Portable electronic device

• US 9,441,829 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2014
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Jarvis, Daniel W., Mittleman, Adam D., Xu, Ming, Tam, Ching Yu John
• Primary Examiner(s): Briggs, Nathanael R
• Application Number:
  US14/275,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20140247404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 349/58, 349/60, 349/63, 349/65, 349/67
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/027 Planar, e.g. in sheet form; leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/185 characterised by shape or design of individual leaves F16F1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0081 Mechanical or electrical aspects of the light guide and light source in the lighting device peculiar to the adaptation to planar light guides, e.g. concerning packaging
• 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 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033

Abstract

Portable electronic devices are provided. A device may include cover glass with a light mask. The light mask may be microperforated to allow light to pass through the light mask. The microperforations may allow light to pass through the light mask. The devices may include sensors and light emitters that receive and transmit light through the microperforations. The devices may include a variable cantilever spring as part of a button assembly. The spring may be flattened against itself without exceeding its elastic limit. The devices may include display modules. The display module may include structures that block light from leaking out of the module. The structures may include opaque tapes, opaque enclosures for the display module, and other suitable structures.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing; and

a display module mounted in the housing, wherein the display module comprises;

a light source;

a light guide;

a reflector that overlaps the light guide;

a chassis that holds the light source, the light guide, and the reflector; and

an opaque seal that overlaps a gap between the chassis and the reflector, wherein the opaque seal has a first portion that overlaps the reflector without overlapping the chassis, a second portion that overlaps the chassis, and a third portion that overlaps the gap, and wherein the opaque seal comprises a double-sided opaque tape that is also used to mount the display module in the electronic device.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the double-sided opaque tape comprises black double-sided opaque tape.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the reflector does not overlap the planar light guide at the gap, and wherein the opaque seal covers the gap.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the light source comprises multiple light emitting diodes.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the first portion of the opaque seal is in direct contact with the reflector, and wherein the second portion of the opaque seal is in direct contact with the chassis.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 12, wherein the third portion of the opaque seal is interposed between the first portion of the opaque seal and the second portion of the opaque seal.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the second portion of the opaque seal does not overlap the reflector, and wherein the second portion of the opaque seal does not overlap the gap.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the first portion of the opaque seal vertically overlaps the reflector without vertically overlapping the chassis, and wherein the second portion of the opaque seal vertically overlaps the chassis without vertically overlapping the reflector.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the double-sided opaque tape comprises first and second opposing sides, wherein the first side of the double-sided opaque tape is adhered to the reflector and the chassis, and wherein the second side of the double-sided opaque tape is adhered to the housing.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 17, wherein the first side of the double-sided opaque tape is white, and wherein the second side of the double-sided opaque tape is black.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the double-sided opaque tape comprises clear tape coated in black paint.

20. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the double-sided opaque tape is formed from a non-conductive material.

5. An electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a display module mounted in the housing, wherein the display module comprises a touch screen display, and wherein the display module comprises;

a light source;

a planar backing structure;

a chassis that holds the light source and the planar backing structure; and

an opaque seal that overlaps a gap between the chassis and the planar backing structure;

a transparent cover, wherein the transparent cover extends over the touch screen display;

a mask covering a portion of the transparent cover, wherein the mask comprises portions defining a plurality of holes; and

a sensor mounted beneath the transparent cover and the plurality of holes in the mask.

6. A display module, comprising:

a light source;

a light guide;

a reflector that overlaps the light guide;

a chassis that holds the light source, the light guide, and the reflector; and

an opaque seal that overlaps a gap between the chassis and the reflector, wherein the opaque seal is in direct contact with the chassis and the reflector, wherein the opaque seal has a portion that overlaps the reflector without overlapping with the chassis, and wherein the opaque seal is formed from an opaque polymer.

7. The display module defined in claim 6 wherein the opaque seal comprises black tape.

8. The display module defined in claim 6 wherein the reflector does not overlap the light guide at the gap, and wherein the opaque seal covers the gap.

9. The display module defined in claim 6 wherein the opaque seal comprises a double-sided opaque tape on an exterior surface of the display module.

10. The display module defined in claim 6 wherein the light source comprises multiple light emitting diodes.

11. The display module defined in claim 6 wherein the display module comprises a touch screen display.

15. The display module defined in claim 6 wherein the opaque seal has an additional portion that overlaps the chassis.