Electronic devices with component mounting structures

• US 8,982,547 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2013
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sanford, Emery, Alvarez, Felix, Lynch, Stephen Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US14/094,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20140091336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.21, 361/679.26, 361/679.3, 361/679.55, 361/679.56, 349 56- 60
• US Class Current: 361/679.21
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133314 Back frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133317 Intermediate frames, e.g. between backlight housing and front frame
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13452 Conductors connecting driver circuitry and terminals of panels
• 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: H01H 13/04 Cases; Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/10 Bases; Stationary contacts mounted thereon
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/52 the contact returning to its original state immediately upon removal of operating force, e.g. bell-push switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/024 Screw
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1255 integrated with passive devices, e.g. auxiliary capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24628 Nonplanar uniform thickness material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 Composite [nonstructural laminate]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31507 Of polycarbonate

Abstract

Electronic devices are provided that have components. A housing protrusion may be interposed between a display cover layer and display components. A button may have a button member. A support structure for a dome switch in the button may have a screw hole. A housing may have screw holes through which a screw passes. The screw may also pass through the screw hole of the support structure to hold the switch structure near the button member. A clip may have a spring. A metal plate may prevent the clip from becoming worn by the spring. A display may be mounted on a ledge in a device housing. The ledge may have gaps with supports and removed corners.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a display having a cover layer, a thin-film transistor layer, and a plurality of additional layers, wherein the thin-film transistor layer is physically coupled to the cover layer through the plurality of additional layers in the display;

a housing having a protrusion that is interposed between the cover layer and the thin-film transistor layer, wherein the housing comprises a rear housing surface, wherein the thin-film transistor layer is interposed between the cover layer and the rear housing surface, and wherein the housing and the protrusion are formed from one piece; and

an electronic component coupled to the display, wherein the protrusion extends over a cavity in the housing and wherein the electronic component is located within the cavity.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the housing comprises peripheral regions adjacent to a side of the cover layer, the electronic device further comprising adhesive joining the protrusion of the housing and the cover layer together.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the cover layer is located on a first side of the housing protrusion and wherein the display comprises display components located on a second side of the housing protrusion.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the display comprises display components and wherein the housing protrusion defines a cavity within which at least some portion of the display components are disposed.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein there is at least one direct line between the cover layer and the thin-film transistor layer that does not include any air gaps.

6. An electronic device, comprising:

a display having a cover layer and a thin-film transistor layer;

a housing having a protrusion that is interposed between the cover layer and the thin-film transistor layer, wherein the housing comprises a rear housing surface, wherein the thin-film transistor layer is interposed between the cover layer and the rear housing surface, and wherein the housing and the protrusion are formed from one piece;

a flex circuit that has an end that is attached to the thin-film transistor layer, wherein the protrusion is interposed between the end of the flex circuit and the cover layer; and

an electronic component coupled to the display, wherein the protrusion extends over a cavity in the housing and wherein the electronic component is located within the cavity.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 6 wherein the cover layer comprises a layer of cover glass that is attached to the protrusion with adhesive.

8. The electronic device define in claim 7 further comprising a color filter layer adjacent to the thin-film transistor layer, wherein the thin-film transistor layer has an edge, wherein the protrusion is interposed between the edge of the thin-film transistor layer and the layer of cover glass, and wherein the color filter layer has an edge that is recessed with respect to the edge of the thin-film transistor layer.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 8 further comprising:

a support structure around which a portion of the flex circuit bends, wherein the electronic component comprises a capacitor that is connected to the flex circuit.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 7 wherein the adhesive comprises pressure sensitive adhesive.

11. An electronic device, comprising:

a display having an exterior layer and at least one interior layer;

a housing having a protrusion that is interposed between the exterior and interior layers, wherein the housing comprises a rear housing surface, wherein the interior layer is interposed between the exterior layer and the rear housing surface, and wherein the housing and the protrusion are formed from one piece;

adhesive that attaches the exterior layer to the protrusion; and

a capacitor coupled to the display, wherein the protrusion extends over a cavity in the housing and wherein the capacitor is located within the cavity.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the exterior layer comprises a layer of cover glass.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the exterior layer comprises a cover layer.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the interior layer comprises a thin-film transistor layer.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the adhesive comprises pressure sensitive adhesive.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 11 further comprising a flex circuit that has an end that is attached to the interior layer, wherein the protrusion is interposed between the end of the flex circuit and the exterior layer.

17. The electronic device define in claim 16 further comprising a color filter layer adjacent to the interior layer, wherein the interior layer has an edge, wherein the protrusion is interposed between the edge of the interior layer and the exterior layer, and wherein the color filter layer has an edge that is recessed with respect to the edge of the interior layer.

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

a support structure around which a portion of the flex circuit bends, wherein the capacitor is connected to the flex circuit.