Handheld computing device

• US 7,724,532 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2006
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lynch, Stephen Brian, Zadesky, Stephen Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui; Hung S
• Application Number:
  US11/501,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20060268528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 361/752, 361/790, 361/797, 361/800, 361/715, 312/223
• US Class Current: 361/752
• 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 29/4902 Electromagnet, transformer or inductor

Abstract

A handheld computing device is disclosed. The handheld computing device includes an enclosure having structural walls formed from a ceramic material that is radio-transparent.

Claims

1. A portable computing device capable of wireless communications, the portable computing device comprising:

an integral and substantially seamless enclosure that surrounds and protects the internal operational components of the portable computing device, the enclosure extending along a longitudinal axis and defining an internal lumen that is sized and dimensioned for slidable receipt of the internal operational components, the enclosure having a substantially uniform cross-section along a longitudinal axis and including a structural wall defining a shape or form of the portable computing device and being formed from a radio-transparent material that permits wireless communications therethrough, wherein the lumen engages with a locking feature of an operational component to secure the operational component to the tube when the operational component is in its desired position within the lumen.

2. The portable computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the portable computing device uses radio frequency in wireless communications and wherein the radio-transparent material is a ceramic material.

3. The portable computing device as recited in claim 2 wherein the ceramic material is zirconia.

4. The portable computing device as recited in claim 2 wherein the ceramic material is alumina.

5. The portable computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the enclosure includes a tube like main body that is extruded in its entirety with the radio-transparent material.

6. The portable computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the portable computing device is a handheld computing device.

7. The portable computing device as recited in claim 6 wherein the handheld computing device is a cell phone.

8. The portable computing device as recited in claim 6 wherein the handheld computing device is a media player.

9. A portable computing device, comprising:

an elongated and substantially seamless enclosure that surrounds and protects the internal operational components of the portable computing device, the enclosure including a structural wall defining a shape or form of the portable computing device and being formed from a radio-transparent material, the enclosure defining an internal lumen that is sized and dimensioned for slidable receipt of the internal operational components, wherein the lumen engages with a locking feature of an operational component to secure the operational component to the tube when the operational component is in its desired position within the lumen.

10. The portable computing device as recited in claim 9 wherein the radio-transparent material is a ceramic material.

11. The portable computing device as recited in claim 10 wherein the ceramic material is zirconia.

12. The portable computing device as recited in claim 9 wherein a significant portion of the entire enclosure is formed from a radio-transparent material.

13. The portable computing device as recited in claim 9 wherein the enclosure includes an extruded tube of the ceramic material, and end caps that close the ends of the extruded tube of ceramic material.

14. A handheld computing device, comprising:

a seamless integral extruded tube formed from a radio-transparent material and extending along a longitudinal axis, the seamless integral extruded tube having a first open end and a second open end opposite the first open end, the seamless tube defining an internal lumen which is sized and dimensioned for insertion of operational components of the handheld computing device, wherein the lumen engages with a locking feature of an operational component to secure the operational component to the tube when the operational component is in its desired position within the lumen.

15. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 14 wherein the lumen includes internal rails for guiding the operational components to their desired position within the lumen.

16. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 14 wherein the seamless tube has a substantially planar front surface, the planar front surface being configured to present a user interface sub system of the handheld computing device, the open ends being configured to receive the user interface sub system therethrough during assembly of the handheld computing device.

17. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 16 wherein the lumen includes internal rails for guiding the operational components to their desired position within the lumen, and wherein the internal rails being configured to locate the user interface sub system in its desired position relative to the planar front surface of the enclosure during assembly of the handheld device.

18. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 16 wherein the user interface sub system includes a display and a touch pad.

19. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 14 wherein the radio-transparent material is a ceramic material.

20. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 19 wherein the ceramic material is zirconia.

21. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 14 further comprising end caps at the first and second ends of the seamless tube, the end caps and seamless tube working together to fully surround the internal operational components of the handheld computing device.

22. The handheld computing device as recited in claim 14 wherein the handheld computing device is a music player.

23. A portable computing device capable of wireless communications, the portable computing device comprising:

an integral and substantially seamless extruded enclosure that surrounds and protects the internal operational components of the portable computing device, the enclosure including a structural wall defining a shape or form of the portable computing device and being formed from a material other than plastic that permits wireless communications therethrough and the enclosure defines an internal lumen engages with a locking feature of an operational component to secure the operational component to the tube when the operational component is in its desired position within the lumen; and

an internal antenna disposed inside the enclosure.

24. The portable computing device as recited in claim 23 wherein the portable computing device uses radio frequency in wireless communications and wherein the structural wall is formed from a ceramic material that is radio-transparent.

25. The portable computing device as recited in claim 24 wherein the ceramic material is zirconia.

26. The portable computing device as recited in claim 23 wherein the structural wall constitutes a substantial portion of the entire enclosure.

27. The portable computing device as recited in claim 23 wherein the structural wall constitutes one or more walls of the entire enclosure.

28. The portable computing device as recited in claim 23 wherein the structural wall constitutes two or more walls of the entire enclosure.

29. The portable computing device as recited in claim 23 wherein the enclosure only includes a main body and a pair of end caps, the structural wall being at least a portion of the main body.

30. The portable computing device as recited in claim 29 wherein the structural wall constitutes the entire main body.