PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8570736-B2
Application Number: US-201113018153-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Component assembly

Abstract:
A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms, such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include at least a single piece housing with a cavity having a substantially flat bottom wall. A battery assembly and main logic board can be mounted directly to the substantially flat bottom wall with a plurality of additional components arranged around a peripheral edge of the battery assembly and main logic board.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A portable computing device, comprising:
 a single piece housing having a front opening, the single piece housing further comprising an integral bottom and side walls that cooperate to form a cavity in cooperation with the front opening, wherein the bottom wall has an interior surface that is substantially flat and the side walls are curved; 
 a plurality of components comprising: 
 at least a battery cell and a main logic board, wherein the battery cell and main logic board are mounted directly to a central portion of the interior surface of the bottom wall; and 
 additional components arranged around a peripheral edge of the battery cell and main logic board, the additional components comprising a plurality of sensors, antennae, buttons, switches, and a speaker module; 
 a display assembly mounted to the housing; and 
 a transparent cover disposed within the front opening and attached to the housing, wherein a bottom portion of the single piece housing and the mounted display assembly form a protective enclosure for the battery cell. 
 
     
     
       2. The portable computing device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a SIM card release mechanism. 
     
     
       3. The portable computing device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors is connected to a sensor board separated from the main logic board by the battery cell, wherein the sensor board is coupled to the main logic board by a connector. 
     
     
       4. The portable computing device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the housing is metal and the cover is glass. 
     
     
       5. The portable computing device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an antenna window formed of radio transparent material, wherein the antenna window replaces a corresponding portion of the housing. 
     
     
       6. The portable computing device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the portable computing device is sized to be carried in one hand of a user and operated by the user&#39;s other hand. 
     
     
       7. A portable computing device, comprising:
 a single piece housing having a front opening, the single piece housing further comprising an integral bottom and side walls that cooperate to form a cavity in cooperation with the front opening, wherein the bottom wall has an interior surface that is substantially flat; 
 a plurality of components mounted directly to the interior surface of the bottom wall, wherein the plurality of components comprises a plurality of battery cells and a main logic board in substantially a same plane, wherein the battery cells can expand into a space between battery cells during operation; and 
 a display assembly disposed within the front opening and mounted to the housing, wherein the housing and the display assembly together form a protective enclosure for the battery cell. 
 
     
     
       8. The portable computing device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the portable computing device is sized to be carried in one hand of a user and operated by the user&#39;s other hand. 
     
     
       9. The portable computing device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the housing is metal and the cover is glass. 
     
     
       10. The portable computing device as recited in  claim 9 , further including an antenna window formed of radio transparent material, wherein the antenna window replaces a corresponding portion of the metal housing. 
     
     
       11. The portable computing device as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a transparent cover over the display assembly. 
 
     
     
       12. The portable computing device as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising a sensor board coupled to a plurality of sensors, wherein the sensor board is separated from the main logic board by a battery cell. 
     
     
       13. A portable computing device, comprising:
 a single piece housing having a front opening, the single piece housing further comprising an integral bottom and side walls that cooperate to form a cavity in cooperation with the front opening, wherein the bottom wall has an interior surface that is substantially flat surrounded by a plurality of recesses in a peripheral edge portion; 
 a plurality of components, wherein at least one of the components is mounted directly to the substantially flat interior surface of the bottom wall and at least one of the components is mounted in a recess in the peripheral edge portion; and 
 a display system and transparent cover disposed within the front opening and attached to the housing. 
 
     
     
       14. The portable computing device as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the component mounted directly to the substantially flat interior surface of the bottom wall is a battery cell and the component mounted in the recess is an antenna. 
     
     
       15. The portable computing device as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising foam between the antenna and the housing. 
     
     
       16. The portable computing device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the single piece housing further comprises a plurality of features for aligning a component on the substantially flat interior surface of the bottom wall. 
     
     
       17. The portable computing device as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of features align a main logic board on the substantially flat interior surface of the bottom wall. 
     
     
       18. The portable computing device as recited in  claim 13 , wherein a battery assembly and a main logic board are mounted directly to the substantially flat interior surface of the bottom wall and a plurality of antennae and sensors are mounted around the peripheral edge portion of the housing. 
     
     
       19. The portable computing device as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of sensors are connected to a sensor board that is separated from the main logic board by another component, wherein the sensor board is coupled to a the main logic board by a connector. 
     
     
       20. The portable computing device as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the connector is positioned in a space between two battery cells. 
     
     
       21. A method, comprising:
 receiving a housing having a cavity for receiving internal components, the housing having a cavity with a substantially flat interior bottom surface; 
 receiving a plurality of component to be mounted to the substantially flat interior bottom surface, wherein the plurality of components includes a battery cell and a main logic board; and 
 bonding the components directly to the interior bottom surface of the housing, wherein the battery cell and the main logic board are in substantially a same plane. 
 
     
     
       22. The method as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising:
 placing a cover within the front opening; and 
 attaching the cover to the housing without a bezel. 
 
     
     
       23. The method as recited in  claim 22 , further comprising:
 aligning a display assembly within the front opening using a temporary alignment fixture; 
 securing the display assembly to the housing; 
 and removing the temporary alignment fixture before placing the cover within the front opening. 
 
     
     
       24. The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the portable computing device is sized to be carried in one hand of a user and operated by the user&#39;s other hand. 
     
     
       25. The method as recited in  claim 21  wherein the housing is metal and the cover is glass. 
     
     
       26. The portable computing device as recited in  claim 25  further comprising:
 placing a display unit having a display screen within the front opening such that the display screen is visible through the glass cover.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is related to and hereby incorporates by reference herein, in their entireties for all purposes, the following co-pending patent applications filed concurrently herewith:
         (i) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/018239 entitled “FLAT OBJECT EJECTOR ASSEMBLY” by Jules Henry et al.;   (ii) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/018174 entitled “HANDHELD PORTABLE DEVICE” by Stephen R. McClure et al.;   (iii) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/018184 entitled “ANTENNA, SHIELDING AND GROUNDING” by Erik A. Uttermann et al.;   (iv) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/018242 entitled “MACHINING PROCESS AND TOOLS” by Jeremy C. Franklin et al.       

