COVER GLASS FOR MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20150229745A1
• Filed: 02/09/2015
• Published: 08/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: De Wind, Darryl P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,069,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly

Abstract

A portable electronic device includes a housing and a glass cover panel having a generally planar central region and a rounded or curved perimeter region circumscribing the generally planar central region. The portable electronic device includes circuitry disposed in the housing and operable to detect a touch or proximity of a user at the glass cover panel at the generally planar central region. The rounded perimeter region has an exposed rounded surface circumscribing the generally planar central region and the housing does not overlap the rounded perimeter region of the glass cover panel. The rounded perimeter region may have a radius of curvature of greater than about 0.5 mm. The rounded perimeter region provides a smooth curved transition between a generally planar front surface of the generally planar central region of the glass cover panel and a side surface of the housing of the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, said portable electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a glass cover panel disposed at said housing, said glass cover panel comprising a generally planar central region and a rounded perimeter region circumscribing said generally planar central region;

circuitry disposed in said housing and operable to detect a touch or proximity of a user at the glass cover panel at said generally planar central region; and

wherein said rounded perimeter region comprises an exposed rounded surface circumscribing said generally planar central region and wherein said housing does not overlap said rounded perimeter region of said glass cover panel.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said portable electronic device comprises one of (i) a smart phone, (ii) a cell phone, (iii) a tablet and (iv) a personal data device.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said rounded perimeter region provides a smooth curved transition between a generally planar front surface of said generally planar central region of said glass cover panel and a side surface of said housing of said portable electronic device.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said generally planar central region has a thickness of less than about 3 mm and wherein said exposed rounded surface of said rounded perimeter region has a radius of curvature of greater than about 0.5 mm.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 4, wherein said exposed rounded surface of said rounded perimeter region has a radius of curvature of less than 2.5 mm.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said generally planar central region has a thickness of less than about 1 mm.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said exposed rounded surface of said rounded perimeter region has a varying radius of curvature.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said rounded perimeter region of said glass cover panel has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of said generally planar central region of said glass cover panel.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein a rear portion of said glass cover panel is recessed to establish the thinner generally planar central region.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a molded plastic housing.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein no part of said housing extends beyond any part of said glass cover panel.

12. A portable electronic device, said portable electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a glass cover panel disposed at said housing, said glass cover panel comprising a generally planar central region and a rounded perimeter region circumscribing said generally planar central region;

circuitry disposed in said housing and operable to detect a touch or proximity of a user at the glass cover panel at said generally planar central region;

wherein said rounded perimeter region comprises an exposed rounded surface circumscribing said generally planar central region and wherein said housing does not overlap said rounded perimeter region of said glass cover panel;

wherein said rounded perimeter region provides a smooth curved transition between a generally planar front surface of said generally planar central region of said glass cover panel and a side surface of said housing of said portable electronic device;

wherein no part of said housing extends beyond any part of said glass cover panel; and

wherein said portable electronic device comprises one of (i) a smart phone, (ii) a cell phone, (iii) a tablet and (iv) a personal data device.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein said generally planar central region has a thickness of less than about 3 mm and wherein said exposed rounded surface of said rounded perimeter region has a radius of curvature of greater than about 0.5 mm and wherein said exposed rounded surface of said rounded perimeter region has a radius of curvature of less than about 2.5 mm.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein said generally planar central region has a thickness of less than about 1 mm.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein said rounded perimeter region of said glass cover panel has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of said generally planar central region of said glass cover panel.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein a rear portion of said glass cover panel is recessed to establish the thinner generally planar central region.

17. A portable electronic device, said portable electronic device comprising:

a housing, wherein said housing comprises a molded plastic housing;

a glass cover panel disposed at said housing, said glass cover panel comprising a generally planar central region and a rounded perimeter region circumscribing said generally planar central region;

wherein said generally planar central region has a thickness of less than about 3 mm and wherein said exposed rounded surface of said rounded perimeter region has a radius of curvature of greater than about 0.5 mm;

circuitry disposed in said housing and operable to detect a touch or proximity of a user at the glass cover panel at said generally planar central region; and

wherein said rounded perimeter region comprises an exposed rounded surface circumscribing said generally planar central region and wherein said housing does not overlap said rounded perimeter region of said glass cover panel;

wherein said rounded perimeter region provides a smooth curved transition between a generally planar front surface of said generally planar central region of said glass cover panel and a side surface of said housing of said portable electronic device; and

wherein said portable electronic device comprises one of (i) a smart phone, (ii) a cell phone, (iii) a tablet and (iv) a personal data device.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 17, wherein said rounded perimeter region of said glass cover panel has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of said generally planar central region of said glass cover panel.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 18, wherein a rear portion of said glass cover panel is recessed to establish the thinner generally planar central region.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 17, wherein no part of said housing extends beyond any part of said glass cover panel.