Fabric signal path structures for flexible devices

• US 10,362,670 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2018
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Cousins, Benjamin A., Stiehl, Kurt R., Smith, Samuel G., Mayer, Kirk M., Hegde, Siddhartha, Kuna, Melody
• Primary Examiner(s): Norris, Jeremy C
• Application Number:
  US15/882,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20180168027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/005 Hinges
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• 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 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/028 Bending or folding regions of flexible printed circuits H05K1/0283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0296 Conductive pattern lay-out details not covered by sub groups H05K1/02 - H05K1/0295 H05K1/11 takes precedence; lay-out adapted to mounted component configuration H05K1/18
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/038 Textiles used as reinforcing materials for organic insulating substrates H05K1/0366
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0393 Flexible materials H05K1/038 takes precedence; specific organic compositions are classified in H05K1/0313 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/09 Use of materials for the conductive, e.g. metallic pattern
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/111 Pads for surface mounting, e.g. lay-out
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/05 Flexible printed circuits [FPCs]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/06 the conductive material being removed chemically or electrolytically, e.g. by photo-etch process semi-additive methods H05K3/108
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/10 in which conductive material is applied to the insulating support in such a manner as to form the desired conductive pattern
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/108 by semi-additive methods; masks therefor characterised by metallic etch mask H05K3/062; electroplating methods or apparatus H05K3/241

Abstract

An electronic device such as a cover for a portable device may be provided with a body having hinge portions. The hinge portions may allow the body to bend about one or more bend axes. The cover may have electrical components such as a keyboard. A keyboard may be mounted at one end of the cover and a connector may be mounted at an opposing end of the cover. A flexible fabric signal path structure may be formed from metal traces on a flexible fabric substrate. At one end of the cover, the flexible fabric signal path structure may be coupled to a printed circuit in the keyboard using conductive adhesive. At the opposing end of the cover, the metal traces on the flexible fabric substrate may be coupled to the connector.

Claims

1. A cover for an electronic device, comprising:

a body having first and second portions, wherein the body folds along a bend axis between the first and second portions and wherein the body has an exterior surface;

a keyboard on the first portion of the body;

a connector on the second portion of the body, wherein the connector is located on the exterior surface of the body; and

a flexible signal path that crosses the bend axis and that couples the keyboard to the connector, wherein the flexible signal path comprises conductive traces that are perpendicular to the bend axis.

2. The cover defined in claim 1 wherein the body folds along first and second additional bend axes that are parallel to the bend axis, wherein the first additional bend axis is interposed between the bend axis and the second additional bend axis, wherein the cover is configurable in a stand position in which the cover props up and connects to the electronic device, and wherein when the cover is in the stand position, the cover is unfolded at the bend axis and folded at the first and second additional bend axes.

3. The cover defined in claim 1 wherein the flexible signal path comprises fabric and wherein the flexible signal path comprises a layer of metal on the fabric.

4. The cover defined in claim 3 wherein the conductive traces comprise metal traces and wherein the layer of metal is patterned to form the metal traces.

5. The cover defined in claim 4 wherein the connector comprises first, second, and third contacts, and wherein the metal traces include a first metal trace coupled to the first contact, a second metal trace coupled to the second contact, and a third metal trace coupled to the third contact.

6. The cover defined in claim 1 wherein the keyboard comprises a printed circuit and an array of key switches on the printed circuit.

7. The cover defined in claim 6 wherein the printed circuit has opposing upper and lower surfaces, wherein the key switches are located on the upper surface, and wherein an electrical contact is located on the lower surface, the cover further comprising:

conductive adhesive that couples the electrical contact to the flexible signal path.

8. The cover defined in claim 7 further comprising insulating adhesive that at least partially surrounds the conductive adhesive.

9. The cover defined in claim 7 further comprising a fabric layer that overlaps the array of key switches.

10. The cover defined in claim 1 wherein the body folds along an additional bend axis and wherein the flexible signal path crosses the additional bend axis.

11. A cover for a tablet computer, comprising:

a housing having first and second portions separated by a flexible hinge, wherein the second portion folds along at least first and second fold axes;

a keyboard in the first portion;

a stiffener in the second portion;

an electrical contact on an outer surface of the housing; and

a conductive signal path that overlaps the flexible hinge and the stiffener, wherein the conductive signal path has a first end coupled to the keyboard and a second end coupled to the electrical contact.

12. The cover defined in claim 11 further comprising:

first and second additional flexible hinges; and

first and second additional stiffeners, wherein the flexible hinge and the first and second additional flexible hinges are interspersed with the stiffener and the first and second additional stiffeners in the second portion.

13. The cover defined in claim 11 wherein the conductive signal path comprises a metal layer on a fabric substrate.

14. The cover defined in claim 13 wherein the metal layer penetrates through openings in the fabric substrate.

15. The cover defined in claim 11 wherein the flexible hinge allows the housing to bend about a bend axis and wherein the flexible signal path is perpendicular to the bend axis.

16. A cover for an electronic device, comprising:

a housing that folds along a bend axis;

a plurality of electrical contacts on an outer surface of the housing;

a keyboard;

a first fabric layer that covers the keyboard; and

a second fabric layer that crosses the bend axis and that includes metal traces coupled between the keyboard and the plurality of electrical contacts.

17. The cover defined in claim 16 wherein the housing folds along first and second additional bend axes and wherein the second fabric layer crosses the first and second additional bend axes.

18. The cover defined in claim 16 wherein the second fabric layer comprises woven fabric and the metal traces are formed from a patterned layer of metal.

19. The cover defined in claim 16 wherein the keyboard comprises a printed circuit having electrical contacts that are coupled to the metal traces.

20. The cover defined in claim 19 further comprising a conductive adhesive that couples the electrical contacts to the metal traces.