     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Described Embodiments 
     The described embodiments relate generally to portable computing devices such as laptop computers, tablet computers, and the like. More particularly, enclosures of portable computing devices and methods of assembling portable computing devices are described. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In recent years, portable computing devices such as laptops, PDAs, media players, cellular phones, etc., have become small, light and powerful. One factor contributing to this reduction in size can be attributed to the manufacturer&#39;s ability to fabricate various components of these devices in smaller and smaller sizes while in most cases increasing the power and operating speed of such components. The trend of smaller, lighter and more powerful presents a continuing design challenge in the design of some components of portable computing devices. 
     One design challenge associated with the portable computing device is the design of the enclosures used to house the various internal components. This design challenge generally arises from a number conflicting design goals that includes the desirability of making the enclosure lighter and thinner, the desirability of making the enclosure stronger and making the enclosure more aesthetically pleasing. The lighter enclosures, which typically use thinner plastic structures and fewer fasteners, tend to be more flexible and therefore they have a greater propensity to buckle and bow when used while the stronger and more rigid enclosures, which typically use thicker plastic structures and more fasteners, tend to be thicker and carry more weight. Unfortunately, however, the increased weight consistent with the more rugged enclosure can lead to user dissatisfaction whereas bowing of enclosures formed of lightweight material can result in damaging some of the internal components (such as printed circuit boards) of the portable device. 
     Furthermore, the enclosures are mechanical assemblies having multiple parts that are screwed, bolted, riveted, or otherwise fastened together at discrete points. These assembly techniques typically complicate the housing design and create aesthetic difficulties because of undesirable cracks, seams, gaps or breaks at the mating surfaces and fasteners located along the surfaces of the housing. For example, a mating line surrounding the entire enclosure is produced when using an upper and lower casing. Moreover, the various components and complicated processes used to manufacture the portable device can make assembly a time consuming and cumbersome process requiring, for example, a highly trained assembly operator working with special tools. 
     Another challenge is related to techniques for mounting structures within the portable computing devices. Conventionally, the structures have been laid over one of the casings (upper or lower) and attached to one of the casings with fasteners such as screws, bolts, rivets, etc. That is, the structures are positioned in a sandwich-like manner in layers over the casing and thereafter fastened to the casing. This methodology suffers from the same drawbacks as mentioned above, i.e., assembly is a time consuming and cumbersome process. 
     In view of the foregoing, there is a need for improved component density and simpler manufacturing techniques that reduce cost and improve outgoing quality. In addition, there is a need for improvements in the manner in which handheld devices are assembled, such as improvements that enable structures to be quickly and easily installed within the enclosure. It is also desirable to minimize the Z stack height of the assembled components in order to reduce the overall thickness of the portable computing device and thereby improve the overall aesthetic look and feel of the product. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIBED EMBODIMENTS 
     A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. In one embodiment, the portable computing device can include a single piece housing having a front opening. In the described embodiment, the single piece housing can, in turn, include an integral bottom and side walls that cooperate to form a cavity in cooperation with the front opening where an interior surface of the bottom wall is substantially flat and the side walls are curved. In addition to the single piece housing, the portable computing device can include components, including at least a battery cell and main logic board, that are mounted directly to a central portion of the bottom wall. Additional components, including sensors, antennae, buttons, switches, and a speaker module, can be arranged around a peripheral edge of the battery cell and main logic board. The portable computing device can also include a display assembly mounted to the housing and a transparent cover disposed within the front opening and attached to the housing. A bottom portion of the single piece housing and the mounted display assembly can form a protective enclosure for the battery cell. 
     In another embodiment, a portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can include a single piece housing having a front opening. In the described embodiment, the single piece housing can include an integral bottom and side walls that cooperate to form a cavity in cooperation with the front opening, wherein the bottom wall has an interior surface that is substantially flat. Components, such as battery cells and a main logic board, can be mounted directly to the interior surface of the bottom wall of the housing. The battery cells and a main logic board can be in substantially the same plane and the battery cells can expand into a space between battery cells during operation. A display assembly can be disposed within the front opening and mounted to the housing such that the housing and the display assembly together form a protective enclosure for the battery cell. 
     In another embodiment, a portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can include a single piece housing having a front opening. The single piece housing can include an integral bottom and side walls that cooperate to form a cavity in cooperation with the front opening. The bottom wall of the housing can have an interior surface that is substantially flat surrounded by a plurality of recesses in a peripheral edge portion. A component can be mounted directly to the substantially flat interior surface of the bottom wall and at least another component can be mounted in a recess in the peripheral edge portion. A display system and transparent cover can be disposed within the front opening and attached to the housing. 
     In still another embodiment, a method is described. The method can be carried out by receiving a housing having a cavity for receiving internal components, the housing having a cavity with a substantially flat interior bottom surface. Components, including a battery cell and a main logic board, to be mounted to the substantially flat interior bottom surface of the housing is then received. The components are bonded directly to the interior bottom surface of the housing, such that the battery cell and the main logic board are in substantially a same plane. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a top view of a portable computing device in accordance with the described embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective top view of a portable computing device in accordance with the described embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective bottom view of a portable computing device in accordance with the described embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of view of the interior of the housing of a portable computing device in accordance with the described embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  presents a top level internal view of portable computing device showing a specific arrangement of various internal components in accordance with described embodiments 
         FIG. 6  shows a cross-section along line AA of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross-section along line BB of  FIG. 5   
         FIG. 8  shows an exploded perspective view of major components of a portable computing device in accordance with described embodiments. 
