Electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12193159-B2
Application number	US-202318461334-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 5, 2023
Priority date	Nov 3, 2021
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

Abstract

A display assembly for an electronic device can include a printed circuit board, a display panel, and a support structure affixed to the display panel and disposed between the display panel and the printed circuit board.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A display assembly for an electronic device, comprising:
a support structure comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;
a printed circuit board positionable on the first surface;
a display panel positionable on the second surface; and
a flexible electrical conduit connecting the printed circuit board and at least one of the display panel or the support structure, the flexible electrical conduit including a folded portion to span between the first surface and the second surface, wherein:
the display assembly comprises a folded configuration when the printed circuit board is positioned on the first surface; and
the display assembly comprises an unfolded configuration when the printed circuit board is not positioned on the first surface.

2. The display assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises an electrical circuit electrically coupled to the flexible electrical conduit.

3. The display assembly of claim 2 , wherein control signals are generated at or passed through the support structure via the electrical circuit.

4. The display assembly of claim 1 , wherein a size of the flexible electrical conduit corresponds to a quantity of electrical circuits disposed on the support structure.

5. The display assembly of claim 4 , wherein the printed circuit board is adhered to the support structure.

6. The display assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate layer attached to the printed circuit board.

7. The display assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flexible electrical conduit provides electrical power and a grounding path.

8. The display assembly of claim 7 , wherein the flexible electrical conduit provides control signals.

9. A display assembly for an electronic device, comprising:
a support structure comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the support structure comprising an electrical circuit;
a printed circuit board disposed on the first surface in a folded configuration;
a display panel disposed on the second surface in the folded configuration; and
a flexible electrical conduit connecting the printed circuit board and the electrical circuit, the flexible electrical conduit including a folded portion extending between the first surface and the second surface.

10. The display assembly of claim 9 , wherein in a non-folded configuration:
the printed circuit board extends away from the support structure; and
the folded portion of the flexible electrical conduit is at least partially unfolded and extends outwardly between the printed circuit board and both of the display panel and the support structure.

11. The display assembly of claim 9 , wherein the printed circuit board comprises:
a mating surface interfacing with the first surface; and
an electrical component positioned on a surface opposite the mating surface.

12. The display assembly of claim 11 , wherein the electrical component includes a sensor comprising an ambient light sensor, a pressure sensor, an acoustic sensor, or a capacitance sensor.

13. The display assembly of claim 9 , further comprising an intermediate layer positioned between the printed circuit board and the support structure when in the folded configuration.

14. The display assembly of claim 13 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises an adhesive layer, a ferrite layer, a polyimide film layer, or an antenna coil.

15. A display assembly for an electronic device, comprising:
a support structure comprising an electrically conductive element;
a printed circuit board positioned adjacent to the support structure;
a display panel affixed to the support structure; and
a pliant electrical conduit foldably connecting the printed circuit board and both of the display panel and the support structure, wherein the printed circuit board is folded onto the support structure opposite the display panel.

16. The display assembly of claim 15 , wherein the printed circuit board is adhered to the support structure.

17. The display assembly of claim 15 , wherein the support structure comprises a glass material.

18. The display assembly of claim 15 , wherein the electrically conductive element comprises electrical traces coupled to the electrical conduit.

19. The display assembly of claim 18 , wherein the electrical traces form an electrical circuit within the support structure.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Pandya Sameer
• Pillai Kiran S
• Zampaglione Kyle M

Classifications

• H05K1/147 Primary

  at least one of the printed circuits being bent or folded, e.g. by using a flexible printed circuit (H05K1/148 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05K2201/10098

  Components for radio transmission, e.g. radio frequency identification [RFID] tag, printed or non-printed antennas · CPC title

• H05K2201/10136

  Liquid Crystal display [LCD] · CPC title

• H05K2201/10128

  Display · CPC title

• H05K1/189

  characterised by the use of flexible or folded printed circuits · CPC title