Display housing for computing device

• US 20050270733A1
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Lam, Lawrence, Bell, Jory, Stringer, Chris J., Riccomini, Roy
• Granted Patent: US 7,440,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.260
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• 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

Abstract

An improved housing for a computing device is disclosed. The improved housing can have one or more of the following aspects. A first aspect of the invention pertains to a computer housing having a logo or other symbol that can be illuminated using light from the backside of a display panel. A second aspect of the invention pertains to a suspended frame is able to support a display panel within a display housing. A third aspect of the invention pertains to a computing device provided with an internal antenna. A fourth aspect of the invention pertains to a stiffener for a computer housing so as to increase the rigidity and strength of the computer housing. A fifth aspect of the invention pertains to a housing having a logo, symbol or other device that can be illuminated using light from the backside of a display panel. A sixth aspect of the invention pertains to a lid for a computing device, such as a portable computer, that is provided with a translucent housing.

Claims

1. A housing for a computer device, comprising:

a front shell;

a back shell coupled to said front shell to produce said housing, electrical components for the computer device being internal to said housing; and

a foam stiffener provided internal to said housing to substantially fill unused space internal to said housing, thereby providing stiffness to said housing.

2. A housing as recited in claim 1, wherein said foam stiffener is lightweight.

3. A housing as recited in claim 2, wherein said foam stiffener is Styrofoam.

4. A housing as recited in claim 1, wherein the surfaces of said foam stiffener are contoured to adjacent surfaces internal to said housing.

5. A stiffening system for providing distributed loading to a portable computer assembly, said stiffening system comprising:

a computer housing, said computer housing including a first member and a second member, said second member being coupled to said first member to form a volume therebetween and wherein said first member and said second member when coupled together form said computer housing;

a stiffener, said stiffener being disposed between said first member and said second member of said computer housing, said stiffener being configured to substantially fill an unused portion of the volume between said first member and said second member wherein the outer surfaces of said stiffener respectively conform to the inner surfaces of the first and second member

6. A stiffening system as recited in claim 5, a laminate structure is formed from said first member, said second member and said stiffener which provide resistance to point pressure loading.

7. A stiffening system as recited in claim 5, wherein the inner peripheral surface of said first member has a complex geometry.

8. A stiffening system as recited in claim 5, wherein said stiffener is formed from foam.

9. A stiffening system as recited in claim 5, wherein said foam is packaging foam.

10. A stiffening system as recited in claim 9, wherein said foam is formed from a material selected from the group consisting essentially of polyurethane, expanded polystyrene, expanded polypropylene and expanded polyethylene.

11. A stiffening system as recited in claim 5, wherein said stiffener further includes a cavity.

12. A stiffening system as recited in claim 11, wherein said cavity is configured to provide clearance for internal circuitry or parts in said portable computer assembly.

13. A stiffening system as recited in claim 11, wherein said cavity is a weight reduction cavity.

14. A stiffening system as recited in claim 5, wherein said stiffener further includes protrusions and depressions for filling empty spaces in said first member and said second member.

15. A stiffening system as recited in claim 5, wherein said first member is an LCD display screen housing of said portable computer assembly.

16. A stiffening system as recited in claim 5, wherein said computer housing is a base housing of said portable computer assembly.

17. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing having a first member and a second member that form a void therebetween, the void containing the functional components of the portable electronic device, the void also forming an unused volume around the functional components and between the walls; and

a stiffener disposed within the void of the housing and substantially filling the unused volume, the stiffener increasing the strength and rigidity of the housing by distributing external loads more evenly across the housing.

18. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 17 wherein at least one of the first or second members is thin and flexible.

19. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 17 wherein the stiffener has an outer shape that coincides with an inner shape of at least one of the first and second members.

20. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 17 wherein the functional components include a circuit board.

21. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 17 wherein the functional components include a keyboard.

22. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 17 wherein the functional components include an antenna, said antenna being configured to transmit or receive RF signals, said housing being configured to enclose said antenna such that said antenna is entirely contained internal to said housing and is operable while being internal to said housing without having to extend any portion of said antenna outside said housing.

23. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 17 wherein the functional components include a display screen.

24. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 23 wherein the display screen is a flat panel display.

25. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 24 wherein the flat panel display emits light in a forward direction and in a back direction when active;

and wherein the first member of the housing forms a back of the housing and includes a transparent portion through which a portion of the light emitted by said flat panel display in the back direction is able to pass, thereby illuminating the transparent portion when said flat panel display is active, the stiffener including an opening for allowing light to pass therethrough.

26. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 24 wherein the portable electronic device is a portable computer including a base and a lid, and wherein the housing corresponds to the housing of the lid, the portable electronic device further comprising a frame attached to the housing and supporting the flat panel display with dimensional stability, the frame being coupled to the base via a hinge.

27. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 17 wherein the stiffener is fastened within the housing via a lip.

28. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 17 wherein the stiffener is structurally coupled to at least one of the first and second members via an adhesive.

29. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 17 wherein the portable electronic device is a portable computer including a base and a lid, and wherein the housing corresponds to the housing of the base or the lid.