         FIG. 9  shows a more detailed view of the speaker module in accordance with described embodiments. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a cross-sectional perspective view of a button assembly mounted through a cover glass of a portable computing device in accordance with the described embodiments. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a top view of a portion of the button assembly of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of a portion of the display with alignment pins for the camera module. 
         FIG. 13  is a top plan view of the camera module. 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of the camera module and a portion of the flex connector coupled to it. 
         FIG. 15  shows a flowchart detailing a process in accordance with the described embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIBED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following paper, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the concepts underlying the described embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the described embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps have not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the underlying concepts. 
     This paper discusses an aesthetically pleasing portable computing device that is easy to carry with one hand and operate with the other. The portable computing device can be formed of a single piece housing and an aesthetically pleasing protective top layer that can be formed of any of a number of durable and strong yet transparent materials, such as highly polished glass or plastic. For the remainder of this discussion, however, the protective top layer can take the form of highly polished cover glass without any loss in generality. Furthermore, the uniformity of the appearance of the portable computing device can be enhanced since (unlike conventional portable computing devices) the cover glass can be mounted to the single piece housing without the use of a bezel. This simplicity of design can accrue many advantages to the portable computing device besides those related to aesthetic look and feel. For example, fewer components and less time and effort can be required for assembly of the portable computing device, and the absence of seams in the single piece housing can provide good protection against environmental contamination of internal components. Moreover, the ability of the portable computing device to successfully withstand applied loads (such as from day to day use) as well as those from less frequent but potentially more damaging events such as being dropped can be substantially improved over conventional portable computing devices. 
     In the described embodiments, the single piece housing can be formed from plastic or metal. In the case where the single piece housing is formed of metal, the metal can take the form of a single sheet or block (such as aluminum). The single sheet of metal can be machined or formed into a shape appropriate for housing various internal components as well as providing various openings into which buttons, switches, connectors, displays, and so on can be accommodated. The single piece housing can be machined, forged, molded, or otherwise processed into a desired shape. 
     These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to  FIGS. 1-18 . However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a specific embodiment of portable computing device  100 . More specifically,  FIG. 1  shows a full top view of fully assembled portable computing device  100 . Portable computing device  100  can process data and more particularly media data such as audio, video, images, etc. By way of example, portable computing device  100  can generally correspond to a device that can perform as a music player, game player, video player, personal digital assistant (PDA), tablet computer, camera, and/or the like. With regard to being handheld, portable computing device  100  can be held in one hand by a user while being operated by the user&#39;s other hand (i.e., no reference surface such as a desktop is needed). For example, the user can hold portable computing device  100  in one hand and operate portable computing device  100  with the other hand by, for example, operating a volume switch, a hold switch, or by providing inputs to a touch sensitive surface, such as a display or pad. 
     Portable computing device  100  can include single piece housing  102  that can be formed of any number of materials, such as plastic or metal, which can be machined, forged, molded, or otherwise processed into a desired shape. In those cases where portable computing device  100  has a metal housing and incorporates RF based functionality, it may be advantageous to provide at least a portion of housing  102  in the form of radio (or RF) transparent materials, such as ceramic or plastic to permit transmission of RF signals therethrough. In any case, housing  102  can be configured to have a cavity for at least partially enclose any suitable number of internal components associated with the portable computing device  100 . For example, housing  102  can enclose and support internally various structural and electrical components (including integrated circuit chips and other circuitry) to provide computing operations for portable computing device  100 . The integrated circuits can take the form of chips, chip sets, or modules, any of which can be surface mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) or other support structure. For example, a main logic board (MLB) can have integrated circuits mounted thereon that can include at least a microprocessor, semi-conductor (such as FLASH) memory, various support circuits and so on. 
     Housing  102  can include opening  104  for placing internal components therein and may be sized to accommodate a display assembly or system suitable for providing a user with at least visual content, such as, for example, via a display. In some embodiments, the display system can include touch sensitive capabilities providing the user with the ability to provide tactile inputs to portable computing device  100  using touch inputs. 
     The display system  132  can be formed of a number of layers. A separate transparent protective layer  106  formed of polycarbonate or other appropriate plastic or highly polished glass can be positioned over the display system  132 . Using highly polished glass, protective layer  106  can take the form of cover glass  106  substantially filling opening  104 . Trim bead  108  can be used to form a seal between cover glass  106  and housing  102 . Trim bead  108  can be formed of a rigid plastic material. In this way, trim bead  108  can provide protection to the edge of the cover glass  106 . The trim bead  108  can be injection molded plastic with a very thin cross-section so it can be very difficult to handle, control, and measure. The trim bead  108  can also be very difficult to mold consistently to the same size, as variations in temperature and humidity at the molding site can cause a big percentage increase or decrease in the size of the trim bead  108 . Thus, different bins of housings and trim beads can be sorted and then matched so that the correct housings and trim beads can be matched to minimize the gap between the housing  102  and trim bead  108  to be about 0.05 mm. 
     In this embodiment, racetrack  110  can be defined as the uppermost portion of the housing  102  that surrounds cover glass layer  106 . In order to maintain the desired aesthetic look and feel of portable computing device  100 , it is desirable that any offsets between the housing  102  and cover glass  106  be minimized by centering racetrack  110 . A display panel  132  (shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) underlying cover glass  106  can be used to display images using any suitable display technology, such as LCD, LED, OLED, electronic or e-inks, and so on. 
     Portable computing device  100  can include a number of mechanical controls for controlling or otherwise modifying certain functions of portable computing device  100 . For example, power switch  114  can be used to manually power on or power off portable computing device  100 . Slide switch  116  can be used to mute any audio output provided by portable computing device  100  whereas volume switch  118  can be used to increase/decrease volume of the audio output by portable computing device  100 . In the described embodiment, the slide switch  116  can be a sliding switch and the volume switch  118  can be a rocker switch. In other embodiments, slide switch  116  can be provided for other functions. It should be noted that each of the above described input mechanisms are typically disposed through an opening in housing  102  such that they can couple to internal components. 
