Keyboard with translating sections

A keyboard assembly comprising:

• at least two keyboard sections;
• and
• means for moving the at least two keyboard sections relative to each other between a stowing position and an operational position, the means for moving being adapted to move the keyboard sections from the stowing position in opposite lateral directions relative to each other and, after a predetermined amount of relative lateral movement, at least one of the keyboard sections then being movable towards another one of the keyboard sections in a direction generally orthogonal to its previous lateral direction wherein the means for moving retains the keyboard sections in a single plane.

In a computer having a housing, a display, electronic circuitry, and a reconfigurable keyboard assembly, the improvement comprising:

• the keyboard assembly having at least one keyboard pallet movably mounted on the housing between a first position relative to another keyboard pallet of the assembly and a second different position relative to each other, each pallet having a single side that mate with each other, at least partially, in both the first position and the second position.

A method of reconfiguring keyboard pallets of a computer comprising steps of:

• moving a cover of the computer from a first position relative to a base of the computer towards a second position relative to the base;
• and
• automatically moving at least one of the keyboard pallets from a third position towards a fourth position based upon the movement of the cover.

In an electronic device having electronic circuitry, a housing with a base and cover, the cover being movably attached to the base between open and closed positions, the improvement comprising:

• a keyboard assembly having at least two movable keyboard pallets and, means for automatically moving the keyboard pallets on the housing relative to each other.

A keyboard assembly comprising:

• at least two keyboard sections;
• and
• means for moving the at least two keyboard sections relative to each other between a stowing position and an operational position, the means for moving being adapted to move the keyboard sections from the stowing position in opposite lateral directions relative to each other and, after a predetermined amount of relative lateral movement, at least one of the keyboard sections then being movable towards another one of the keyboard sections in a direction orthogonal to its previous lateral direction, wherein the means for moving includes a first drive arm pivotably mounted to a housing adapted to push the keyboard sections in the opposite directions.

In a computer having a housing, a display, electronic circuitry, and a reconfigurable keyboard assembly, the improvement comprising:

• the keyboard assembly having at least one keyboard pallet movably mounted on the housing between a first position relative to another keyboard pallet of the assembly and a second position relative to each other, each pallet having a single side that are suitably shaped to mate, at least partially, with each other in both the first position and the second position, wherein the keyboard assembly includes means for automatically moving the keyboard pallets between the first and second positions based upon movement of a cover of the housing relative to a base of the housing from a closed position to an open position.

A keyboard assembly comprising:

• a plurality of keyboard sections including a first keyboard section and a second keyboard section, the first keyboard section being movable relative to the second keyboard section;
• and
• moving means for moving the first keyboard section relative to the second keyboard section solely by translation, in a plane containing the first and second keyboard sections, from a stowing position to an operational position, wherein the keyboard assembly has a first length and width when the first and second keyboard sections are in the stowing position and a second different length and width when the first and second keyboard sections are at the operational position.