A keyboard touch electrode module includes a plurality of same electrode matrices, which are arranged along a lengthwise direction and a widthwise direction and formed by a plurality of series of first electrodes and a plurality of series of second electrodes which interlace with each other. Adjacent two of the electrode matrices in the widthwise direction are mis-aligned. The electrode matrices thereon define a plurality of key projection areas, each of which covers a same key-face electrode pattern. A touch keyboard includes a base, a plurality of keycaps, a plurality of supporting structures connected to and between the base and the keycaps, and the keyboard touch electrode module disposed between the base and the keycaps. The keyboard touch electrode module can senses a non-pressing movement on the keycaps. The keycap can move up and down relative to the base and the keyboard touch electrode module through the corresponding supporting structure.

A portable information handling system is assembled and disassembled by a keystone assembly that couples at an upper surface of the portable housing to overlap a keyboard assembly that covers processing components disposed in the portable housing. The keyboard assembly includes a membrane having plural input sensors and a capacitive touch sensor that interface with a communications hub, such as a USB communications hub coupled to the membrane, that communicates both the keyboard inputs and touchpad inputs to a motherboard through first and second contacts that support a differential serial pair.

A computer input device can include a housing, a set of key switch mechanisms positioned in the housing, and a removable key structure that is operable between a first configuration positioned in the housing and a second configuration detached from the housing. The removable key can have a position sensor, wherein in the first configuration, the removable key structure is operable to provide a key-based typing input, and, in the second configuration, the removable key structure is operable as a computer pointing device using the position sensor. The removable key structure can therefore allow comfortable, portable, and precise pointer input for a computer input system.

A keyboard with light-emitting and touch functions includes a keyswitch, a backlight module having a light source and a light guide plate, a membrane, a capacitive touch sensing sheet disposed on the membrane and the light guide plate, and a board. The keyswitch includes a cap and a support mechanism movably connected to the cap. Light of the light source is incident into the light guide plate and is emitted toward the cap. The membrane has a switch and is selectively disposed on or under the backlight module. The board is disposed under the backlight module and the membrane and has first and second connection members. The first and second connection members pass through the membrane, the light guide plate and the capacitive touch sensing sheet to be movably connected to the support mechanism, so as to make the cap movable downward relative to the board for triggering the switch.

A keyboard for physically handicapped persons, including a translucent surface, a capacitive layer underneath the translucent surface, enabling detection of touch location and pressure on the translucent surface, a projection system dynamically projecting a plurality of visual layouts of keys of a keyboard on the translucent surface, wherein each visual layout includes ASCII character keys or graphical buttons, and a dynamic keyboard layout generator configured to receive user input in conformance with a currently projected layout of keys from a physically handicapped user, and to generate therefrom a time series of ASCII characters or button selections for input to the computing device, to dynamically adjust pressure sensitivity of the keyboard to avoid spurious user input, and to dynamically adjust key sizes and positions in a current virtual layout of keys, to reduce the amount of hand motion required by the user and the amount of discomfort experienced by the user.

The present disclosure is drawn to covers for electronic devices. In one example, a cover for an electronic device can include an enclosure with a light metal substrate with an opening therethrough, and a first protective coating covering the light metal substrate. A second protective coating is on the first protective coating, and a chamfered edge is present along the opening where the chamfer cuts through the first protective coating and the second protective coating to expose the light metal substrate at the chamfered edge. In one example, a transparent passivation layer is included along the chamfered edge.

Examples of keyboards with touch-sensitive pads are described herein. In an example, the keyboard includes a touch-sensitive pad to operate as a pointing device, the touch-sensitive pad being a non-depressible component

A device may include a display portion that includes a display housing and a display at least partially within the display housing. The device may also include a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion and including a bottom case, a top case coupled to the bottom case and defining an array of raised key regions, and a sensing system below the top case and configured to detect an input applied to a raised key region of the array of raised key regions.

Some embodiments provide a meta touch interface (MTI) with multiple position indicators with each position indicator operating as a separate pointing tool that can be activated (i) using taps on a touchpad or other touch sensitive surface or (ii) by pressing certain keyboard keys. The MT pointer allows for adjacent UI elements to be selected without having to reposition the MT pointer for each selection or activation. Some embodiments provide a multi-device UI that comprises at least two UIs, wherein the first UI is presented on an essentially horizontal plane that is aligned with operational focus and the second UI that is presented on an essentially vertical plane that is aligned with visual focus of the user. Some embodiments provide a precision pointer that includes an adjustable magnified region to better present underlying on-screen content, thereby allowing the user to more precisely position the pointer.

A portable computer includes a display portion comprising a display and a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion. The base portion may include a bottom case and a top case, formed from a dielectric material, coupled to the bottom case. The top case may include a top member defining a top surface of the base portion and a sidewall integrally formed with the top member and defining a side surface of the base portion. The portable computer may also include a sensing system including a first sensing system configured to determine a location of a touch input applied to the top surface of the base portion and a second sensing system configured to determine a force of the touch input.