     Portable computing device  100  can include a mechanism for wireless communications, as either a transceiver type device or receiver only, such as a radio. Portable computing device  100  can include an antenna that can be disposed internal to a radio transparent portion of housing  102 . In some embodiments, an antenna can be incorporated into the trim bead  108  or cover glass  106 . In other embodiments, a portion of housing  102  can be replaced with radio transparent material in the form of an antenna window  140  described in more detail below. The radio transparent material can include, for example, plastic, ceramic, and so on. The wireless communications can be based on many different wireless protocols including for example 3G, 2G, Bluetooth, RF, 802.11, FM, AM, and so on. Any number of antennae may be used, which can use a single window or multiple windows depending on the needs of the system. In one embodiment, the system can include at least first and second antenna windows built into the housing. 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective top view of portable computing device  100  in accordance with the described embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 2 , portable computing device  100  can include one or more speakers  120  used to output audible sound. Portable computing device  100  can also include one or more connectors for transferring data and/or power to and from portable computing device  100 . For example, portable computing device  100  can include multiple data ports, one for each configuration of portrait mode and landscape mode. However, the currently described embodiment includes a data port  122  that can be formed of connector assembly  124  accommodated within an opening formed along a first side of housing  102 . In this way, portable computing device  100  can use data port  122  to communicate with external devices when portable computing device  100  is mounted in a docking station. It should be noted that in some cases, portable computing device  100  can include an orientation sensor or an accelerometer that can sense the orientation or movement of portable computing device  100 . The sensor can then provide an appropriate signal which will then cause portable computing device  100  to present visual content in an appropriate orientation. Such sensors can be coupled to a sensor board  200 , which will be described in more detail below. 
     Connector assembly  124  can be any size deemed appropriate such as, for example, a  30  pin connector. In some cases, the connector assembly  124  can serve as both a data and power port thus obviating the need for a separate power connector. Connector assembly  124  can be widely varied. In one embodiment, connector assembly  124  can take the form of a peripheral bus connector, such as a USB or FIREWIRE connector. These types of connectors include both power and data functionality, thereby allowing both power delivery and data communications to occur between the portable computing device  100  and the host device when the portable computing device  100  is connected to the host device. In some cases, the host device can provide power to the media portable computing device  100  that can be used to operate the portable computing device  100  and/or charge a battery included therein concurrently with the operating. 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective bottom view of a portable computing device in accordance with the described embodiments. A perspective interior view of a housing  102  suitable for enclosing operational components of the portable computing device  100  can be seen in  FIGS. 4 and 8 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the housing  102  is formed with an opening  104  into which the internal components are placed. A cavity in the center of the housing  102  provides space for battery cells  304  and the MLB  312 . Other components are arranged generally in the periphery around the battery cells  304  and the MLB  312 . Some of the components can be positioned in smaller recesses formed in the edge portion or ledge  156  of the housing  102 . For example, an RF antenna  204  is positioned in an RF antenna recess  206  and a camera  134  is positioned in a camera recess  136 . Magnets  202  that cooperate with a cover can be positioned in slots  168  along an edge of the housing  102 .  FIG. 4  also shows openings  142 ,  144  in the housing  102  to accommodate the slide switch  116  and volume switch  118 . 
     A corner bracket  150  can be added to the single piece housing  102  in each corner to strengthen and add stiffness to the housing  102  in those areas. The housing  102  can also be provided with openings or holes  180  for buttons and switches, including a slide switch  116  and volume switch  118 . Speaker holes or a speaker grill  170  can also be formed in the housing  102 . Speaker attachment features  158  can also be provided on the ledge  156  for attaching the speaker module  320 . In the described embodiment, speaker attachment features  158  are provided for attaching a substantially L-shaped speaker module  320 . The housing  102  can also be formed with additional features  172  for attaching or aligning components, such as the MLB  312 . 
     The shape of the housing can be asymmetric in that an upper portion of the housing can be formed to have a substantially different shape than that exhibited by a lower portion of the housing. For example, the upper portion of the housing can have surfaces that meet at distinct angles forming well defined boundary whereas the lower portion can be formed to have a substantially flat bottom surface. The transition zone between the upper portion having distinct edges and the lower, substantially flat portion can take the form of an edge having a rounded, spline shape providing both a natural change from the upper portion of the housing (i.e., the area of distinct edges) and the smoother, substantially flat surface presented by the lower portion of the housing. It should also be noted that in addition to providing a more aesthetically pleasing transition, the rounded, spline shape of the edge in the transition zone can provide a more comfortable feel when being held in a user&#39;s hand either during use or merely being carried about. One of the advantages to using metal for the housing is ability of metal to provide good electrical grounding for any internal components requiring a good ground plane. For example, performance of a built in RF antenna can be substantially improved when a good ground plane is provided. Moreover, a good ground plane can be used to help mitigate the deleterious effects caused by, for example, of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and/or electrostatic discharge (ESD). 
     Housing  102  can include a number of features used to facilitate the installation of internal components used in the assembly of portable computing device  100 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . These features are integral with the single body construction of the housing  102 , and do not need to be individually mounted to the housing  102 . Assembly of the portable computing device  100  is therefore simplified. In the described embodiment, single piece housing  102  can be formed from a single sheet or block of metal (such as aluminum) and formed into an appropriate shape using, for example, core metal forming techniques well known to those skilled in the art. 
