Housing structure for handheld electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11528399-B2
Application number	US-202016880803-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2020
Priority date	Mar 6, 2020
Publication date	Dec 13, 2022
Grant date	Dec 13, 2022

Abstract

A tablet computing system may include a housing member defining a first portion of a back exterior surface of the tablet computer, at least a portion of a side exterior surface of the tablet computer, a raised rim extending from the back exterior surface and at least partially defining a sensor assembly hole extending through the housing member, and a support ledge positioned in the sensor assembly hole. The tablet computing system may also include a frame member positioned at least partially in the sensor assembly hole and coupled to the support ledge, a camera bracket coupled to the frame member, a first camera module coupled to the camera bracket, aa second camera module coupled to the camera bracket, the camera bracket fixing the relative positions of the first camera module and the second camera module, and a cover member positioned in the sensor assembly hole and attached to the frame member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tablet computing system comprising:
a housing member defining:
a first portion of a back exterior surface of the tablet computing system;
at least a portion of a side exterior surface of the tablet computing system;
a raised rim extending from the back exterior surface and at least partially defining a hole surface of a sensor assembly hole extending through the housing member; and
a support ledge feature extending from the hole surface into the sensor assembly hole;

a frame member positioned at least partially in the sensor assembly hole and defining a complementary support ledge coupled to the support ledge;
a camera bracket coupled to the frame member;
a first camera module coupled to the camera bracket;
a second camera module coupled to the camera bracket, the camera bracket fixing a position of the first camera module relative to the second camera module; and
a cover member positioned in the sensor assembly hole and attached to the frame member, an exterior surface of the cover member defining a second portion of the back exterior surface of the tablet computing system.

2. The tablet computing system of claim 1 , wherein:
the raised rim defines a planar top surface; and
the exterior surface of the cover member is flush with or recessed relative to the planar top surface of the raised rim.

3. The tablet computing system of claim 1 , wherein the frame member defines a network of ribs configured to transfer impact force from a first portion of the housing member to a second portion of the housing member.

4. The tablet computing system of claim 3 , wherein the frame member is fusion bonded to the housing member.

5. The tablet computing system of claim 1 , wherein:
the cover member defines:
a first hole aligned with the first camera module; and
a second hole aligned with the second camera module; and

the tablet computing system further comprises:
a first transparent camera window positioned in the first hole and covering the first camera module; and
a second transparent camera window positioned in the second hole and covering the second camera module.

6. The tablet computing system of claim 1 , wherein:
the frame member defines:
a first datum surface; and
a second datum surface; and

the tablet computing system further comprises:
a first spring configured to apply a first force to the camera bracket in a first direction, thereby forcing the camera bracket against the first datum surface; and
a second spring configured to apply a second force to the camera bracket in a second direction different from the first direction, thereby forcing the camera bracket against the second datum surface.

7. The tablet computing system of claim 1 , wherein:
the tablet computing system comprises a depth sensor coupled to the camera bracket and configured to determine a distance between the tablet computing system and an external object; and
the cover member defines:
an optically transmissive window region positioned over the depth sensor; and
an opaque region at least partially surrounding the optically transmissive window region.

8. A tablet computing system comprising:
a housing member defining:
at least a portion of a back exterior surface of the tablet computing system;
a raised rim extending from the back exterior surface and defining a first portion of a sensor assembly hole extending through the housing member, the first portion of the sensor assembly hole extending from an opening in the raised rim to a first support ledge within the hole and defined by the housing member; and

a frame member positioned at least partially in the sensor assembly hole and coupled to the housing member, the frame member defining:
a second support ledge attached to the first support ledge of the housing member;
a first recess in a front side of the frame member;
a second recess in a rear side of the frame member; and
a first hole extending through the frame member from the first recess to the second recess;

a cover member positioned in the sensor assembly hole and attached to the frame member, the cover member defining a second hole extending through the cover member; and
a microphone module positioned in the second recess of the frame member and configured to receive sound via an acoustic path extending through the first hole in the frame member, a volume defined between the first recess and the cover member, and the second hole in the cover member.

9. The tablet computing system of claim 8 , wherein the first hole and the second hole are not coaxial.

10. The tablet computing system of claim 8 , wherein:
the cover member is attached to the frame member with an adhesive; and
the adhesive surrounds the first recess and defines a hermetic seal between the frame member and the cover member around the first recess.

11. The tablet computing system of claim 10 , wherein:
the adhesive is a first adhesive;
the microphone module is attached to the frame member with a second adhesive; and
the second adhesive defines a hermetic seal between the frame member and the microphone module.

12. The tablet computing system of claim 11 , wherein the first and second adhesives hermetically seal the acoustic path from an internal volume of the tablet computing system.

13. The tablet computing system of claim 11 , further comprising a microphone screen coupled to the cover member and covering the second hole.

14. The tablet computing system of claim 8 , wherein:
the cover member defines a third hole extending through the cover member; and
the tablet computing system further comprises:
a flash module coupled to the frame member; and
a flash window positioned in the third hole and covering the flash module.

15. An electronic device comprising:
a housing member defining:
a first portion of a back exterior surface of the electronic device;
a sensor assembly hole extending through the housing member;
a raised rim extending from the back exterior surface and at least partially surrounding the sensor assembly hole; and
a support ledge extending inward into the sensor assembly hole and defining an engagement surface; and

a frame member positioned at least partially in the sensor assembly hole and mounted to the engagement surface;
a camera bracket coupled to the frame member;
a first camera module coupled to the camera bracket and comprising a camera lens having a first focal length;
a second camera module coupled to the camera bracket and comprising a camera lens having a second focal length different from the first focal length;
a depth sensor module coupled to the camera bracket and comprising:
an optical emitter; and
an optical sensor configured to detect light emitted by the optical emitter and reflected by an object external to the electronic device; and

a cover member positioned in the sensor assembly hole and defining a second portion of the back exterior surface of the electronic device.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein:
the frame member defines a depth sensor hole configured to receive at least a portion of the depth sensor module; and
the electronic device further comprises:
a conductive cowling at least partially surrounding the depth sensor hole and defining a plurality of conductive tabs extending into the depth sensor hole; and
a compliant material configured to bias the plurality of conductive tabs against the depth sensor module.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein:
the frame member is conductively coupled to a ground plane of the electronic device; and

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Queeney John K
• Stryker James A
• Hill Jeremy
• Mccarty Kienan D
• Hamstra Lee B
• Ashcroft Tavys Q
• Cardiff Trevor M

Classifications

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title

• H04N23/54

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · CPC title

• G06F1/1626 Primary

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

• H04N23/57 Primary

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title