Electronic component embedded in ceramic material

• US 9,678,540 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2014
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Memering, Dale N., de Jong, Erik G., Weiss, Samuel Bruce, Rothkopf, Fletcher R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US14/512,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20150085432A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 36167955, 36167956, 4555757, 343873
• 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 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1271 for mounting on windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2258 used with computer equipment

Abstract

A ceramic material having an electronic component embedded therein, and more particularly to a sapphire surface having an electrically energized component embedded within. In some embodiments, the sapphire surface may take the form of a portion of a housing for an electronic device. Since sapphire may be substantially transparent, it may form a cover glass for a display within or forming part of the electronic device, as one example. The cover glass may be bonded, affixed, or otherwise attached to a remainder of the housing, thereby forming an enclosure for the electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a display in the housing;

a cover glass affixed to the housing that covers the display, wherein the cover glass comprises a first transparent element and a second transparent element, wherein the first transparent element has a recess that is completely surrounded by a raised lip, and wherein the second transparent element fits within the recess;

a groove formed at an interface between the first and second transparent elements;

an electronic component held within the groove; and

an electronic circuit positioned below the cover glass.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one via in electrical communication with the electronic circuit and the electronic component, the via defining an electrical connection between the electronic circuit and the electronic component.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the via extends through a portion of the cover glass.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first and second transparent elements are bonded together.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor disposed below the electronic circuit.

6. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a display in the housing;

a transparent element that covers the display and is affixed to the housing, wherein the transparent element has first and second opposing surfaces, wherein the first surface of the transparent element forms an exterior surface of the electronic device, and wherein a trench is formed in the second surface of the transparent element;

an antenna, wherein at least a portion of the antenna is formed in the trench;

a masking layer that is formed on the second surface of the transparent element in the trench, wherein the masking layer is interposed between the second surface of the transparent element and the antenna;

a touch-sensitive layer in the housing;

a near-field communication element positioned below the display; and

at least one electronic circuit within the housing, wherein the at last one electronic circuit is in electrical communication with the antenna.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the touch-sensitive layer is interposed between the display and the transparent element.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the touch-sensitive layer is formed separately from the transparent element.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the transparent element is formed from sapphire.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the masking layer masks the presence of the antenna.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the masking layer comprises at least one ink layer.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the display is interposed between the near-field communication element and the transparent element that covers the display.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the display overlaps the near-field communication element.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 6, further comprising:

an optical sensor that receives light through the transparent element.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 14, wherein the display is interposed between the optical sensor and the transparent element.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 15, wherein the near-field communication element is interposed between the optical sensor and the transparent element.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 6, further comprising a shield interposed between the antenna and the near-field communication element.