PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8886031-B2
Application Number: US-201113222999-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Camera window assembly for electronic device

Abstract:
An electronic device may have a housing. A camera window assembly may be mounted in a hole within the housing. The housing may be formed from a structure such as a planar glass member. The hole in which the camera window assembly is formed may be circular. A mating circular trim member in the camera window assembly may be mounted in the hole. A flange structure on the trim member may help retain the trim member within the housing. A shelf portion of the trim member may receive a ring of adhesive. The camera window assembly may have a clear disk-shaped lens with planar opposing front and rear surfaces that is mounted on the shelf portion using the adhesive. An elastomeric ring may be compressed between sidewall portions of the trim member and the lens to help retain the lens within the camera window assembly.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing having an opening; and 
 a camera window assembly in the opening that includes a trim member, an elastomeric member, and a transparent lens, wherein the elastomeric member is in contact with an outermost edge of the lens and is configured to retain the lens within the camera window assembly, wherein the trim member has a portion that covers the elastomeric member, wherein the portion forms an external surface of the electronic device, wherein the elastomeric member has opposing first and second surfaces, and wherein the trim member has a first portion that hooks over the first surface of the elastomeric member and a second portion that hooks over the second surface of the elastomeric member. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the transparent lens comprises a disk-shaped lens having opposing planar surfaces and wherein the elastomeric member comprises an elastomeric ring. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the trim member has sidewalls, wherein the elastomeric ring is interposed between the sidewalls of the trim member and the outermost edge of the lens, and wherein the trim member and lens are configured to compress the elastomeric ring. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device defined in  claim 3  further comprising a camera module that is configured to receive light through the lens. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device defined in  claim 4  wherein the housing comprises a planar glass member and wherein the opening is formed in the planar glass member. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device defined in  claim 5  wherein the camera window assembly further comprises a ring of adhesive interposed between a peripheral surface of the lens and a shelf portion of the trim member. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the camera window assembly comprises a metal member and wherein the elastomeric member is compressed between the metal member and the lens. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the housing comprises a planar glass member in which the opening is formed. 
     
     
       9. A camera window assembly, comprising:
 a member having an opening; 
 an elastomeric ring in the opening; and 
 a lens that is retained within the member at least partly by the elastomeric ring, wherein the lens has peripheral sidewalls, wherein the elastomeric ring is in contact with the peripheral sidewalls, wherein the elastomeric ring has opposing first and second surfaces, wherein the trim member has a first portion that hooks over the first surface of the elastomeric ring and a second portion that hooks over the second surface of the elastomeric ring. 
 
     
     
       10. The camera window assembly defined in  claim 9  wherein the lens has planar opposing front and rear surfaces, wherein the member comprises a sidewall portion with an inner surface, and wherein the elastomeric ring is compressed between the sidewall portion and the lens. 
     
     
       11. The camera window assembly defined in  claim 10  wherein the member comprises a metal trim member with a flange and wherein the opening comprises a circular opening defined by the inner surface of the sidewall portion. 
     
     
       12. The camera window assembly defined in  claim 9  further comprising adhesive interposed between the lens and the member. 
     
