Display module and glass with undercut plastic frame

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10631437-B2
Application number	US-201715712070-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2017
Priority date	Sep 22, 2016
Publication date	Apr 21, 2020
Grant date	Apr 21, 2020

Abstract

An electronic device having a display assembly is disclosed. Several layers may combine to form the display assembly. For example, the display assembly may include a touch sensitive layer (or touch detection layer), a display layer that present visual information, and a force sensitive layer (or force detection layer). The display layer may include a bend or curve that allows a portion of the display layer to bend around the force sensitive layer. Also, the connectors (that provide electrical and mechanical connections) may be positioned at different locations of the layers. For example, the display layer may include a connector on a first edge region, and the force sensitive layer may include a connector on a second edge region that is perpendicular, or at least substantially perpendicular, to the first edge region. By positioning the connectors on perpendicular edge regions, the display assembly may reduce its footprint.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A display assembly for an electronic device, the display assembly comprising:
a touch sensitive layer capable of detecting a touch input capable of controlling the electronic device;
a force sensitive layer capable of detecting an amount of force applied to the touch sensitive layer; and
a display layer that is capable of presenting visual information, the display layer at least partially positioned between the touch sensitive layer and the force sensitive layer, wherein the display layer curves at least 180 degrees around an edge of the force sensitive layer.

2. The display assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the display layer includes a first edge region having a first connector capable of electrically and mechanically coupling with a first flexible circuit,
the force sensitive layer includes a second edge region having a second connector capable of electrically and mechanically coupling with a second flexible circuit, and
the first edge region is perpendicular with respect to the second edge region.

3. The display assembly of claim 2 , wherein the touch sensitive layer includes a third edge region having a third connector capable of electrically and mechanically coupling with a third flexible circuit, wherein the third edge region is perpendicular with respect to the second edge region.

4. The display assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first edge region is parallel with respect to the third edge region.

5. The display assembly of claim 1 , wherein the display layer comprises a curved organic light emitting diode display.

6. An electronic device, comprising:
a protective layer that is formed from a transparent material;
a display assembly covered by the protective layer, the display assembly comprising:
a force sensitive layer capable of detecting an amount of force applied to the protective layer, and
a display layer disposed over the force sensitive layer, wherein the display layer at least partially bends around the force sensitive layer defining a bend; and
a frame that carries the protective layer, the frame including a notch that at least partially receives the display layer at the bend.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a touch sensitive layer positioned over the display layer, the touch sensitive layer detecting a touch input through the protective layer, the touch sensitive layer comprising a connector; and
a flexible circuit coupled to the touch sensitive layer at the connector, the flexible circuit wrapping around the display layer and the force sensitive layer, wherein the notch receives at least a portion of the flexible circuit.

8. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein:
the display layer includes a first edge region having a first connector electrically and mechanically coupled with a first flexible circuit,
the force sensitive layer includes a second edge region having a second connector electrically and mechanically coupled with a second flexible circuit, and
the first edge region is perpendicular with respect to the second edge region.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , further comprising a band formed from a metal, the band including a first part and a second part, wherein the first connector is closer to the first part than the second connector, and wherein the second connector is closer to the second part than the first connector.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the band further includes a third part and a fourth part, and wherein the first part, the second part, the third part, and the fourth part are electrically isolated from each other.

11. The electronic device of claim 8 , further comprising a touch sensitive layer, wherein the touch sensitive layer includes a third edge region having a third connector electrically and mechanically coupled with a third flexible circuit, wherein the third edge region is perpendicular with respect to the second edge region.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the first edge region is parallel with respect to the third edge region.

13. The electronic device of claim 8 , further comprising:
a supporting element embedded in the frame, the support element extending from the frame; and
an adhesive between the support element and the force sensitive layer, the adhesive securing the first flexible circuit with the supporting element.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the second flexible circuit is adhesively secured with the supporting element by a second adhesive.

15. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the frame includes a second notch, and wherein the protective layer includes an extension positioned in the second notch.

16. A method for forming a display assembly for an electronic device, the method comprising:
positioning a display layer between a touch sensitive layer and a force sensitive layer, the touch sensitive layer configured to detect a touch input that controls the electronic device, the force sensitive layer configured to detect an amount of force applied to the touch sensitive layer; and
bending the display layer such that the display layer curves at least 180 degrees around an edge of the force sensitive layer.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the display layer includes a first edge region having a first connector capable of electrically and mechanically coupling with a first flexible circuit,
the force sensitive layer includes a second edge region having a second connector capable of electrically and mechanically coupling with a second flexible circuit, and
the first edge region is perpendicular with respect to the second edge region.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the touch sensitive layer includes a third edge region having a third connector capable of electrically and mechanically coupling with a third flexible circuit, wherein the third edge region is perpendicular with respect to the second edge region.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first edge region is parallel with respect to the third edge region.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein positioning the display layer comprises positioning a curved organic light emitting diode display between the touch sensitive layer and the force sensitive layer.

21. A display assembly for an electronic device, the display assembly comprising:
a touch sensitive layer capable of detecting a touch input capable of controlling the electronic device;
a force sensitive layer capable of detecting an amount of force applied to the touch sensitive layer and including a first edge region having a first connector capable of electrically and mechanically coupling with a first flexible circuit; and
a display layer that is capable of presenting visual information, the display layer at least partially positioned between the touch sensitive layer and the force sensitive layer, wherein the display layer at least partially curves around an edge of the force sensitive layer;
the display layer including a second edge region having a second connector capable of electrically and mechanically coupling with a second flexible circuit, the second edge region being perpendicular with respect to the first edge region.

22. A method for forming a display assembly for an electronic device, the method comprising:
positioning a display layer including a first edge region having a first connector capable of electrically and mechanically coupling with a first flexible circuit between a touch sensitive layer and a force sensitive layer, the touch sensi

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Fournier Douglas G
• Krogdahl James R
• Jarvis Daniel W
• Huo Edward S
• Hooton Lee E
• Thiruppukuzhi Srikanth V
• Owoc Garrett R
• Ngo Michael
• Pakula David A
• Meyer Robert F

Classifications

• B32B2457/20

  Displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays, plasma displays · CPC title

• H01M2220/30

  Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop · CPC title

• B32B2307/302

  Conductive · CPC title

• H05K2201/042

  Stacked spaced PCBs; Planar parts of folded flexible circuits having mounted components in between or spaced from each other · CPC title

• H05K1/148

  Arrangements of two or more hingeably connected rigid printed circuit boards, i.e. connected by flexible means · CPC title