Housing structure for handheld electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12238401-B2
Application number	US-202218078864-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2022
Priority date	Mar 6, 2020
Publication date	Feb 25, 2025
Grant date	Feb 25, 2025

Abstract

A tablet computing system may include a housing member defining a first portion of a back exterior surface of the tablet computer, at least a portion of a side exterior surface of the tablet computer, a raised rim extending from the back exterior surface and at least partially defining a sensor assembly hole extending through the housing member, and a support ledge positioned in the sensor assembly hole. The tablet computing system may also include a frame member positioned at least partially in the sensor assembly hole and coupled to the support ledge, a camera bracket coupled to the frame member, a first camera module coupled to the camera bracket, aa second camera module coupled to the camera bracket, the camera bracket fixing the relative positions of the first camera module and the second camera module, and a cover member positioned in the sensor assembly hole and attached to the frame member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tablet computer comprising:
a front cover;
a display below the front cover;
a unitary housing member coupled to the front cover and defining:
a first portion of a back surface of the tablet computer;
a hole extending through the back surface of the tablet computer; and
a raised rim extending at least partially around the hole and defining a second portion of the back surface of the tablet computer; and

a rear-facing sensor assembly positioned at least partially within the hole and comprising:
a depth sensor module;
a first camera module;
a second camera module; and
a cover member defining:
a third portion of the back surface of the tablet computer; and
a first window region over the first camera module, a second window region over the second camera module, and a third window region over the depth sensor module.

2. The tablet computer of claim 1 , wherein:
the rear-facing sensor assembly comprises a frame positioned at least partially within the hole;
the frame couples the depth sensor module, the first camera module, and the second camera module to the unitary housing member; and
the cover member is positioned over the frame.

3. The tablet computer of claim 1 , wherein:
the cover member defines a first camera opening in the first window region;
the cover member defines a second camera opening in the second window region;
the first camera module is positioned at least partially within the first camera opening; and
the second camera module is positioned at least partially within the second camera opening.

4. The tablet computer of the claim 3 , further comprising:
a first camera window positioned in the first camera opening; and
a second camera window positioned in the second camera opening.

5. The tablet computer of claim 1 , wherein
the cover member defines an acoustic passage extending through the cover member; and
the tablet computer comprises a microphone assembly positioned at least partially within the hole and acoustically coupled to an exterior environment via the acoustic passage.

6. The tablet computer of claim 5 , further comprising a screen positioned at least partially within the acoustic passage.

7. The tablet computer of claim 1 , wherein the unitary housing member defines a fillet extending from the first portion of the back surface to the second portion of the back surface.

8. A portable electronic device comprising:
a housing member defining a first portion of a back surface of the portable electronic device and a sensor assembly hole extending through the first portion of the back surface of the portable electronic device;
a sensor assembly at least partially positioned within the sensor assembly hole, the sensor assembly comprising:
a first camera module;
a second camera module;
a frame member positioned at least partially within the sensor assembly hole and coupling the first and second camera modules to the housing member;
a top cover positioned over the frame member and at least partially within the sensor assembly hole, the top cover defining a second portion of the back surface of the housing member, the second portion of the back surface raised relative to the first portion of the back surface; and
a depth sensor coupled to the top cover.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the top cover defines:
a first window region aligned with the first camera module;
a second window region aligned with the second camera module; and
a third window region aligned with the depth sensor.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein:
the first and second window regions have a first optical property; and
the third window region has a second optical property different from the first optical property.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the depth sensor is conductively coupled to the frame member via a conductive cowling at least partially surrounding the depth sensor.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein:
the housing member defines a raised rim at least partially surrounding the sensor assembly hole, the raised rim defining a third portion of the back surface; and
a side surface of the top cover is covered by the raised rim.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein:
the sensor assembly comprises a flexible circuit board; and
the depth sensor is conductively coupled to the flexible circuit board via a connection pad.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the frame member is fusion bonded to the housing member.

15. A tablet comprising:
a housing member defining:
a back exterior surface of the tablet; and
a rim protruding from the back exterior surface of the tablet and at least partially surrounding a hole extending through the housing member; and

a rear-facing sensor assembly comprising:
a frame member positioned at least partially within the hole and attached to the housing member, the frame member defining a network of ribs configured to transfer impact force from a first portion of the housing member to a second portion of the housing member;
a first camera module coupled to the frame member;
a second camera module coupled to the frame member;
a depth sensor module coupled to the frame member; and
a cover member positioned at least partially within the hole and at least partially surrounded by the rim.

16. The tablet of claim 15 , wherein the frame member is welded to the housing member.

17. The tablet of claim 15 , wherein:
the housing member defines a first ledge feature extending from a hole surface into the hole; and
the frame member defines a second ledge feature coupled to the first ledge feature.

18. The tablet of claim 15 , wherein a portion of the rim is flush with an exterior surface of the cover member.

19. The tablet of claim 15 , wherein the rear-facing sensor assembly comprises a bracket member coupled to the frame member, the bracket member defining:
a first container portion configured to receive the first camera module;
a second container portion configured to receive the second camera module; and
a third container portion configured to receive the depth sensor module.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Queeney John K
• Stryker James A
• Hill Jeremy
• Mccarty Kienan D
• Hamstra Lee B
• Ashcroft Tavys Q
• Cardiff Trevor M

Classifications

• G06F1/1633

  Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626 · CPC title

• G03B2217/002

  Details of arrangement of components in or on camera body · CPC title

• G03B17/12

  with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets · CPC title

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/54

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · CPC title