     
       13. The camera window assembly defined in  claim 12  wherein the adhesive comprises a ring of adhesive. 
     
     
       14. Apparatus, comprising:
 a planar structure having a hole; and 
 a camera window assembly in the hole, wherein the camera window assembly has a member with an opening, a lens in the opening, and an elastomeric lens retention member that is compressed between and in contact with the member and an outermost edge of the lens, wherein the elastomeric lens retention member has a rectangular cross section, wherein the member has a vertical sidewall surface interposed between upper and lower planar surfaces, wherein the vertical sidewall surface is parallel to the outermost edge of the lens, and wherein the elastomeric lens retention member is in contact with the vertical sidewall surface, the upper planar surface, and the lower planar surface of the member. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus defined in  claim 14  wherein the planar structure comprises a glass plate. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus defined in  claim 15  wherein the glass plate forms a rear housing structure in an electronic device, wherein the member comprises a metal trim member having sidewalls, and wherein the elastomeric lens retention member comprises an elastomeric ring compressed between the sidewalls and the lens. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus defined in  claim 14  wherein the metal trim member comprises a shelf portion, the apparatus further comprising adhesive that attaches the lens to the shelf portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This relates generally to camera windows and, more particularly, to camera windows for electronic devices. 
     Electronic devices such as cellular telephones often contain cameras. For example, a cellular telephone may contain a camera. To permit the camera to operate properly, the surface of the cellular telephone may be provided with a camera window. The camera window may include a clear lens through which the camera may receive image light. 
     With conventional cellular telephone camera window designs, adhesive is sometimes used to hold the lens in place. There is potential with this type of arrangement for the lens to become dislodged if the cellular telephone is dropped or otherwise subjected to an impact event. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved camera window structures for electronic devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device may have a housing in which a camera is mounted. A camera window assembly may be mounted in a hole within the housing to permit image light to pass to the camera from the exterior of the housing. 
     The housing may be formed from a structure such as a planar glass member. The planar glass member may be used to form a front or rear surface for the electronic device. The hole in which the camera window assembly is formed may be circular. A mating circular trim member in the camera window assembly may be mounted in the hole. 
     A flange structure on the trim member may help retain the trim member within the housing. A shelf portion of the trim member may receive a ring of adhesive. The camera window assembly may have a clear disk-shaped lens that is mounted on the shelf portion using the adhesive. 
     To enhance the ability of the camera window assembly to retain the lens, the camera window assembly may be provided with an elastomeric member. The elastomeric member may have a ring shape that surrounds a circular peripheral edge of the lens. The elastomeric ring may be compressed between sidewall portions of the trim member and the lens. 
     Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device of the type that may be provided with a camera window in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a conventional camera window assembly. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of the conventional camera window assembly of  FIG. 2  mounted in a rear housing plate in a cellular telephone. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of an illustrative camera window assembly of the type that may be used in forming a camera window for an electronic device such as the electronic device of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of the illustrative camera window assembly of  FIG. 4  mounted in a housing structure such as a planar rear housing member in an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Electronic devices such as device  10  of  FIG. 1  may be provided with cameras. Device  10  of  FIG. 1  may be a portable computer, a tablet computer, a computer monitor, a handheld device, game equipment, a global positioning system equipment, a cellular telephone, other portable electronic devices, or other electronic equipment. 
     Device  10  may include a housing such as housing  12 . Housing  12 , which may sometimes be referred to as a case, may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of these materials. Housing  12  may be formed using a unibody configuration in which some or all of housing  12  is machined or molded as a single structure or may be formed using multiple structures (e.g., an internal frame structure, one or more structures that form exterior housing surfaces, etc.). 
