Display housing for computing device

• US 7,679,893 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lam, Lawrence, Bell, Jory, Stringer, Chris J., Riccomini, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas; Bradley H
• Application Number:
  US11/198,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20050270244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,685 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/683.IOR, 361/679.21, 36167926-67927, 361/679.55, 343/872, 343/702, 312/223.2, 455/575.7
• US Class Current: 361/679.26
• 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

Abstract

An improved housing for a computing device is disclosed. The improved housing can have one or more of the following aspects. A first aspect of the invention pertains to a computer housing having a logo or other symbol that can be illuminated using light from the backside of a display panel. A second aspect of the invention pertains to a suspended frame that is able to support a display panel within a display housing. A third aspect of the invention pertains to a computing device provided with an internal antenna. A fourth aspect of the invention pertains to a stiffener for a computer housing so as to increase the rigidity and strength of the computer housing. A fifth aspect of the invention pertains to a housing having a logo, symbol or other device that can be illuminated using light from the backside of a display panel. A sixth aspect of the invention pertains to a lid for a computing device, such as a portable computer, that is provided with a translucent housing.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

an antenna, said antenna being a dipole antenna configured to transmit or receive RF signals, said antenna including first and second poles and an antenna cable; and

a display housing that houses a display screen, said display housing being configured to enclose said antenna such that said antenna is entirely contained internal to said display housing and is operable while being internal to said display housing without having to extend any portion of said antenna outside said display housing, said display housing having a first recess positioned in an inner surface of and within the display housing and peripherally to a first side of the display screen, a second recess positioned in the inner surface of and within the display housing and peripherally to a second side of the display screen diametrically opposite the first side of the display screen, and a groove positioned in an upper peripheral portion of the inner surface, wherein the first pole is received and secured within said first recess, the second pole is received and secured within said second recess, and the antenna cable is received and secured within said groove.

2. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second recesses are separated from said display screen by at least a predetermined amount.

3. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second antenna poles are separated from any metal surfaces within said display housing by at least a predetermined amount.

4. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second antenna poles are substantially invisible external to said display housing.

5. A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer system is a portable computing device.

6. The computer system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a groove along said peripheral region of said display housing, said groove being arranged to receive a significant portion of an antenna cable that couples said first and second poles.

7. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the display housing is an LCD display housing that encloses an LCD panel.

8. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the display housing is a lid of a portable computer that includes an LCD panel therein.

9. A computer system comprising:

an antenna, said antenna being configured to transmit or receive RF signals, said antenna including first and second poles;

a display housing that houses a display screen, said display housing being configured to enclose said antenna such that said antenna is entirely contained internal to said display housing and is operable while being internal to said display housing without having to extend any portion of said antenna outside said display housing, said display housing having a first recess positioned peripherally to a first side of the display screen and a second recess positioned peripherally to a second side of the display screen opposite the first side of the display screen, wherein the first pole is received and secured by said first recess and the second pole is received and secured by said second recess;

an antenna cable having first and second conductors and wherein each of said first and second poles includes;

an outer conductor, said outer conductor being operatively coupled to said second conductor of said antenna cable;

an inner conductor, said inner conductor being operatively coupled to said first conductor of said antenna cable; and

an antenna housing separate from said display housing, said antenna housing being disposed around the outer periphery of said outer conductor and said inner conductor, and wherein said antenna housing maintains a fixed separation between said outer conductor and said antenna cable.

10. An antenna device for transmitting and receiving RF signals for use by a computer, said antenna device comprising:

an antenna cable having first and second conductors; and

at least one antenna pole, said at least one antenna pole including;

an outer conductor, said outer conductor being operatively coupled to said second conductor of said antenna cable, said outer conductor flaring back and around an outer peripheral surface of said antenna cable, an inner surface of said outer conductor being separated from an outer surface of said antenna cable;

an inner conductor, said inner conductor being operatively coupled to said first conductor of said antenna cable, said inner conductor extending from a distal end of said first conductor of said antenna cable; and

an antenna housing, said antenna housing being disposed around the outer periphery of said outer conductor and said inner conductor and a portion of said antenna cable, wherein an outer surface of said outer conductor is arcuate and substantially conforms to an inner surface of said antenna housing, and wherein said antenna housing maintains a fixed separation between said outer conductor and said antenna cable.

