Ejectable component assemblies in electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10277722-B2
Application number	US-201615275161-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 23, 2016
Priority date	Jan 5, 2007
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

Electronic devices are provided with ejectable component assemblies that can be substantially flush with the external surfaces of the housings of the devices, despite variations in their manufacture. The ejectable component assemblies may include connectors coupled to circuit boards of the devices, and trays that can be loaded with removable modules, inserted through openings in the housings of the devices, and into the connectors for functionally aligning the removable modules with the circuit boards. The ejectable component assemblies may also include ejectors coupled to the housings of the devices for ejecting the trays from the connectors and, thus, from the devices themselves.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a housing comprising:
a sidewall and an opening extending through the sidewall; and
a retainer; and

a tray configured to be inserted into the opening, the tray comprising:
an internal end;
an external end opposite the internal end and defining an external surface, the external end having a maximum width greater than a maximum width of the opening, the external end having a maximum height greater than a maximum height of the opening; and
a body between the external end and the internal end, the body configured to accommodate a card comprising an electrical circuit, wherein a width of the body tapers along a region between the internal end and the external end, the width being transverse to a longitudinal axis that extends from the internal end of the external end, wherein the retainer of the housing applies a biasing force to the body at the region to bias the external end against the sidewall.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein, when the internal end is fully inserted into the opening:
the external surface is substantially flush with the sidewall of the housing of the electronic device; and
the electrical circuit is configured to electrically communicate with the electronic device.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the region is substantially symmetrical with respect to a central axis of the body.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the body is formed, at least in part, from anodized metal.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the body comprises at least one non- anodized portion.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the region comprises a linear taper configured to receive a biasing force.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the region is configured to receive a force that retains the tray within the opening.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the external surface is at least partially curved.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the external end is rigidly coupled to the body.

10. A personal electronic device comprising:
a housing comprising:
a sidewall defining an opening and a housing hole; and
a tray ejector; and

a removable tray receivable in the opening and comprising:
a body configured to accommodate an electrical card within a thickness of the body; and
an external end having a tray hole extending through the external end;
wherein, when the body is fully inserted into the opening:
the electrical card communicates with a circuit board of the personal electronic device; and
the housing hole is aligned with the tray hole to receive an instrument for actuating the tray ejector.

11. The personal electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the body extends around a periphery of the electrical card.

12. The personal electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the body is formed, at least in part, from anodized metal.

13. The personal electronic device of claim 10 , wherein:
the sidewall is at least partially curved; and
the external end defines an external surface that is substantially flush with the sidewall when the removable tray is fully inserted into the opening.

14. The personal electronic device of claim 10 , wherein:
the electrical card is a subscriber identity module; and
the personal electronic device is a wearable electronic device.

15. The personal electronic device of claim 10 , wherein: the electrical card comprises a memory; and
the personal electronic device is a wireless communication device.

16. A personal electronic device comprising:
a housing comprising:
a sidewall defining an opening; and
a retainer;

a removable tray receivable in the opening and comprising:
a body sized to be inserted into the opening and configured to accommodate a card comprising an electrical circuit, wherein a width of the body tapers along a region having a notch for engagement with a retainer;
an external end having a size that is larger than the opening;
wherein, when the body is fully inserted into the opening:
the card communicates with the personal electronic device; and
the retainer applies a biasing force to the body at the notch to bias the external end against the sidewall.

17. The personal electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the external end of the tray defines an external surface, the external end having a maximum width greater than a maximum width of the opening, the external end having a maximum height greater than a maximum height of the opening.

18. The personal electronic device of claim 16 , wherein:
the housing comprises a tray ejector;
the sidewall further defines a housing hole;
the external end defines a tray hole; and
when the body is fully inserted into the opening:
the card communicates with a circuit board of the personal electronic device; and
the housing hole is aligned with the tray hole to receive an instrument for actuating the tray ejector.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Wang Erik L
• Murphy Robert Sean
• Tan Tang Yew
• Neaves Jeffrey Eugene
• Davis Lawrence E
• Kim Sung

Classifications

• G06K13/08

  Feeding or discharging cards · CPC title

• H05K5/0295

  having ejection mechanisms · CPC title

• H05K7/1427

  Housings · CPC title

• H04M1/026 Primary

  Details of the structure or mounting of specific components · CPC title

• H05K1/02

  Details · CPC title