     For example, recess  206  can be formed in housing  102  suitably sized and located for an RF antenna. In the case where recess  206  is used for placing an RF antenna, recess  206  can support an RF antenna support assembly formed of at least some radio transparent material. For example, the RF antenna support assembly may be foam that is pre-loaded into the recess  206  before the RF antenna  204  is placed in the recess  206 . The foam RF support assembly can bias the RF antenna  204  against the display assembly  132  so that there is a consistent distance between the RF antenna  204  and the display  132  to improve performance of the RF antenna  204 . The RF antenna  204  can be adhered to the display assembly  132  using, for example, PSA. By providing an RF antenna support assembly and an RF antenna window  140  formed of at least some radio transparent material, the RF antenna support assembly and RF antenna window  140  can facilitate unimpeded transmission and reception of RF energy in support of any number of wireless protocols such as WiFi, Blue Tooth, and so on. It should be noted the ability to provide unfettered RF functionality is especially important when housing  102  is formed of radio opaque materials such as most metals. 
     The following discussion describes specific approaches to both minimizing the Z height of the assembled components and maximizing component density within housing  102 . In other words, the Z stack associated with installed internal components is such that the components can be easily accommodated by the cavity in the housing  102  without the need to resort to lengthy and time consuming assembly procedures. The reduced Z stack and improved component density can be accomplished in many ways, such as configuring the structure of an internal component to perform multiple functions. 
     For example, portable computing device  100  can include a battery assembly. The battery assembly can, in turn, include battery cells  304  that can be directly attached to the interior of the bottom wall of the housing  102 . In an embodiment, strips of pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA)  105 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , can be used to adhere a battery cell  304  directly to the housing  102  without a conventional battery pack or frame. In the described embodiment, two strips of PSA  105  are used to adhere each battery cell  304 . The direct attachment of each battery cell  304  to housing  102  obviates the need for a separate battery support/protection structure, such as a battery case that is typically used in a conventional battery pack. Such battery cases are typically plastic enclosures around the battery cells. The plastic enclosures are separate from the computer or device housing. In the described embodiment, a protective enclosure for the battery cells  304  can be provided by the housing  102  and the display  132  that is directly mounted to the housing  102 . By eliminating a separate battery case, the overall weight and z stack height of the power supply assembly can be reduced over that required for a conventional battery pack. 
     In the described embodiment, all of the battery cells  304  are directly soldered to the same battery management unit (BMU)  306 . In other embodiments, the individual battery cells  304  can be electrically connected to each other by way of a flexible connector, or flex. The flexible connector can, in turn, be soldered to the BMU  306 . The BMU  306  can be used for some or all of the battery cells in the device. 
     A gap (referred to as a swell gap)  107  can be provided to accommodate swelling anticipated to occur during normal operation of the battery cells  304 . A swell gap  107  can be provided between a bottom wall of housing  102  and a lower surface of the battery cell  304  in the space between the strips of PSA. A swell gap  107  can also be provided in the space above the battery cells  304  between the top surfaces of the battery cells  304  and the bottom surface of the display assembly  132 . By providing a swell gap  107  below the battery cells  304 , space between the battery cells  304  and the housing  102  that would otherwise be wasted can be used in a productive manner. According to an embodiment, all of the battery cells  304  can be soldered onto the same BMU  306 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , there are generally no structures between the battery cells  304 , which are held in their desired positions on the housing  102  by adhesive. To utilize the space between the battery cells  304 , a connector cable  308  may be positioned between two cells, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In the illustrated embodiment, this particular connector cable  308  connects the MLB  312  and the sensor board  200 , which can be coupled to sensors. The sensors can be designed to sense things that lead to intelligent decisions by the portable computing device  100 . In essence, the sensors can provide information or cues that help predict the portable computing device&#39;s future use or user&#39;s needs so that the device  100  can be configured accordingly. In most cases, the sensors are configured to sense one or more environmental attributes surrounding the portable computing device  100 . Such environmental attributes may, for example, include temperature, ambient light, motion, vibration, pressure, touch, pressure, noise, orientation, time, force, and/or the like. 
     Thus, the sensors can include antenna proximity sensors, a compass, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a Hall Effect sensor mounted on the sensor board  200 . The sensor board  200  can extend from the area of the magnets  202  all the way along the peripheral edge of the battery cells  304  to the corner of the device  100  near one of the RF antennae  204 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . It should be noted that the compass should be positioned on the sensor board  200  as far away from the magnets  202  as possible to prevent interference. The sensor board  200  can also be connected to the camera  134 , the ambient light sensor (ALS)  146  and the thermal sensor  148  as well as the slide switch  116  and volume switch  118 . The connector cable  308  provides a way to connect all of the components coupled with the sensor board  200  with the MLB  312 . By positioning the cable connector  308  in the space between two battery cells  304 , which would have been otherwise unused, minimizes the overall footprint of the components in the cavity and at the same time keeps the Z stack height minimized by using space in a more efficient manner. Furthermore, it is important for the accelerometer and gyroscope to be as far away from the MLB  312  and its power traces as possible to minimize cross talk, so the connector cable  308  positioned between battery cells  304  is an efficient and clean way to connect the accelerometer and gyroscope to the MLB  312  while keeping them as far away as possible. The sensor board  200  can be rigidly bonded to the housing  102  using PSA with a foam layer on its top surface to bias the sensor board  200  down to the housing  102 . 
     Component density can also be increased. For example, circuits that would otherwise be considered separate can be combined to share a single connector. For example, as discussed above, all of the components coupled to the sensor board  200  can be coupled to the MLB  312  by a single connect, which, in this case, is connector cable  312 . Furthermore, an audio module can include both a microphone and associated circuitry that can share a flex connector with an audio circuit used to produce audio output. In this way, both the number and overall footprint of the internal components can be substantially reduced without adversely affecting overall functionality. In this way, the overall component density can be enhanced while at the same time reducing the number of interconnects used. 
       FIGS. 5-14  illustrate the operational components of portable computing device  100 . The operational components are organized substantially in a single layer to minimize the Z stack height of the portable computing device  100 . Thus, most of the internal components of the portable computing device  100  are substantially in a single plane. As described in more detail below, most of the components can be mounted directly to the housing  102 . In this way, minimizing the Z stack height, portable computing device  100  can have a thin profile and be extremely compact, sturdy, aesthetically pleasing and ergonomic at relatively low cost. 
       FIG. 5  presents a top internal view of portable computing device  100  showing a specific arrangement of various internal components. In the illustrated embodiment, the internal components can include at least a battery assembly that can include three individual battery cells  304 . Individual battery cells  304  can be attached directly to the housing  102  using adhesive, such as PSA strips. Other types of adhesives or mounting methods may also be used to attach the battery cells  304  to the housing  102 . 
