Display module and glass with undercut plastic frame

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11392175-B2
Application number	US-202016816212-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2020
Priority date	Sep 22, 2016
Publication date	Jul 19, 2022
Grant date	Jul 19, 2022

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 for detecting a touch input;
a force sensitive layer for detecting an amount of force applied to the touch sensitive layer; and
a display layer for presenting visual information, the display layer at least partially positioned between the touch sensitive layer and the force sensitive layer, an edge of the force sensitive layer at least partially positioned between a first portion of the display layer and a second portion of the display layer;
wherein:
the display layer comprises a first region having a first electrical connector;
the force sensitive layer comprises a second region having a second electrical connector; and
the first region is perpendicular to the second region.

2. The display assembly of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensitive layer comprises a third region having a third electrical connector, the third region perpendicular to the second region.

3. The display assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first region is parallel to the third region.

4. The display assembly of claim 1 , wherein the display layer comprises an organic light emitting diode display.

5. An electronic device, comprising:
a transparent protective layer;
a display assembly covered by the protective layer, the display assembly comprising:
a force sensitive layer; and
a display layer at least partially positioned between the protective layer and the force sensitive layer, the display layer comprising a bend disposed around an edge of the force sensitive layer, the force sensitive layer at least partially positioned between a first portion of the display layer and a second portion of the display layer; and

an enclosure coupled to the protective layer, the enclosure sized to receive the display assembly;
wherein:
the display layer comprises a first region having a first electrical connector;
the force sensitive layer comprises a second region having a second electrical connector; and
the first region is perpendicular to the second region.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , further comprising:
a touch sensitive layer positioned between the display layer and the protective layer, the touch sensitive layer comprising a connector; and
a flexible circuit coupled to the connector, the flexible circuit wrapping around a periphery of the display layer and the force sensitive layer.

7. The electronic device of claim 5 , further comprising a band, the band comprising a first part and a second part, wherein the first connector is closer to the first part than the second connector, and the second connector is closer to the second part than the first connector.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the first part and the second part are electrically isolated.

9. The electronic device of claim 5 , further comprising a touch sensitive layer, the touch sensitive layer including a third region having a third electrical connector, the third region perpendicular to the second region.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the first region is parallel to the third region.

11. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the enclosure defines a surface having a shape corresponding to a shape of an edge region of the display assembly.

12. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the enclosure further comprises:
a frame;
a supporting element extending from the frame; and
an adhesive between the supporting element and the force sensitive layer.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the adhesive secures the first electrical connector to the supporting element.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the adhesive secures the second electrical connector to the supporting element.

15. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein:
the surface comprises a first surface;
the edge region comprises a first edge region;
the enclosure further defines a second surface opposite the first surface; and
the second surface has a shape corresponding to a shape of a second edge region of the display assembly opposite the first edge region.

16. An electronic device, comprising:
a touch sensitive layer;
a force sensitive layer for detecting an amount of force applied to the touch sensitive layer; and
a display layer, the display layer at least partially positioned between the touch sensitive layer and the force sensitive layer, the display layer comprising a bend region disposed around the force sensitive layer that covers an edge of the force sensitive layer and at least partially covers two opposing major surfaces of the force sensitive layer with the display layer.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , further comprising a frame that structurally supports at least one of the touch sensitive layer, the force sensitive layer, or the display layer.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the frame comprises a region having a shape corresponding to a shape of the bend region.

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

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H01M50/247

  specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers · CPC title

• H05K1/144

  Stacked arrangements of planar printed circuit boards · 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

• B32B2457/20

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