INSERT-MOLDED CONDUCTOR

• US 20100238621A1
• Filed: 03/20/2009
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Doczy, Paul J., Hoffman, Dustin L., Tracy, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US12/407,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20100238621A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.270
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14639 for obtaining an insulating effect, e.g. for electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3475 Displays, monitors, TV-sets, computer screens
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266

Abstract

A display housing includes an injection-molded enclosure, configured for attachment to a base of a portable computer at a hinge region, and a conductor, insert-molded into the enclosure, extending from the hinge region.

Claims

1. A display housing, comprising:

an injection-molded enclosure, configured for hinged attachment to a base of a portable computer at a hinge region; and

a conductor, insert-molded into the enclosure, extending from the hinge region.

2. A display housing in accordance with claim 1, wherein the conductor comprises an antenna cable, extending to an antenna unit attachment point within the enclosure.

3. A display housing in accordance with claim 1, further comprising multiple insert-molded devices, encased within the enclosure.

4. A display housing in accordance with claim 3, wherein the insert-molded devices are selected from the group consisting of an antenna cable, a camera cable, a power cable for a light, and connecting devices.

5. A display housing in accordance with claim 1, wherein the conductor is encased within an enlarged region of polymer material around a perimeter of the enclosure and integral with a sidewall of the enclosure.

6. A computer, comprising:

a base portion;

a display portion, attached to the base portion at a hinge region, comprising an injection-molded enclosure; and

a conductor, insert-molded into the enclosure, extending from the hinge region.

7. A computer in accordance with claim 6, further comprising an antenna unit, disposed at an upper region of the display portion, the conductor comprising an antenna cable extending from the hinge region to the antenna unit.

8. A computer in accordance with claim 7, wherein the display portion includes an LCD display, and the insert-molded antenna cable extends around a side of the display, from a location below the display to a location above the display.

9. A computer in accordance with claim 6, wherein the conductor is encased within an enlarged region of polymer material integral with a sidewall of the enclosure.

10. A computer in accordance with claim 6, further comprising:

at least one device selected from the group consisting of an antenna, a camera assembly and a keyboard light, attached to the enclosure of the display portion; and

wherein the conductor extends to the at least one device from the hinge region.

11. A computer in accordance with claim 6, further comprising multiple insert-molded devices, encased within the enclosure, the insert-molded devices being selected from the group consisting of an antenna cable, a camera cable, a power cable for a light, and connecting devices.

12. A method for producing a display housing for a portable computer, comprising the steps of:

providing an injection mold having a desired shape for the housing;

placing a conductor into the mold; and

injecting polymer material into the mold to encase the conducting device therein.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the conductor comprises an antenna cable.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13, further comprising the step of placing an antenna connector unit at a terminal end of the antenna cable, such that the antenna connector unit becomes encased within the polymer material with the antenna cable.

15. A method in accordance with claim 12, further comprising the step of placing within the mold, before injecting polymer material thereinto, at least one device selected from the group consisting of a camera cable, a power cable for a light, and connecting devices.