IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,804,680
Granted Patent B2
US 7,804,680 · App. 11/259,800 · Granted Sep 28, 2010

System and method for connecting information handling system with a unified keyboard and mouse cable

Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,804,680
App. No.
11/259,800
Filed
Oct 27, 2005
Granted
Sep 28, 2010
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2835
USPC
361/679.18
Abstract

A portable information handling system keyboard cable integrates keyboard and point stick conductors in a common membrane to communicate user inputs from a keyboard and point stick to processing components. The cable terminates at a motherboard end with a ZIF connector to connect with processing components at the motherboard and terminates at keyboard end with a connector for keyboard and point stick conductors. In one embodiment, the keyboard and point stick conductors terminate in a common connector having conductive pads arranged in a V shape to connect with conductors extending from a keyboard membrane. In alternative embodiments, the point stick conductors extend out from the common membrane to align with point stick conductors extending from a keyboard assembly.

Claims (33)

1. An information handling system comprising:

plural processing components operable to process information;

a keyboard assembly operable to accept user inputs and translate the user inputs into electrical signals for communication to the processing components through a plurality of conductive pads;

a point stick integrated into the keyboard assembly, the point stick operable to accept user inputs and translate the user inputs into electrical signals for communication to the processing components through a connector; and

a cable having plural conductors enclosed at least in part with a single membrane, a first set of the conductors interfacing the keyboard assembly conductive pads to the processing components, the second set of conductors interfacing the point stick connector to the processing components, the first and second connectors disposed proximate to each other and having a V shape.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising:

a cable ZIF connector terminating the first and second set of plural conductors of the cable; and

a motherboard ZIF connector extending from the processing components to connect with the cable ZIF connector.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the keyboard assembly comprises a keyboard membrane having a tail, the tail having the conductive pads exposed to connect with the cable conductors.

4. The information handling system of claim 3 wherein the point stick connector comprises conductors extending through the membrane to conductive pads exposed in the tail to connect with the cable conductors.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the cable connects to the conductive pads with a conductive adhesive.

6. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the cable connects to the conductive pads with a conductive epoxy.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the cable connects to the conductive pads with a physical binding.

8. A method for interfacing user inputs with information handling system processing components, the method comprising:

disposing the processing components in a portable housing;

exposing a connector in the portable housing, the connector interfaced with the processing components;

connecting a first end of a cable to a keyboard assembly, the cable having a single membrane for at least part of a length, the keyboard assembly having keypad connectors and point stick connectors connected with the cable, the keypad connectors and point stick connectors disposed proximate to each other to form a V shape;

connecting a second end of the cable to the connector in the portable housing; and

assembling the keyboard assembly into the portable housing over the processing components.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein connecting a first end of a cable further comprises connecting a first portion of the cable to the keypad connectors and connecting a second portion of the cable to the point stick connectors, the first and second portions having separate membranes.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein connecting the first portion of the cable comprises connecting the cable to conductive pads formed from a keyboard membrane.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein connecting the second portion of the cable comprises connecting the cable to a point stick integrated in the keyboard membrane, the second portion of the cable having a length extending past the first portion of the cable to the point stick.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein connecting the second portion of the cable comprises running conductors from the point stick to the conductive pads, the second portion of the cable connecting to the conductors proximate the conductive pads.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein connecting a first end of a cable further comprises connecting a first portion of the cable to the keypad connectors and connecting a second portion of the cable to the point stick connectors, the first and second portions having a common single membrane.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein connecting a first end of a cable further comprises coupling the cable to keyboard membrane conductive pads with a conductive adhesive.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein connecting the second end of the cable further comprises connecting a ZIF connector at the second end of the cable to a ZIF connector at a motherboard disposed in the housing.

16. An information handling system keyboard cable comprising:

a set of keyboard conductors having a first end terminating at a motherboard connector and a second end terminating at a keyboard connector;

a set of point stick conductors having a first end terminating at the motherboard connector and a second end terminating at a point stick connector; and

a sheath enclosing the keyboard conductors together with at least a portion of the point stick conductors;

wherein the keyboard connector comprises plural conductive pads interfaced with the keyboard conductors and formed in a V shape;

wherein the point stick connector comprises plural conductive pads interfaced with the point stick conductors proximate the keyboard conductors at the V shape, the membrane enclosing both the keyboard conductors and the point stick conductors from motherboard connector to both the point stick connector and the keyboard connector.

17. The information handling system keyboard cable of claim 16 wherein the motherboard connector comprises a ZIF connector.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 27, 2005
From: MUNDT, KEVIN; LANGERHANS, RON; UTZ, JAMES R.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 017153/0275 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070097079A1 · May 3, 2007