# US 2024/0201744 A1 · Portable information handling system keyboard membrane having liquid detection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0201744 A1 - Document ID: US20240201744A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/081,075 - Filed: 2022-12-14 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-14 - Assignees: Dell Products L.P. - Applicants: Dell Products L.P. - Inventors: Jace W. Files; Chiu-Jung Tsen; John Trevor Morrison - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201744A1 ## CPC - G06F 1/1656: {Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203)} - 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 1/1662: {Details related to the integrated keyboard} - G06F 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)} - 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 includes a membrane having plural input sensors and plural liquid detection circuits exposed at a surface of the membrane to detect liquid spillage, such as exposed conductive pads that short in the presence of a liquid or resistive circuits that sense changes in resistance associated with contact with a liquid. A processing resource interfaced with the liquid detection circuits stores liquid detection events in non-transitory memory of the membrane, such as a controller and flash memory coupled to a printed circuit board formed in the membrane. ## 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; and a keyboard assembly having plural keys at an upper surface of the first housing portion configured to accept end user key press inputs, the plural keys disposed over a keyboard membrane having key input sensors configured to detect the key press inputs, the keyboard membrane having plural liquid detection circuits configured to detect liquid spilled on the keyboard membrane. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the liquid detection circuits comprise plural discrete exposed conductive pads to detect a short associated with a liquid that conducts current between a first and second of the plural discrete exposed conductive pads. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the liquid detection circuits comprise resistive circuits configured to sense changes in resistance associated with contact with a liquid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising: a non-transitory memory coupled to the keyboard membrane and configured to store information; a processing resource coupled to the keyboard membrane and interfaced with the liquid detection circuits and the non-transitory memory, the processing resource monitoring the liquid detection circuits for indications of liquid presence at the keyboard membrane and storing the indication of liquid presence in the non-transitory membrane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The information handling system of claim 4 further comprising: a printed circuit board formed in the keyboard membrane; and a key matrix controller interfaced with the key input sensors to determine key presses; wherein the processing resource and non-transitory memory couple to the printed circuit board. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The information handling system of claim 5 further comprising: a connector interface formed in the keyboard membrane and interfaced with the key matrix controller; and a connector coupled to the first housing portion; wherein the processing resource detects separation events when the connector interface separates from the connector and stores the separation events in the non-transitory memory. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The information handling system of claim 5 further comprising: a connector interface formed in the keyboard membrane; a connector coupled to the first housing portion; and a communications hub coupled to the printed circuit board and interfacing the key matrix connector with the connector interface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The information handling system of claim 7 further comprising: a processing resource associated with the connector at the first housing portion and operable to detect a separation event when the connector interface separates from the connector and to store the separation event at a non-transitory memory associated with the first housing portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The information handling system of claim 8 further comprising: a battery coupled to the first housing portion and interfaced with the connector interface through the connector; wherein the battery disconnects in response to the separation event. ### Claim 10 A method for detecting liquids at an information handling system, the method comprising: coupling plural liquid detection circuits exposed at a surface of a keyboard membrane of the information handling system; detecting liquid at one or more of the plural liquid sensors with a processing resource coupled to the keyboard membrane; and storing the detection of liquid in a non-transitory memory of the keyboard membrane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein the liquid detection circuits comprise plural discrete exposed conductive pads to detect a short associated with a liquid that conducts current between a first and second of the plural discrete exposed conductive pads. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein the liquid detection circuits comprise resistive circuits configured to sense changes in resistance associated with contact with a liquid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 further comprising: integrating a printed circuit board in the keyboard membrane; coupling a key matrix controller to the keyboard membrane; coupling the processing resource and the non-transitory memory to the keyboard membrane printed circuit board; and forming a connector interface as a tab extending from the keyboard membrane and interfaced with the printed circuit board. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising: coupling a connector to the information handling system housing interior; coupling the connector interface into the connector; detecting separation of the connector interface from the connector; and storing the separation as a separation event in the non-transitory memory. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising: forming a touchpad area in the keyboard membrane having a capacitive touch sensor; and coupling a touch sensor to the printed circuit board. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising: coupling a communications hub to the printed circuit board and interfaced with the keyboard matrix controller and the capacitive touch sensor; and interfacing the communications hub with the connector interface to communicate key press inputs and touchpad touch inputs to a processor of the information handling system. ### Claim 17 A keyboard assembly comprising: plural keys exposed at an upper surface to accept key inputs; a housing cover having at least one coupling extension for each of the plural keys; a membrane disposed between the housing cover and the plural keys; and plural liquid detection circuits configured to detect liquid spilled on the keyboard membrane. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The keyboard assembly of claim 17 wherein the liquid detection circuits comprise plural discrete exposed conductive pads to detect a short associated with a liquid that conducts current between a first and second of the plural discrete exposed conductive pads. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The keyboard assembly of claim 17 wherein the liquid detection circuits comprise resistive circuits configured to sense changes in resistance associated with contact with a liquid. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The keyboard assembly of claim 17 further comprising: a printed circuit formed in the membrane; a processing resource coupled to the printed circuit board and interfaced with the liquid detection circuits; and a non-transitory memory coupled to the printed circuit board and interfaced with the processing resource; wherein the processing resource stores liquid detection circuits sensing of liquids in the non-transitory memory.