     In some configurations, housing  12  may be formed using front and rear housing structures that are substantially planar. For example, the front and/or rear of device  10  may be formed from a planar structure (e.g., a planar housing structure) such as a planar glass member, a planar plastic member, a planar metal structure, or other substantially planar structure. A front surface of device  10  may, as an example, be covered with a display cover glass layer, a plastic display cover layer, or other planar transparent member that is associated with a touch screen display. As shown in  FIG. 1 , rear housing surface  14  may, if desired, be a planar member (e.g., a planar glass member) and may be surrounded by peripheral housing structures  22 . 
     Peripheral housing structures  22  may be formed from plastic, glass, ceramic, fiber composites, metal, other materials, or combinations of these materials. Peripheral housing structures  22  may be configured to form a bezel structure that surrounds a display on the front of device  10 , may be used to form vertical sidewall structures of the type shown in  FIG. 1 , or may be used in forming other housing structures (e.g., housing wall structures). The housing configuration of  FIG. 1  is merely illustrative. Housings of other shapes (e.g., non-rectangular housings, multi-piece housings having hinges, housings having curved edges or combinations of curved and straight edges, etc.) may be used if desired. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , device  10  may include a camera window formed from a camera window assembly such as camera window assembly  16 . Camera window assembly  16  may have a clear window structure such as lens  18 . A trim structure such as trim member  20  or other supporting member may be used in mounting lens  18  in an opening in rear housing member  14  or other housing structures  12  in device  10 . 
     Lens  18  may be formed from a clear material such as clear glass, clear plastic, or other transparent material that allows light to reach a camera module mounted within the interior of device housing  12 . Lens  18  of  FIG. 1  has been implemented using a transparent disk-shaped member. This is merely illustrative. Lens  18  may have a circular outline, an oval outline, a rectangular outline, an outline with a combination of curved and straight edges, or other suitable configurations. Lens  18  may have planar opposing front and rear surfaces, convex surfaces, concave surfaces, etc. 
     Trim member  20  may be formed from plastic, stainless steel, other metal, or other materials. With one suitable arrangement, trim member  20  may have opaque sidewalls. The sidewalls of trim member  20  may help prevent stray light from entering the edges of lens  18 . For example, in configurations for device  10  that contain a nearby flash unit, the opaque sidewalls of trim member  20  may be used to prevent stray light from the flash unit from entering lens  18  and potentially interfering with operation of the camera in device  10 . 
     An exploded perspective view of a conventional cellular telephone camera window assembly is shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , camera assembly  42  includes camera window lens  26 , adhesive ring  28 , and stainless steel trim member  42 . Trim member  42  has flange portion  44  for retaining trim member  42  in the interior of a rear glass housing plate in a cellular telephone. Trim sidewall structures  46  may have a diameter that is configured to fit within an opening in the rear glass housing plate. Trim member  42  has circular opening  40 . Adhesive ring  28  has mating opening  30 . When lens  26  is mounted in trim  42 , adhesive  28  attaches the peripheral portion of lens  26  to interior ledge  48  of trim member  42 . Light for a camera may pass through lens  26 , opening  30 , and opening  40 . 
     A cross-sectional side view of conventional camera window assembly  24  of  FIG. 2  mounted in opening  52  in glass housing plate  50  on the rear of a cellular telephone is shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , lens  26  has a diameter that allows lens  26  to be received within the cylindrical cavity formed by trim sidewalls  46 . Adhesive ring  28  attaches lens  26  to portions  48  of trim member  44 . Trim member flange  44  helps retain trim member  44  within housing member  50 . Retention force for holding lens  26  in place is provided by adhesive  28 . In the event of an unexpected drop event or other impact, this retention force may be insufficient and lens  26  may become dislodged. 
     An exploded perspective view of a camera window assembly of the type that may be used in an electronic device such as device  10  of  FIG. 1  is shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , camera window assembly  16  may include camera window lens  18 , elastomeric ring  64 , adhesive ring  60 , and trim member  20 . 
     Lens  18  may be formed from clear glass, clear plastic, or other transparent materials. In one illustrative configuration, lens  18  may be formed from a disk of transparent material (e.g., a disk-shaped glass or plastic member) having parallel front and rear faces and a circular outline. Lens  18  may also have other shapes (e.g., shapes with convex or concave surfaces, shapes with edges that are straight, rectangular shapes, oval shapes, shapes with combinations of straight and curved edges, etc.). 
     Trim member  20  may be formed from plastic, metal, ceramic, fiber-composite materials, other materials, or combinations of these materials. Trim member  20  may be formed from a single piece of material or multipart trim structures may be used. In one illustrative configuration, trim member  20  may be formed from a stainless steel member. Sidewall structures  56  may be opaque and may help block stray light. For example, sidewall structures  56  may surround lens  18  and may block stray light that is produced by a flash unit in device  10  from the camera. 
