Patent Publication Number: US-2006002066-A1

Title: Method for protecting the display of an electronic device from scratching

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates generally to electronic devices and more specifically to techniques for preventing the scratching or scuffing of the display of such a device.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      A variety of electronic devices such as notebook computers, cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and portable DVD players have a “clam shell” design, in which two “shells” (housings or enclosures) are pivotably attached along an edge, allowing the two enclosures to close upon each another. Often, the inner surface of one enclosure (typically the bottom enclosure) includes a keyboard or set of control buttons, and the inner surface of the other enclosure (typically the top enclosure) includes a display. When the device is closed, the display may be a very short distance from the keyboard or control buttons. If a compressive force is applied to the outside of the closed device, the keyboard or control buttons may come into contact with the display, scratching or scuffing it.  
      It is thus apparent that there is a need in the art for an improved apparatus and method for protecting the display of an electronic device from scratching.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A method for protecting the display of an electronic device from scratching is provided. At least one pad may be placed in an interior region of an inner surface of a first enclosure of the electronic device, the first enclosure being pivotably attached to a second enclosure along an edge, the inner surface of the first enclosure including a keyboard, an inner surface of the second enclosure including the display, the inner surfaces of the first and second enclosures being closeable upon each other, the at least one pad being a first point of contact between the display and the inner surface of the first enclosure to prevent damage to the display, when the first and second enclosures are closed upon each other and the closed electronic device is subjected to a compressive force. An electronic device incorporating the method is also provided.  
      Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1A  is an illustration of an electronic device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 1B  is a side view of the electronic device shown in  FIG. 1A  in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a method for protecting the display of an electronic device from scratching in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Scratching of the display may occur if the keyboard or control buttons are the first point of contact with the display when the closed device is subjected to a compressive force (e.g., the device is squeezed, or a heavy object is placed on top of it). This can be prevented by placing, in an interior region of the inner surface of the enclosure that includes the keyboard or control buttons, one or more pads made of a soft material so that the first point of contact with the display is the soft pads instead of the keyboard or control buttons. Such pads may, for example, be composed of a soft elastomer, and their protective purpose may be accomplished by making them slightly taller than the keyboard or control buttons. Appropriately placed, the pads do not interfere with normal use of the electronic device.  
       FIG. 1A  is an illustration of an electronic device  100  in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention. Although  FIG. 1A  depicts a notebook computer, electronic device  100  may be any electronic device that has a similar “clam shell” design, including, but not limited to, laptop computers, notebook computers, PDAs, radiotelephones (e.g., a cellular, cordless, or PCS phone), and portable DVD players. In  FIG. 1A , electronic device  100  has a first enclosure  105  and a second enclosure  110  that are hingeably attached along edge  115 . First and second enclosures  105  and  110 , respectively, may be closed upon each other, their respective inner surfaces coming into close proximity when electronic device  100  is closed. The top (inner) surface of first enclosure  105  includes keyboard deck  120 . Keyboard deck  120  may, in some embodiments, house a full (alphanumeric) keyboard, or it may instead house one or more control buttons that control the functions of electronic device  100 . Throughout this detailed description, either type of collection of buttons or keys within keyboard deck  120  will be referred to as a “keyboard.” The inner surface of second enclosure  110  includes display  125 . Display  125  is typically of the liquid-crystal-display (LCD) type. The inner surface of first enclosure  105  may optionally include touchpad  130  and left and right control buttons  135 . Touchpad  130  is a touch-sensitive area that responds to the touch and movement of a user&#39;s finger much like a mouse or other pointing device. Left and right control buttons  135  may behave much like the left and right buttons on a two-button mouse.  
      In an interior region (i.e., not along the perimeter) of the inner surface of first enclosure  105 , electronic device  100  may also include one or more pads  140  made of a soft material, such as a soft elastomer. In the example of  FIG. 1A , pads  140  are situated on either side of touchpad  130  between touchpad  130  and keyboard deck  120  on the inner surface of first enclosure  105 . In other embodiments, pads  140  may be larger in size than those depicted in  FIG. 1A  or greater than two in number. It is advantageous for pads  140  to be substantially near the center of the inner surface of first enclosure  105 , but that is not a requirement. The placement shown in  FIG. 1A  strikes a compromise between a central location that maximizes protection of display  125  and one that does not interfere with the layout and use of keyboard deck  120 .  
       FIG. 1B  is a side view of electronic device  100  shown in  FIG. 1A  in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 1B , second enclosure  110  is shown nearly closed upon first enclosure  105 . Since pads  140  extend higher from the inner surface of first enclosure  105  than keyboard deck  120 , pads  140  are the first point of contact between display  125  and the inner surface of first enclosure  105  when the closed electronic device  100  is subjected to a compressive force. This protects display  125  against the scratching or scuffing that would otherwise result if display  125  were to come into contact with keyboard deck  120 .  
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a method for protecting the display of an electronic device  100  from scratching in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention. At  205 , at least one pad  140  is placed in an interior region of the inner surface of first enclosure  105 , as explained in connection with  FIGS. 1A and 1B . As shown in  FIG. 1B , pads  140  are the first point of contact between display  125  and the inner surface of first enclosure  105 , when first and second enclosures  105  and  110 , respectively, are closed upon each other and electronic device  100  is subjected to a compressive force. At  210 , the process terminates.  
      The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and other modifications and variations may be possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include other alternative embodiments of the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art.