PORTABLE COMPUTER DISPLAY HOUSING

• US 20110090630A1
• Filed: 10/16/2009
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Huang, Chung-Tse, Fetterman, Kevin S., Zeliff, Zachary Joseph, Hibbard, Timothy S., Leggett, William F., DeForest, Laura, Goldberg, Michelle, Bergeron, Kathleen A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,854,801 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.26
• 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 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor

Abstract

A display housing for a portable computing device that utilizes a plastic cover bonded to an internal metal frame is described. To account for thermal cycling issues and in particular to prevent bond slippage, multiple types of adhesives are employed to join the metal frame and the plastic cover. In particular, a very high bond (VHB) adhesive material is used in certain areas to bond the metal inner frame to the plastic cover and a liquid adhesive is used in other areas. The plastic cover can be translucent to light. A method of coating the plastic cover to block light, such as from a backlight used for the display, is described.

Claims

1. A display housing for a portable computer comprising,

a display;

a backlight for at least illuminating the display;

a display housing cover enclosing the backlight and a rear portion of the display wherein a portion of the display housing cover is transmissive to light and receives light generated from the backlight, wherein when the backlight is generating light, an outer portion of the display housing cover is illuminated;

a first coating layer applied to a first area of the inner surface of said display housing cover;

a second coating layer applied on top of the first coating layer;

a third coating layer applied on top of the second coating layer wherein the third coating layer is applied to a second area less than the first area.

2. The display housing of claim 1, further comprising an inner frame joined to the display housing cover.

3. The display housing of claim 2, wherein the inner frame comprises magnesium and the display housing cover comprises plastic.

4. The display housing of claim 1, wherein the second area surrounds the outer portion of the display housing cover that is illuminated.

5. The display housing of claim 1, wherein the portion of the display housing cover transmissive to light is an aperture in the display housing cover.

6. The display housing of claim 5, further comprising an insert fitted over said aperture wherein said insert is transmissive to light.

7. The display housing of claim 6, wherein the third coating layer is applied to a portion of a surface the insert.

8. The display housing of claim 6, wherein a portion of a surface of the insert is in contact with the third coating layer.

9. The display housing of claim 8, wherein the portion of the surface of the insert is uncoated.

10. The display housing of claim 6, wherein a portion of a surface of the insert is in contact with the second coating layer, the first coating layer or combinations thereof.

11. The display housing of claim 10, wherein the portion of the surface of the insert is uncoated.

12. The display housing of claim 1, wherein the third coating reduces shadowing effects around the outer portion of the display housing cover that is illuminated.

13. The display housing of claim 1, wherein the backlight comprises one or more LEDs.

14. The display housing of claim 1, wherein the first coating layer improves a cosmetic appearance of the display housing cover by primarily acting upon light transmitted through the display housing cover from a light source outside of the display housing cover.

15. The display housing of claim 14, wherein a selection of a color of the first coating layer depends upon a color of the display housing cover.

16. The display housing of claim 1, wherein the second coating layer improves a cosmetic appearance of the display housing cover by primarily acting upon light emitted from the backlight located inside of the display housing cover.

17. The display housing of claim 16, wherein the second coating layer primarily blocks light emitted from the backlight from being transmitted through the second coating layer.

18. A display housing for a portable computer comprising,

a display;

a light source;

a display housing cover enclosing the light source and a rear portion of the display wherein a portion of the display housing cover is transmissive to light and receives light generated from the light source, wherein when the light source is generating light, an outer portion of the display housing cover is illuminated;

a first coating layer applied to a first area of the inner surface of said display housing cover;

a second coating layer applied on top of the first coating layer;

a third coating layer applied on top of the second coating layer wherein the third coating layer is applied to a second area less than the first area.

19. The display housing of claim 18, wherein the light source is configured to provide backlighting for the display.

20. The display housing of claim 18, further comprising a backlight for backlighting the display separate from said light source.

21. The display housing of claim 18, wherein the light source comprises one or more LED elements.

22. A display housing for a portable computer comprising,

a display;

a backlight for at least illuminating the display wherein the backlight comprises one or more LED elements;

a display housing cover enclosing the backlight and a rear portion of the display wherein a portion of the display housing cover is transmissive to light and receives light generated from the backlight, wherein when the backlight is generating light, an outer portion of the display housing cover is illuminated;

a first coating layer applied to a first area of the inner surface of said display housing cover;

a second coating layer applied on top of the first coating layer;

a third coating layer applied on top of the second coating layer wherein the third coating layer is applied to a second area less than the first area.

23. A method comprising,

providing a display housing cover and an inner frame for a display housing;

applying a first coating layer over a first area of an inner surface of the display housing cover;

applying a second coating layer over the first coating layer;

applying a third coating layer over the second coating layer over a second area less than the first area, said second area surrounding a portion of the display housing cover that is illuminated from an illumination source enclosed within the display housing.

24. A method comprising,

providing a display housing cover including an aperture and an inner frame for a display housing;

applying a first coating layer over a first area of an inner surface of the display housing cover;

applying a second coating layer over the first coating layer;

applying a third coating layer over the second coating layer over a second area less than the first area, said second area surrounding a portion of the display housing cover that is illuminated from an illumination source enclosed within the display housing; and

covering the aperture with an insert;

wherein the portion of the display housing cover that is illuminated includes the aperture and the insert and wherein the insert is transmissive to light generated from the illumination source.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the illumination source comprises one or more LED elements.