COVER FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20090279241A1
• Filed: 05/15/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Gettemy, Shawn R., Nakagawa, Eiji, Hanson, William Robert
• Application Number:
  US12/466,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20090279241A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.260
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• 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 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• 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 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display

Abstract

A cover for an electronic device for a portable electronic device is disclosed. The cover may comprise a thin, flexible transparent layer coupled with a supporting structure over a display screen and a digitizer mechanism. The digitizer mechanism may include a flexible conductive paste and a digitizing element. Users input data by applying mechanical pressure on the cover which deflects it and causes the conductive paste to contact and activate the digitizing element disposed beneath. A decorative border may be molded into the cover to conceal the electrical elements of the portable electronic device. The decorative border may be disposed directly beneath the flexible cover. The cover may be dust-free, waterproof, and have an outer surface that is free of any steps, openings, or indentations. Indentations may be molded into the cover to indicate button functions.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a display;

a digitizer overlapping said display; and

a housing enclosing said display and said digitizer, wherein said housing comprises;

a top cover comprising at least one bend, wherein said top cover is flexible and is operable to transfer a deformation thereof to said digitizer; and

a bottom cover configured to interface with said top cover; and

wherein said top cover and said bottom cover form a sealed enclosure for said display and said digitizer.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said display comprises a display surface and a first side, wherein said display surface and said first side are not planar, wherein a first portion of said top cover overlaps said display surface, and wherein a second portion of said top cover overlaps said first side of said display, and wherein further said at least one bend joins said first portion and said second portion.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said top cover comprises a flexible thermoplastic film.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said digitizer comprises a conductive polymer and a digitizing element, wherein said conductive polymer is disposed above said digitizing element, wherein said digitizer further comprises a plurality of electrodes and traces operable to register a point of contact responsive to said conductive polymer contacting said digitizing element.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said top cover further comprises a border, wherein said digitizer comprises electrical traces and circuits along a periphery thereof, and wherein said border overlaps said electrical traces and circuits.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of buttons; and

wherein said top cover comprises at least one indentation, and wherein each of said at least one indentation corresponds to a respective button of said plurality of buttons.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said top cover comprises at least one transparent portion.

8. A portable electronic device comprising:

a display;

a digitizer overlapping said display; and

a housing enclosing said display and said digitizer, wherein said housing comprises;

a top cover, wherein said top cover is flexible and is operable to transfer a deformation thereof to said digitizer;

a bottom cover configured to couple with said top cover; and

a supporting structure configured to couple to said top cover and said bottom cover, wherein said supporting structure is further configured to join said top cover and said bottom cover to form a sealed enclosure for said display and said digitizer.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein said top cover comprises at least one bend, wherein said display comprises a display surface and a first side, wherein said display surface and said first side are not planar, wherein a first portion of said top cover overlaps said display surface, and wherein a second portion of said top cover overlaps said first side of said display, and wherein further said at least one bend joins said first portion and said second portion.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein said supporting structure is co-molded with said top cover.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein said supporting structure is enclosed within said top cover and said bottom cover.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein said digitizer comprises a conductive polymer and a digitizing element, wherein said conductive polymer is disposed above said digitizing element, wherein said digitizer further comprises a plurality of electrodes and traces operable to register a point of contact responsive to said conductive polymer contacting said digitizing element.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein said top cover further comprises a border, wherein said digitizer comprises electrical traces and circuits along a periphery thereof, and wherein said border overlaps said electrical traces and circuits.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 8 further comprising:

a plurality of buttons; and

wherein said top cover comprises at least one indentation, and wherein each of said at least one indentation corresponds to a respective button of said plurality of buttons.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein said top cover comprises at least one transparent portion.

16. A portable electronic device comprising:

a display;

a digitizer overlapping said display; and

a housing enclosing said display and said digitizer, wherein said housing comprises;

a top cover, wherein said top cover is curved, and wherein said top cover is flexible and is operable to transfer a deformation thereof to said digitizer; and

a bottom cover configured to interface with said top cover; and

wherein said top cover and said bottom cover form a sealed enclosure for said display and said digitizer.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein said top cover comprises at least one bend, wherein said display comprises a display surface and a first side, wherein said display surface and said first side are not planar, wherein a first portion of said top cover overlaps said display surface, and wherein a second portion of said top cover overlaps said first side of said display, and wherein further said at least one bend joins said first portion and said second portion.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein said top cover comprises a flexible thermoplastic film.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein said digitizer comprises a conductive polymer and a digitizing element, wherein said conductive polymer is disposed above said digitizing element, wherein said digitizer further comprises a plurality of electrodes and traces operable to register a point of contact responsive to said conductive polymer contacting said digitizing element.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein said top cover further comprises a border, wherein said digitizer comprises electrical traces and circuits along a periphery, and wherein said border overlaps said electrical traces and circuits.

21. The portable electronic device of claim 16 further comprising:

a plurality of buttons; and

wherein said top cover comprises at least one indentation, and wherein each of said at least one indentation corresponds to a respective button of said plurality of buttons.

22. The portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein said top cover comprises at least one transparent portion.