Computer housing

• US 8,780,539 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Raff, John, Andre, Bartley K., DeForest, Laura, DiFonzo, John, Gao, Zheng, Goldberg, Michelle, Hamel, Bradley J., Hibbard, Timothy S., Hopkinson, Ron, Leggett, William F., Ligtenberg, Chris, Reid, Gavin J., Schwalbach, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US13/335,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20120092821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.02, 361/679.55
• US Class Current: 361/679.02
• 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 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• 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 1/1658 related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0243 for decorative purposes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A multipart computer housing is described. The multipart computer housing includes at least a structural support layer and a body. The body includes at least an outer layer formed of lightweight flexible material and an inner layer attached to the outer layer. The inner layer is connected to the support layer forming a load path between the inner layer and the structural support layer. A load applied to the multipart computer housing is transferred by way of the load path to the support layer without substantially affecting the outer layer.

Claims

1. A portable computing device, comprising:

a single piece, seamless housing; and

a top cover pivotally connected to the single piece seamless housing, the top cover comprising;

a display housing enclosing a recess and including a first alignment pin extending from an inside surface of the display housing, and

a camera module disposed within the recess, the camera module comprising;

a lens assembly,

a camera printed circuit board (PCB), and

a first receiving feature having a size and shape in accordance with the first alignment pin, the first alignment pin being received into the first receiving feature that aids in aligning the lens assembly to a lens opening in the display housing.

2. The portable computing device as recited in claim 1, the camera module further comprising:

a support pad having one side formed of foam in contact with a bottom surface of the PCB and another side in contact with an internal wall of the top cover, wherein the support pad aids in the movement of the camera module within the recess.

3. The portable computing device as recited in claim 2, wherein the recess has a size and shape in accordance with the camera module.

4. The portable computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lens opening extends through the inside surface of the display housing.

5. The portable computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first receiving feature defines a chamfered opening that guides the first alignment pin into a portion of the receiving feature having a size and shape complementary to the first alignment pin.

6. The portable computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the camera module further comprises:

a second alignment pin extending from the inside surface of the display housing; and

a second receiving feature having a size and shape in accordance with the second alignment pin.

7. The portable computing device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a Hall Effect sensor assembly, comprising;

a Hall Effect sensor (HES),

a PCB assembly, and

electrical connectors.

8. The portable computing device as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

a compression molded boot configured to encapsulate all but a top portion of the HES assembly and a portion of the electrical connectors.

9. The portable computing device as recited in claim 8, wherein an exposed portion of the electrical connectors are surface mounted to a motherboard using an adhesive.

10. The portable computing device as recited in claim 9, wherein the electrical connectors are directly connected to electrical components in the motherboard.

11. The portable computing device as recited in claim 10, wherein the HES is mounted to the motherboard by way of a riser board.

12. A camera module suitable for use in a top cover of a portable computing device, the camera module comprising:

a lens assembly;

a camera printed circuit board (PCB);

a support pad configured to facilitate movement of the camera module within the top cover of the portable computing device during an assembly operation;

a first alignment pin; and

a first receiving feature having a size and shape in accordance with the first alignment pin, the first alignment pin being received into the first receiving feature,

wherein the first receiving feature is configured to aid in aligning the lens assembly to a lens opening in the top cover.

13. The camera module as recited in claim 12, wherein the portable computing device comprises:

a base; and

the top cover, the top cover being pivotally coupled to the base.

14. The camera module as recited in claim 13, wherein the top cover comprises a supporting structure having a camera assembly recess, and wherein the camera assembly is disposed within the camera assembly recess.

15. The camera module as recited in claim 14, wherein the first receiving feature has a chamfered interior shape.

16. A camera module suitable for use in a display housing of a portable computing device, the camera module comprising:

a lens assembly;

a camera printed circuit board (PCB);

a first alignment pin; and

a first receiving feature coupled with the lens assembly, the first receiving feature defining a chamfered opening that causes the first receiving feature to align with and receive the first alignment pin during an assembly operation, wherein alignment of the first receiving feature with the first alignment pin aids in aligning the lens assembly with a lens opening in the display housing.

17. The camera module as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

a second alignment pin extending from an inside surface of the display housing; and

a second receiving feature having a size and shape in accordance with the second alignment pin, wherein the first and second alignment pins cooperate to cause the lens assembly to align with the lens opening.