# US 2024/0201735 A1 · Information handling system keyboard support with internal component assembly features

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- Number: US 2024/0201735 A1
- Document ID: US20240201735A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/081,093
- Filed: 2022-12-14
- Published: 2024-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2022-12-14
- Assignees: Dell Products L.P.
- Applicants: Dell Products L.P.
- Inventors: Chiu-Jung Tsen; Jace W. Files; John Trevor Morrison
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201735A1

## CPC

- G06F 1/1616: {with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position}
- G06F 1/1635: {Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter}
- G06F 1/1662: {Details related to the integrated keyboard}
- G06F 1/1688: {the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A portable information handling system is assembled and disassembled by a keystone assembly that couples at an upper surface of the portable housing to overlap a keyboard assembly that covers processing components disposed in the portable housing. The keyboard assembly has plural component lock members that extend into the portable housing interior to each align with a component to hold the component in position when the keyboard assembly couples to the housing to enclose the components. In some instances, power and information may be routed through the keyboard membrane to the component through the component lock member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An information handling system comprising:
a housing having first and second housing portions rotationally coupled by a hinge;
a processor disposed in the first housing portion and operable to execute instructions that process information;
a memory disposed in the first housing portion and interfaced with the processor, the memory storing the instructions and information;
a component disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processor and having a lock feature;
a keyboard assembly coupled to the first housing portion to expose plural keys configured to accept end user key press inputs, the keyboard assembly coupling to the first housing portion to contain the processor, memory and component in an interior of the first housing portion; and
a component lock member extending from the keyboard assembly into the first housing portion interior aligned to engage the lock feature, engagement of the component lock member and component lock feature securing the component in a position in the first housing portion interior.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The information handling system of claim 1 wherein:
the component comprises a speaker resting on the first housing portion, the lock feature defined by a cavity in the speaker; and
the component lock member comprises a member that inserts into the cavity.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The information handling system of claim 2 wherein:
the cavity includes a power connector that accepts power; and
the component lock member aligns a power source with the power connector, the power source interfacing power routed through a keyboard membrane with the power connector.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The information handling system of claim 1 wherein:
the component comprises a battery, the lock feature defined as a notch at one side of the battery; and
the component lock member comprises a member aligned to insert in the notch.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The information handling system of claim 4 further comprising:
a battery enable switch that enables power transfer to and from the battery when engaged and disables power transfer to and from the battery when disengaged;
wherein insertion of the component lock member into the notch engages the battery enable switch and removal of the component lock member from the notch disengages the battery enable switch.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The information handling system of claim 1 wherein:
the component comprises a cooling fan having a notch at one side; and
the component lock member comprises a member aligned to insert in the notch.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The information handling system of claim 6 further comprising:
a motherboard slidingly coupled to the first housing portion, the processor and memory coupled to and communicating through the motherboard;
wherein the cooling fan abuts adjacent the motherboard to prevent sliding movement of the motherboard.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising:
a rail formed in one side of the first housing portion; and
structure extending from the keyboard assembly and aligned to engage the rail with a sliding motion from an opening to a stop of the structure;
wherein the component and component lock member are configured to engage with the sliding motion.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The information handling system of claim 8 further comprising a keystone assembly configured to couple to the first housing portion and the keyboard assembly to retain the keyboard assembly in an assembled position at the first housing portion.

### Claim 10

A method for assembly of an information handling system, the method comprising:
coupling a component to a housing in an interior of the housing;
coupling a keyboard assembly over the housing interior; and
engaging a component lock member extending from the keyboard assembly into the housing interior with the component to retain the component in a position within the housing interior.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein:
the coupling a keyboard assembly further comprises sliding a structure of the keyboard assembly onto a rail of the housing portion interior; and
engaging the component lock member further comprises sliding the component lock member into an opening of the component.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 further comprising:
sliding the keyboard assembly structure until a stop engages against the rail; and
coupling a keystone assembly over the keyboard assembly and to the housing.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 wherein:
the component comprises a battery having a notch at one side and a battery enable switch located at the notch; and
the engaging further comprises sliding a member extending from the keyboard assembly into the notch to actuate the battery enable switch.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 wherein:
the component comprises a speaker having a power connector; and
the engaging further comprises sliding a member extending from the keyboard assembly to the power connector to transfer power from the keyboard assembly to the speaker.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 further comprising:
the component comprises a cooling fan adjacent a motherboard; and
the engaging further comprises sliding a member to engage against the cooling fan, the member retaining the cooling fan in position, the cooling fan retaining the motherboard in position.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 further comprising:
sliding an interior member of the keystone assembly relative to an exterior member to release the keystone assembly from the housing;
removing the keystone assembly to release the keyboard assembly from the housing;
lifting the keyboard assembly from the housing to release the component from the component lock member; and
lifting the component from the housing.

### Claim 17

A keyboard assembly comprising:
plural keys exposed at an upper surface to accept key inputs;
plural component lock members extending from a lower surface, each component lock member aligned to engage with a component disposed below the lower surface and within an information handling system housing, the component lock member retaining the component in position when the keyboard assembly couples to the housing.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The keyboard assembly of claim 17 further comprising:
a guide structure extending from the lower surface and configured to slide into engagement with a rail of the housing to couple the keyboard assembly to the housing; and
a keystone assembly configured to couple to the upper surface and the housing to retain the guide structure in place when engaged with the rail;
wherein the plural component lock members slide to engage with each component when the guide structure slides to engage the rail.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The keyboard assembly of claim 18 wherein the component that the plural component lock members engage with include at least a battery, a speaker and a cooling fan.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The keyboard assembly of claim 17 further comprising:
a membrane disposed below the plural keys to detect key presses; and
a power interface from the membrane to at least one of the plural component lock members to communicate power to a component associated with the component associated with the at least one of the plural component lock members.