SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COUPLING SECTIONS OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20120175165A1
• Filed: 01/10/2011
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Merz, Nicholas, Jarvis, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 8,772,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/520
• 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: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

This is directed to systems and methods for coupling sections of an electronic device together. Sections of an electronic device can be coupled together via “knuckles.” The particular shape and structure of the knuckles can be based on various design considerations. For example, in some embodiments each section can function as an individual antenna. In this case, the knuckles can be designed in order to provide electrical isolation between the sections, thus allowing proper operation of the antennas. For example, the knuckles can be formed from a dielectric material, etc. As another design example, the knuckles can be designed in order to provide increased strength in areas of high strain, and/or to counteract torsional twisting in areas of high impact. As yet another design example, the knuckle can be designed in a manner that is aesthetically pleasing or which otherwise meets cosmetic requirements.

Claims

1. A component of an electronic device, wherein the component is substantially rectangular in cross-section and has at least one spline, the component comprising:

a first section constructed from a first conductive material;

a second section constructed from a second conductive material; and

a first knuckle constructed from an insulating material, wherein;

the first knuckle is located in a first spline of the component; and

a first side of the first knuckle is connected to the first section and a second side of the first knuckle is connected to the second section, such that the first knuckle couples the first section to the second section at the first spline.

2. The component of claim 1, wherein the first knuckle includes a first rib feature and a second rib feature, wherein the first rib feature locks the first knuckle into the first section and the second rib feature locks the first knuckle into the second section.

3. The component of claim 2, wherein each of the first rib feature and the second rib feature have a cylindrical shape that extends along a height of the first knuckle.

4. The component of claim 2, wherein the first knuckle further includes a first channel, a second channel, and a middle portion, and wherein the first channel connects the first rib feature to the middle portion and the second channel connects the second rib feature to the middle portion.

5. The component of claim 4, wherein the middle portion of the first knuckle has an increased volume in areas of high strain to the first knuckle.

6. The component of claim 1, wherein the first knuckle includes a horizontal dove tail and at least one vertical dove tail.

7. The component of claim 1, wherein the first knuckle includes at least one lock feature coupling the knuckle to at least one of the first section and the second section.

8. The component of claim 1, wherein the first knuckle meets a minimum capacitance requirement.

9. The component of claim 1, wherein the first knuckle meets a minimum surface area requirement.

10. The component of claim 1, wherein the knuckle includes a spine extending along an entire height of the knuckle.

11. A method for constructing an electronic device component, the method comprising:

providing a first section formed from a first material;

providing a second section formed from a second material;

connecting the first and second sections together with a knuckle formed from a third material to form the electronic device component, wherein the electronic device component comprises at least one spline and wherein the first and second sections connect together at the at least one spline.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein connecting the first and second sections together with a knuckle comprises:

prefabricating the knuckle from the third material; and

snapping the knuckle into the first section and into the second section.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein connecting the first and second sections together with a knuckle comprises:

inserting the knuckle in between the first and second section while the knuckle is in a first state; and

changing the knuckle from the first state into a second state.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the first state is a liquid and the second state is a solid;

the knuckle changes into the first state by applying heat to the first section, to the second section, and to the knuckle; and

the knuckle changes into the second state by cooling and hardening the knuckle.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein connecting the first and second sections together with a knuckle comprises using a molding process in which:

the third material is inserted in a liquid state between the first section and the second section; and

the third material is subsequently hardened into the knuckle.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the molding process comprises one of injection molding, compression molding, transfer molding, extrusion molding, blow molding, thermoforming, vacuum forming, and rotomolding.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein connecting the first and second sections together with a knuckle comprises using a brazing process in which:

the third material is placed in a fixture between the first section and the second section; and

the third material is subsequently heated such that the third material melts and fills the fixture.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the brazing process comprises one of torch blazing, furnace brazing, braze welding, vacuum brazing, and dip brazing.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the third material comprises a dielectric composite material.

20. An outer periphery component of an electronic device, the outer periphery component comprising:

a first section;

a second section;

a third section;

a fourth section;

a first knuckle;

a second knuckle;

a third knuckle; and

a fourth knuckle; and

wherein;

the first knuckle couples the first section to the second section;

the second knuckle couples the second section to the third section;

the third knuckle couples the third section to the fourth section; and

the fourth knuckle couples the fourth section to the first section,

such that the sections and knuckles together form a substantially rectangular-shaped loop with at least one spline corner, wherein the first knuckle is positioned within the at least one spline corner.

21. The outer periphery component of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first section, the second section, the third section, and the fourth section is operable as an antenna for the electronic device.

22. The outer periphery component of claim 20, wherein the first section is operable as a Bluetooth®

antenna, the second section is operable as a WiFi antenna, the third section is operable as a cellular telephone antenna for a first frequency range, and the fourth section is operable as a cellular telephone antenna for a second frequency range.

23. The outer periphery component of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth knuckle is formed from a combination of conductive and insulating materials, and wherein the insulating materials are disposed between the conductive materials.

24. The outer periphery component of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth knuckle is formed from a combination of conductive and insulating materials, and wherein the conductive materials are embedded within the insulating materials.

25. The outer periphery component of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth knuckle provide structural support for an internal component of the electronic device.