Portable electronic device with two-piece housing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11438024-B2
Application number	US-202117174158-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2021
Priority date	Apr 11, 2008
Publication date	Sep 6, 2022
Grant date	Sep 6, 2022

Abstract

Portable electronic devices are provided. Each device may be formed from two parts. A first part may be provided with components such as a display, a touch screen, a cover glass, and a frame. A second part may be provided with a plastic housing, circuit boards containing electrical components, and a bezel. Engagement members may be connected to the first and second parts. The engagement members may be formed from metal clips with holes and springs with flexible spring prongs that mate with the holes in the clips. The metal clips may be welded to frame struts on the frame and the springs may be welded to the bezel. During assembly, the first part may be rotated into place within the second part. Retention clips attached to the frame may be used to secure the two parts together. Assembly instructions and associated connector numbers may be provided within the devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wireless communications device having opposing front and rear faces, comprising:
an antenna configured for cellular telephone communications;
a display having a cover layer on the front face and having a capacitive touch sensor that detects touch input on the cover layer;
a housing having a rear housing member on the rear face and a metal portion extending between the front and rear faces, wherein the metal portion forms part of the antenna and wherein the rear housing member comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: glass and ceramic; and
a speaker port in the cover layer.

2. The wireless communications device defined in claim 1 wherein the metal portion extends at least partially around a perimeter of the display.

3. The wireless communications device defined in claim 1 wherein the capacitive touch sensor comprises a multitouch capacitive touch sensor.

4. The wireless communications device defined in claim 1 further comprising an additional speaker port in the housing between the front and rear faces.

5. The wireless communications device defined in claim 1 further comprising a microphone port in the housing between the front and rear faces.

6. The wireless communications device defined in claim 1 further comprising a data port in the housing between the front and rear faces.

7. The wireless communications device defined in claim 1 wherein the display forms part of a first assembly having a clip and the housing forms part of a second assembly having a spring that engages the clip.

8. The wireless communications device defined in claim 7 further comprising screws that screw into the first assembly through the second assembly.

9. The wireless communications device defined in claim 1 wherein the capacitive touch sensor is adhesively attached to the cover layer.

10. The wireless communications device defined in claim 1 further comprising a gasket interposed between the display and the housing.

11. The wireless communications device defined in claim 10 further comprising:
a frame that supports the cover layer, wherein the frame has a plastic member and a metal member.

12. The wireless communications device defined in claim 11 wherein the plastic member is molded onto the metal member, wherein the plastic member forms a shelf that supports the cover layer, and wherein the metal member forms a frame strut.

13. The wireless communications device defined in claim 12 further comprising a clip attached to the frame strut.

14. The wireless communications device defined in claim 12 wherein the plastic member has a protrusion and wherein the gasket is located between the protrusion and the cover layer.

15. An electronic device, comprising;
a display having a capacitive touch sensor;
a cover layer overlapping the display;
a rear housing member formed from a combination of ceramic and glass; and
a metal peripheral member coupled between the cover layer and the rear housing member.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 15 wherein the metal peripheral member has at least one opening.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 15 wherein the display comprises an organic light-emitting diode display.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 15 wherein the metal peripheral member forms part of an antenna.

19. An electronic device having front and rear faces, comprising:
first and second planar members that respectively form at least a portion of the front and rear faces, wherein the second planar member comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: ceramic and glass;
an organic light-emitting diode display having a capacitive touch sensor, wherein the organic light-emitting diode display emits light through the first planar member;
an antenna configured for cellular communications; and
a conductive member that at least partially surrounds the organic light-emitting diode display, wherein the conductive member is coupled between the first and second planar members and forms part of the antenna.

20. The electronic device defined in claim 19 further comprising a speaker port opening and a data port opening between the front and rear faces.

Assignees

• Apple Inc
• Watrous Bj

Inventors

• Wang Erik L
• Hobson Phillip Michael
• Jenks Kenneth A
• Mittleman Adam D
• Andre Bartley K
• Coster Daniel J
• De Iuliis Daniele
• Howarth Richard P
• Ive Jonathan P
• Jobs Steven P
• Kerr Duncan Robert
• Nishibori Shin
• Rohrbach Matthew Dean
• Satzger Douglas B
• Seid Calvin Q
• Stringer Christopher J
• Whang Eugene Anthony
• Zorkendorfer Rico L

Classifications

• G06F1/1626 Primary

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

• G06F1/1637

  Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing · CPC title

• H04M2250/22

  including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector · CPC title

• H04M1/0252

  by means of a snap-on mechanism · CPC title

• H04M1/0266

  for a display module assembly · CPC title