Electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11907016-B2
Application number	US-202117234306-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 19, 2021
Priority date	Mar 12, 2021
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

A portable electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture and a display positioned in the aperture. The portable electronic device can include a number of components that can provide desired functionalities and levels of performance. For example, the device can include one or more couplers that interconnect various portions of the housing together. Additionally or alternatively, the portable electronic device can include one or more millimeter-wave antennas. Additionally, or alternatively, the electronic device can include one or more grounding elements or layers that reliably and electrically ground the display to the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing;
a processor positioned within the housing;
an electronic component positioned at least partially within the housing;
a flexible trace having a first end electrically coupled to the processor, the flexible trace having a second end electrically coupled to the electronic component; and
a foam contacting the flexible trace between the first end and the second end, the foam disposed between the flexible trace and the electronic component, the foam exerting a force on the flexible trace;
wherein a length of the flexible trace is greater than a distance between the first end and the second end.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the foam comprises a compressible material.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the foam places the flexible trace under tension.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first end electrically couples to a first electrical contact of the processor;
the second end electrically couples to a second electrical contact of the electronic component.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the foam is positioned between the flexible trace and a display module.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic component comprises a display module.

7. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing;
a display module coupled to the housing, the display module comprising:
a support structure defining a first inlet and a second inlet, the support structure including an intermediate wall separating the first inlet from the second inlet;
an optical film at least partially disposed within the support structure, a first portion of the optical film disposed within the first inlet, and a second portion of the optical film disposed within the second inlet;
a printed circuit board; and
a transparent layer;
wherein the optical film is disposed between the transparent layer and the printed circuit board.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the optical film is a first optical film and the display module further comprises a second optical film, the second optical film at least partially disposed within only one of either the first inlet or the second inlet.

9. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the first portion of the optical film is adhered within the first inlet by a pressure sensitive adhesive tape.

10. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:
the optical film comprises multiple layers of optical film;
each of the multiple layers of optical film are staggered relative to one another; and
the support structure forms a base that extends toward the multiple layers of optical film.

11. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:
the first inlet has a first thickness; and
the second inlet has a second thickness different from the first thickness.

12. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:
the first inlet has a first depth; and
the second inlet has a second depth different from the first depth.

13. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the support structure defines an edge having at least one section that is chamfered, rounded, stepped, or recessed.

14. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the display module further comprises a light blocking material overlaying a slot defined by the support structure.

15. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:
the display module further comprises a conductive layer adhered to the display module and electrically grounding the display module to the housing.

16. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the display module further comprises:
a conductive layer adhered to the display module and electrically grounding the display module to the housing;
a semi-rigid member disposed between the conductive layer and a pressure sensitive adhesive; and
an elastic layer disposed between the pressure sensitive adhesive and a barrier layer.

17. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing;
a display module, comprising:
a support structure;
an optical film at least partially disposed within the support structure;
a printed circuit board coupled to the support structure, the printed circuit board including a first electronic component and a second electronic component; and
a spacer disposed between the optical film and the printed circuit board, the spacer affixed to the printed circuit board between the first electronic component and the second electronic component; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the display module.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein:
the processor is communicatively coupled to the display by a flexible trace; and
the flexible trace is biased to route around the display module by a stiffener.

19. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the spacer has a thickness of at least 5 mm.

20. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the spacer comprises a polymer.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Henry Thomas O
• Cardiff Trevor M
• De Souza Jason A U
• Pillai Sayooj R
• Bakhshi Jason
• Uttermann Erik A
• Lv Wei
• Zhu Wenyong
• Hamstra Lee B
• Hoff Daniel J

Classifications

• G06F1/1652 Primary

  the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable · CPC title

• G06F1/1637

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

• G06F1/1684

  Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675 · CPC title

• G06F1/181

  Enclosures (for portable computers G06F1/1613) · CPC title

• G06F1/183

  Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for supporting printed circuit boards · CPC title