Structural midframe for an electronic device having a camera and a speaker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11659677-B2
Application number	US-202017026883-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2020
Priority date	Sep 21, 2020
Publication date	May 23, 2023
Grant date	May 23, 2023

Abstract

The present document describes an electronic device with a structural midframe and associated methods. The architectural design of the electronic device (e.g., a security camera) is such that its components are assembled onto the midframe to form a subassembly and the housing is assembled after the subassembly. The midframe includes various features that enable multiple printed circuit boards, a camera subassembly, a front housing member, a heatsink, and a heat spreader to be assembled onto the midframe outside of the housing. The midframe can also include a hinge-bearing surface forming a portion of a ball joint for supporting rotational movement of the electronic device. Accordingly, the electronic device uses the midframe, rather than the housing, as a structural member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a housing member forming a shell with a cap;
a midframe defining an aperture and forming a structural frame for the electronic device, the midframe positioned within the housing member in an orientation that is substantially coaxial with the housing member, the midframe having an outer surface at least a portion of which faces an interior surface of the housing member; and
a plurality of components assembled onto the midframe, the plurality of components comprising:
a wireless-network antenna assembled onto the outer surface of the midframe, the wireless-network antenna being mounted on a flexible printed circuit board, the outer surface of the midframe including a substantially planar region configured to abut at least a portion of the wireless-network antenna;
a camera subassembly assembled onto the midframe and positioned coaxially with the midframe;
one or more printed circuit boards assembled onto the midframe; and
a speaker module assembled onto the midframe.

2. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the midframe includes at least two protrusions extending from the outer surface; and
the substantially planar region is located between the at least two protrusions.

3. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the midframe includes a plurality of protrusions usable to align the one or more printed circuit boards with the midframe.

4. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the midframe includes multiple snap features configured to mate with corresponding snap features on a front housing member to assemble the front housing member onto the midframe.

5. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the shell includes a generally cylindrical shell and the cap forms a generally spherical cap.

6. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of components includes a heatsink assembled onto the midframe; and
the speaker module is indirectly assembled onto the midframe by being assembled onto the heatsink.

7. An electronic device comprising:
a housing member forming a shell with a cap;
a midframe defining an aperture and forming a structural frame for the electronic device, the midframe positioned within the housing member in an orientation that is substantially coaxial with the housing member, the midframe including a hinge-bearing surface configured for a ball joint, the hinge-bearing surface comprising a concave surface that is an inverse of a portion of a sphere and is truncated to form a substantial C-shape; and
a plurality of components assembled onto the midframe, the plurality of components comprising:
a wireless-network antenna assembled onto an outer surface of the midframe;
a camera subassembly assembled onto the midframe and positioned coaxially with the midframe;
one or more printed circuit boards assembled onto the midframe; and
a speaker module assembled onto the midframe.

8. The electronic device as recited in claim 7 , wherein:
the midframe includes first and second ribs positioned at opposing ends of the hinge-bearing surface; and
the first and second ribs extend transversely relative to the aperture defined by the midframe.

9. The electronic device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the midframe includes a crossbeam located proximate to the hinge-bearing surface, the crossbeam positioned transversely relative to the aperture defined by the midframe.

10. The electronic device as recited in claim 9 , wherein the crossbeam longitudinally extends in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first and second ribs.

11. A structural midframe for an electronic device, the structural midframe comprising:
a shape defining an aperture and configured to be slidably inserted into a housing member;
an inner surface associated with an inner diameter and an outer surface associated with an outer diameter;
an antenna region located on the outer surface, the antenna region including a substantially planar region and at least two alignment protrusions for aligning a flexible printed circuit board having an antenna that is configured to be assembled onto the structural midframe;
a plurality of features for mounting a plurality of printed circuit boards, one or more heat spreaders, and one or more heatsinks onto the structural midframe;
a plurality of snap features positioned on the inner surface, the plurality of snap features configured to mate with corresponding snap features on a front housing member to enable assembly of the front housing member to the structural midframe;
a hinge-bearing surface having a concave surface forming an inverse of a portion of a sphere, the hinge-bearing surface configured to interface with a sphere of a ball joint;
a crossbeam positioned to longitudinally extend transversely across the aperture from a first region of the inner surface to a second region of the inner surface, the crossbeam located proximate to the hinge-bearing surface; and
first and second ribs longitudinally extending transversely between the outer surface and the inner surface, the first and second ribs positioned on opposing sides of the hinge-bearing surface and configured to interface with mating ribs on a boot of the ball joint.

12. The structural midframe as recited in claim 11 , wherein the substantially planar region of the antenna region reduces strain on solder joints on the flexible printed circuit board having the antenna.

13. The structural midframe as recited in claim 11 , wherein the at least two alignment protrusions are positioned on opposing sides of the substantially planar region.

14. The structural midframe as recited in claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of protrusions extending generally in a direction parallel to a center axis of the structural midframe and usable to align the plurality of printed circuit boards with the structural midframe.

15. The structural midframe as recited in claim 11 , further comprising one or more substantially planar regions forming a plane that is substantially orthogonal to a center axis of the structural midframe, the one or more substantially planar regions configured to interface with a bonding material that bonds the front housing member to the structural midframe.

16. The structural midframe as recited in claim 11 , wherein the hinge-bearing surface is truncated to form a substantial C-shape to receive a stem of the ball joint.

17. The structural midframe as recited in claim 11 , wherein the first and second ribs are arranged to resist rotational movement of the boot relative to the structural midframe.

18. The structural midframe as recited in claim 11 , wherein the crossbeam longitudinally extends in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to at least one of the first and second ribs.

19. A method for assembly of a midframe subassembly of an electronic device, the method comprising:
mounting a camera subassembly onto a camera board;
mounting the camera board onto a midframe that forms a structural frame for the electronic device, the camera board mounted to be coaxial with the midframe;
mounting a heat spreader onto the midframe to cause the camera board to be positioned between the heat spreader and the midframe;
mounting an antenna onto an outer surface of the midframe;
electrically connecting the camera board to an infrared board;
mounting the infrared board onto the midframe to cause the camera board to be positioned between the infrared board and the heat spreader;
electrically connect

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Kwan Laurie Man Sum
• Au Cindy Ngoc-Tran
• Vanderet Timothy Michael
• Lee Cheng-Jung

Classifications

• F16M13/027

  Ceiling supports · CPC title

• H04N23/52

  Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements · CPC title

• F16M11/14

  with ball-joint (ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 {; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30}) · CPC title

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title

• F16M11/041 Primary

  Allowing quick release of the apparatus · CPC title