Folded flex assembly for personal media device

• US 8,532,722 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2010
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dinh, Richard Hung Minh, Tan, Tang Yew, Wang, Erik, Hobson, Philip Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): HTUN, SAN A
• Application Number:
  US12/814,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20100277877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 4555751-5759, 455344-350, 455/90.3, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 361/600, 361/625, 36167901-67909, 361/679.1, 36167911-67919, 361/679.2, 36167921-67929, 361/679.3, 36167931-67939, 361/679.4, 36167941-67944, 345/169, 235/462.35
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for media devices including a housing, a frame disposed adjacent to the housing, a support panel that is integrated with the frame, and a flexible circuit that is disposed adjacent to the support panel such that the support panel provides support for the flexible circuit.

Claims

1. An electronic device defined by an outer surface, the electronic device comprising:

a frame including at least two sidewalls and at least one mid-structure extending between the at least two sidewalls;

an upper housing, wherein the upper housing is coupled to at least a portion of a top section of the frame;

a lower housing, wherein the lower housing is coupled to at least a portion of a bottom section of the frame, wherein the upper housing, lower housing, and frame together form the outer surface, and wherein the at least one mid-structure extends across an entire length and width of the electronic device, such that the electronic device is divided into at least two physically-separated compartments by the at least one mid-structure;

a support structure integrally formed with the at least one mid-structure, the support structure comprising;

a support panel parallel to and spaced apart from a portion of the at least one mid-structure; and

a support panel arm connecting the support panel to the portion of the at least one mid-structure; and

a first electronic component mounted to the support panel and disposed between the support panel and the portion of the at least one mid-structure.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the upper housing forms a top surface of the electronic device, and wherein the lower housing forms a bottom surface of the electronic device.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least two sidewalls extend completely along a perimeter of the frame.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least two sidewalls encircle the electronic device, such that the at least two sidewalls form side surfaces of the electronic device.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one mid-structure is coupled substantially perpendicular to each of the at least two sidewalls.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one mid-structure comprises a web.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the frame is formed from metal.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the metal comprises steel.

9. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the metal comprises die-cast metal.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least two physically-separated compartments comprise:

a first compartment formed between the upper housing and the at least one mid-structure; and

a second compartment formed between the lower housing and the at least one mid-structure.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, further comprising:

at least one flexible circuit board positioned in the first compartment.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the first compartment comprises a first set of electrical components and the second compartment comprises a second set of electrical components.

13. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the support panel comprises a substantially planar support panel that lies in a first plane, wherein the portion of the at least one mid-structure comprises a substantially planar portion that lies in a second plane, and wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the support panel arm extends from the support panel to the portion of the mid-structure and is orthogonal to the first and second planes.

15. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first electronic component comprises a first portion of a flexible circuit board.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the flexible circuit board bends around at least a portion of the support structure.

17. An electronic device defined by an outer surface, the electronic device comprising:

a frame including at least two sidewalls and at least one mid-structure extending between the at least two sidewalls;

an upper housing, wherein the upper housing is coupled to at least a portion of a top section of the frame;

a lower housing, wherein the lower housing is coupled to at least a portion of a bottom section of the frame, wherein the upper housing, lower housing, and frame together form the outer surface, and wherein the at least one mid-structure extends across an entire length and width of the electronic device, such that the electronic device is divided into at least two physically-separated compartments by the at least one mid-structure;

a support structure integrated with the at least one mid-structure, the support structure comprising;

a first surface facing the at least one mid-structure; and

a second surface opposite to the first surface; and

a first electronic component coupled to the first surface, wherein the at least two sidewalls comprise two opposing sides of the electronic device, such that the at least two sidewalls and the at least one mid-structure together form an H-shaped structure.

18. An electronic device defined by an outer surface, the electronic device comprising:

a frame including at least two sidewalls and at least one mid-structure extending between the at least two sidewalls;

an upper housing, wherein the upper housing is coupled to at least a portion of a top section of the frame;

a lower housing, wherein the lower housing is coupled to at least a portion of a bottom section of the frame, wherein the upper housing, lower housing, and frame together form the outer surface, and wherein the at least one mid-structure extends across an entire length and width of the electronic device, such that the electronic device is divided into at least two physically-separated compartments by the at least one mid-structure;

a support structure integrated with the at least one mid-structure, the support structure comprising;

a first surface facing the at least one mid-structure; and

a second surface opposite to the first surface;

a first electronic component coupled to the first surface, wherein the at least two physically-separated compartments comprise;

a first compartment formed between the upper housing and the at least one mid-structure; and

a second compartment formed between the lower housing and the at least one mid-structure;

at least one flexible circuit board positioned in the first compartment; and

a support panel positioned in the first compartment, wherein the at least one flexible circuit board is supported by and bends around at least a portion of the support panel.

19. An electronic device comprising:

a frame comprising at least one sidewall and at least one mid-structure extending from the at least one sidewall;

a support structure integrally formed with the at least one mid-structure, the support structure comprising a support panel parallel to and spaced apart from a portion of the at least one mid-structure and a support panel arm connecting the support panel to the portion of the at least one mid-structure;

a first electronic component mounted to the support panel and disposed between the support panel and the portion of the at least one mid-structure;

wherein the support panel comprises a substantially planar support panel that lies in a first plane, wherein the portion of the at least one mid-structure comprises a substantially planar portion that lies in a second plane, and wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane at least one mid-structure; and

wherein the support panel arm extends orthogonally from the plane of the support panel and to the at least one mid-structure.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the at least one sidewall extends completely along a perimeter of the frame.

21. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the at least one sidewall encircles the electronic device, such that the at least one sidewall forms exterior side surfaces of the electronic device.

22. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the frame is formed from metal.

23. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the first electronic component comprises a first portion of a flexible circuit board.

24. The electronic device of claim 23, wherein the flexible circuit board bends around at least a portion of the support structure.