IP Library Granted Patent US 11,907,022
Granted Patent B2
US 11,907,022 · App. 18/306,706 · Granted Feb 20, 2024

Physical keyboards for multi-display computing devices

Inventors: Jeff Ku (Taipei, TW); Tim Liu (Taipei, TW); Yihua Lai (Santa Clara, CA); Lance Lin (Taipei, TW); Gavin Sung (Taipei, TW)
Assignee: Intel Corporation
G06F1/1662G06F1/1616G06F1/1647G06F1/1681G06F3/0213G06F3/03547
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,907,022
App. No.
18/306,706
Granted
Feb 20, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatus, systems, articles of manufacture, and methods are disclosed for physical keyboards with multi-display computing devices. An example keyboard includes a plurality of keys and a translucent backplate having a first side and a second side. The example keyboard also includes a coating between the first side of the backplate and the plurality of keys, the coating to pass light to illuminate the plurality of keys, and the coating to obscure the plurality keys when viewed from the second side of the backplate.

Claims (42)

1. An electronic device comprising:

a first housing;

a first display area carried by the first housing;

a second housing;

a second display area carried by the second housing;

a hinge rotatably coupling the first housing and the second housing;

wireless communication circuitry; and

a physical keyboard removably positionable on the second housing, the physical keyboard to wirelessly communicate with the communication circuitry when the physical keyboard is coupled to the second housing, and the physical keyboard to wirelessly communicate with the communication circuitry when the physical keyboard is detached from the first housing and the second housing, the physical keyboard stowable on the electronic device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , further including a magnet to couple the physical keyboard to the second housing.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the magnet is to place the physical keyboard on the second housing to expose a subportion of the second display to the user.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the magnet is positioned at a perimeter of the physical keyboard.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , further including leather coupled to the second housing.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the physical keyboard includes a touch pad.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , further including programmable circuitry to cause display of emojis in response to an operation of the physical keyboard.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , further including programmable circuitry to accept user voice commands.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , further including programmable circuitry to present an on-screen keyboard.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a first housing;

a first display area carried by the first housing;

a second housing;

a second display area carried by the second housing;

means for displaying content in the first display area and the second display area;

means for rotatably coupling the first housing and the second housing;

a physical keyboard removably positionable on the second housing, the physical keyboard stowable on the electronic device; and

means for wirelessly communicating with the physical keyboard when the physical keyboard is (1) coupled to the second housing and (2) detached from the first housing and the second housing, the physical keyboard stowable on the electronic device.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , further including means for magnetically coupling the physical keyboard to the second housing.

12. The electronic device of claim 10 , further including leather coupled to the second housing.

13. The electronic device of claim 10 , further including means for causing display of emojis in response to an operation of the physical keyboard.

14. The electronic device of claim 10 , further including means for accepting and interpreting user voice commands.

15. The electronic device of claim 10 , further including means for presenting an on-screen keyboard.

16. An electronic device comprising:

a first housing;

a first display area carried by the first housing;

a second housing;

a second display area carried by the second housing;

a hinge rotatably coupling the first housing and the second housing; and

wireless communication circuitry to:

communicate with a physical keyboard when the physical keyboard is coupled to the second housing, and communicate with the physical keyboard when the physical keyboard is detached from the first housing and the second housing, wherein the electronic device is configured to stow the physical keyboard.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , further including a magnet to couple the physical keyboard to the second housing.

18. The electronic device of claim 16 , further including a leather fabric coupled to the second housing.

19. The electronic device of claim 16 , further including programmable circuitry to cause display of emojis in response to an operation of the physical keyboard.

20. The electronic device of claim 16 , further including programmable circuitry to accept user voice commands.

Continuity (4)
Continuation 17893931 · Aug 23, 2022
Continuation 17173485 · Feb 11, 2021
Continuation 16216240 · Dec 11, 2018
Related Publication 20230333604A1 · Oct 19, 2023
Cited By (2)
US 12,493,366 US 12,608,046