The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 23, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 09, 1996
Acer Advanced Labs, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for expanding a portable computer keyboard (6) to approximate a full size desktop keyboard. The device and method include a linkage assembly (8) for automatically separating first and second keyboard portions (44, 46) from each other when the display module (22) of the computer is opened into its operating configuration. The linkage assembly is further adapted to automatically move the keyboard into a collapsed position when the display module is closed into the carrying or carrying configuration. In one embodiment, the keyboard portions are pivoted away from each other to form an angle therebetween to improve user hand and wrist orientation during use of the keyboard.