PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

• US 20140169142A1
• Filed: 11/25/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd
• Original Assignee: The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd
• Inventors: Nicolas, Cedric, Heck, Pascal
• Granted Patent: US 9,651,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/205
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1418 the inserts being deformed or preformed, e.g. by the injection pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/082 by shaping between complementary mould parts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/02 by heating, with or without pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/41 Joining substantially flat articles B29C66/47 and subgroups take precedence; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles B29C66/51 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/256 Sheets, plates, blanks or films
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0067 non-permeable
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3481 Housings or casings incorporating or embedding electric or electronic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/0008 for pocket watches and wrist watches
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/225 Non-metallic cases
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 10/02 the power supply being a radioactive or photovoltaic source
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/04 Mounting of electronic components
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/08 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1002 with permanent bending or reshaping or surface deformation of self sustaining lamina

Abstract

Portable electronic device capable of processing information, said portable electronic device including a body arranged to be capable of being secured to the user, and at least one electronic assembly for processing information, the body of the portable electronic device being formed by a layer of plastic material which gives the portable electronic device a shape and thickness, characterized in that the portable electronic device includes a first impermeable plastic film which serves as a coating for the layer of plastic material, and a second impermeable plastic film secured to the periphery of the first impermeable plastic film, and in that the electronic assembly for processing information is arranged between the first and second impermeable plastic films.

The invention also concerns a method of manufacturing a portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device capable of processing information, the portable electronic device including a body arranged to be capable of being secured to a user, and at least one electronic assembly for processing information, wherein the body of the portable electronic device is formed by a layer of plastic material which gives the portable electronic device a shape and thickness, wherein the portable electronic device includes a first impermeable plastic film which coats the body on the side where the electronic assembly for processing information is required to be mounted, and a second impermeable plastic film secured to the first impermeable plastic film, and wherein the electronic assembly for processing information is arranged between the first and second impermeable plastic films.

2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the body of the portable electronic device is formed of a layer of flexible plastic material.

3. The portable electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the body of the portable electronic device is made of a flexible resilient polymer.

4. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device further includes at least one digital information display device for displaying information, and an electrical power source for powering the electronic assembly for processing information.

5. The portable electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the portable electronic device further includes at least one digital information display device for displaying information, and an electrical power source for powering the electronic assembly for processing information.

6. The portable electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the portable electronic device further includes at least one digital information display device for displaying information, and an electrical power source for powering the electronic assembly for processing information.

7. The portable electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the electrical power source includes a rechargeable accumulator powered by at least one solar cell.

8. The portable electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the electrical power source includes a rechargeable accumulator powered by at least one solar cell.

9. The portable electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the electrical power source includes a rechargeable accumulator powered by at least one solar cell.

10. A method of manufacturing a portable electronic device capable of processing information, the portable electronic device including a body arranged to be capable of being secured to a user and at least one electronic assembly for processing information, wherein the body of the portable electronic assembly is formed of a layer of plastic material which gives the portable electronic device a shape and thickness, wherein the method includes the steps of:

overmoulding the layer of plastic material, which forms the body of the portable electronic device, on an external face of a first impermeable plastic film;

mounting the electronic assembly for processing information on the inner face side of the first impermeable plastic film, and

securing a second impermeable plastic film to the first impermeable plastic film, so as to delimit, between the first and second impermeable plastic films, an impermeable cavity which houses the electronic assembly for processing information.

11. The method of manufacturing a portable electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the method includes the step which consists, prior to the step of moulding the plastic material which forms the body of the portable electronic device, in thermoforming the first impermeable plastic film to give the first impermeable plastic film the desired contour.