Methods and apparatus for providing holes through portions of a housing of an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9506629-B2
Application number	US-201314025618-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2013
Priority date	Nov 30, 2007
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

Electronic devices are provided with housing components that have improved aesthetics. One or more holes may be formed through an extruded portion of the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A housing for an electronic device, comprising:
a wall defined by an exterior surface corresponding to an outer surface of the housing and an interior surface defining a central cavity suitable for carrying a light source configured to generate light, wherein the wall includes:
an opening suitable for positioning a display component therein, wherein the opening passes through the interior surface and the exterior surface; and
a light tunnel disposed within a solid piece of material of the wall and having a cross-sectional area in a range of 175 square micrometers to 1600 square micrometers, the light tunnel having a first end proximate to the light source and a second end proximate to the display component within the opening, the light tunnel configured to convey light from the light source in the first end of the light tunnel, through the light tunnel within the wall, and out the second end proximate the display component in a manner suitable for supplying backlight for the display component.

2. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the wall comprises a ceramic material.

3. The housing of claim 2 , wherein the ceramic material is one of alumina, zirconia, or a combination of alumina and zirconia.

4. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the wall comprises one of metal or plastic material.

5. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a wire hole disposed within the solid piece of material of the wall, the wire hole configured to accommodate a wire for transferring power generated by a power source within the central cavity through the wire hole and to the display component.

6. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the opening has at least one edge suitable for securing the display component to the wall.

7. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the light tunnel is defined by internal sides, wherein at least a portion of the internal sides are substantially parallel with respect to the exterior surface of the wall.

8. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the light tunnel is in the range of 300 square micrometers to 1250 square micrometers.

9. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the light tunnel has a tapered geometry.

10. A housing for an electronic device, comprising:
a main body suitable for accommodating a light source configured to generate light, the main body having a wall defined by an exterior surface corresponding to an outer surface of the main body and an interior surface defining an internal cavity of the main body, the wall comprising:
an opening that passes through the interior surface and the exterior surface, the opening suitable for positioning a display assembly therein; and
a hole within a solid piece of material of the wall and having a cross-sectional area in a range of 175 square micrometers to 1600 square micrometers, wherein the hole has a first end proximate to the light source and a second end proximate to the display assembly, wherein the hole is configured to convey light generated by the light source in the first end of the hole, through the hole within the wall, and out the second end of the hole proximate to the display assembly, thereby supplying backlight for the display assembly.

11. The housing of claim 10 , wherein the hole does not pass through the exterior surface of the wall.

12. The housing of claim 10 , wherein the main body includes a plurality of holes within the solid piece of material of the wall.

13. The housing of claim 10 , wherein the wall comprises a ceramic material.

14. The housing of claim 10 , wherein the wall comprises metallic material.

15. A portable electronic device, comprising:
a housing configured to accommodate a light source and a display component, the housing comprising a wall having an exterior surface corresponding to an outer surface of portable electronic device and an interior surface defining an internal cavity, the wall comprising:
an opening that passes through the interior surface and the exterior surface, and
a hole disposed within a solid piece of material of the wall and having a cross-sectional area in a range of 175 square micrometers to 1600 square micrometers,

wherein the hole does not pass through the exterior surface;
the display component within the opening of the wall; and
a light source within the internal cavity of the housing, wherein the hole has a first end proximate to the light source and a second end proximate to the display component, wherein the hole is configured to convey light generated by the light source in the first end of the hole, through the hole within the wall, and out the second end of the hole proximate to the display component so as to supply backlight for the display component.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the hole has a parallel orientation with respect to the exterior surface of the wall.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the hole is in the range of 300 square micrometers to 1250 square micrometers.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the wall includes a number of holes within the solid piece of material.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 18 , wherein each hole is configured to convey light generated by the light source through the hole to supply backlight for the display component.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the number of holes is configured to pass a wire therethrough between an electronic component housed within the internal cavity and the display component.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Weber Douglas Joseph

Classifications

• B29K2709/02

  Ceramics · CPC title

• B29L2022/00

  Hollow articles (tubular articles B29L2023/00; pneumatic tyres B29L2030/00) · CPC title

• B29L2031/60

  Multitubular or multicompartmented articles, e.g. honeycomb · CPC title

• B29C48/00

  Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor (extrusion blow-moulding B29C49/04) · CPC title

• B29C48/11

  comprising two or more partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. honeycomb-shaped · CPC title