PORTABLE COMPUTING SYSTEM

• US 20160327980A1
• Filed: 07/20/2016
• Published: 11/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: FARAHANI, Houtan R., LEONG, Craig C., BLUM, Matthew W., GAO, Zheng, ROBINSON, Kevin M., HENDREN, Keith J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,228,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• 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: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/04 Metal casings

Abstract

A portable electronic device having several features is disclosed. The device can include a retention member that retains flexible circuits extending from a top portion to a bottom portion of the device, thereby allowing some components to be moved from a top portion of the device to a bottom portion. The device may include a cover plate can be secured with a display in the top portion to cover the retention member and other internal components. The device can include an omni-directional port designed to receive a connector different orientations and provide power to the device. The device can include a flexible keyboard having butterfly keycaps. The device can include an array of openings for an audio driver, with some of the array including through holes and blind holes. The device can also include a touch pad having a force feedback sensor and a haptic device.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a display housing that carries a display assembly;

a base portion rotatably coupled with the display housing, the base portion comprising;

a touch pad having a touch-sensitive interface,

an actuator coupled with the touch pad and configured to provide a vibratory feedback, and

a force sensor configured detect an amount of applied force to the touch-sensitive interface, the force sensor further configured to trigger the actuator to provide the vibratory feedback at the touch-sensitive interface when the amount of applied force that is detected exceeds a threshold amount of force.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the base portion comprises:

a top case having an opening to receive the touch pad, the top case further comprising a protrusion; and

a bottom case secured with the top case, the bottom case comprising a retention feature that carries a securing member configured to flex to receive and retain the protrusion.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the top case comprises:

a sidewall having a cavity and a through hole that opens to the cavity; and

a circuit board extending through the through hole and the cavity to receive an external connector.

4. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the bottom case comprises:

a first terraced region;

a second terraced region different from the first terraced region; and

an internal power supply having a shape in accordance with the first terraced region and the second terraced region.

5. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the base portion comprises a speaker assembly covered by the top case, wherein the top case comprises:

a through hole that opens to the speaker assembly allowing acoustical energy from the speaker assembly to pass through the top case, and

a blind hold extending partially through the top case, the blind hole comprising an ink material such that the blind hole includes an appearance resembling the through hole.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the display housing comprises:

an antenna coupled with a circuit to provide wireless communication; and

a chin cover that overlays the antenna, the chin cover comprising a radio frequency transparent material to permit the wireless communication through the chin cover.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible circuit electrically coupled with the display assembly and extending into the base portion; and

a retention member mounted with the display assembly and positioned over the flexible circuit to limit movement of the flexible circuit when the display housing rotates with respect to the base portion.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein display housing comprises an undercut region, and wherein the retention member comprises a hook fitted into the undercut region to retain the flexible circuit.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a display housing comprising an opening that defines a platform and a relief section that is sub-flush with respect to the platform; and

an indicium disposed in the opening at the platform, wherein the relief section includes a mask to hide the a surface of the relief section.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the opening further defines an indented region surrounding the relief section.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the display housing further comprises:

a display assembly disposed in the display housing;

an antenna; and

a chin cover overlaying the antenna and formed from a radio frequency transparent material that allows the antenna to send and receive wireless communication.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, further comprising:

a base portion rotabably coupled with the display housing;

multiple flexible circuits electrically coupled with the display assembly and extending into the base portion; and

a retention member secured with the display housing to limit movement of the multiple flexible circuits.

13. An electronic device configured for reduced noise output, the electronic device comprising:

a display housing that carries a display assembly; and

a base portion rotatably coupled with the display housing, the base portion comprising a top case and a bottom case coupled with the top case to define an internal cavity that receives an operational component, the internal cavity free of a fan assembly to define the reduced noise output.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the display housing, the top case and the bottom case define an exterior region that includes only metal.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the base portion comprises a keyboard assembly having a key that includes:

a key cap;

a hinge mechanism coupled with the key cap by a first arm at a first side of the key cap and a second arm at a second side of the key cap; and

a light source and a light guide panel covered by the key cap, the light guide panel positioned to receive light from the light source and direct the light toward the key cap.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein:

the bottom case include a bottom case opening having a first major dimension and a first minor dimension less than the first major dimension, and

the keyboard assembly includes a second major dimension and a second minor dimension less than the second major dimension, the second major dimension in an unbent state is greater than the first major dimension, and the second major dimension in a bent state is less than the first major dimension such that the keyboard assembly is positioned into the bottom case opening only in the bent state.

17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the keyboard assembly comprises a keyboard shield disposed over a circuit board, the keyboard shield comprising:

a first layer disposed on the circuit board and comprising a first electrically inert material;

a second layer disposed over the first layer and comprising an electrically conductive layer electrically coupled with the base portion; and

a third layer disposed on the second layer and comprising a second electrically inert material, the third layer having an opening that allows a component to electrically connect with the second layer and electrically ground the component.

18. The electronic device of claim 15, further comprising a touch pad coupled with an actuator in the internal cavity, the actuator providing a vibratory feedback in response to a touch event at the touch pad.

19. The electronic device of claim 15, further comprising a first metal component coupled with the top case and a second metal component coupled with the bottom case, wherein:

the display housing comprises a magnet that generates an external magnetic field,

the base portion comprises a magnetic sensor between the top case and the first metal component, the magnetic sensor configured to detect the external magnetic field, and

the second metal component combines with the first metal component to define a magnetic shield for the magnetic sensor.

20. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the top case comprises:

a sidewall having a cavity and a through hole that opens to the cavity; and

a circuit board extending through the through hold and the cavity to receive an external connector.