Display module

• US 8,238,087 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2010
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: McClure, Stephen R., Banko, Joshua D., Ternus, John P., Morris, Matthew B., Thompson, Peter M., Gibbs, Kevin, Van Vorhis, Timothy G., Adamcyk, Martin B., Lucchesi, Arthur J., Carpenter, Brian S.
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US12/694,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20110164372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 292/162, 292/216, 292/196, 292/36, 439/532, 439/76.1, 206/545, 206/710, 206/521, 248/442.2, 248/205.1, 248/121, 248/178.1, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/328, 312/333, 361/679.43, 361/679.34, 361/679.58, 361/679.33, 361/679.31, 361/679.55, 361/679.27
• US Class Current: 361/679.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• 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 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• 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 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0252 by means of a snap-on mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0277 for a printed circuit board assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0281 Reinforcement details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/118 specially for flexible printed circuits, e.g. using folded portions
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/147 at least one of the printed circuits being bent or folded, e.g. by using a flexible printed circuit H05K1/148 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1076 Link and lever

Abstract

A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include a single piece housing and a display module. The display module can include a protective top glass cover that is bonded to a plastic display frame and surrounded by a seal frame. The display module can also include a display panel and its associated circuitry suspended from the display frame below the protective glass cover. The display module is coupled to the single piece housing mounting clips in a manner that allows the display module to move relative to the single piece housing during an impact event. The plastic display frame can include inserts that provide structural support near openings in the single piece housing.

Claims

1. A portable computing device, comprising:

a single piece housing having a front opening, the single piece housing further comprising an integral bottom and side walls that cooperate to form a cavity in cooperation with the front opening, an edge of the side walls surrounding and defining the front opening;

a display module disposed within the front opening and secured to the seamless housing without a bezel, the display module comprising;

a display frame;

a display panel supported by the display frame;

a protective cover supported by the display frame used to protect the display panel; and

a plurality of attachment features incorporated into the display frame, wherein the plurality of attachment features secure the display module to the housing without using a bezel when the portable computing device is deemed to be adequately functional.

2. The portable computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein prior to being placed within the front opening, the display module is electrically coupled to components previously placed within the cavity, at least one of which provides power to the display module.

3. The portable computing device as recited in claim 2, wherein after the display module is connected to the previously placed components, the portable computing device is functionally tested.

4. The portable computing device as recited in claim 3, wherein if the portable computing device passes the functional testing, then the plurality of attachment features secure the display panel to the housing, otherwise the display panel is removed from the front opening.

5. The portable computing device, as recited in claim 4, wherein the plurality of attachment features comprise attachment snaps, the attachment snaps having an extendable securing portion, wherein the attachment snaps secure the display panel to the housing by extending the securing portion into a recess formed in the side wall, otherwise the extendable securing portion of each of the plurality of attachment snaps are constrained from extending into the recess by a constraining device.

6. The portable computing device as recited in claim 5, wherein if the portable computing device passes the functional testing, then the constraining device is removed and the securing portion of the attachment snaps extend into the recess to secure the display panel to the housing.

7. The portable computing device as recited in claim 5, wherein after the display module is secured to the housing, the display module is removed from the front opening by serially breaking the plurality of attachment snaps.

8. The portable computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of attachment features comprise compressible mounting clips, wherein the compressible mounting clips are placed between the edge of the front opening and a display panel protective seal.

9. A method comprising:

electrically connecting a display module configured for use in a portable computing device to at least one operational component located within a cavity formed by a housing of the portable computing device;

temporarily securing the display module to a front opening that provides access to the cavity, the temporarily secured display module effectively enclosing the at least one operational component within the housing;

functionally testing the portable computing device; and

if the portable computing device passes the functional testing, then securing the display module to the housing without using a bezel, otherwise, removing the display panel.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the display module comprises a plurality of attachment features, wherein the plurality of attachment features comprise attachment snaps each having an extendable securing portion that secure the display module to the housing by extending into a recess formed in the housing.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the display module is temporarily secured to the housing by,

placing the display module within the open;

and

using a restraining device to restrain the extendable securing portion from extending into the recess.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein when the portable computing device passes the functional testing, then securing the display module to the housing by removing the restraining device.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the restraining device is a shim.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein after the display module is secured to the housing, the display module is detached from the housing by serially breaking the plurality of attachment snaps.

15. A method of assembling a display module to a portable computing device without using a bezel, the portable computing device having a single piece housing, the single piece housing having a front opening, an integral bottom and side walls that cooperate to form a cavity in cooperation with the front opening, and an edge of the side walls surrounding and defining the front opening, comprising:

placing the display module within the front opening and secured to the seamless housing without using a bezel; and

deploying an attachment feature, the attachment feature being incorporated into the display module.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the display module is secured to the housing by activating the deployed attachment feature.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the attachment feature comprises a extendable securing portion.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the attachment feature is activated by causing the extendable securing feature to extend into and engage a recess formed in the side wall, otherwise the extendable securing portion is constrained from extending into the recess by a constraining device.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the constraining device is shim.