Concealed electrical connectors

• US 9,593,969 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2013
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: King, Nicholas V.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US14/142,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20150185055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.3, 361/679.56, 361/679.01, 600/300, 600/500, 600/501, 600/502, 600/504, 600/506, 4555751-5759
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1172 using fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors
• 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 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• 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 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• 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 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

An electronic device with a rigid housing includes multiple apertures which each define a portion of a symbol used to identify the device. Conducting inserts may be positioned within the apertures to provide externally-accessible electrical connectors. The electrical connector may be used as a portion of a sensor or a charging circuit.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a housing;

an aperture defined by the housing; and

a visually opaque insert positioned within the aperture and forming at least a portion of an externally visible symbol; and

an electromagnetic wave sensor positioned beneath or within the visually opaque insert, the electromagnetic wave sensor operative to sense a health parameter of a person in contact with the visually opaque insert.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the aperture is a first aperture the electromagnetic wave sensor is a first electromagnetic wave sensor and the visually opaque insert is a first insert and wherein the portable electronic device further comprises:

a second aperture defined by the housing;

a second insert positioned within the second aperture; and

a second electromagnetic wave sensor positioned beneath or within the first insert, the second electromagnetic wave sensor operative to cooperate with the first electromagnetic wave sensor to sense the health parameter.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 2, wherein:

the first and second apertures are first and second portions of the externally visible symbol.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 3, wherein:

the externally visible symbol comprises at least a portion of a word;

the first portion of the externally visible symbol comprises at least a portion of a first letter of the word; and

the second portion of the externally visible symbol comprises at least a portion of a second letter of the word.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic wave sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a touch screen.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 3, wherein the first insert and the second insert at least partially define an electrical path operative with a battery charging circuit.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 3, wherein the first insert has a larger surface area than the second insert.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 3, wherein the first insert and the second insert are electrically insulated from the housing.

10. A portable electronic device comprising:

a rigid housing comprising;

an external surface

a first insert at least partially defining a first portion of a symbol within the external surface; and

a second insert at least partially defining a second portion of the symbol; and

a sensor configured to sense radio frequency or infrared waves passing through one or both of the first and second inserts.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the symbol comprises at least a portion of a product logo.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the symbol comprises at least a portion of a glyph.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the sensor is in electrical contact with at least one of the first insert and the second insert.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the first insert and the second insert at least partially define an electrical path for charging a battery within the housing.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the first insert of the housing comprises:

an aperture defined in the housing; and

an insert material positioned within the aperture;

wherein

at least one of the insert material and the housing is electrically conductive.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein:

the insert material is electrically conductive; and

the insert material defines an electrical path between a sensor contiguous with the insert material and an exterior of the insert material.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein:

the insert material is electrically nonconductive; and

an electrical path is defined by an edge of the aperture, the electrical path electrically connecting a sensor within the housing to an exterior of the housing.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the first insert and the second insert at least partially define an electrical path comprising a battery charging circuit.

19. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

an aperture defined by the housing; and

a visually opaque insert positioned within the aperture and forming at least a portion of an externally visible symbol; and

an infrared sensor positioned beneath the visually opaque insert, the infrared sensor operative to sense infrared waves passing through the visually opaque insert.

20. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 19, wherein the housing defines multiple apertures, a visually opaque insert being positioned within each of the multiple apertures, wherein each of the visually opaque inserts is transparent to infrared waves, allowing infrared waves to pass through the visually opaque inserts and be sensed by the infrared sensor.