An apparatus may include an input surface, a plurality of key positions on the input surface, a force sensor positioned underneath the input surface at at least one of the key positions, and a proximity controller in communication with a capacitance measuring circuit incorporated into the apparatus.

Embodiments are directed to deformable haptic structures used within an electronic device. The haptic structures may provide input and output for the electronic device. In one aspect, an embodiment includes a keyboard having a housing and a keycap positioned within an opening of the housing. The keyboard may include a haptic structure coupled with the housing and the keycap. The haptic structure may include a compliant layer and a pair of electrodes separated by the compliant layer. The pair of electrodes may be configured to compress the compliant layer in response to an input signal. The compression of the compliant layer caused by the pair of electrodes may move the keycap relative to the housing.

Systems and methods are involved with an apparatus including a keyboard containment system, which includes an engageable keyboard and an engageable keyboard tray wherein the engageable keyboard tray can be shaped and sized to receive the engageable keyboard and the engageable keyboard tray can be couplable with the engageable keyboard. In addition, other aspects are described.

Keyboard dock verification can be performed. A dock report can be created and stored on a keyboard dock as part of the manufacturing process. The dock report can include device information for the child devices of the keyboard dock. When the keyboard dock is attached to a computing device, a dock manager executing on the computing device can query the keyboard dock to retrieve device information for the keyboard dock's child devices. The dock manager can create a dock report from the retrieved device information. The dock manager can also retrieve the dock report that is stored on the keyboard dock and compare it to the dock report that the dock manager created. If the two dock reports match, the dock manager can determine that the keyboard dock is verified and can allow the keyboard dock, including its child devices, to be enumerated on the computing dock.

The description relates to hinged devices, such as hinged computing devices and associated input devices. One example can include first and second device portions and a hinge assembly rotatably securing the first portion and the second portion through a range of orientations. This example can also include a wedge-shaped input device extending between a first end having a first thickness and a second end having a second greater thickness. In a closed orientation the first and second portions simultaneously contact the first end and the second end.

A keyboard device includes: a base member having a top face on which a first unit and a second unit are placed; a driving part configured to relatively move the first unit and the second unit between a storage position and a usage position; at the storage position, the first side face and the second side face meshing with each other while being displaced in a front-rear direction of the keyboard device; at the usage position, the first side face and the second side face meshing with each other without being displaced in the front-rear direction so that the units are placed side by side in a left-right direction of the keyboard device to define a single keyboard; and an operating member configured to move the first unit and the second unit between the usage position and the storage position.

A system having a keyboard capable of supporting multiple hosts and changing character sets. A first host processor communicates with a display. A keyboard has a plurality of independently moveable physical keys with each letter of an entire alphabet accessible by a single strike actuation of one of the plurality of keys. The keyboard uses twelve or fewer keys provide single strike access to the entire alphabet. A map defining functions of the keys appears on the display responsive to a prompting action of a user's hand without requiring any finger to leave the keys that provide access to the alphabet. The map defines the spatial relationship of each function relative to a home position of a finger.

Provided is an electronic device, including a main body, a first functional module, a linkage mechanism, and a second functional module. The first functional module is slidably provided on the main body between a first position and a second position. The linkage mechanism is provided on the main body and is connected to the first functional module. The second functional module is linked to the linkage mechanism and is provided on the main body in a turnover manner, in which when the first functional module is located at the first position, the second functional module is covered by the first functional module, and when the first functional module moves to the second position and the second functional module is exposed, the second functional module is driven by the linkage mechanism to be turned up.

Embodiments are directed to a sensing membrane that is coupled with electrical terminals of a key switch and a light source. This may allow the membrane to be both configured to transmit a signal in response to actuation of keyboard key cap and illuminate an illuminable symbol of key cap. In one aspect, the membrane includes a set of deformable layers separated by a spacer layer. Terminals of the key switch are connected to distinct ones of the set of deformable layers and positioned within a cavity defined by the spacer layer. A light assembly may be positioned along and configured to move with one of the set of deformable layers. Depression of a key cap toward the set of deformable layers causes the set of terminals to move and initiate a switch event.

An information handling system peripheral keyboard sized to rest on an information handling display to accept key inputs has a bottom surface with a selectively opaque layer that transitions between transparent and opaque states based upon a usage scenario. For instance, the keyboard has a transparent state when placed on the display to allow light to pass through the keyboard and illuminate the keys. When removed from the display, an opaque state hides keyboard internals so as not to detract from the keyboard appearance. In one embodiment, the selectively opaque layer is an electronic ink that presents a product brand on the keyboard bottom surface when in the opaque state.