Display stack enclosure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9781853-B1
Application number	US-201414303154-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 12, 2014
Priority date	Jun 12, 2014
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

Describe herein are electronic devices that includes an enclosure having a flexible portion extending partially over the coverglass. In some instances, the flexible portion is configured to deform during assembly to allow the coverglass to be placed within the enclosure and to return to an original position once the assembly is complete. In other instances, the flexible portion may be configured to act as a bezel and to conceal any gap between an edge of the coverglass and a side wall of the enclosure from view.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a display stack including:
a coverglass with a top surface and a bottom surface opposing the top surface, the top surface being exposed to an exterior of the electronic device;
a touch layer contacted with the bottom surface of the coverglass;
a lightguide positioned beneath the coverglass and the touch layer; and
a reflective display component positioned beneath the lightguide, the display component configured to display content;

an enclosure for housing the display stack, the enclosure including:
a housing having a bottom and a side surface, the bottom extending at least partially under the bottom surface of the coverglass and the side surface of the housing disposed adjacent to the display stack; and
a bezel in contact with the housing, the bezel having a top portion extending outward from the side surface of the housing a first distance and a bottom portion extending outward from the side surface of the housing a second distance, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance and wherein the bottom portion of the bezel is closer to the bottom of the housing as compared to the top portion of the bezel, wherein at least a portion of the bezel extends over the top surface of the coverglass, and wherein a portion of the bezel is configured to deform to allow the display stack to be placed within the enclosure, wherein the bezel is formed from a first material that is more flexible as compared to one or more second materials used for the housing.

2. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the bezel is adhered to the top surface of the coverglass.

3. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the side surface of the housing is formed from a plastic material and the bottom of the housing is formed from a metallic material.

4. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a sensor positioned between the bottom of the housing and the bottom surface of the coverglass, the sensor configured to detect a deflection of the coverglass in response to a pressure applied to the top surface of the coverglass.

5. The electronic device as recited in claim 4 , wherein the bezel is configured to apply a steady downward pressure to the top surface of the coverglass to counteract upward forces applied to the bottom surface of the display stack by the sensor.

6. A device comprising:
an enclosure for housing a display stack, the enclosure having:
a first portion forming a bottom of the enclosure and positioned at least partially beneath the display stack;
a second portion forming an interior side wall of the enclosure and positioned adjacent to an edge of the display stack; and
a third portion having a top portion extending a first distance outward from the interior side wall of the enclosure and a bottom portion extending outward from the interior side wall of the enclosure a second distance, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance and wherein the bottom portion of the third portion is closer to the bottom of the enclosure as compared to the top portion of the third portion, wherein at least a portion of the third portion extends at least partially over the display stack, the third portion formed from a material configured to deform during assembly of the device to allow the display stack to be placed within the enclosure, wherein the material of the bezel is more flexible as compared to one or more second materials used for the first portion and the second portion.

7. The device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the material of the third portion has a hardness rating between approximately Shore A 60 and approximately Shore A 90.

8. The device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the material is at least one of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), styrenic block copolymers (TPE-s), polyolefin copolymers (TPE-s), elastomeric alloys (TEP-v), thermoplasitc coployester, thermoplastic polyamides, or a silicone rubber.

9. The device as recited in claim 6 , further comprising a sensor positioned between the first portion of the enclosure and a bottom surface of the display stack, the sensor configured to detect a pressure applied to a top surface of the display stack.

10. The device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the third portion is adhered to a top surface of the display stack.

11. The device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the third portion is coupled with the second portion via an intermediary material.

12. The device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the interior side wall of the enclosure is positioned no more than 0.5 mm and no less than 0.025 mm from the edge of the display stack.

13. The device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the material has a hardness rating of approximately Shore A 85.

14. The device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the second portion extends no more than 0.25 mm from the interior side wall of the enclosure.

15. The device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the third portion is a rim, a perimeter cover, a lip, or a bezel extending over the edge of the display stack.

16. An electronic device comprising:
an enclosure; and
a display stack housed within the enclosure, the display stack including:
a coverglass with a top surface and a bottom surface opposing the top surface, the top surface being exposed to an exterior of the electronic device;
a housing having a bottom and a side surface, the bottom extending at least partially under the bottom surface of the coverglass and the side surface of the housing disposed adjacent to the display stack; and
a bezel in contact with the housing, the bezel having a top portion extending outward from the side surface of the housing a first distance and a bottom portion extending outward from the side surface of the housing a second distance, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance and wherein the bottom portion of the bezel is closer to the bottom of the housing as compared to the top portion of the bezel, wherein at least a portion of the bezel extends outward from the side surface of the housing over the top surface of the coverglass, wherein a portion of the bezel is configured to deform during assembly of the electronic device to allow the display stack to be placed within the enclosure.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the enclosure includes:
a first portion forming a bottom of the enclosure and positioned at least partially beneath the display stack;
a second portion forming an interior side wall of the enclosure and positioned adjacent to an edge of the display stack; and
a third portion extending from the second portion at least partially over the display stack, the third portion formed from a material configured to deform.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 , further comprising a sensor positioned between the first portion of the enclosure and a bottom surface of the display stack, the sensor configured to detect a pressure applied to a top surface of the display stack.

19. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the third portion is adhered to a top surface of the display stack or is coupled with the second portion via an intermediary material.

20. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the display stack further includes:
a touch layer contacted with the bottom surface of the coverglass;
a lightguide positioned beneath the coverglass and the touch layer, the lightguide; and
a reflective display component positioned beneath the lightguide, the display component configured to displ

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Witmer Gregory Turner
• Li Christopher Thomas
• Trinh Bryan Dan

Classifications

• H05K7/12 Primary

  Resilient or clamping means for holding component to structure · CPC title

• G02F1/133308 Primary

  Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels · CPC title

• G02F1/133616

  Front illuminating devices · CPC title

• G02F1/133553

  Reflecting elements (associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605) · CPC title

• G02F1/13332

  Front frames · CPC title