11. An antenna device as recited in claim 10, wherein said antenna housing is formed from polycarbonate.

12. An antenna device as recited in claim 10, wherein said outer conductor is formed from copper.

13. An antenna device as recited in claim 10, wherein said antenna cable is a coaxial cable.

14. An antenna device as recited in claim 10, wherein an outer peripheral surface of said antenna housing is surrounded by shrink tubing.

15. The antenna device as recited in claim 10, wherein the antenna device includes a first pole and a second pole.

16. The antenna device as recited in claim 10, wherein said outer conductor is integrally formed with said second conductor of said antenna cable.

17. The antenna device as recited in claim 10, wherein said inner conductor is integrally formed with said first conductor of said antenna cable.

18. The antenna device as recited in claim 10, wherein said outer conductor is substantially concentric with said antenna cable.

19. The antenna device as recited in claim 10, further comprising a space between an outer surface of said inner conductor and said inner surface of said antenna housing.

20. The antenna device as recited in claim 19, further comprising an inner conductor support member that directly supports at least a portion of said inner conductor within said space.

21. The antenna device as recited in claim 20, wherein said inner conductor support member is integrally formed with said antenna housing.

22. The antenna device as recited in claim 10, wherein said antenna housing includes a plurality of cable support members that are integrally formed with said antenna housing, the cable support members being arranged to support the antenna cable.

23. The antenna device as recited in claim 22, wherein the plurality of cable support members are further arranged to maintain the separation between said outer conductor and said antenna cable.

24. An antenna device for transmitting and receiving RF signals for use by a computer, said antenna device comprising:

an antenna cable having first and second conductors; and

at least one antenna pole, said at least one antenna pole including;

an outer conductor, said outer conductor being operatively coupled to said second conductor of said antenna cable, said outer conductor flaring back and around an outer peripheral surface of said antenna cable, an inner surface of said outer conductor being separated from an outer surface of said antenna cable;

an inner conductor, said inner conductor being operatively coupled to said first conductor of said antenna cable, said inner conductor extending from a distal end of said first conductor of said antenna cable; and

an antenna housing, said antenna housing being disposed around the outer periphery of said outer conductor and said inner conductor and a portion of said antenna cable, wherein an outer surface of said outer conductor is arcuate and substantially conforms to an inner surface of said antenna housing, wherein said antenna housing maintains a fixed separation between said outer conductor and said antenna cable, and wherein said outer conductor is divided into two distinct portions that extend back along said antenna cable on substantially opposite sides of said antenna cable.

25. The antenna device as recited in claim 24, wherein the two distinct portions of the arcuate outer conductor together are substantially concentric with said antenna cable.

26. An antenna device for transmitting and receiving RF signals for use by a computer, said antenna device comprising:

an antenna cable having first and second conductors; and

at least one antenna pole, said at least one antenna pole including;

an outer conductor, said outer conductor being operatively coupled to said second conductor of said antenna cable, said outer conductor flaring back and around an outer peripheral surface of said antenna cable, an inner surface of said outer conductor being separated from an outer surface of said antenna cable;

an inner conductor, said inner conductor being operatively coupled to said first conductor of said antenna cable, said inner conductor extending from a distal end of said first conductor of said antenna cable; and

an antenna housing, said antenna housing being disposed around the outer periphery of said outer conductor and said inner conductor and a portion of said antenna cable, wherein an outer surface of said outer conductor is arcuate and substantially conforms to an inner surface of said antenna housing, wherein said antenna housing maintains a fixed separation between said outer conductor and said antenna cable, and wherein the antenna housing includes a first housing member and a second housing member and wherein a first mating portion of said first housing member and a second mating portion of said second housing member are structurally coupled and supported by shrink tubing that surrounds a portion of an outer peripheral surface of said antenna housing.

27. A computer system, comprising:

an RF antenna system including a coaxial antenna cable, an antenna pole and an antenna housing, the antenna pole including an inner conductor and an outer conductor, wherein

the inner conductor of the antenna pole extends distally from a distal end of a first conductor of the coaxial cable and is supported by the antenna housing,

the outer conductor of the antenna pole extends proximally from the distal end of the second conductor of the coaxial cable and is supported by the antenna housing spaced apart from the coaxial cable,

the antenna housing includes cable support members that support the coaxial cable and maintain the spacing between the outer conductor and the coaxial cable, and at least one inner conductor support member that supports the inner conductor, and

a display housing that houses a display screen, the display housing being configured to enclose the antenna system, the antenna pole and portions of the antenna cable being arranged peripherally of the display screen, the display housing including a recess arranged to receive the portion of the antenna housing surrounding the antenna pole.