Shock mounting cover glass in consumer electronic devices

• US 9,430,077 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2014
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Shedletsky, Anna-Katrina, Rothkopf, Fletcher R., Mittleman, Adam, Lynch, Stephen Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US14/552,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20150116268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 382/103, 345/419, 345/211, 345/174, 345/1.1, 345/531, 345/537, 345/589, 361/679.01, 361/679.53, 361/679.31, 361/679.46, 361/679.39, 361/679.21, 361/679.43, 361/679.41, 361/679.54, 361/679.47, 365/154, 365/200, 365/189.02, 455/575.1, 455/575.8, 455/411, 455/418, 455/559, 455/403, 455/406
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/1028 the inertia-producing means being a constituent part of the system which is to be damped
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/104 the inertia member being resiliently mounted F16F7/1022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/108 on plastics springs
• 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 1/1656 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: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/06 Hermetically-sealed casings specially adapted for small components H05K5/0095
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and methods for shock mounting glass for an electronic device are disclosed. The glass for the electronic device can provide an outer surface for at least a portion of a housing for the electronic device. In one embodiment, the shock mounting can provide a compliant interface between the glass and the electronic device housing. In another embodiment, the shock mounting can provide a mechanically actuated retractable. For example, an outer glass member for an electronic device housing can be referred to as cover glass, which is often provided at a front surface of the electronic device housing.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a frame;

a transparent outer surface; and

a compliant interface, positioned between the frame and the transparent outer surface, configured to provide output in response to compression of the compliant interface by movement of the transparent outer surface with respect to the frame;

wherein the output is interpreted as an input to the portable electronic device.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the compliant interface comprises piezoelectric material.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the compliant interface comprises layers of different materials.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the compliant interface comprises a strain gauge.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the compliant interface comprises a compression sensor.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the transparent outer surface comprises a cover glass.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the compliant interface forms a seal between the frame and the transparent outer surface.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the movement of the transparent outer surface with respect to the frame decreases a distance between the transparent outer surface and the frame.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the compliant interface is internal to the portable electronic device.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the compliant interface isolates the transparent outer surface from the frame during a shock event.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the compliant interface compresses in a direction normal to a planar surface of the transparent outer surface.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the compliant interface has a resonant frequency lower than at least one of the frame or the transparent outer surface.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

a frame;

a transparent outer surface;

a capacitive sensing touch screen; and

a sensor comprising compliant material, positioned between the frame and a portion of the transparent outer surface outside of the area where the capacitive sensing touch screen is coupled, configured to provide output in response to compression of compliant material between the transparent outer surface and the frame;

wherein the output is interpreted as an input to the electronic device.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising a display coupled to the transparent outer surface.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the compliant material is located in an area of the transparent outer surface outside of where the display couples to the transparent outer surface.

16. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the display comprises a capacitive sensing touch screen.

17. A method of obtaining input for a portable electronic device, comprising:

positioning a compliant interface between a frame of a portable electronic device and a transparent outer surface of the portable electronic device such that movement of the transparent outer surface with respect to the frame is operable to compress the compliant interface;

receiving an output from the compliant interface corresponding to compression of the compliant interface; and

interpreting the output as an input to the portable electronic device utilizing a processing unit.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising changing a display element of a display of the portable electronic device in response to the input.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the transparent outer surface comprises a window.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said operation of positioning couples the transparent outer surface to the frame using the compliant interface.