Portable electronic device with two-piece housing

• US 10,594,351 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2016
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Erik L., Hobson, Phillip Michael, Jenks, Kenneth A., Mittleman, Adam D., Andre, Bartley K., Coster, Daniel J., De Iuliis, Daniele, Howarth, Richard P., Ive, Jonathan P., Jobs, Steven P., Kerr, Duncan Robert, Nishibori, Shin, Rohrbach, Matthew Dean, Satzger, Douglas B., Seid, Calvin Q., Stringer, Christopher J., Whang, Eugene Anthony, Zorkendorfer, Rico
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez Cruz, Dimary S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wright, Ingrid D
• Application Number:
  US15/098,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20160233913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 36167901, 36167902, 36167921, 36167926, 36167927, 36167955-67958
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• 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 1/1658 related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0252 by means of a snap-on mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0277 for a printed circuit board assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

Portable electronic devices are provided. Each device may be formed from two parts. A first part may be provided with components such as a display, a touch screen, a cover glass, and a frame. A second part may be provided with a plastic housing, circuit boards containing electrical components, and a bezel. Engagement members may be connected to the first and second parts. The engagement members may be formed from metal clips with holes and springs with flexible spring prongs that mate with the holes in the clips. The metal clips may be welded to frame struts on the frame and the springs may be welded to the bezel. During assembly, the first part may be rotated into place within the second part. Retention clips attached to the frame may be used to secure the two parts together. Assembly instructions and associated connector numbers may be provided within the devices.

Claims

1. A wireless communications device, comprising:

an antenna configured for cellular telephone communications;

a housing having a metal element that forms part of the antenna;

a display having a capacitive touch sensor and a cover glass, wherein the cover glass has an opening and wherein the metal element loops around a periphery of the display; and

a button disposed within the opening.

2. The wireless communications device defined in claim 1 wherein the capacitive touch sensor comprises a multitouch capacitive touch sensor.

3. The wireless communications device defined in claim 2 wherein the cover glass has an additional opening that forms a speaker port.

4. The wireless communications device defined in claim 1 wherein the metal element surrounds the display.

5. The wireless communications device defined in claim 1 wherein the wireless communications device has a front face, an opposing rear face, and sides extending between the front and rear faces, wherein the housing has a portion that forms one of the sides of the wireless communications device, and wherein the portion has a first opening that forms a microphone port and a second opening that forms a speaker port.

6. The wireless communications device defined in claim 1 wherein the display forms part of a first assembly having at least one clip and the housing forms part of a second assembly having at least one spring that engages the clip.

7. The wireless communications device defined in claim 6 further comprising screws that screw into the first assembly through the second assembly.

8. A wireless communications device having a front face and an opposing rear face, comprising:

an antenna configured for cellular communications;

a housing having a single opening on the front face of the wireless communications device, wherein the housing comprises glass that forms the rear face of the wireless communications device;

a display in the opening, wherein the display includes a cover glass and a capacitive touch sensor that is adhered to the cover glass, and wherein the display spans most of the front face of the wireless communications device; and

a proximity sensor.

9. The wireless communications device defined in claim 8 wherein the housing comprises a metal element that surrounds the display.

10. The wireless communications device defined in claim 9 wherein the metal element comprises at least one hole.

11. The wireless communications device defined in claim 8 wherein the cover glass comprises a first opening that forms a speaker port and a second opening that receives a button.

12. The wireless communications device defined in claim 8 wherein the display forms part of a first assembly having clips with holes and wherein the housing forms part of a second assembly having springs with prongs that protrude into the holes and that hold the first assembly to the second assembly.

13. A wireless communications device having a front face and an opposing rear face, comprising:

an antenna configured for cellular communications;

a housing having four side portions extending between the front and rear faces;

a display having a cover glass that extends between the four side portions, wherein the display comprises a capacitive touch sensor that is adhesively attached to the cover glass, and wherein the cover glass has opposing front and rear surfaces and a peripheral side surface that extends between the front and rear surfaces; and

a gasket interposed between the display and the housing, wherein the gasket contacts the peripheral side surface of the cover glass.

14. The wireless communications device defined in claim 13 wherein the four side portions are formed from metal.

15. The wireless communications device defined in claim 14 wherein at least one of the four side portions has a hole.

16. The wireless communications device defined in claim 13 wherein the cover glass comprises a first opening that forms a speaker port and a second opening that receives a button.

17. The wireless communications device defined in claim 13 wherein the display forms part of a first assembly having clips and the housing forms part of a second assembly having springs that engage with the clips.

18. The wireless communications device defined in claim 13 further comprising a battery and a frame, wherein the frame comprises a metal member and a molded plastic member that is molded onto the metal member.