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:
Aug. 30, 2016
Filed:
Mar. 04, 2014
Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Singapore, SG;
Satoshi Hosoya, Yokohama, JP;
Takehito Yamauchi, Singapore, SG;
LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD., New Tech Park, SG;
Abstract
Retractable touchpad devices and methods are provided. In general, an electronic device can include a retractable frame configured to move between a retracted configuration and an expanded configuration. In the retracted configuration, the frame can be contained within a base of the electronic device. In the expanded configuration, the frame can no longer be contained within the base, thereby allowing the frame to provide touchpad functionality when in the expanded configuration. The retractable frame can thus be configured to selectively provide touchpad functionality for the electronic device based on whether the frame is retracted or expanded. The retractable frame can be configured to be retracted in a variety of ways, such as by including a foldable member configured to be unfolded and folded so as to selectively provide touchpad access, or by including a slidable member configured to be slid so as to selectively provide touchpad access.