HANDHELD COMPUTING DEVICE

• US 20140211417A1
• Filed: 04/01/2014
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Zadesky, Stephen Paul, Lynch, Stephen Brian
• Granted Patent: US 9,823,708 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.55
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• 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: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0277 for a printed circuit board assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49126 Assembling bases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49169 Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 Means to assemble electrical device

Abstract

A handheld computing device and handheld music player are disclosed. The handheld computing device includes a seamless enclosure formed from an extruded tube. The extruded tube includes open ends and internal rails which serve as a guide for slidably assembling an operational assembly through the open ends of the extruded tube, a reference surface for positioning the operational assembly relative to an access opening in the seamless enclosure, and a support structure for supporting the operational assembly during use. The handheld music player includes an elongated extruded tube extending along a longitudinal axis. The elongated extruded tube has a first open end and a second open end opposite the first open end, and defines an internal lumen which is sized and dimensioned for slidable receipt of operational components of the handheld music player. The lumen includes rails for guiding the operational components to their desired position within the lumen.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a housing forming exterior lateral sides and a front opening;

a first electronic subassembly comprising circuit elements that include a printed circuit board, a processor and a transceiver;

a battery located adjacent to the circuit elements; and

a second electronic subassembly comprising a user interface element, wherein the second electronic subassembly is disposed above the first electronic subassembly such that the user interface element is opposite the battery and wherein the first and second electronic subassemblies are positioned in the housing such that the user interface element is disposed within the front opening of the housing.

2. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the battery is located at a lateral side of the first electronic subassembly.

3. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the battery is located alongside the first electronic subassembly in a substantially side by side arrangement.

4. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface element comprises a display assembly.

5. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 4, wherein the display assembly comprises a display, and a protective layer positioned in the front opening configured to protect the display from damage.

6. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface element comprises a touch screen.

7. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device comprises a portable communication device.

8. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 7, wherein the portable communication device comprises a cellular telephone.

9. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 7, wherein the portable communication device is a portable media player.

10. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein a width of the battery is more than half a width of the portable electronic device.

11. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein a width of the first electronic subassembly is more than half a width of the portable electronic device.

12. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the circuit elements comprise an audio subassembly.

13. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board and the user interface element are connected together by way of a flexible connector.

14. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing is seamless.

15. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the external lateral sides define the front opening.

16. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 15, wherein the user interface substantially fills the front opening.

17. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the external lateral sides comprises an opening.

18. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 17, wherein the opening is configured to receive a connector.