     Trim member  20  may have a laterally extending portion such as flange portion  52  to help retain trim member  20  within the interior of electronic device  10 . Trim sidewall structures  56  may have an outer diameter that is configured to fit within an circular hole or other opening in a housing structure in device  10 . For example, trim sidewall structures  56  may have a circular periphery with an outer diameter that fits within a mating circular opening of the same diameter in a rear housing structure such as planar rear housing structure  14  of  FIG. 1 . Planar rear housing structure  14  may be, for example, a glass plate, a glass plate covering a metal sheet, a planar plastic member, or other structure. Trim member  20  may have a circular opening such as opening  58  that surrounds the circular periphery of lens  18 . During operation of device  10 , image light for a camera may pass through opening  58  without being affected by stray light that may have leaked into the interior of a glass housing structure (e.g., housing structure  14 ) from a flash unit in device  10 . 
     Adhesive ring  60  may have an opening such as opening  62 . Opening  62  may, for example, have an inner diameter that matches the inner diameter of opening  58  in trim member  20 . When the components of the camera window assembly are assembled, adhesive ring  60  may rest between shelf portion  54  (sometimes referred to as a shelf or ledge) of trim member  20  and the lower peripheral surface of lens  18  and may help hold lens  18  within trim  20  and device  10 . 
     Camera window assembly  16  may use an elastomeric structure such as elastomeric member  64  to help hold lens  18  in place. Elastomeric member  64  may have a circular ring shape, a rectangular ring shape, other ring shapes, or other configurations. In the example shown in  FIG. 4 , elastomeric member  64  has been configured to form a circular elastomeric ring. As shown in  FIG. 4 , elastomeric ring  64  may have an opening such as opening  66 . The diameter of opening  66  may match the diameters of opening  62  and  58  (as an example). 
     Elastomeric ring  64  may be formed from a flexible polymer. For example, elastomeric ring  64  may be formed from a thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPE) or other material that may be compressed. When assembled, lens  18  may be received within opening  66  of elastomeric ring  64  so that elastomeric ring  64  is radially compressed between the outer edge of lens  18  and the inner surface of trim sidewalls  56 . The compression of elastomeric ring  64  may create friction on the edges of lens  18  to help retain lens  18  within trim  20  and window assembly  16  during a drop event or other unexpected impact. 
     When lens  18  is mounted in trim member  20 , light for a camera in device  10  may pass through the camera window assembly (i.e., light for the camera may pass through lens  18 , opening  66 , opening  62 , and opening  58 ). 
     A cross-sectional side view of camera window assembly  16  of  FIG. 4  mounted in opening  74  in a housing structure for device  10  is shown in  FIG. 5 . In the example of  FIG. 5 , camera window assembly  16  has been mounted in a hole in a housing structure such as glass housing plate  68 . In general, camera window assembly  16  may be mounted in any suitable housing structure (e.g., a plastic housing wall, a housing wall formed from a planar glass member, a housing wall having metal and plastic parts, other structures formed from glass, plastic, or other materials, etc.). 
     In the configuration shown in  FIG. 5 , image light  76  from an object may pass to camera module  72  through lens  18  and the openings in the structures of assembly  16  such as openings  66 ,  62 , and  58 . Camera module  72  may convert the image light into digital image data. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , lens  18  may have a diameter that allows lens  18  to be received within the cylindrical cavity formed by trim sidewalls  56 . Elastomeric member  64  may be compressed between the outermost vertical surfaces at the peripheral edge of lens  18  (which press outwardly) and the opposing innermost vertical surface of trim sidewall structures  56  (which press inwardly). This may help retain lens  18  within trim member  20  and device  10 . Additional lens retention force may be provided by adhesive  60 , which is interposed between ledge (shelf) portion  54  of trim member  20  and lens  18 . Trim member flange  52  or other suitable retention structures (e.g., lateral extension structures that protrude laterally outward from trim member  20 ) may be used to help retain trim member  20  within housing  12 . 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20110831
Publication Date: 20141111
Grant Date: 20141111
Priority Date: 20110831
Inventors: POPE BENJAMIN J.
DINH RICHARD HUNG MINH
TAN TANG YEW
PAKULA DAVID A.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G03B2217/002", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G03B17/02", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G03B2217/002", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G03B17/02", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 47743882