Electronic device with wrap around display

• US 9,146,590 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2014
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Myers, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, NICHOLAS J
• Application Number:
  US14/523,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20150043139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/1633 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 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0269 mounted in a fixed curved configuration, e.g. display curved around the edges of the telephone housing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/06 on insulating boards , e.g. wiring harnesses for printed circuits H05K1/18, H05K3/30
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 Means to assemble electrical device

Abstract

A consumer electronic product includes at least a transparent housing and a flexible display assembly enclosed within the transparent housing. In the described embodiment, the flexible display assembly is configured to present visual content at any portion of the transparent housing.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing defining an interior volume, the housing comprising a transparent housing component having a curved interior surface; and

a flexible display assembly coupled to and in contact with the curved interior surface of the transparent housing component and disposed within the interior volume, the flexible display assembly being arranged to present visual content through the transparent housing component,

wherein the transparent housing component provides a rigid support structure that prevents deformation of the flexible display assembly during use of the electronic device.

2. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed within the interior volume.

3. The electronic device as recited in claim 2, wherein the flexible display assembly is electrically coupled to the PCB.

4. The electronic device as recited in claim 2, wherein the flexible display assembly is disposed between the PCB and the transparent housing.

5. The electronic device as recited in claim 4, wherein the flexible display assembly is adhesively coupled to the curved interior surface.

6. The electronic device as recited in claim 2, wherein the transparent housing component has a substantially fixed cross-section and defines a first opening at a first end of the transparent housing component and a second end opening at a second end of the transparent housing component, the first end being opposite the second end.

7. The electronic device as recited in claim 6, wherein the PCB is supported within the interior volume by a support member that extends through the first opening and the second opening.

8. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises an opaque housing component in direct contact with the transparent housing component.

9. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the transparent housing component comprises a layer of curved glass.

10. An electronic device, comprising:

a transparent housing component having a curved interior surface that defines a central volume, the transparent housing component providing structural support for the electronic device;

a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed within the central volume and having a substantially planar geometry; and

a flexible display coupled with the curved interior surface and disposed within the central volume, the flexible display being arranged to present visual content through the transparent housing component,

wherein the flexible display is positioned between the transparent housing component and the PCB.

11. The electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the transparent housing component defines a first opening and a second opening.

12. The electronic device as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

a support column extending through the first opening and the second opening and supporting the PCB at a fixed position within the central volume.

13. The electronic device as recited in claim 12, wherein a first end of the support column is secured in place by an opaque housing component positioned within the first opening.

14. The electronic device as recited in claim 12, wherein the opaque housing component is an end cap that includes a wireless antenna.

15. The electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the flexible display conforms to the curved interior surface of the transparent housing component.

16. The electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the flexible display is adhesively coupled with the interior surface of the transparent housing component.

17. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing, at least a portion of which is curved and transparent, having an interior surface that defines and encloses an interior volume, wherein any point of a portion of the interior surface corresponding to the curved and transparent portion of the housing is connectable to any other point of the portion of the interior surface corresponding to the curved and transparent portion of the housing by a straight line contained entirely within the interior volume; and

a flexible display assembly disposed within the interior volume and shaped in accordance with at least the curved and transparent portion of the housing and configured to present visual content through at least the curved and transparent portion of the housing,

wherein the curved and transparent portion of the housing is rigid and prevents deformation of the flexible display during use of the electronic device.

18. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 17, further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) supported within the interior volume.

19. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 18, wherein the PCB is supported within the interior volume by support columns that extend entirely through the interior volume.