Display module

• US 9,417,661 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2015
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: McClure, Stephen R., Banko, Joshua D., Ternus, Jonathan, Morris, Matthew B., Thompson, Peter M., Gibbs, Kevin, Van Vorhis, Timothy G., Adamcyk, Martin B., Lucchesi, Arthur J., Carpenter, Brian Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Hung
• Application Number:
  US14/630,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20150169004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 349/15, 349/58, 349/60, 349/62, 345/173, 345/174, 345/104, 345/207, 345/690, 345/7, 345/204, 345/169, 345/694, 345/1.3, 345/175, 345/636, 345/156, 206/545, 248/917, 248/346.5, 248/919, 248/231.91, 248/178.1, 312/7.2, 312/223.2, 312/223.1, 361/679.21, 361/679.01, 361/679.02, 361/679.27, 361/679.06, 361/679.26, 361/679.22, 361/679.05, 361/679.57
• 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 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• 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 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0252 by means of a snap-on mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0277 for a printed circuit board assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0281 Reinforcement details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/118 specially for flexible printed circuits, e.g. using folded portions
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/147 at least one of the printed circuits being bent or folded, e.g. by using a flexible printed circuit H05K1/148 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1076 Link and lever

Abstract

A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include a single piece housing and a display module. The display module can include a protective top glass cover that is bonded to a plastic display frame and surrounded by a seal frame. The display module can also include a display panel and its associated circuitry suspended from the display frame below the protective glass cover. The display module is coupled to the single piece housing using mounting clips in a manner that allows the display module to move relative to the single piece housing during an impact event. The plastic display frame can include inserts that provide structural support near openings in the single piece housing.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a single piece housing with a bottom wall and side walls, wherein the bottom wall and side walls define a front opening of the electronic device;

a display module in the front opening that is secured to the single piece housing, wherein the display module comprises;

a display frame;

a display panel supported by the display frame;

a cover supported by the display frame; and

a plurality of attachment features that secure the display module to the single piece housing without using a bezel.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of attachment features comprises mounting clips.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 2, wherein each mounting clip comprises a first portion that is substantially parallel to a surface of the display frame.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 3, wherein the first portion of each mounting clip is directly adjacent to the display frame, and wherein each mounting clip is secured to the display frame by a respective fastener.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 4, wherein each mounting clip comprises a second portion that protrudes into a respective recess in the single piece housing.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 1, further comprising a seal interposed between the side walls and the cover.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 6, further comprising an antenna incorporated into the seal.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the seal has a portion that extends beneath the cover.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a single piece housing with a top opening and a lip portion surrounding the top opening;

a cover that is positioned above a display module, wherein the display module is positioned in the top opening and comprises;

a display panel;

display circuitry attached to the display panel;

a display panel housing that attaches the display circuitry to the display panel; and

a frame that supports the display panel housing, wherein the display panel housing is suspended from the frame.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 9, further comprising at least one mounting clip that secures the frame to the single piece housing.

11. The electronic device in claim 9, wherein the electronic device is a tablet computer.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 9, further comprising a seal in contact with the lip portion and the cover.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 12, wherein the seal has a portion that is interposed between and in contact with the frame and the cover.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 9, further comprising a plurality of inserts used to provide additional structural support and reinforcement in portions of the frame.

15. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing with a bottom wall and side walls, wherein the bottom wall and side walls define a front opening of the electronic device, and wherein the side walls comprise a recess;

a display module in the front opening wherein the display module comprises a display frame;

a transparent cover layer that is supported by the display frame;

a seal interposed between the side walls and the transparent cover layer; and

at least one mounting clip having a first portion that is attached to the display frame and a second portion that extends into the recess.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 15, wherein the seal has a portion that extends underneath the transparent cover layer.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 16, wherein the portion is interposed between the transparent cover layer and the display frame.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 15, wherein the portion is coupled to the display frame using an adhesive.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 15, wherein the display module is configured to move relative to the housing during an impact event.

20. The electronic device defined in claim 15, wherein the seal comprises a plastic.