Handheld portable device

• US 10,474,193 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2017
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: McClure, Stephen R., Corbin, Sean S., Ternus, John P., Gibbs, Kevin D., Franklin, Jeremy C., Kibiti, Elvis M., Raff, John, Henry, Jules B., Rappoport, Benjamin, Wright, Derek W., Uttermann, Erik A., Yu, Ming, Peterson, Carl R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US15/648,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20170308123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 361758, 361770, 361807
• 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 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include at least a single piece housing. The single piece housing can be machined from a single billet of material, such as a billet of aluminum. The single piece housing can include ledges with a surface receiving a trim bead and a cover. Corner brackets can be attached to the single piece housing to improve the damage resistance of the housing.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing machined from a billet of material and comprising;

a lower portion defining a flat bottom surface;

an upper portion defining an opening;

a ledge formed around a perimeter of the opening; and

a set of side surfaces that extends between the lower portion and the upper portion to define a curved profile;

a display positioned within the opening of the housing; and

a cover positioned over the display and coupled to the ledge.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a side surface of the set of side surfaces defines a button opening that is configured to receive a button.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the housing includes an interior surface defining a portion of an interior volume; and

the housing defines a boss along the interior surface that is configured to mount a printed circuit board.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, further wherein the boss includes a threaded feature configured to receive a fastener.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the housing includes an interior surface defining a portion of an interior volume; and

the housing defines a raised column that extends into the interior volume and is configured to receive a fastener.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the housing defines an interior volume;

the electronic device includes an audio element positioned within the interior volume; and

a side surface of the set of side surfaces defines a speaker grill configured to pass sound to or from the audio element.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

a side surface of the set of side surfaces defines a port for receiving an external connector.

8. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing formed from a metal billet, comprising;

a first portion defining a flat bottom surface;

a second portion defining a display opening; and

a set of side surfaces that extends between the flat bottom surface and the display opening and defines a curved profile;

a display disposed in the display opening; and

an audio element that is acoustically coupled to an acoustic opening formed in a side surface of the set of side surfaces.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein:

the housing defines a ledge formed around a perimeter of the display opening; and

the electronic device further comprises a transparent cover that is positioned over the display and attached to the ledge.

10. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein:

the set of side surfaces defines a tray opening; and

the electronic device further comprises a subscriber identity module tray positioned within the tray opening.

11. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the acoustic opening is one of an array of holes that defines a speaker grill.

12. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the electronic device further comprises a protective layer coupled to the housing and is positioned over an interior portion of the display opening.

13. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein:

the set of side surfaces defines a button opening that is configured to receive an external button.

14. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein:

the electronic device further comprises a wireless transceiver;

the set of side surfaces at least partially defines an antenna opening; and

a radio-transparent material is positioned in the antenna opening and is configured to pass wireless communications to or from the wireless transceiver.

15. An electronic device, comprising:

a unitary metal housing comprising;

a lower portion defining a flat bottom surface;

an upper portion defining a cover opening;

a set of curved side surfaces that extends between the lower portion and the upper portion to define a curved profile; and

a button opening defined in a side surface of the set of curved side surfaces;

a button positioned at least partially within the button opening; and

a cover positioned at least partially within the cover opening.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein:

the electronic device further comprises a wireless transceiver; and

the unitary metal housing defines an antenna opening that is configured to pass wireless signals to or from the wireless transceiver.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein a radio-transparent material is disposed in the antenna opening and defines an exterior surface of the electronic device.

18. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein:

the unitary metal housing includes an interior surface that at least partially defines an interior volume;

a mounting feature is defined along the interior surface; and

a printed circuit board is positioned within the interior volume and secured to the mounting feature.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the mounting feature is a threaded boss.

20. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein a first perimeter defined by the upper portion is larger than a second perimeter defined by the lower portion.