Handheld electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12088748-B2
Application number	US-202117471789-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2021
Priority date	Mar 2, 2021
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

A portable electronic device includes a housing, a sensor array including a first camera module having a first field of view, a second camera module having a second field of view different from the first field of view, and a light source, and a rear cover formed from a glass material and defining a raised sensor array region positioned over the sensor array. The raised sensor array region defines a first hole extending through the rear cover and positioned proximate a first corner region of the raised sensor array region, and a second hole extending through the rear cover and positioned proximate a second corner region diagonal from the first corner region. The first camera module includes a first camera housing defining a recess at a corner of the first camera housing, and the second camera module includes a second camera housing extending into the recess.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable electronic device comprising:
a housing;
a touch-sensitive display at least partially within the housing;
a sensor array comprising:
a first camera module having a first field of view;
a second camera module having a second field of view different from the first field of view; and
a light source; and

a rear cover formed from a glass material and defining a raised sensor array region positioned over the sensor array, the raised sensor array region defining:
a first hole extending through the rear cover and positioned proximate a first corner region of the raised sensor array region, a portion of the first camera module positioned in the first hole; and
a second hole extending through the rear cover and positioned proximate a second corner region of the raised sensor array region diagonal from the first corner region, a portion of the second camera module positioned in the second hole, wherein:

the first camera module comprises a first camera housing, the first camera housing having a third corner region defining a recess; and
the second camera module comprises a second camera housing extending into the recess of the first camera housing.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first hole and the second hole of the raised sensor array region are positioned along a diagonal path defined from the first corner region to the second corner region;
the portable electronic device further comprises a bracket member coupled to the rear cover and defining, as a unitary structure:
a first camera portion to which the first camera housing is coupled;
a second camera portion to which the second camera housing is coupled, the first camera portion and the second camera portion positioned along the diagonal path defined from the first corner region to the second corner region; and
a web portion positioned along a side of the first camera portion and along a side of the second camera portion.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the bracket member further defines a stiffening wall extending along a side of the web portion.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 2 , wherein:
the portable electronic device further comprises a wall structure extending at least partially around a periphery of the bracket member;
a first biasing spring positioned between the wall structure and the bracket member and configured to bias the bracket member towards a top of the portable electronic device; and
a second biasing spring positioned between the wall structure and the bracket member and configured to bias the bracket member towards a lateral side of the portable electronic device.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 4 , wherein a spring rate of the first biasing spring varies in accordance with a deflection of the first biasing spring.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the first biasing spring comprises a unitary beam member defining:
an attachment portion coupled to the wall structure;
a first curved compliant portion extending from the attachment portion in a first direction; and
a second curved compliant portion extending from the attachment portion in a second direction opposite the first direction.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 4 , further comprising:
a battery; and
a barrier wall positioned between the battery and the wall structure.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:
the barrier wall defines:
a first segment; and
a second segment offset from the first segment to define a recess; and

the battery defines a protruding portion at a corner of the battery, the protruding portion extending into the recess defined by the second segment of the barrier wall.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:
the barrier wall is coupled to the rear cover and at least partially defines a retention slot; and
the portable electronic device further comprises a retention tab coupled to the battery and positioned in the retention slot, thereby at least partially retaining the battery to the rear cover.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the barrier wall defines a biasing tab configured to impart a biasing force on the retention tab, thereby retaining the retention tab within the retention slot.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:
the portable electronic device further comprises a charging coil coupled to the rear cover and configured to wirelessly receive power through the rear cover;
a portion of the battery positioned over the charging coil defines an overlap region of the battery; and
the portable electronic device further comprises:
a first adhesive coupling the battery to the rear cover and positioned in a first coupling region outside of the overlap region, the first adhesive having a first bond strength; and
a second adhesive coupling the battery to the rear cover and positioned in a second coupling region different from the first coupling region and outside of the overlap region, the second adhesive having a second bond strength that is different from the first bond strength.

12. A mobile phone comprising:
a housing;
a display at least partially within the housing;
a front cover coupled to the housing and positioned over the display;
a rear cover coupled to the housing and defining:
a first portion of a rear exterior surface of the mobile phone;
a protrusion defining a raised sensor array region of the rear cover and a second portion of the rear exterior surface;
a first hole defined through the protrusion and positioned proximate a first corner region of the raised sensor array region; and
a second hole defined through the protrusion and positioned proximate a second corner region of the raised sensor array region diagonal from the first corner region;

a first camera module comprising:
a first camera housing having a third corner region defining a recess; and
a first lens assembly coupled to the first camera housing and extending a first distance into the first hole; and

a second camera module comprising:
a second camera housing extending into the recess of the first camera housing; and
a second lens assembly at least partially within the second camera housing and extending a second distance into the second hole.

13. The mobile phone of claim 12 , further comprising:
a first cover window at least partially covering the first hole and having a first thickness, the first cover window defining a first exterior window surface; and
a second cover window at least partially covering the second hole and having a second thickness different from the first thickness, the second cover window defining a second exterior window surface that is co-planar with the first exterior window surface.

14. The mobile phone of claim 13 , wherein:
the second distance is less than the first distance;
the second thickness is greater than the first thickness;
the first lens assembly has a first field of view; and
the second lens assembly has a second field of view that is larger than the first field of view.

15. The mobile phone of claim 14 , wherein:
the mobile phone further comprises a trim ring positioned in the second hole; and
the second cover window is coupled to the trim ring and is configured to prevent the trim ring from appearing in the second field of view of the second lens assembly.

16. A portable electronic device comprising:
a housing;
a display at least partially within the housing;
a sensor array comprising:
a first camera module comprising a first camera ho

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Zhang Xuyang
• Shannon Jason P
• Housour Jon F
• Meyer Robert F
• Hale Owen D
• Morgan Dale T
• Jarvis Daniel
• Merz Nicholas
• Morse Benjamin
• Phouthavong Rasamy
• Wittenberg Michael B
• Pakula David A
• Helmore Simon C
• Rose Gareth L
• Rammah Marwan
• Wah Melissa A
• Barton Jacob
• Spraggs Ian A

Classifications

• H04N23/57

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

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title

• H04M1/0262

  for a battery compartment · CPC title

• H04M1/0249

  Details of the mechanical connection between the housing parts or relating to the method of assembly · CPC title

• H04M1/0264 Primary

  for a camera module assembly · CPC title