Granted Patent B2

US 8,830,667 · App. 13/523,347 · Granted Sep 9, 2014

Abstract

Claims (22)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a first keyboard portion that is configured to move between a deployed position and a non-deployed position with respect to the housing, the first keyboard portion having a first end and a second end;

a cover pivotally coupled to the housing and to the first end of the first keyboard portion and configured to at least partially cover the first keyboard portion when the first keyboard portion is in the non-deployed position and to reveal the first keyboard portion when the first keyboard portion is in the deployed position, the cover being configured to move the first keyboard portion between the deployed position and the non-deployed position as the cover pivots with respect to the housing;

wherein the second end of the first keyboard portion rests on a guide within the housing when the first keyboard portion is in the non-deployed position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a second keyboard portion, wherein the first keyboard portion and the second keyboard portion together comprise a single keyboard and wherein the second keyboard portion is disposed such that the second keyboard portion is deployed regardless of whether the first keyboard portion is in the deployed position or the non-deployed position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the single keyboard comprises a QWERTY keyboard.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first keyboard portion comprises a substantially planar component.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second end of the first keyboard portion slides along the guide during at least part, but not all, of a transition from the non-deployed position to the deployed position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cover includes a support surface that contacts the first keyboard portion to provide support when the first keyboard portion is in the deployed position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the support surface contacts the first keyboard portion during at least part, but not all, of a transition from the non-deployed position to the deployed position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cover pivotally attaches to the housing at one end of the housing.

9. A portable electronic apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a display supported by the housing;

a first keyboard portion that is configured to move between a deployed position and a non-deployed position with respect to the housing, the first keyboard portion having a first end and a second end;

a cover pivotally coupled to the housing and to the first end of the first keyboard portion and configured to at least partially cover the first keyboard portion when the first keyboard portion is in the non-deployed position and to reveal the first keyboard portion when the first keyboard portion is in the deployed position, the cover being configured to move the first keyboard portion between the deployed position and the non-deployed position as the cover pivots with respect to the housing, wherein the second end of the first keyboard portion rests on a guide within the housing when the first keyboard portion is in the non-deployed position; and

a second keyboard portion wherein the first keyboard portion and the second keyboard portion together comprise a single keyboard and wherein the second keyboard portion is disposed such that the second keyboard portion is deployed regardless of whether the first keyboard portion is in the deployed position or the non-deployed position.

10. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 9 wherein the second keyboard portion comprises a single row of keys.

11. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first keyboard portion comprises a plurality of rows of keys.

12. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first keyboard portion, when the first keyboard portion is in the deployed position, and the second keyboard portion are substantially coplanar with the display.

Assignments (6)