Electronic device housing

• US 9,612,622 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2014
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Moon, Minhyung (Kevin)
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thienvu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Comber, Kevin J
• Application Number:
  US14/276,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20150331456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 361 51
• 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 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 6/00 Emergency protective circuit arrangements responsive to undesired changes from normal non-electric working conditions using simulators of the apparatus being protected, e.g. using thermal images
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/20 for electronic equipment for converters H02H7/10; for electric measuring instruments G01R1/36; for dc voltage or current semiconductor regulators G05F1/569; for amplifiers H03F1/52; for electronic switching circuits H03K17/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part

Abstract

An anti-shock device is disclosed to protect a portable electronic device from impact on a hard surface. The device includes shock absorbers which may be deployed upon sensing a triggering event by an accelerometer. The shock absorbers may include bumpers of buoyant material to allow the portable electronic device to float if the device contacts a water surface.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

shock absorbers mounted on supports that slide into and out of the housing, each of the shock absorbers comprising;

a cover structure that forms an edge of the housing and that is mounted to the supports;

additional supports mounted to the cover structure; and

a bumper mounted to the additional supports, wherein the additional supports are configured to push the bumper away from cover structure;

a sensor within the housing, the sensor configured to detect movement of the housing;

a controller within the housing, the controller configured to determine a triggering event based upon the detected movement of the housing; and

a switch coupled to the controller for deploying the shock absorbers based upon the triggering event determination.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the bumper is formed of resilient material.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 2 wherein the bumper is buoyant.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the sensor includes an accelerometer.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the controller determines the triggering event by determining a duration of the detected movement.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the supports are rigid.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the supports are spring-loaded and wherein the switch is activated based upon the triggering event determination, wherein the spring-loaded supports slide out of the housing in response to activation of the switch includes spring loaded supports.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the supports are telescoping supports.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the shock absorbers are configured to be retracted back into the housing after deploying.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the controller determines the triggering event by determining a distance of the detected movement.

11. A method for protecting a portable electronic device having a housing and shock absorbers mounted to the housing with retractable supports, the method comprising:

sensing movement of the portable electronic device;

comparing the sensed movement to a predetermined threshold; and

deploying the shock absorbers from the housing in response to the sensed movement, deploying the shock absorbers comprising;

extending the retractable supports to push the shock absorber away from the housing; and

extending additional retractable supports to push a bumper on the shock absorbers away from a cover portion of the shock absorber to which the bumper is mounted.

12. The method of claim 11 further including retracting the shock absorbers after deploying the shock absorbers.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein sensing the movement of the electronic device comprises determining a duration of the movement.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing an activation signal to trigger switches associated with the shock absorbers to deploy the shock absorbers by extending the retractable supports.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein extending the additional retractable supports comprises releasing detents on the cover portion that hold the bumper against the central portion.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein sensing the movement of the electronic device comprises determining a distance of the movement.

17. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

shock absorbers mounted on rigid supports that slide into and out of the housing;

a sensor within the housing, the sensor configured to detect movement of the housing;

a controller within the housing, the controller configured to determine a triggering event based upon the detected movement of the housing;

an activation mechanism coupled to the shock absorbers for deploying the shock absorbers based upon the triggering event determination.