     The internal components can also include main logic board (MLB)  312  that can include a number of operational circuits, such as a processor, graphics circuits, (optional) RF circuitry, semiconductor memory, such as FLASH, and so on. MLB  312  can receive power from the battery cells  304  by way of electrical connectors. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the battery cells  304  and the MLB  312  are positioned in the center of the cavity in the housing  102  with most of the other internal components positioned in substantially the same plane around the periphery of the cavity. As described in more detail below, space is conserved by using thin connectors, such as flex connectors, and by fitting connectors in spaces that would be otherwise unused. In this way, the overall footprint of the internal components as well as the Z stack height can be minimized. Arranging some components in the periphery also serves to isolate certain components from others to improve performance of those components by preventing, for example, cross-talk. 
     The internal components can also include speaker module  320  that can include audio circuits arranged to provide an audio signal to audio drivers  322  and  324 , which can be positioned under the speaker grill  120 . Audio drivers  322  and  324 , in turn, can provide audible output to speaker  120 .  FIG. 9  shows a more detailed view of the speaker module  320  of the illustrated embodiment. It will be understood that the audio drivers  322  and  324  are not visible in the view shown in  FIG. 9 . Shock absorbing foam  350  can be placed on the top and bottom of the speaker module  320  on the end positioned closest to the sensors on the sensor board  200  to protect the sensors, especially the gyroscope, by dampening the vibrations from the speaker module  320 . The foam  350  on the bottom of the speaker module  320  can also be used to create the acoustic seal to the housing  102  so all the sound from the speaker module  320  is directed out of the portable computing device  100  and not into it. 
     Portable computing device  100  can also include a number of antennae used for both transmission and reception of RF energy. For example, at least one RF antenna  204  can be incorporated into recess  206  in the housing  102 . In the illustrated embodiment, there are two RF antennae  204 , one positioned in each recess  206 . A radio-transparent window  140  may be provided in the housing  102  in the area of the RF antennae  204  for better overall reception/transmission. Another antenna  208  for supporting the wireless WiFi protocol can be provided near the peripheral edge of the housing for better antenna performance. A connector cable  210  can couple the WiFi antenna  208  to the MLB  312 . 
     In some embodiments, portable computing device  100  can support a number of different wireless standards. For example, in those cases where portable computing device  100  supports a particular wireless standard (such as the  3 G standard), portable computing device  100  can include wireless circuitry appropriate for the particular wireless standard. For example, if portable computing device  100  is 3G compliant, the MLB  312  can include  3 G wireless circuitry coupled to an appropriately placed and sized RF antenna  204 . Alternatively, in the illustrated embodiment, the RF antennae can be coupled to a radio board  314 . In the illustrated embodiment, the radio board  314  is coupled to the MLB  312  via a flex connector  316 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . It should be noted, as discussed above, that a portion of housing  102  is typically replaced with a radio transparent window  140  in cooperation with the RF antenna  204 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, display bus  344  can connect display driver circuitry to MLB  312  by way of display connector  346 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . In the described embodiment, display bus  344  can take the form of a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) bus. In the illustrated embodiment, display bus  344  can be figured to connect the display driver circuitry with the MLB  312  while maintaining a thin-profile because the display bus  344  is configured to be flat despite the number of wires required in such a LVDS bus. In an embodiment, the display bus  344  contains  30  wires that can be bundled in certain portions and then fanned out to a single layer or two layers in other portions. 
       FIG. 6  shows cross-section  600  along line AA of  FIG. 5  bisecting battery cells  304  and MLB  312 .  FIG. 7  shows cross-section  700  along line BB of  FIG. 5  bisecting battery cells  304 . In particular, cross-sections  600  and  700  illustrate the compact nature and reduced z stack height of the assembled internal components. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the components, including the battery cells  304  and the MLB  312 , under the display  132  are substantially in the same plane. As illustrated, these components are mounted to the substantially flat bottom surface of the housing  102 . In order to avoid unnecessary interference with RF transmissions from the RF antenna  204 , the antenna window  140  can be formed of radio transparent material, such as plastic, glass, ceramic and so on. Display module circuit  506  can be connected to LVDS bus  344  by way of connector  346  and be used to drive display panel  132 .  FIG. 8  shows an exploded perspective view of major internal components of portable computing device  100 .  FIG. 8  also shows a perspective interior view of a housing  102  suitable for enclosing operational components of the portable computing device  100  described herein. 
     Display assembly  132  may be placed and secured within the cavity using a variety of mechanisms. In one embodiment, the display system  132  can have alignment holes that can be lined up with alignment holes on the housing  102  to accurately align the display  132 . A temporary fixture can used to align the alignment holes in the display  132  with the alignment holes in the ledge  156  of the housing  102  so that the display is well-centered. While the temporary fixture is in place, an operator is able to screw the display  132  to the housing  102 . The display may be placed flush with the adjacent portion of the housing  102 . In this way, the display can present visual content that can include video, still images, as well as icons such as graphical user interface (GUI) that can provide information the user (e.g., text, objects, graphics) as well as receive user provided inputs. In some cases, displayed icons can be moved by a user to a more convenient location on the display. For example, GUI can be moved by the user manually dragging GUI from one location to a more convenient location. The display can also provide a user with tactile feedback provided by a number of haptic actuators usually, but not always, arranged in an array of haptic actuators incorporated into the display. In this way, the haptic actuators can provide the user with tactile feedback. 
     In some embodiments, a display mask (not shown) can be applied to, or incorporated within or under cover glass  106 . The display mask can be used to accent an unmasked portion of the display used to present visual content. The display mask can be used to make less obvious home button  112  used to provide a specific input such as change display mode, for example to portable computing device  100 . The display mask can render home button  112  less obvious by, for example, being closer in tone or color to home button  112 . For example, if home button  112  is formed of a material that is somewhat darker (such as gray or black) than cover glass  106 , then using a similarly colored display mask can reduce the visual impact of home button  112  when compared with the unmasked portion of cover glass  106 . In this way, the visual impact of home button  112  can be reduced by being integrated into the overall look of the display mask. Furthermore, the display mask can provide a natural mechanism for directing the attention of a viewer to the unmasked area of the display used to present visual content. PSA can also be applied to the backside of cover glass  106  in the area of the display mask to provide support and also act as safety glass in the event the cover glass  106  is broken. 
