US 12,461,607 B2
Foldable input device
Pengfei Lei, Shenzhen (CN); Stephen chi hung Chiu, Kaohsiung (TW); Kelong Zhao, Shenzhen (CN); Haiji Sun, Shenzhen (CN); and Simon Cameron Dearsley, Bellevue, WA (US)
Assigned to Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC, Redmond, WA (US)
Appl. No. 18/577,459
Filed by Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC, Redmond, WA (US)
PCT Filed Aug. 3, 2022, PCT No. PCT/US2022/074481
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 8, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/023449, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 23, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 2028980 (NL), filed on Aug. 17, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0176430 A1, May 30, 2024
Int. Cl. G06F 3/02 (2006.01); G06F 3/0354 (2013.01)
CPC G06F 3/03543 (2013.01) [G06F 3/0202 (2013.01); G06F 2203/0332 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An input device foldable between a flat orientation in which both ends of a module comprising a sensor are within the input device and a curved orientation in which one of the ends of the module protrudes from the input device, the input device comprising:
a head portion comprising a recess, the module comprising a pivoting end rotatably coupled about a hinge at a distal end of the head portion within the recess;
a foldable tail portion coupled to the head portion;
a slidable frame comprising an anchor portion affixed to the foldable tail portion and a connecting portion configured to slide relative to the tail portion as the foldable tail portion is folded; and
a linkage affixed to the slidable frame and configured to engage and move the module to cause the module to rotate about the hinge upon sliding of the slidable frame relative to the tail portion.