DISPLAY ASSEMBLY

• US 20120050988A1
• Filed: 01/26/2011
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rothkopf, Fletcher R., Hobson, Phillip M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,872,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/688
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0277 for a printed circuit board assembly

Abstract

A display assembly includes at least a protective cover layer, a display stack that includes a plurality of display components arranged in a plurality of interconnected layers, the display stack providing an imaging service, and a flat support chassis arranged to provide support for the display stack. In the described embodiment, the display stack is positioned between the protective cover layer and the flat support chassis. The display assembly can be disposed within a housing with sides sloping inwards where a portion the display assembly is proximate to the inward sloping sides. To allow the display assembly to fit closer to the edges of the housing, material can be removed from the flat support chassis. For example, edges of the flat support chassis can be chamfered.

Claims

1. A display assembly, comprising:

a protective cover layer;

a display stack, the display stack, the display stack including a plurality of display components arranged in a plurality of interconnected layers, the display stack providing an imaging service;

a flat support chassis, the flat support chassis arranged to provide support for the display stack, wherein the display stack is positioned between the protective cover layer and the flat support chassis.

2. The display assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the display assembly protective cover layer is attached to a support frame.

3. The display assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the flat support chassis comprises at least one chamfered edge, the chamfered edge having a size and shape in accordance with the support frame.

4. The display assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the support frame is attached to a housing of a small form factor portable electronic device.

5. The display assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein the flat support chassis is attached to the support frame such that the display assembly is essentially isolated from applied loads at the housing.

6. The display assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the display assembly is the flat support chassis is attached to a support frame wherein the support frame configured to a) increase a stiffness of the flat support chassis, b) provide heat dissipation for the display assembly or c) combinations thereof.

7. A structural support system for a personal media device comprising:

a housing formed with a cavity for receiving at least a display assembly including a flat support chassis, the housing including sloped sides such that the housing is thinner near its outer perimeter and thicker near its center;

a first structure including a rim for supporting a protective cover layer, the protective cover layer configured to fit over the cavity and cover the display assembly;

a second structure including a groove proximate to the outer perimeter of housing, the groove configured to receive an outer portion of the flat support chassis; and

a third structure disposed beneath the display assembly, the third structure at least thermally coupled to the flat support chassis to provide thermal dissipation of heat generated from the display assembly.

8. The structural support system of claim 7, wherein the first structure and the second structure are integrally formed into the housing.

9. The structural support system of claim 7, wherein the first structure and the second structure are formed on a frame configured to fit within the cavity around its outer perimeter.

10. The structural support system of claim 7, wherein the outer portion of the flat support chassis are chamfered to allow the flat support chassis to be aligned with and fit within the groove of the second structure.

11. The structural support system of claim 7, wherein the display assembly is bonded to the display cover glass.

12. The structural support system of claim 7, wherein the third structure is a substantially flat sheet that spans across the cavity from a first side of the housing to a second side of the housing wherein the flat support chassis is bonded to sheet to increase a stiffness of the display assembly.

13. A personal media device comprising;

a housing formed with a cavity; and

a display assembly configured to fit within the cavity, the display assembly comprising;

a protective cover layer;

a display stack, the display stack, the display stack including a plurality of display components arranged in a plurality of interconnected layers, the display stack providing an imaging service;

a flat support chassis, the flat support chassis arranged to provide support for the display stack, wherein the display stack is positioned between the protective cover layer and the flat support chassis

wherein the protective cover layer configured to fit over a top of the cavity such that the display stack, a main logic board, a memory and a battery are enclosed within a space formed by the protective cover layer and the cavity of the housing.

14. The personal media device of claim 13, further comprising:

a first structure including a rim for supporting the protective cover layer.

15. The personal media device of claim 14, wherein the first structure is formed in the housing proximate to its outer perimeter.

16. The personal media device of claim 13, further comprising:

a frame including 1) a rim for supporting an outer edge of the protective cover layer, the protective cover layer configured to fit over the cavity and cover the display assembly and 2) a groove for receiving an outer portion of the flat support chassis wherein frame is configured to fit around an outer perimeter of the housing.

17. The personal media device of claim 16, where the outer portion of the flat support chassis is chamfered.

18. The personal media device of claim 13, further comprising a frame disposed beneath the display assembly and coupled to the housing, the frame coupled to the flat support chassis wherein the frame is configured to increase a stiffness of the display assembly and dissipate heat generated by the display assembly.

19. A method of forming a personal media device comprising:

forming a display assembly including a flat support chassis, a protective cover layer and a display stack for providing imaging services disposed between the flat support chassis and the protective cover layer the display assembly;

forming a housing including a cavity for receiving the display assembly such that the display stack fits within the cavity; and

attaching the display assembly to the housing.

20. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

forming a structure including a rim for supporting an outer edge of the protective cover layer wherein the structure is coupled to the housing and attaching the outer edge of the protective cover layer to the rim.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

forming a frame including the structure and attaching the frame to the housing.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

forming a structure including a groove for receiving an outer edge of the flat support chassis.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

chamfering the outer edge of the flat support chassis to help align and fit the outer edge within the groove.

24. A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing computer code executed by a processor in a computer aided manufacturing process comprising:

computer code for forming a display assembly including a flat support chassis, a protective cover layer and a display stack for providing imaging services disposed between the flat support chassis and the protective cover layer the display assembly;

computer code for forming a housing including a cavity for receiving the display assembly such that the display stack fits within the cavity; and

computer code for attaching the display assembly to the housing.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

computer forming a structure including a groove for receiving an outer edge of the flat support chassis and computer code for chamfering the outer edge of the flat support chassis to help align and fit the outer edge within the groove.