HANDHELD COMPUTING DEVICE

• US 20090185344A1
• Filed: 03/26/2009
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: ZADESKY, Stephen Paul, LYNCH, Stephen Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,839,646 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.560
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• 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: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0277 for a printed circuit board assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49126 Assembling bases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49169 Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 Means to assemble electrical device

Abstract

A handheld computing device includes an electronic component assembly including at least one user interface component, and an enclosure formed from an extruded tube. The extruded tube defines an internal lumen between open ends, and has a substantially uniform cross section along a longitudinal axis thereof. The extruded tube includes a front face, a back face, side portions connecting the front face and the back face, at least one access opening provided on the front face, and a pair of guide rails formed in the lumen along the side portions in parallel with the longitudinal axis, the guide rails slidably guiding and receiving the electronic component assembly. The guide rails support the electronic component assembly and provide a reference surface for positioning the electronic component assembly relative to the front face such that the user interface is placed right behind the access opening to provide user access therethrough.

Claims

1. A handheld computing device, comprising:

an electronic component assembly including at least one user interface component; and

an enclosure formed from an extruded tube having a substantially uniform cross section along a longitudinal axis thereof, the extruded tube defining an internal lumen between open ends, the extruded tube including;

a front face and a back face;

side portions connecting the front face and the back face;

at least one access opening provided on the front face; and

a pair of guide rails formed on an internal wall of the lumen along the side portions in parallel with the longitudinal axis, the guide rails slidably guiding and receiving the electronic component assembly;

wherein the guide rails support the electronic component assembly and provide a reference surface, the reference surface positioning the electronic component assembly relative to the front face such that the user interface is placed right behind the access opening to provide user access therethrough.

2. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the side portions smoothly connect the front face and the back face so as to form an integral seamless outer surface of the extruded tube.

3. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the guide rails has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, a pair of the top surfaces defining a first reference surface, a pair of the bottom surfaces defining a second reference surface,

and wherein the at least one access opening includes a first access opening and a second access opening.

4. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 3, wherein the electronic component assembly comprises:

a first assembly including a display, the first assembly being positioned by the second reference surface such that the display is placed right behind the first access opening; and

a second assembly including an input device, the second assembly being positioned by the first reference surface such that the input device is placed right behind the second access opening.

5. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 4, wherein the first assembly further includes:

a printed circuit board having the display on a top surface thereof; and

a memory component provided on a bottom surface of the printed circuit board, and wherein the top surface of the printed circuit board abuts the second reference surface.

6. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 5, wherein the second assembly further includes a frame for carrying the input device,

and wherein a bottom surface of the frame abuts the first reference surface.

7. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 6, wherein the second assembly occupies a space between the pair of the guide rails above the second reference surface beneath the second access opening, while the first assembly occupies a space under the second reference surface beneath the second access opening.

8. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 6, wherein the first assembly occupies a space between the pair of the guide rails above and below the second reference surface beneath the first access opening.

9. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 4, wherein the first assembly further includes a battery provided on the bottom surface of the printed circuit board.

10. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 4, wherein the electronic component assembly further comprises:

a third assembly including an audio component operatively coupled with the printed circuit board of the first assembly.

11. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

a locking mechanism for the second assembly, including;

a recess provided on the inner wall of the lumen in a vicinity of one of the open ends close to the second access opening; and

a tab provided to the second assembly to engage with the recess when the second assembly is fully inserted in the extruded tube.

12. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a locking mechanism for the electronic component assembly, including;

a recess provided on the inner wall of the lumen in a vicinity of one of the open ends; and

a tab provided to the electronic component assembly, the tab engaging with the recess when the electronic component assembly is fully inserted in the extruded tube.

13. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a positioning mechanism for the electronic component assembly, including;

a recessed area provided at one of the open ends; and

a top plate attached to the electronic component assembly, a bottom surface of the top plate abutting the recessed area so as to position the electronic component assembly relative to the direction of the longitudinal axis.

14. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic component assembly comprises a first assembly including a display and a second assembly including an input device,

wherein the at least one access opening includes a first access opening for the display and a second opening for the input device,

and wherein the handheld computing device further comprises:

a window component for the first access opening, the window component including;

a clear window portion sitting in the second opening; and

a flange portion having a pair of stop members providing a reference surface to position the second assembly relative to the direction of the longitudinal axis.

15. A method for manufacturing a handheld computing device, the method comprising:

providing an enclosure formed from an extruded tube having a substantially uniform cross section along a longitudinal axis thereof, the extruded tube defining an internal lumen between open ends, the extruded tube having at least one access openings formed on a front face thereof and a pair of internal rails formed in the lumen along the longitudinal axis;

assembling electronic components into the extruded tube through the open ends by sliding the electronic components along the internal rails, the internal rails providing a reference surface to position the electronic component assembly relative to the front face; and

closing the open ends with end caps.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the electronic components include a first assembly having a display, and a second assembly having an input device,

wherein each of the internal rails has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, a pair of the top surfaces defining a top reference surface and a pair of the bottom surfaces defining a bottom reference surface,

and wherein said assembling the electronic components comprises:

inserting the first assembly into the lumen through a top open end of the extruded tube, the first assembly being positioned by the bottom reference surface such that the display is placed right behind a first access opening; and

inserting the second assembly into the lumen through a bottom open end of the extruded tube, the second assembly being positioned by the top reference surface such that the input device is placed right behind a second access opening.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the first assembly further includes:

a printed circuit board having the display on a top surface thereof; and

a memory component provided on a bottom surface of the printed circuit board,

and wherein, in said inserting the first assembly, the top surface of the printed circuit board abuts the bottom surface of the internal rails.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the first assembly further comprises an audio subassembly and a battery provided on the bottom surface of the printed circuit board, and wherein the first assembly is inserted so as to occupy a space between the pair of the internal rails above and below the bottom reference surface beneath the first access opening.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the second assembly further includes a frame for carrying the input device,

and wherein, in said inserting the second assembly, a bottom surface of the frame abuts the top surface of the internal rails.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the second assembly is inserted in a space between the pair of the internal rails above the bottom reference surface beneath the second access opening, while part of the first assembly is inserted in a space under the bottom reference surface beneath the second access opening.

21. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the providing the enclosure formed from an extruded tube includes:

extruding a tube having the front face, a back face, and side portions connecting the front face and the back face, the pair of internal rails formed in the lumen along the side portions;

cutting the extruded tube to a desired length, forming a top open end and a bottom open end;

forming access openings on the front face of the extruded tube; and

forming a recessed area on a top surface of the extruded tube.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the electronic components include a first assembly having a display and a top plate, and wherein said assembling electronic components comprises:

inserting the first assembly into the lumen through the top open end of the extruded tube, the first assembly being positioned relative to the longitudinal axis by the top plate abutting the recessed area such that the display aligns with a first access opening.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the providing the enclosure formed from an extruded tube further includes:

removing a portion of the internal rails from the internal wall of the lumen in a vicinity of the bottom end the extruded tube;

forming slots on the internal wall of the lumen in the vicinity of the bottom open end; and

mounting a window in one of the access openings.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the electronic components further include a second assembly having an input device, and the window includes a flange having stop members, and wherein said assembling electronic components further comprises:

inserting the second assembly into the lumen through the bottom open end of the extruded tube, the second assembly being positioned relative to the longitudinal axis by abutting the stop members such that the input device aligns with a second access opening.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the second assembly further includes a tag, and wherein said assembling electronic components further comprises:

locking the second assembly by engaging the tag with one of the slots formed on the internal wall of the lumen.