adjusting portable information handling system keyboard keys between extended and retracted positions, the method comprising:
- detecting a predetermined condition at the portable information handling system;
- in response to the predetermined condition, applying a current to a nickel titanium alloy wire, the current shortening the wire length;
- and
- moving a keyboard component with the shortening the wire length, the moving keyboard component altering the keyboard height relative to a housing upper surface of the portable information handling system.
1 more element
A keyboard comprising:
- plural keys biased upwards and operable to accept an input from an end user by a downward press and to communicate the input to an information handling system;
- a retraction mechanism interfaced with the plural keys and operable to retract the plural keys in response to an actuation;
- and
- a nickel titanium alloy wire coupled to the retraction mechanism and operable retract the plural keys upon application of current.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.