US 11,927,989 B2
Computing device with rotatable keyboard
Christopher Wiley Sleat, Annapolis, MD (US)
Assigned to Google LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed by GOOGLE LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/444,688.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/706,344, filed on Aug. 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0050511 A1, Feb. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. G06F 1/16 (2006.01); H01R 39/34 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 1/1664 (2013.01) [G06F 1/1671 (2013.01); G06F 1/1677 (2013.01); G06F 1/1679 (2013.01); G06F 1/1637 (2013.01); G06F 1/1681 (2013.01); G06F 1/1686 (2013.01); G06F 1/169 (2013.01); H01R 39/34 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computing device, comprising:
a hardware processor;
a memory;
a first housing portion including a touch screen display; and
a second housing portion coupled to the first housing portion by a hinge, the second housing portion including a rotatable keyboard and a trackpad, wherein:
the second housing portion comprises a hub mechanism disposed between the rotatable keyboard and the second housing portion,
the hub mechanism comprises a conductive slip ring that provides a path for communication between the rotatable keyboard and the hardware processor;
the rotatable keyboard rotates about the hub mechanism;
the rotatable keyboard rotates within a plane parallel to the second housing portion;
the rotatable keyboard rotates within the second housing portion to a first predefined position such that an entirety of the rotatable keyboard is oriented and accessible for use with the touch screen display to the left of the rotatable keyboard; and
the rotatable keyboard rotates 180 degrees within the second housing portion from the first predefined position to a second predefined position such that the entirety of the rotatable keyboard is oriented and accessible for use with the touch screen display to the right of the rotatable keyboard, wherein:
the touch screen display and the trackpad present on the rotatable keyboard is disabled while the rotatable keyboard is being rotated among a plurality of predefined positions comprising the first predefined position and the second predefined position.