COMPUTER DISPLAY OR COVER GLASS/CELL ATTACHMENT TO FRAME

• US 20170308124A1
• Filed: 07/13/2017
• Published: 10/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Mathew, Dinesh C., Cooper, Edward J., Degner, Brett W., Hendren, Keith J., Rundle, Nicholas Alan, Tarkington, Dave
• Granted Patent: US 11,604,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1609 to support filters or lenses
• 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 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

The described embodiments relate generally to computing devices including liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and more particularly to methods for attaching a cover glass layer to a structural housing while minimizing an amount of stress transferred through the cover glass layer to the LCD module. A continuous and compliant foam adhesive can be used to bond the cover glass layer to a structural. The compliant bond can absorb and distribute local stress concentrations caused by structural loads, mismatched surfaces and differing thermal expansion rates between various structures and cover glass layer. This can reduce stress concentrations in the cover glass layer that can lead to stress induced birefringence in the LCD cell. In other embodiments, the cover glass layer can be attached using magnets or a tongue and groove design.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing having an opening;

a cover glass that extends over the opening;

a display module attached to a first portion of the cover glass;

a support frame interposed between the display module and the housing;

a mounting bracket attached to a second portion of the cover glass that surrounds the first portion, wherein the mounting bracket is attached to the support frame; and

a backlight assembly that rests on the support frame and is surrounded by the mounting bracket.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the display module is adhered to the first portion of the cover glass with an optically clear adhesive.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 1 further comprising a support block attached to the cover glass and to the housing.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 3 wherein the support block is attached to a portion of the cover glass that surrounds the first and second portions of the cover glass.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 3 wherein the support block is attached to a periphery of the cover glass using a foam adhesive.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 3 further comprising metal plates attached to the cover glass, wherein the support block is magnetic, and wherein the support block is magnetically attached to the metal plates.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 3 wherein the support block maintains a gap between the housing and the cover glass.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 3 further comprising a tongue attached to the mounting bracket, wherein the support block comprises a groove, and wherein the tongue is positioned within the groove.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 8 wherein the tongue is integrally formed with the mounting bracket.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the support frame is fastened to the mounting bracket.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the mounting bracket is attached to the cover glass with a foam adhesive.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the foam adhesive is configured to distribute stresses transferred from the mounting bracket to the cover glass.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the mounting bracket is magnetic and wherein a magnetic field of an external magnet placed in proximity to the cover glass near the mounting bracket exerts a force on the mounting bracket that pulls the mounting bracket toward the cover glass and compresses the foam adhesive.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the mounting bracket comprises rigid plates that are adhered to the cover glass.

15. An electronic device having an exterior surface, the electronic device comprising:

a housing having an opening, wherein the housing forms the exterior surface of the electronic device;

a cover glass that covers the opening, wherein the cover glass comprises a side surface that is aligned with the exterior surface of the housing;

a display module attached to the cover glass;

a support frame interposed between the housing and the display module;

a backlight assembly interposed between the support frame and the display module; and

a support block that surrounds the support frame, wherein the support block is attached to the cover glass and to the housing and wherein the support block maintains a gap between the cover glass and the housing.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 15 further comprising a mounting bracket fastened to the support frame.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 16 further comprising a spacer coupled to the cover glass, wherein the spacer is interposed between the cover glass and the mounting bracket.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 17 further comprising:

display circuitry coupled to the support frame, wherein a flexible circuit electrically couples the display module to the display circuitry and wherein a portion of the flexible circuit is interposed between the spacer and the mounting bracket.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 18 further comprising a gasket interposed between the mounting bracket and the flexible circuit.

20. An electronic device comprising:

a housing having an opening;

a cover glass over the opening;

a display module adhered to the cover glass;

a mounting bracket adhered to the cover glass adjacent to the display module;

a support frame fastened to the mounting bracket, wherein the support frame is interposed between the display module and the housing;

a backlight assembly mounted on the support frame; and

a support block adhered to the cover glass and attached to the housing, wherein the support block maintains a gap between the cover glass and the housing.