US 5,621,610 A · Collapsible computer keyboard structure with associated collapsible pointing stick

Abstract

A notebook computer is provided with a collapsible keyboard structure in which, in response to closing of the computer housing lid, the key return spring portions of the keyboard are shifted away from their normal underlying relationships with the keys and the keys are forcibly retracted to a storage/transport orientation in which the overall thickness of the keyboard structure is reduced by an amount essentially equal to the stroke distance of the keys. When the lid is subsequently opened, the key return spring portions are shifted back to their normal underlying relationships with the keys, and the keys are forced outwardly by the return spring portions to their extended, operative orientations above the return spring portions. Incorporated into the collapsible keyboard structure is a cursor position control pointing stick device that is automatically retracted to a collapsed orientation in response to a corresponding collapsing of the keys, and automatically extended back to a use orientation in response to a corresponding return of the keys to their extended use orientations.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A keyboard structure for an electronic device having a screen upon which a movable cursor may be displayed, said keyboard structure comprising:

a keyboard support structure;
a mutually spaced series of keys each carried on said keyboard support structure for movement relative thereto, in a first direction between extended use and retracted storage/transport positions;
resilient means associated with said series of keys and operative to resiliently bias them toward said extended use positions thereof;
cursor positioning means operative to generate a signal useable to selectively vary the screen position of the cursor, said cursor positioning means including a manual force-receiving pointing stick device positioned and extending outwardly between a plurality of said keys, said pointing stick device being supported for shifting movement in said first direction between extended use and retracted storage/transport positions;
and
shifting means operable to selectively and forcibly shift said pointing stick device between said extended use and retracted storage/transport positions thereof.

3 more elements

A collapsible keyboard structure for an electronic device having a screen upon which a movable cursor may be displayed, said keyboard structure comprising:

a key support structure having top and bottom sides;
a series of keys each carried on said top side of said key support structure for vertical movement relative thereto, through a vertical key stroke distance, between extended and retracted positions;
a base structure carried beneath said key support structure and having a top side facing said bottom side of said key support structure;
a spaced series of resilient key return members disposed on said top side of said base structure,
said key support structure and said base structure being horizontally shiftable relative to one another between a first position in which said key return members underlie and resiliently hold said keys in said extended positions thereof, and a second position in which said key return members permit said keys to be moved from said extended positions thereof to said retracted positions thereof without vertically compressing said resilient key return members;
cooperatively engageable means on said keys and said base structure for forcibly driving said keys from said extended positions thereof to said retracted positions thereof in response to shifting of said base and key support structures from said first position thereof to said second position thereof;
and
cursor positioning means operative to generate a signal useable to selectively vary the screen position of the cursor, said cursor positioning means including a manual force-receiving pointing stick device positioned and extending outwardly between a plurality of said keys, said pointing stick device being connected to said key support structure and said base structure and being configured to be shifted between upwardly extended and downwardly retracted positions in response to the shifting of said base and key support structures respectively to said first and second positions thereof.

5 more elements

A portable computer comprising:

a base housing portion having a top side;
a lid housing portion secured to said base housing portion for pivotal movement relative thereto between a closed position in which said lid housing portion extends across and covers said top side, and an open position in which said lid housing portion uncovers and exposes said top side, said lid housing portion having a screen thereon on which a movable cursor may be displayed;
and
a collapsible keyboard structure extending along said top side of said lid housing portion and including:
a key support structure,
a series of keys each carried on said key support structure for vertical movement relative thereto, in a key stroke direction, between extended and retracted positions,
a cursor position control system including a manual force-receiving pointing stick device positioned and extending upwardly between a plurality of said keys and being vertically movable between extended and retracted positions, and
shifting means operative in response to movement of said lid housing portion to said closed position thereof to drive said keys and said pointing stick device to said retracted positions thereof, and operative in response to movement of said lid housing portion to said open position thereof to drive said keys and said pointing stick device to said extended positions thereof.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Collapsible computer keyboard structure with associated collapsible pointing stick

Life of this patent

Collapsible computer keyboard structure with associated collapsible pointing stick

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20