Glass device housings

• US 10,278,294 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2017
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Russell-Clarke, Peter N., Ive, Jonathan P., Pilliod, Michael K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Haughton, Anthony M
• Application Number:
  US15/653,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20170318686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 349 56- 60, 4555751-5759, 36167921-6793, 36167955, 36167956, 36167901, 36167902
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 7/241 Methods
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 7/242 for plate glass
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 23/245 Hollow glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0269 mounted in a fixed curved configuration, e.g. display curved around the edges of the telephone housing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0234 Feet; Stands; Pedestals, e.g. wheels for moving casing on floor

Abstract

An electronic device may have a glass housing structures. The glass housing structures may be used to cover a display and other internal electronic device components. The glass housing structure may have multiple glass pieces that are joined using a glass fusing process. A peripheral glass member may be fused along the edge of a planar glass member to enhance the thickness of the edge. A rounded edge feature may be formed by machining the thickened edge. Raised fused glass features may surround openings in the planar glass member. Multiple planar glass members may be fused together to form a five-sided box in which electronic components may be mounted. Raised support structure ribs may be formed by fusing glass structures to a planar glass member. Opaque masking material and colored glass may be used to create portions of the glass housing structures that hide internal device components from view.

Claims

1. A housing for an electronic device, comprising:

a first housing structure defining a first exterior portion of a sidewall that is formed from a glass material, the first housing structure having a first thickness at an inner portion and a second thickness at a peripheral portion surrounding the inner portion, the first thickness being less than the second thickness; and

a second housing structure coupled to the first housing structure, the second housing structure defining a second exterior portion of the sidewall coplanar with the first exterior portion of the sidewall, the first and second housing structures defining an interior volume for receiving a display that is visible through the first housing structure.

2. The housing defined in claim 1, wherein the first housing structure defines a recess that is configured to receive at least a portion of the display.

3. The housing defined in claim 2, wherein the display is visible through the inner portion of the first housing structure.

4. The housing defined in claim 2, wherein a touch sensor is positioned adjacent to an inner surface of the recess of the first housing structure.

5. The housing defined in claim 1, wherein:

the housing further comprises an intermediate structure defining a third exterior portion of the sidewall;

the intermediate structure is positioned at least partially between the first housing structure and the second housing structure; and

the intermediate structure is coplanar with the first and second exterior portions of the sidewall.

6. The housing defined in claim 1, wherein the peripheral portion comprises non-clear glass.

7. The housing defined in claim 1, wherein the peripheral portion defines a rounded external edge.

8. The housing defined in claim 1, wherein the peripheral portion defines an inner surface that is curved.

9. The housing defined in claim 1, wherein:

the peripheral portion defines an inner surface; and

an opaque masking material is positioned over at least a portion of the inner surface.

10. The housing defined in claim 1, wherein:

the first housing structure comprises a base glass layer and one or more glass rib support structures; and

the one or more glass rib support structures are fused to the base glass layer.

11. An electronic device, comprising:

a display; and

a housing enclosing the display and comprising;

a first housing structure defining a first portion of an exterior sidewall formed from a glass material and a recess within an inner portion surrounded by a peripheral portion, the display viewable through the inner portion of the first housing structure; and

a second housing structure coupled to the first housing structure and defining a second portion of the exterior sidewall that is coplanar with the first portion of the exterior sidewall, and

internal electrical components positioned within a cavity defined between the second housing structure and the first housing structure.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein

the display comprises a touch sensor that is operable through the inner portion of the first housing structure.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein:

the first housing structure has a first thickness at the inner portion;

the first housing structure has a second thickness at the peripheral portion; and

the first thickness is less than the second thickness.

14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the second housing structure comprises a metal material.

15. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the recess of the first housing structure defines a curved interior surface.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein:

the display is a flexible display; and

the flexible display is secured adjacent the curved interior surface.

17. A housing, comprising:

a glass housing structure having a recess at a central portion of the glass housing structure, the glass housing structure defining a first portion of an exterior sidewall that includes exposed glass material;

a base structure coupled to the glass housing structure having a second portion of the exterior sidewall that is coplanar with the first portion of the exterior sidewall; and

a display positioned within a cavity defined between the base structure and the glass housing structure.

18. The housing defined in claim 17, wherein:

the glass housing structure has a thickness of T1 at the central portion and a thickness of T2 at a peripheral portion of the glass housing structure, the thickness of T1 being less than the thickness of T2.

19. The housing defined in claim 17, wherein:

the glass housing structure is formed from a base glass layer and a peripheral glass layer; and

the peripheral glass layer is fused to the base glass layer.

20. The housing defined in claim 17, wherein the display is positioned adjacent a portion of the recess of the glass housing structure.