Glass Enclosure

• US 20160345449A1
• Filed: 08/02/2016
• Published: 11/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Prest, Christopher, Sanford, Emery A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,021,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13439 characterised by their electrical, optical, physical properties; materials therefor; method of making
• 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 1/1643 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 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: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0249 Details of the mechanical connection between the housing parts or relating to the method of assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0091 Housing specially adapted for small components for resistors H01C; for capacitors H01G; for integrated circuits H01L23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A handheld computing device that includes an enclosure having structural walls formed from a glass material that can be radio-transparent. The enclosure can be formed from a hollow glass tube or two glass members bonded together. A laser frit bonding process may be used to hermetically seal the two glass members together to create a water resistant electronic device.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, the portable electronic device comprising:

an integral enclosure that surrounds and protects internal operational components of the portable computing device, the enclosure including a main body of glass material that permits wireless communications therethrough, the main body having an inner cross-sectional shape and an external cross-sectional shape, the inner cross-sectional shape being different from the external cross-sectional shape;

a liquid crystal display touch screen assembly positioned within the main body but externally accessible; and

an internal antenna disposed inside the enclosure.

2. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a handheld computing device.

3. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a mobile phone.

4. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, further comprising an end cap positioned on an open end of the enclosure.

5. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 4, wherein the internal operational components are enclosed by the enclosure and end cap.

6. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the enclosure comprises at least an inner structural wall and an outer structural wall that are formed of glass.

7. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer structural wall has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) than does the at least one inner structural wall.

8. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes a substantially planar front surface.

9. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the external cross-sectional shape is substantially uniform cross-section along the main body.

10. A portable electronic device, comprising:

an integral and substantially seamless enclosure that surrounds and protects internal operational components of the portable electronic device, the enclosure having a user interface opening and including a main body comprising glass material that permits wireless communications therethrough;

a user interface subassembly positioned within the main body and adjacent the user interface opening; and

an internal antenna disposed inside the enclosure,

wherein the main body has an inner cross-sectional shape and an external cross-sectional shape, the inner cross-sectional shape being different from the external cross-sectional shape.

11. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the enclosure has a planar front surface, and wherein the user interface subassembly is positioned at the front planar surface and adjacent the user interface opening.

12. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the user interface subassembly includes at least a display and a touch pad.

13. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the enclosure is formed from an extruded glass material.

14. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the enclosure comprises at least an inner structural wall and an outer structural wall.

15. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 14, wherein the outer structural wall has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) than does the at least one inner structural wall.

16. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the enclosure includes a substantially planar front surface.

17. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the external cross-sectional shape is substantially uniform cross-section along the main body.