Portable electronic device with two-piece housing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11683063-B2
Application number	US-202217897003-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2022
Priority date	Apr 11, 2008
Publication date	Jun 20, 2023
Grant date	Jun 20, 2023

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. An electronic device, comprising:
a display cover layer;
a display having a capacitive touch sensor configured to detect touch input on the display cover layer;
a metal housing member that extends at least partially around a perimeter of the display; and
a frame that couples the display to the metal housing member, wherein the frame has a shelf that supports the display cover layer.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 further comprising:
an antenna configured for cellular communications.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 2 wherein the metal housing member forms at least part of the antenna.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a metal member and a plastic member.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 4 wherein the plastic member is overmolded onto the metal member.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 4 wherein the plastic member forms the shelf.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the display cover layer comprises glass.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 7 wherein the display cover layer comprises an opening.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 8 wherein the opening comprises a speaker port.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the metal housing member has a recess that receives a portion of the frame.

11. An electronic device, comprising:
a touch-sensitive display;
a glass cover layer overlapping the touch-sensitive display;
a rear housing member comprising at least one of glass and ceramic;
a metal housing member extending between the glass cover layer and the rear housing member; and
a frame with which the touch-sensitive display is mounted to the metal housing member, wherein the frame has a protrusion that supports the glass cover layer.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the touch-sensitive display comprises a capacitive touch sensor.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 11 further comprising an antenna configured for cellular communications, wherein the metal housing member forms at least part of the antenna.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the glass cover layer has a speaker port opening.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the frame comprises a metal portion and a plastic portion that is overmolded onto the metal portion.

16. An electronic device, comprising:
an organic light-emitting diode display having a capacitive touch sensor;
a display cover layer overlapping the organic light-emitting diode display;
a metal element at least partially surrounding the organic light-emitting diode display; and
a frame that mounts the organic light-emitting diode display to the metal element, wherein the frame has a plastic portion that supports the display cover layer and a metal portion that forms a frame strut.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the display cover layer comprises glass.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 17 further comprising a rear housing member formed from at least one of glass and ceramic.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 16 further comprising an antenna, wherein the metal element forms at least part of the antenna.

20. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the metal element has a recess that receives a portion of the frame.

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

• H04M2250/22

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

• H04M1/026

  Details of the structure or mounting of specific components · CPC title

• G06F1/1656

  Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203) · CPC title

• G06F1/1637

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

• H04M1/0274

  for an electrical connector module · CPC title