Computing devices with formed edges and methods of manufacturing thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10890954-B2
Application number	US-201715691475-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2017
Priority date	May 1, 2017
Publication date	Jan 12, 2021
Grant date	Jan 12, 2021

Abstract

A computing device includes a support structure with at least one edge. The computing device includes a cover connected to the support structure. The cover extends to or beyond the at least one edge of the support structure by no more than between 0 and 100 microns over an edge length of at least 100 mm. A fabric cover includes a cover edge and a cover surface. The cover edge and/or the cover surface include an edge feature. A method of manufacturing a computing device is described. The method includes determining an edge of a computing device and based on the edge that was determined, cutting the fabric cover between 0 and 100 microns of the edge of the computing device over an edge length of the computing device of at least 100 mm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computing device, comprising:
a display and a support structure; the support structure comprising: an input device connected to the display;
the support structure further comprising:
a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge; and

a cover permanently adhered to the support structure at the first edge, the second edge, and the third edge, the cover extends to or beyond the first edge of the support structure forming a gap of no more than 100 microns but greater than 0 microns over a length of the first edge of at least 100 mm,
wherein the cover has a cover edge and a cover surface, at least one of the cover edge and the cover surface having an edge feature; wherein the edge feature extends along an entirety of the edge of the computing device, by no more than 400 microns wide and 700 microns deep; wherein the edge feature further including a plurality of steps, the plurality of steps including at least three steps and forms an angle tangential relative to the plurality of steps; at least one of the steps having a depth no less than 70 microns; the edge feature further including a chamfer defining a radius between the cover edge and the cover surface.

2. A method of manufacturing a computing device, comprising:
determining a first edge and a second edge of a computing device, the first edge and the second edge formed by a support structure of the computing device and a cover connected to the support structure;
based on the first edge that was determined, cutting the cover between 0 and 100 microns of the first edge of the computing device over an edge length of the computing device of at least 100 mm; and
based on the second edge that was determined, cutting the cover between 0 and 100 microns of the second edge of the computing device over an edge length of the computing device of at least 100 mm.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the further comprising after cutting the cover between 0 and 100 microns of the first edge, applying a surface treatment to the support structure.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the cover is a synthetic microfiber fabric.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising a display connected to the support structure, and wherein the support structure is an input device connected to the display.

6. A computing device, comprising: a display; an input device connected to the display, the input device including:
a support structure having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and plurality of support features; and an ALCANTARA fabric cover affixed to the support structure at the first edge, the second edge, and the third edge, the cover extends to or beyond the first edge of the support structure by no more than 100 microns but greater than 0 microns over a length of the first edge of at least 100 mm, the cover extends to or beyond the second edge of the support structure by no more than 100 microns but greater than 0 microns over a length of the second edge of at least 100 mm, and the cover extends to or beyond the third edge of the support structure by no more than 100 microns but greater than 0 microns over a length of the third edge of at least 100 mm;
a processor in communication with the display and the input device, the processor affixed to a first support feature of the plurality of support features of the support structure; and memory in communication with the processor, the memory affixed to a second support feature of the plurality of support features of the support structure.

7. The computing device of claim 6 , wherein the length of the first edge is at least 300 mm and wherein the cover extends beyond the first edge of the support structure by a gap of no more than between 0 and 75 microns over the 300 mm length of the first edge.

8. The computing device of claim 2 , wherein the cover has a cover edge and a cover surface, the cover edge and/or the cover surface having an edge feature.

9. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the edge feature includes a chamfer between the cover edge and the cover surface.

10. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the edge feature extends along a length of at least 300 mm.

11. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the edge feature extends along a majority of a perimeter of the computing device.

12. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the edge feature extends along an entirety of the edge of the computing device.

13. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the edge feature is nonlinear.

14. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the edge feature is tapered.

15. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the edge feature includes a plurality of steps.

16. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of steps form an angle tangential to the plurality of steps.

17. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of steps includes at least three steps.

18. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of steps includes a step with a depth of at least 70 microns.

19. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the edge feature includes a chamfer between the cover edge and the cover surface.

20. The computing device of claim 19 , wherein the chamfer defines a radius between 0.35 mm and 0.6 mm.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Evans Ryan Travis
• Meyer John Charles
• Tripard Jason Edward
• Condon Matthew Thomas
• Lewis Ian Howe
• Schultz Iii Bernard Maurice

Classifications

• G06F1/1616

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• G06F1/1601

  Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays (constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64) · CPC title

• B23K26/38

  by boring or cutting · CPC title

• G06F1/1626

  with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs] · CPC title

• G06F1/181 Primary

  Enclosures (for portable computers G06F1/1613) · CPC title