Computing device housing

• US 9,367,083 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2014
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Canova, Francis J. Jr., Hawkins, Jeffrey Charles, Neist, Traci Angela, Boyle, Dennis Joseph, Twiss, Robert Gregory, Han, Amy Aimei, Tal, Elisha Avraham, Francavilla, Madeleine Leugers
• Primary Examiner(s): Datskovskiy, Michail V
• Application Number:
  US14/323,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20150168998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 361/679.08, 361/679.09, 361/679.55, 361/679.56, 361/679.02, 361/679.3, 361/679.21, 361/679.26, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 312/236, 312/265, 395/24, 395143-149, 395/155, 455/566.1, 455/566.2, 455/569, 455/575, 455/568, 455/90, 379/88.13, 379/93.17, 379/110.01, 379/433, 379/434, 345/181, 345/182, 345/183, 178/18, 178/19.1
• 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 1/1656 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 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer

Abstract

A computing device housing is described. The housing includes a front shell and a back shell coupled to a mid-frame. An infrared port may be an integral portion of the housing or the mid-frame.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a contact-sensitive display;

a mid-frame holding in place one or more internal components of the computing device, the one or more internal components including a rechargeable battery; and

a front shell and a back shell, each of the front shell and back shell being secured to the mid-frame.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more internal components are installed onto the mid-frame separately from each of the front shell and back shell.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the mid-frame forms an exterior of the computing device.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the mid-frame is formed from metal.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the mid-frame is secured to each of the front shell and the back shell using a set of fasteners.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the mid-frame is at least partially formed from material that is transmissive to infrared light.

6. A computing device comprising:

a contact-sensitive display;

a mid-frame; and

a front shell and a back shell, each of the front shell and back shell being secured to the mid-frame, wherein the front shell, the back shell, and the mid-frame combine to form a first slot for a stylus.

7. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the front shell, the back shell, and the mid-frame combine to form a second slot for the stylus.

9. A computing device comprising:

a contact-sensitive display; and

a housing, wherein at least a portion of the housing is formed from material that is transmissive to infrared light, the at least a portion being made thinner relative to a remainder portion of the housing;

whereby transmission of infrared signals therethrough is enhanced.

10. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the housing includes a mid-frame, a front shell and a back shell, wherein each of the front shell and back shell is secured to the mid-frame.

11. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the front shell and the back shell are each secured to the mid-frame using a set of fasteners.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein at least the mid-frame is formed from metal.

13. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the mid-frame holds in place one or more internal components of the computing device.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the one or more internal components are installed onto the mid-frame separately from each of the front shell and back shell.

15. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the portion of the housing that is formed from material that is transmissive to infrared light is polished.

16. The computing device of claim 9, further comprising an infrared receiver/transmitter that is coupled to the at least a portion of the housing to transmit and receive infrared transmissions using the material that is transmissive to infrared light;

whereby the at least a portion of the housing acts as an infrared port.

17. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the housing includes at least a first slot to receive a stylus.

18. A housing for a computing device, the housing comprising:

a mid-frame;

a front shell that is secured to the mid-frame; and

a back shell that is secured to the mid-frame;

wherein at least a portion of the housing is formed from material that is transmissive to infrared light, the at least a portion being made thinner relative to a remainder portion of the housing;

whereby transmission of infrared signals therethrough is enhanced.