       FIG. 5  also shows an embodiment of SIM card release mechanism  1100  in accordance with the described embodiments. SIM card release mechanism  1100  can include tray  1102  ( FIG. 8 ) suitable for securing a SIM card when placed thereon. Embedded magnets  202  may also be provided in the housing  102  at magnet slots  168  at an edge of the housing  102 . The magnets  202  can be used in conjunction with a segmented cover assembly that can be used for what is referred to as a peek mode of operation of portable computing device  100 . When a segment of the cover assembly is lifted from glass cover  106 , sensors in portable computing device  100  can detect that the segment of the cover assembly and only that segment has been lifted from glass cover  106 . Once detected, portable computing device  100  can activate only the exposed portion of the display  132 . For example, portable computing device  100  can utilize a Hall Effect sensor to detect that the segment has been lifted from glass cover  106 . In the illustrated embodiment, the Hall Effect sensor can be mounted on the sensor board  200 .  FIG. 4  shows an attachment point  166  for the Hall Effect sensor. Additional sensors, such as optical sensors, can then detect if only the segment has been lifted or if additional segments have been lifted. Such sensors are located near and coupled to the sensor board  200 , which is adjacent the magnets  202 . 
     The portable computing device  100  can include one or more button assemblies by which the user of the portable computing device  100  can activate various functions. Button assemblies can be mounted through the surface of the cover glass  106  in the portable computing device  100  or through a front, side or back portion of the single piece housing  102  of the portable computing device  100 . The button assemblies can be designed to provide a desired tactile feedback to the user when activating the button assembly&#39;s function. In addition, the button assemblies can be designed, in conjunction with designs of both outer surfaces of and inner connection points within the portable computing device  100 , to be positioned approximately flush with the outer surfaces in neutral, “non-depressed” state, even with internal circuit boards located at a distance from a top portion of the button assembly. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a first cross-sectional perspective view  800  of a home button assembly  802  mounted through cover glass  106  of a portable computing device  100  in accordance with the described embodiments. The home button assembly  802  can include an external flat or curved button body  112  that rests approximately flush with an exterior surface of cover glass  106 . Flanges  804  can be mounted on the underside of (or integrally formed with) the external button  112  and extend beneath the underside of cover glass  106 . A central post  806  can be mounted to the underside of (or be integrally formed with) the external button body  112  positioned above a tactile switch unit  808 , which can be mounted to a bracket  820 . The bracket  820  can be formed of a metal, such as stainless steel, and can be adhered to the cover glass  106  using an adhesive  826 , such as, for example, PSA. In a neutral, “non-depressed” state, the central post  806  can be at a distance from the tactile switch unit  808 . Upon depressing the external button body  112 , the central post  806  can contact the tactile switch unit  808  in a manner that results in closing a contact circuit within the tactile switch unit  808 . The use of the tactile switch unit  808  can allow a user of the portable computing device  100  to experience a different “feel” when pressing at different locations on the surface of the external button body  112 , as the external button body  112  can pivot about the top of the tactile switch unit  808 . 
     The internal components of the portable computing device  100  can include a flexible circuit or flex  818  through which signals can be conducted as a result of depressing the external button  802 . The flex  818  can be located at a distance from contact points of the tactile switch unit  808 . The distance can be such that the tactile switch unit  808  cannot be mounted directly on the flex  818 , as the travel distance of the center post  806  of the external button body  112  can be too short to reach the tactile switch unit  808  when depressed to activate a function. The flex  818  can also include components in a region directly beneath the external button body  112  that preclude mounting the tactile switch unit  808  directly to the flex  818 . Instead, a connection can be made between the flex  818  and the tactile switch unit  808 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the tactile switch unit  808  can be mounted to an intermediate printed circuit board  810 . In some implementations, the intermediate printed circuit board  810  can be connected to the flexible circuit or flex  818  through a flexible cable; however, such a connection can complicate the assembly process. In some embodiments, the flexible cable connection can preclude a simple machine automated assembly and require manual assembly by a technician. The representative embodiment shown in  FIG. 10  avoids manual assembly by enabling a connection from the intermediate printed circuit board  810  to the flex  818  through a pair of conductive posts  814 / 816  and a pair of conductive pads  812 / 813 . A first conductive post  814 , for example, can be connected to a DC power level supplied through the flex  818 , while the second conductive post  816  can be connected to a GND level in the flex  818 . Conductive posts  814  and  816  can be connected to separate conductive pads  812  and  813  respectively mounted on the underside of the intermediate printed circuit board  810 . A stiffener can be positioned underneath the conductive posts  814  and  816  to improve rigidity. 
     Depressing the external button body  112  can close a circuit within the tactile switch unit  808  connecting the first conductive post  814  to the second conductive post  816  and thereby permitting current to flow, which can activate directly or indirectly a function of the portable computing device  100 . In addition to providing a conductive path, the conductive posts  814  and  816  can be sized and positioned between the intermediate printed circuit board  810  and the flex  818  to “tune” the tactile feel of the button assembly  802  for the user of the portable computing device  100 . For example, the conductive posts  814  and  816  can be positioned closer together or further apart, and the thickness of the intermediate printed circuit board  810  can be varied to increase or decrease flexing that can occur when depressing the external button  802  to contact the tactile switch unit  808 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the intermediate circuit board  810  can be mounted to the tactile switch unit  808 .  FIG. 11  illustrates a simplified top view of the home button assembly with the flanges  804  extending a bit from underneath the external button body  112 . The top of the external button body  112  can include directional markers  822  that can assist a user in locating the external button body  112  as well as guide the user into applying pressure at appropriate locations on the external button body. The directional markers  822  can take different forms including tactile raised dots and compass point (for example north (N) and south (S)) markers. During operation of the portable computing device  100 , the user can apply pressure off center on the surface of the home button body  112 . A flexure or anti-rotation ring  824  can be provided around the directional markers  822 . 
     Button assemblies can also be mounted through a portion of the single piece housing  102  that encloses the portable computing device  100 . As the single piece housing  102  can be relatively thin to reduce weight of the portable computing device  100 , openings in the housing  102  can impact the structural integrity of portions of the housing  102  near the opening. For relatively large openings, a structural support section can be included inside the housing  102  to improve rigidity; however, a button assembly can still require access through the structural support section. It can be desirable to minimize the size of openings through the structural support section, thereby retaining a desired strength of structural support, when using a relatively larger exterior button that can use a relatively larger opening in the housing  102 . 
