Housing for portable electronic device with reduced border region

• US 10,761,563 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2017
• Issued: 09/01/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sanford, Emery A., Rothkopf, Fletcher R., Lynch, Stephen B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrera, Ramon M
• Application Number:
  US15/673,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20170336829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/4902 Pulse width modulation; Pulse position modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

An electronic device having a housing structure that is configured to receive at least one glass cover is disclosed. The glass cover serves to cover a display assembly provided within the electronic device. The glass cover can be secured to the housing structure so as to facilitate providing a narrow border between an active display area and an outer edge of the housing structure. The enclosure for the electronic device can be thin yet be sufficiently strong to be suitable for use in electronic devices, such as portable electronic devices.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing that includes a bottom member and sidewalls that combine with the bottom member to define an internal volume;

an assembly comprising a translucent member and a display assembly coupled to the translucent member, the translucent member secured with the housing to enclose the internal volume, the display assembly further comprising touch and display components suspended from the translucent member by an adhesive; and

mounting brackets coupled with the translucent member, wherein the mounting brackets are positioned in the internal volume and coupled with the sidewalls.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the mounting brackets are secured to an outer peripheral portion of the translucent member.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the mounting brackets comprise rails that are secured to the translucent member.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the rails are secured to the sidewalls by snaps.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a frame positioned in the internal volume and extending across a bottom surface of the display assembly.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the bottom member defines a first structure and wherein the sidewalls define a second structure separate from the first structure.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing does not include a bezel, and wherein the sidewalls extend substantially to the translucent member.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the translucent member includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and wherein the touch and display components are adhesively secured to the translucent member by the adhesive at the second surface.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing that includes a bottom member and sidewalls that combine with the bottom member to define an internal volume;

a cover glass secured with the housing along the sidewalls, the cover glass having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface,

mounting brackets secured to a peripheral portion of the bottom surface of the cover glass;

a touch screen assembly comprising a display screen assembly suspended from the bottom surface and positioned in the internal volume, the display screen assembly having touch and display components; and

a frame that extends across a bottom surface of the touch screen assembly.

10. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 9, wherein the display screen assembly includes a first surface coupled with the bottom surface of the cover glass, and wherein the frame is adjacent a second surface of the display screen assembly that is opposite the first surface.

11. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 9, wherein the frame is coupled to the mounting brackets via snaps.

12. The electronic device as recited in claim 9, wherein the bottom member is formed from a first unitary structure and wherein the sidewalls are formed from a second structure different from first unitary structure.

13. A method for assembling an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving a housing that includes a bottom member and sidewalls that combine with the bottom member to define an internal volume;

coupling an assembly with the housing, the assembly including a translucent member and a display component secured to the translucent member, the display component further including a touch component coupled to the display component; and

coupling mounting brackets with the translucent member, wherein the mounting brackets are positioned in the internal volume and secured to the sidewalls.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the mounting brackets are secured to the sidewalls by snaps.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising adhering the display component to the translucent member by an adhesive such that the display component is suspended from the translucent member by the adhesive.