Glass device housing

• US 9,756,739 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2015
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Russell-Clarke, Peter N., Ive, Jonathan P., Pilliod, Michael K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Haughton, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US14/819,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20150342064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 348374, 348739, 348129, 348 46, 348135, 348837, 348455, 349158, 349110, 349 54, 349192, 349 56- 60, 36167923, 36167924, 36167925, 36167926, 36167927, 36167901, 36167902, 36167934, 36167956, 36167929, 36167921-6793, 36167955, 428131, 428137, 428134, 428410, 428 34, 4555751-5759
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 7/241 Methods
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 7/242 for plate glass
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 23/245 Hollow glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0269 mounted in a fixed curved configuration, e.g. display curved around the edges of the telephone housing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0234 Feet; Stands; Pedestals, e.g. wheels for moving casing on floor

Abstract

An electronic device may have a glass housing structures. The glass housing structures may be used to cover a display and other internal electronic device components. The glass housing structure may have multiple glass pieces that are joined using a glass fusing process. A peripheral glass member may be fused along the edge of a planar glass member to enhance the thickness of the edge. A rounded edge feature may be formed by machining the thickened edge. Raised fused glass features may surround openings in the planar glass member. Multiple planar glass members may be fused together to form a five-sided box in which electronic components may be mounted. Raised support structure ribs may be formed by fusing glass structures to a planar glass member. Opaque masking material and colored glass may be used to create portions of the glass housing structures that hide internal device components from view.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a display; and

a housing in which the display is mounted, wherein the housing includes a glass housing structure having a recess at a central portion of the glass housing structure;

wherein;

at least part of the display is provided in the recess;

the recess is configured to receive at least a front surface of the display;

the front surface of the display faces an inner surface of the glass housing structure at the central portion;

the glass housing structure provides an outer facing surface of the housing;

the glass housing structure has a thickness of T1 at the central portion and a thickness of T2 at a peripheral portion of the glass housing structure, the thickness of T1 being less than the thickness of T2.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the central portion is substantially transparent, and wherein the peripheral portion is substantially non-transparent.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the peripheral portion comprises non-clear glass.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the display is visible through the central portion of the glass housing structure.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the peripheral portion has a rounded portion.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the peripheral portion has an inner edge with a curved surface.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the peripheral portion has an inner edge, the electronic device further comprising an opaque masking material that coats at least some of the inner edge.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the glass housing structure has one or more curved portions.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a display; and

a glass housing structure defining a recess at a central portion of the glass housing structure;

wherein;

at least part of the display is positioned in the recess;

the glass housing structure forms at least part of an exterior surface of a housing;

the glass housing structure has a thickness of T1 at the central portion and a thickness of T2 at a peripheral portion of the glass housing structure, the thickness of T1 being less than the thickness of T2; and

the glass housing structure comprises one or more fused glass rib support structures.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 9, wherein:

the glass housing structure has a curved interior surface;

the display comprises a flexible display; and

the flexible display is secured adjacent the curved interior surface.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 9,

wherein the housing comprises a base structure to which the glass housing structure is mounted, the electronic device further comprising internal electrical components mounted between the housing and the glass housing structure.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 11,

wherein the base structure comprises a metal structure.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

a display; and

a housing in which the display is mounted, wherein the housing includes at least;

a glass housing structure having a recess at a central portion of the glass housing structure, and

a base structure to which the glass housing structure is secured;

internal electrical components mounted between the housing structure and the glass housing structure,

wherein at least part of the display is provided in the recess,

wherein the glass housing structure provides an outer facing surface of the housing, and

wherein the glass housing structure has a thickness of T1 at the central portion and a thickness of T2 at a peripheral portion of the glass housing structure, he thickness of T1 being less than the thickness of T2.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 13 wherein the display is visible through the central portion of the glass housing structure, and wherein the display comprises touch sensing capabilities that are usable through the central portion of the glass housing structure.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 13 wherein the base structure comprises a metal structure.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 13 wherein the glass housing structure is formed from a base glass layer and a peripheral glass layer.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the peripheral glass layer has an inner edge, the electronic device further comprising an opaque masking material that coats at least some of the inner edge.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the base glass layer and peripheral glass layer have curved portions that form a rounded edge for the housing.