# US 2024/0201795 A1 · Portable information handling system modular keyboard having removable lattice and keys

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- Number: US 2024/0201795 A1
- Document ID: US20240201795A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/081,070
- Filed: 2022-12-14
- Published: 2024-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2022-12-14
- Assignees: Dell Products L.P.
- Applicants: Dell Products L.P.
- Inventors: John Trevor Morrison; Jace W. Files; Chiu-Jung Tsen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201795A1

## CPC

- G06F 3/0202: {Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device}
- G06F 1/1662: {Details related to the integrated keyboard}
- G06F 1/1669: {Detachable keyboards}
- G06F 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)}
- G06F 3/03547: {Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface}
- G06F 3/0416: {Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers}
- G06F 3/044: by capacitive means
- 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, each aligned with a key assembly having a key cap coupled with a scissors to a holder plate, the holder plate configured to couple to a coupling extension extending up from a housing cover upper surface. A flexible planar sheet couples between the membrane and plural keys so that a lifting force applied to the flexible planar sheet separates the plural keys from the housing cover.

## 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 coupled to a housing cover having at least one coupling extension for each of the plural keys, the keyboard assembly further having a membrane disposed between the housing cover and the plural keys and a flexible planar sheet, the flexible planar sheet disposed between the plural keys and the membrane, the membrane having a key input sensor aligned with each of the plural keys to detect key presses, the flexible planar sheet having an opening aligned with each key input sensor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The information handling system of claim 1 wherein:
the flexible planar sheet couples at each of opposing ends to the housing cover; and
a lifting force applied at one end of the flexible planar sheet and away from the housing cover detaches the plural keys from the coupling extensions.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The information handling system of claim 2 wherein each of the plural keys couple and release individually to each of the coupling extensions.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The information handling system of claim 2 further comprising:
a key lattice holding the plural keys in a planar relationship;
wherein the lifting force detaches the lattice and plural keys as an assembly.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The information handling system of claim 2 wherein each of the plural keys further comprises:
a holder plate configured to couple to the coupling extension;
a key cap; and
a scissors coupled to the holder plate and the key cap to coordinate vertical movement of the key cap relative to the housing cover.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The information handling system of claim 5 further comprising:
a rubber dome coupled under each key cap to bias the key cap away from the membrane; and
an illumination source coupled to the membrane at each key cap to illumination the key cap.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The information handling system of claim 6 further comprising:
a capacitive touch sensor integrated in the membrane in an area outside the key input sensors; and
a palm rest coupled over the capacitive touch sensor and configured to accept touchpad inputs detected by the capacitive touch sensor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The information handling system of claim 7 further comprising:
a keystone assembly configured to couple in a gap between the keyboard assembly and the first housing portion and overlapping the housing cover to couple the housing cover to the first housing portion.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The information handling system of claim 7 further comprising:
a flexible printed circuit board integrated with the membrane;
a key matrix controller coupled to the flexible printed circuit board and interfaced with the key input sensors to determine key presses; and
a touch controller coupled to the flexible printed circuit board and interfaced with the capacitive sensor to detect touchpad inputs.

### Claim 10

A method for disassembly of an information handling system, the method comprising:
coupling a flexible planar sheet to a keyboard support between a keyboard membrane and plural keyboard keys to have a keyboard assembly; and
lifting the flexible planar sheet away from the keyboard support to separate the plural keyboard keys from the keyboard assembly.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 further comprising:
coupling each of the plural keyboard keys to a lattice;
coupling the lattice to the keyboard support; and
separating the lattice and plural keys from the keyboard support as an assembly.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 further comprising:
forming plural openings in the flexible planar sheet; and
aligning each of plural key input sensors of the membrane with each of the plural keyboard keys through each of the plural openings.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 further comprising:
coupling each of the plural keys as individual key assemblies to the keyboard support; and
separating the individual key assemblies by the lifting.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 further comprising:
coupling a key cap to a scissors;
coupling the scissor to a holder plate; and
coupling the holder plate to the keyboard support.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 further comprising:
forming a printed circuit board in the membrane; and
coupling a key matrix controller to the printed circuit board and interfaced with the key input sensors.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 further comprising:
forming a capacitive touch sensor in the membrane positioned at a touchpad relative to the plural keys;
coupling a capacitive touch sensor to the printed circuit board and interfaced with the capacitive touch sensor; and
coupling a communications hub to the printed circuit board and interfaced with the keyboard matrix controller and the capacitive touch sensor.

### 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
a flexible planar sheet coupled between the membrane and plural keys, the membrane having a key input sensor aligned with each of the plural keys to detect key presses, the flexible planar sheet having an opening aligned with each key input sensors.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The keyboard assembly of claim 17 wherein:
the flexible planar sheet couples at each of opposing ends to the housing cover; and
a lifting force applied at one end of the flexible planar sheet and away from the housing cover detaches the plural keys from the coupling extensions.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The keyboard assembly of claim 18 wherein each of the plural keys further comprises:
a holder plate configured to couple to the coupling extension;
a key cap; and
a scissors coupled to the holder plate and the key cap to coordinate vertical movement of the key cap relative to the housing cover.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The keyboard assembly of claim 19 further comprising:
a rubber dome coupled under each key cap to bias the key cap away from the membrane; and
an illumination source coupled to the membrane at each key cap to illumination the key cap.