An electro-permanent magnet (EPM) key assembly of an information handling system may comprise a pair of scissor plates operably connected to a base contact assembly including an EPM such that each of the pair of scissor plates may rotate away from one another in the presence of downward force on a key cap situated atop the pair of scissor plates for actuation of the EPM key assembly; the EPM comprising a low-coercivity magnet and a high-coercivity magnet; wherein an application of a first current pulse applied to an electrically conductive wire coiled around the low-coercivity magnet places the EPM in a first on state to assert a first magnetic field on a ferromagnetic flange operatively coupled to rotate with at least one scissor plate about a hinge; and wherein an application of a second current pulse applied to the electrically conductive wire places the EPM in a second on state to increase the magnetic field on the ferromagnetic flange.

A touch input sensing device configured to be added to an electronic device, the electronic device including a touch input unit, the touch input unit including a first touch member integrated with a housing. The touch input sensing device includes a resonant circuit configured to generate a resonance signal having a resonant frequency that varies based on a touch of the touch input unit, a digital frequency counter configured to count a reference frequency signal based on the resonance signal, or count the resonance signal based on the reference frequency signal, to generate a count value, and a touch detector configured to detect whether the touch of the touch input unit has occurred based on the count value generated by the digital frequency counter, and output a touch detection signal indicating whether the touch has occurred.

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.

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.

An electropermanent magnet key assembly of an information handling system comprising an electropermanent magnet (EPM) having a low-coercivity magnet and a high-coercivity magnet, wherein the EPM is capable of an on state generating a magnetic field and an off state disabling the magnetic field, a key cap, situated atop a pair of scissor plates, capable of downward movement, via action of the scissor plates, from a raised, neutral position in which a surface of the key cap is moved to a depressed position below the neutral position, wherein the downward movement of the key assembly may record a keystroke, a flange operably connected a first scissor plate of the pair of scissor plates and extending opposite of a hinge of the first scissor plate, such that the flange is attracted toward the magnetic field of the EPM situated beneath the pair of scissor plates to urge the first scissor plate to push the key cap to the neutral position in an on state, and a spring exerting a biasing force to rotate a rocker arm toward the flange for urging the flange away from the EPM opposite to the attraction of the magnetic field of the EPM, wherein the effect of the biasing force on movement of the flange is lesser than the effect of the magnetic field generated by the EPM on movement of the flange in the on state.

An electropermanent magnet key assembly of an information handling system comprising an electropermanent magnet (EPM) having a low-coercivity magnet and a high-coercivity magnet, wherein the EPM is capable of an on state generating a magnetic field and an off state disabling the magnetic field, a key cap, situated atop a pair of scissor plates, capable of downward movement, via action of the scissor plates, from a raised, neutral position in which a surface of the key cap is moved to a depressed position below the neutral position, wherein the downward movement of the key assembly may record a keystroke, a flange operably connected a first scissor plate of the pair of scissor plates and extending opposite of a hinge of the first scissor plate, such that the flange is attracted toward the magnetic field of the EPM situated beneath the pair of scissor plates to urge the first scissor plate to push the key cap to the neutral position in an on state, and a spring exerting a biasing force to rotate a rocker arm toward the flange for urging the flange away from the EPM opposite to the attraction of the magnetic field of the EPM, wherein the effect of the biasing force on movement of the flange is lesser than the effect of the magnetic field generated by the EPM on movement of the flange in the on state.

In one aspect, an apparatus for receiving input and/or generating output comprises a key assembly. The key assembly comprises a key cover, a magnet, and an electromagnet. The magnet is coupled to the key cover. The electromagnet is operable to displace the key cover based on whether the key assembly is in an active state or an inactive state. In the active state, the electromagnet is operable to raise the key cover to a first position based on generation of a magnetic field. In the inactive state, the electromagnet is operable to lower the key cover to a second position based on cessation of the magnetic field.

In one aspect, an apparatus for receiving input and/or generating output comprises a key assembly. The key assembly comprises a key cover, a magnet, and an electromagnet. The magnet is coupled to the key cover. The electromagnet is operable to displace the key cover based on whether the key assembly is in an active state or an inactive state. In the active state, the electromagnet is operable to raise the key cover to a first position based on generation of a magnetic field. In the inactive state, the electromagnet is operable to lower the key cover to a second position based on cessation of the magnetic field.

An electro-permanent magnet (EPM) key assembly of an information handling system may comprise a pair of scissor plates operably connected to a base contact assembly including an EPM such that each of the pair of scissor plates may rotate away from one another in the presence of downward force on a key cap situated atop the pair of scissor plates for actuation of the EPM key assembly; the EPM comprising a low-coercivity magnet and a high-coercivity magnet; wherein an application of a first current pulse applied to an electrically conductive wire coiled around the low-coercivity magnet places the EPM in a first on state to assert a first magnetic field on a ferromagnetic flange operatively coupled to rotate with at least one scissor plate about a hinge; and wherein an application of a second current pulse applied to the electrically conductive wire places the EPM in a second on state to increase the magnetic field on the ferromagnetic flange.

An electro-permanent magnet (EPM) key assembly of an information handling system may comprise a pair of scissor plates operably connected to a base contact assembly including an EPM such that each of the pair of scissor plates may rotate away from one another in the presence of downward force on a key cap situated atop the pair of scissor plates for actuation of the EPM key assembly; the EPM comprising a low-coercivity magnet and a high-coercivity magnet; wherein an application of a first current pulse applied to an electrically conductive wire coiled around the low-coercivity magnet places the EPM in a first on state to assert a first magnetic field on a ferromagnetic flange operatively coupled to rotate with at least one scissor plate about a hinge; and wherein an application of a second current pulse applied to the electrically conductive wire places the EPM in a second on state to increase the magnetic field on the ferromagnetic flange.