Camouflaged openings in electronic device housings

• US 9,459,661 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2013
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kroghahl, James R., Ng, Nathan N., Bhatia, Rimple
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US13/921,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20140376234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/17.05, 174/50.51, 174/559, 220/675, 220/676, 220/669, 220/662
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/1656 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: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components

Abstract

Techniques and apparatus for providing one or more holes in a housing for an electronic device are disclosed. The one or more holes in the housing can be used to facilitate visual indicators. A light source can be controlled to provide light into a hole and thus emit light from the hole. When the light source is not providing light to the hole, the hole can be visually disguised (e.g., camouflaged) so it blends with the surrounding portions of the housing. The electronic device can, for example, be a small electronic device, such as a portable or handheld electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing having an outer exposed surface with at least one hole extending therethrough, the housing at least partially covering an inner region;

a light source provided within the inner region and proximate to the at least one hole;

a light transmissive filler provided in the hole; and

light reflective material selectively and partially provided in or on the light transmissive filler.

2. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the light transmissive is a polymer filler, and wherein the polymer filler is substantially transparent.

3. An electronic device as recited in claim 2, wherein the polymer filler comprises a curable adhesive.

4. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the light reflective material comprises ink.

5. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the light reflective material comprises a plurality of layers of ink.

6. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the light reflective material comprises a plurality of micro dots of ink.

7. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one hole has a diameter less than 3 millimeters.

8. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a handheld electronic device.

9. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises:

a controller operatively coupled to the light source to control when the light source emits light.

10. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the light reflective material serves to reflect external light such that to an observer viewing the hole, the hole is substantially camouflaged relative to nearby portions of the outer exposed surface.

11. An electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the light transmissive filler comprises a transparent material, and wherein the transparent material comprises a polymer.

12. An electronic device as recited in claim 11, wherein the polymer comprises a curable adhesive that is substantially transparent at least when cured.

13. An electronic device as recited in claim 11, wherein the polymer is substantially transparent.

14. An electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the light reflective material comprises ink.

15. An electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the light reflective material is selectively provided by printing micro dots of ink in or on the light transmissive filler provided in the hole.

16. An electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the light reflective material is selectively provided by printing micro dots of ink on the light transmissive filler provided in the hole.

17. An electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the light reflective material is selectively provided by depositing at least one layer of ink at select portions in or on the light transmissive filler provided in the hole.

18. An electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the selectively providing comprises:

depositing at least one layer of ink at select portions on the light transmissive filler provided in the hole.

23. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer exposed surface of the housing adjacent the hole is substantially flush with a top surface of the polymer filler with the ink material.

24. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer exposed surface of the housing adjacent the hole is substantially flush with a top surface of the light transmissive filler with the light reflective material.

19. A consumer electronic device, comprising:

a housing having an outer exposed surface with at least one hole extending therethrough, the housing at least partially covering an inner region;

a light source provided within the inner region and proximate to the at least one hole;

a controller provided within the inner region and operatively coupled to the light source to control when the light source emits light;

a polymer filler provided in the hole; and

ink selectively provided in or on the polymer filler, wherein the ink is only partially in or on the polymer filler.

20. A consumer electronic device as recited in claim 19, wherein the polymer filler is substantially transparent, and wherein the ink is substantially opaque.

21. A consumer electronic device as recited in claim 19, wherein the ink serves to reflect external light such that to an observer viewing the at least one hole, the at least one hole is substantially camouflaged relative to nearby portions of the outer exposed surface.

22. A consumer electronic device as recited in claim 19, wherein the at least one hole has a diameter less than 3 millimeters.