Structural ground reference for an electronic component of a computing device

• US 10,051,724 B1
• Filed: 01/30/2015
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Davis, Derryk C., Brock, John M., Augenbergs, Peteris K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pappas, Claire X
• Assistant Examiner(s): Oliver, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US14/610,872
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04107 Shielding in digitiser, i.e. guard or shielding arrangements, mostly for capacitive touchscreens, e.g. driven shields, driven grounds
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0215 Grounding of printed circuits by connection to external grounding means

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus that provides structural support and an electrical ground for components of an electronic device. Specifically, one or more embodiments of the present disclosure provide a semi-rigid member having at least one screw boss. An electronic component is coupled to the semi-rigid member. In embodiments, the electronic component is coupled to the semi-rigid member using the at least one screw boss. As a separate component, the semi-rigid member is configured to provide an electrical ground for the electronic component and also provides structural support for the electronic component.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a semi-rigid member comprising a plate and at least one pad affixed to the plate;

at least one screw boss directly coupled to a first side of the semi-rigid member;

an actuator directly coupled to the at least one screw boss;

a first electronic component coupled to the first side of the semi-rigid member, the first electronic component being coupled to the semi-rigid member using the at least one screw boss, wherein the semi-rigid member is configured to provide an electrical ground for the electronic component and to provide structural support for the electronic component; and

a second electronic component coupled to a second side of the semi-rigid member, wherein the second side is opposite the first side.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one screw boss is press-fit to the semi-rigid member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one screw boss is welded to the semi-rigid member.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one screw boss is used to provide the electrical ground for the first electronic component.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one screw boss is further configured to receive at least one additional mechanical device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the semi-rigid member is one of stainless steel and titanium.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the semi-rigid member is anodized aluminum.

8. A device comprising:

a coated glass member;

an adhesive layer, wherein a first side of the adhesive layer is coupled to an underside of the coated glass member;

a sensor, wherein a first side of the sensor is coupled to a second side of the adhesive layer;

a gel plate, wherein a first side of the gel plate is coupled to a second side of the sensor, and wherein the gel plate is configured as a semi-rigid member and comprises;

a plate having opposing first and second surfaces;

a pad affixed to the second surface of the plate; and

a first screw boss directly coupled to the second surface of the plate; and

a second screw boss that is configured to secure the sensor to the gel plate, wherein the gel plate is configured to provide an electrical ground for the sensor and to provide structural support for the sensor.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the second screw boss is press-fit to the gel plate.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the second screw boss is welded to the gel plate.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the second screw boss is used to provide the electrical ground for the sensor.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least one of the first and second screw bosses is further configured to receive at least one additional mechanical device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the at least one additional mechanical device is an actuator.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the plate is comprised of either stainless steel or titanium.

15. The device of claim 8, wherein the plate is approximately 0.2 mm thick.

16. The device of claim 8, wherein the sensor is a capacitive sensor.

17. The device of claim 8, wherein the device is a laptop and the sensor is a touch sensor for the laptop.

18. A method for securing and grounding components of an electronic device, the method comprising:

coupling a touch sensor to a touch-sensitive glass portion of a housing of the electronic device with a layer of adhesive, wherein the layer of adhesive directly contacts the touch sensor and the touch-sensitive glass portion;

coupling a first side of a semi-rigid member to the touch sensor to provide structural support for the touch sensor;

electrically grounding the touch sensor to the semi-rigid member using a first screw boss coupled to the semi-rigid member and directly coupled to the touch sensor; and

coupling an actuator to a second side of the semi-rigid member using a second screw boss, wherein the second side is opposite the first side.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein coupling the electronic component to the second side of the semi-rigid member comprises grounding the electronic component to the semi-rigid member.