IP Library Granted Patent US 11,836,012
Granted Patent B2
US 11,836,012 · App. 17/233,945 · Granted Dec 5, 2023

Foldable case for a multi-form factor information handling system (IHS) with a detachable keyboard

Inventors: Michiel Sebastiaan Emanuel Petrus Knoppert (Amsterdam, NL); Mark R. Ligameri (Santa Rosa, FL)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F1/1669G06F1/1641G06F1/1618
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,836,012
App. No.
17/233,945
Granted
Dec 5, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of a foldable case for a multi-form factor IHS with a detachable keyboard are described. In some embodiments, a folio case may include: a first panel comprising a left-side magnet and a right-side magnet; a second panel comprising a left-side magnet and a right-side magnet, where a top edge of the second panel is coupled to a bottom edge of the first panel; and a third panel comprising a left-side magnet and a right-side magnet, where a top edge of the third panel is coupled to a bottom edge of the second panel.

Claims (26)

1. A keyboard, comprising:

a keycap portion of the keyboard disposed between a top edge and a bottom edge of the keyboard;

the top edge of the keyboard, wherein the top edge of the keyboard is thinner and smaller in height than the keycap portion of the keyboard, wherein the top edge of the keyboard is rigid with respect to the keycap portion of the keyboard, and wherein the top edge of the keyboard provides a lip thinner and smaller in height than the keycap portion of the keyboard configured to slide under a bottom edge of a folio case; and

a magnet disposed alongside the top edge of the keyboard, wherein the magnet is configured to couple the top edge of the keyboard to the bottom edge of the folio case.

2. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the top edge of the keyboard is configured to be coupled to an edge of a display of an Information Handling System (IHS).

3. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the keyboard is wirelessly coupled to an Information Handling System (IHS).

4. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein the folio case further comprises:

a first panel comprising a left-side magnet and a right-side magnet;

a second panel comprising a left-side magnet and a right-side magnet, wherein a top edge of the second panel is coupled to a bottom edge of the first panel; and

a third panel comprising a left-side magnet and a right-side magnet, wherein a top edge of the third panel is coupled to a bottom edge of the second panel.

5. The keyboard of claim 4 , wherein a display is part of an Information Handling System (IHS), and wherein in a first configuration, the keyboard is removably coupled to a bottom edge of the third panel, and the display rests above the third panel and the keyboard.

6. The keyboard of claim 5 , wherein in a second configuration, the display rests above (i) the first panel folded over the second panel, and (ii) the third panel.

7. The keyboard of claim 6 , wherein in a third configuration, the keyboard is removed from the third panel.

8. The keyboard of claim 1 , further comprising another magnet disposed alongside the top edge, wherein the other magnet is configured to couple the top edge to the folio case.

9. The keyboard of claim 8 , further comprising an electrical connector between the magnet and the other magnet.

10. The keyboard of claim 9 , wherein the magnet is disposed on a corner of the top edge and the other magnet is disposed on another corner of the top edge, the keyboard further comprising a third magnet on one side of the electrical connector and a fourth magnet on another side of the electrical connector.

11. The keyboard of claim 9 , wherein the electrical connector is configured to enable charging of a battery internal to the keyboard.

12. The keyboard of claim 9 , wherein a display is part of an Information Handling System (IHS), wherein the display is associated with the folio case, and wherein in response to a coupling of the electrical connector to the folio case or to the display associated with the folio case, the IHS is configured to produce a ribbon area on the display associated with the folio case alongside the top edge of the keyboard.

13. The keyboard of claim 12 , wherein in response to a decoupling of the electrical connector from the folio case or from the display of the IHS, the IHS is configured to stop producing the produced ribbon area on the display.

14. The keyboard of claim 1 , wherein a display is part of an Information Handling System (IHS), and wherein the lip of the top edge of the keyboard is configured to slide under a bottom of the display of the IHS.

15. A method, comprising:

handling a keyboard, the keyboard comprising: (a) a keycap portion disposed between a top edge and a bottom edge of the keyboard; (b) the top edge of the keyboard, wherein the top edge of the keyboard is rigid with respect to the keycap portion of the keyboard, wherein the top edge of the keyboard is thinner and smaller in height than the keycap portion of the keyboard and provides a lip thinner and smaller in height than the keycap portion of the keyboard configured to slide under a bottom edge of a folio case associated with a display; and (c) a magnet disposed alongside the top edge of the keyboard, wherein the magnet is configured to couple the top edge of the keyboard to the bottom edge of the folio case; and

coupling the top edge of the keyboard to the folio case associated with the display wherein, in response to the coupling, an Information Handling System (IHS) produces a ribbon area on the display associated with the folio case alongside the top edge of the keyboard.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the coupling charges a battery internal to the keyboard.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising decoupling the keyboard from the folio case, wherein the decoupling stops charging the battery.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein in response to the decoupling, the IHS stops producing the ribbon area.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (056295/0280) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 062022/0255 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (056295/0124) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 062022/0012 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (056295/0001) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 062021/0844 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058297/0332 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056295/0124 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056295/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056295/0280 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE MISSING PATENTS THAT WERE ON THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULED SUBMITTED BUT NOT ENTERED PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 056250 FRAME: 0541. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 17, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 056311/0781 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 14, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 056250/0541 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2021
From: KNOPPERT, MICHIEL SEBASTIAAN EMANUEL PETRUS; LIGAMERI, MARK R.
To: DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.
Reel/Frame 055958/0606 →