Flexible shock absorbing connections within a mobile computing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016276757-A1
Application number	US-201615074817-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 18, 2016
Priority date	Aug 27, 2014
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The subject matter of the disclosure relates to connectors for antenna feed assemblies and display coupling components of a mobile device. The flexible connectors can be configured with a flexible spring connector component that couples a mobile device antenna to a main logic board of the mobile device within a housing of the mobile device such that the flexible connector can withstand a drop event, while at the same providing for an in-line inductance as part of an antenna-defined design requirement. The display of the mobile device can be coupled to a housing of the mobile device using a pin-screw arrangement that allows the display to controllably shift in the X-direction and the Y-direction, while only being purposefully constrained in the Z-direction (with reference to a 3-dimensional graph having X, Y, and Z axes). This configuration can prevent the display from being pulled out of alignment during a drop event.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A flexible connector, comprising:
a first spring clip connector configured to be electrically coupled with a first electrical component by way of a first fastener; a flexible circuit, comprising:
a first end coupled to the first spring clip connector, and
a second end configured to be secured to a second electrical component by way of
a second fastener; and a stiffener substantially overlaying a portion of the flexible circuit, the stiffener providing rigidity to the flexible circuit, wherein the first spring clip connector accommodates relative changes in position between the first electrical component and the second electrical component when the flexible connector is coupled with the first electrical component and the second electrical component.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Smith James B
• Stephens Gregory N
• Shiu Boon W
• Malek Shayan
• Rammah Marwan
• Myers Scott A
• Shukla Ashutosh Y
• Nyland Eric N
• Hill Matthew D
• Wittenberg Michael Benjamin
• Phouthavong Rasamy
• Bustle Benjamin Shane

Classifications

• H01Q1/50 Primary

  Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors · CPC title

• H01R4/48

  utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member (H01R4/52 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q1/243 Primary

  with built-in antennas · CPC title

• H01R11/01 Primary

  characterised by the form or arrangement of the conductive interconnection between the connecting locations · CPC title

• H01Q1/20

  Resilient mountings · CPC title