     In some embodiments, portable computing device  100  can include a camera module  134  configured to provide still and video images. The placement may be widely varied and may include one or more locations, including for example front and back of the device, i.e., one through the back housing, the other through the display window. As shown in  FIG. 3 , there can be a rear camera window  138  through the housing  102 . A front camera window  139  ( FIG. 13 ) can also be provided for a front-facing camera through the display window.  FIG. 5  shows a camera window through the display window in the front of the device  100  at the camera module  134 . 
     The camera module  134  can be aligned with the display  132  by using alignment pins  130  provided on the bottom surface of the display  132 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . These alignment pins  130  line up with a hole  152  and a slot  154  in the top surface of the camera module  134  shown in  FIG. 13 . The alignment pins  130  and corresponding hole  152  and slot  154  in the camera module help to align the camera  134  to the display  132  in the x and y directions. As shown in  FIG. 14 , a flex connector  160 , which extends under the camera module  134  and wraps around the side to the top of the camera module  134 , can couple the camera module  134 , ALS  146 , and thermal sensor  148  all to the sensor board  200 , which in turn is connected to the MLB. 
     An ambient light sensor (ALS)  146  and a thermal sensor  148  can also be provided on the area of the camera module  134 . The ALS  146  can sense when the device  100  is in a dark environment or when the device  100  is in a light environment. Ambient light can include the light surrounding the portable computing device  100  that is produced by sunlight, incandescent light, fluorescent light and the like. If the portable computing device  100  is in a dark environment, the display  132  of the portable computing device  100  can be powered down to be dimmer and to save battery power. Conversely, if the portable computing device  100  is in a light environment, the display  132  can be powered up to be brighter. For example, the display  132  can be dimmed when the ALS  146  senses that the ambient light level decreases a certain amount or reaches a predetermined or specified darkness level, and the display  132  can be brightened when the ALS  146  senses that the ambient light level increases a certain amount or reaches a predetermined or specified lightness level. 
     In some cases, multiple ambient light sensors may be used. This may help produce a more accurate reading of ambient light as, for example, through averaging. This may also help in determining whether the portable computing device  100  is actually in a dark environment as opposed to when light is being blocked from getting to the ALS  146  (e.g., if one sensor is blocked, another sensor is still sensing the ambient environment). 
     The thermal sensor  148  can provide temperature data for the device  100  to prevent thermal runaway. The thermal sensor  148  can distinguish between external heat and internal heat. For example, the thermal sensor  148  can distinguish between solar heat received by the device  100  from the sun versus heat produced by the components internal to the device  100 . 
     The camera module  134 , with the ALS  146  and thermal sensor  148 , can be mounted to the housing by first pre-loading a foam support into the recess  136  before the camera module  134  is placed in the recess  136 . The foam support can bias the camera module  134  against the display assembly  132 , with the camera module  134  adhered to the display assembly using, for example, PSA. With the ALS  146  and thermal sensor  148  close to the cover glass  106 , there is no need for a light pipe or light guide. The sensors may be placed proximate the display  132  thereby utilizing the window and cover glass  106  that typically covers and protects the display  132 . In this way, the sensors are also hidden from view. A light diffuser can also be provided. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates a flow diagram describing process  1500  for assembling internal components for a portable computing device in accordance with the described embodiments. Process  1500  begins at  1502  by receiving housing suitable for enclosing and supporting internal components of the portable computing device. In the described embodiment, the housing can be formed to have a cavity that has a substantially flat bottom surface. The housing can also be formed to have smaller recesses along a peripheral edge portion for receiving components. The components can include, for example, a battery assembly, a main printed circuit board, a main logic board, buttons, speaker module, and so on. The housing can be formed using any well-known machining operation. Once the housing has been received at  1504 , the component can be inserted into the cavity at  1506  and placed in direct contact with the interior surface of the housing at  1508 . Once placed directly onto the substantially flat interior surface of the housing, the component can be attached to the housing at  1510  using any well known attaching process, such as adhering, bonding, epoxy, welding, and so on. 
     The various aspects, embodiments, implementations or features of the described embodiments can be used separately or in any combination. Various aspects of the described embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware or a combination of hardware and software. The described embodiments can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable medium for controlling manufacturing operations or as computer readable code on a computer readable medium for controlling a manufacturing line. The computer readable medium is any data storage device that can store data which can thereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable medium include read-only memory, random-access memory, CD-ROMs, DVDs, magnetic tape, optical data storage devices, and carrier waves. The computer readable medium can also be distributed over network-coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. 
     The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. 
     The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents. 
     While the embodiments have been described in terms of several particular embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents, which fall within the scope of these general concepts. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and apparatuses of the present embodiments. For example, although an extrusion process is preferred method of manufacturing the integral tube, it should be noted that this is not a limitation and that other manufacturing methods can be used (e.g., injection molding). It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the described embodiments.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20110131
Publication Date: 20131029
Grant Date: 20131029
Priority Date: 20110131
Inventors: MCCLURE STEPHEN ROBERT
CORBIN SEAN S.
TERNUS JOHN P.
GIBBS KEVIN
FRANKLIN JEREMY C.
KIBITI ELVIS MWENDA
HENRY JULES B.
RAPPOPORT BENJAMIN M.
UTTERMANN ERIK ANDREW
YEUNG ALEX CHUN LAP
RAFF JOHN
PETERSON CARL
WILSON BRIANNA C.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F1/1626", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1626", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1658", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1686", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1688", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1698", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49002", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1686", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1658", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1698", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1688", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 46577195