PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10398043-B2
Application Number: US-201816022588-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Glass enclosure

Abstract:
A handheld computing device that includes an enclosure having structural walls formed from a glass material that can be radio-transparent. The enclosure can be formed from a hollow glass tube or two glass members bonded together. A laser frit bonding process may be used to hermetically seal the two glass members together to create a water resistant electronic device.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A portable electronic device, comprising:
 an enclosure defining an internal volume and comprising:
 a unitary housing component formed from a glass material and comprising:
 a first glass member defining a glass front surface; 
 a second glass member defining a glass back surface; and 
 a glass band defining:
 a first segment defining at least a portion of a glass first side surface of the enclosure; 
 a second segment parallel to the first segment and defining at least a portion of a glass second side surface of the enclosure; 
 a third segment defining at least a portion of a glass third side surface of the enclosure; and 
 a fourth segment parallel to the third segment and defining at least a portion of a glass fourth side surface of the enclosure; and 
 
 
 
 a touch-screen display assembly within the internal volume of the enclosure and configured to display graphical outputs visible through at least the glass front surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the unitary housing component defines a rail structure within the internal volume; and 
 the touch-screen display assembly is coupled to the rail structure. 
 
     
     
       3. The portable electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the rail structure comprises two parallel rails. 
     
     
       4. The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first glass member defines a first additional portion of each of the glass first, second, third, and fourth side surfaces; and 
 the second glass member defines a second additional portion of each of the glass first, second, third, and fourth side surfaces. 
 
     
     
       5. The portable electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein the first glass member is fused to the glass band. 
     
     
       6. The portable electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein the first glass member is fused to the glass band via a bonding layer formed at least in part of glass. 
     
     
       7. The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first glass member, the second glass member, or the glass band defines a textured region having a surface texture that is different than an area of the enclosure surrounding the textured region. 
     
     
       8. A portable electronic device, comprising:
 a glass enclosure defining an internal volume and comprising:
 a front glass member defining a front surface of the glass enclosure; 
 a back glass member defining a back surface of the glass enclosure; and 
 a glass band positioned between the front glass member and the back glass member and defining:
 at least a portion of a first side surface of the glass enclosure, the first side surface extending in a first direction; 
 at least a portion of a second side surface of the glass enclosure, the second side surface extending in a second direction parallel to the first direction; 
 at least a portion of a third side surface of the glass enclosure, the third side surface extending in a third direction; and 
 at least a portion of a fourth side surface of the glass enclosure, the fourth side surface extending in a fourth direction parallel to the third direction; and 
 
 
 a touch-screen assembly positioned within the internal volume and configured to detect a touch input applied to the front surface of the glass enclosure. 
 
     
     
       9. The portable electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the portable electronic device further comprises a speaker positioned within the internal volume; 
 the glass enclosure defines an opening that is aligned with the speaker; and 
 a waterproof membrane is positioned over the speaker and covers the opening. 
 
     
     
       10. The portable electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the glass enclosure further comprises:
 a first bonding layer formed at least in part of glass and securing the front glass member to the glass band; and 
 a second bonding layer formed at least in part of glass and securing the back glass member to the glass band. 
 
     
     
       11. The portable electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the glass enclosure further comprises adhesive securing the front glass member and the back glass member to the glass band. 
     
     
       12. The portable electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the front surface defines a first plane; 
 the back surface defines a second plane; and 
 the first side surface defines a curved side profile extending from the first plane to the second plane. 
 
     
     
       13. The portable electronic device of  claim 8 , further comprising an opaque masking material on an interior surface of the back glass member. 
     
     
       14. A portable electronic device, comprising:
 an enclosure comprising:
 a first glass member defining a glass front surface; 
 a second glass member defining a glass back surface; and 
 a rectangular glass band defining at least a portion of each of four glass side surfaces around a periphery of the enclosure; and 
 
 a touch-screen display assembly within the enclosure and configured to display graphical outputs visible through the glass front surface. 
 
     
     
       15. The portable electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein the enclosure further comprises:
 a first bonding layer formed at least in part of glass and securing the first glass member to the rectangular glass band; and 
 a second bonding layer formed at least in part of glass and securing the second glass member to the rectangular glass band. 
 
     
     
       16. The portable electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first bonding layer defines a first hermetic seal between the first glass member and the rectangular glass band; and 
 the second bonding layer defines a second hermetic seal between the second glass member and the rectangular glass band. 
 
     
     
       17. The portable electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the portable electronic device further comprises a structural frame within the enclosure; and 
 the touch-screen display assembly is coupled to the structural frame. 
 
     
     
       18. The portable electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein
 the structural frame comprises metal. 
 
     
     
       19. The portable electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein the rectangular glass band defines two pairs of parallel segments. 
     
     
       20. The portable electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein the rectangular glass band defines a textured region having a greater surface roughness than an adjacent region of the rectangular glass band.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/226,737, filed Aug. 2, 2016 and titled “Glass Enclosure,” now U.S. Pat. No. 10,021,798, which is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/447,507, filed Jul. 30, 2014 and titled “Glass Enclosure,” now U.S. Pat. No. 9,439,305, which is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/233,940, filed Sep. 15, 2011 and titled “Glass Enclosure,” now U.S. Pat. No. 8,824,140, which is a nonprovisional patent application of and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/384,211, filed Sep. 17, 2010 and titled “Glass Enclosure,” the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The described embodiments relate generally to portable computing devices. More particularly, the present embodiments relate to enclosures of portable computing devices and methods of assembling portable computing devices. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     In recent years, portable electronic devices, such as laptop computers, tablet computers, PDAs, media players, and cellular phones, have become compact and lightweight yet powerful. As manufacturers have been able to fabricate various operational components of these devices in smaller sizes, the devices themselves have become smaller. In most cases, despite having a more compact size, such components have increased power as well as operating speed. Thus, smaller devices may have much more functionality and power than larger devices of the past. 
     One design challenge associated with the portable electronic devices is in 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, and rivets. That is, the structures are positioned in a sandwich like manner in layers over the casing and thereafter fastened to the casing. Such an assembly process can be both time consuming and cumbersome. 
     Another design challenge is to provide an aesthetically pleasing enclosure that is functional for the intended purpose of the device. With more devices being capable of wireless communications, a radio transparent enclosure would be beneficial, as it would allow components, such as antennas, to be positioned inside the enclosure. Users also desire an enclosure that can withstand mishaps. Thus, a water-resistant and scratch-resistant enclosure would also be desirable. 
     Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide improved enclosures for portable computing devices, particularly enclosures that are functional and aesthetically pleasing yet durable. In addition, there is a need for improvements in the manner in which structures are mounted within the enclosures. For example, improvements that enable structures to be quickly and easily installed within the enclosure, and that help position and support the structures in the enclosure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIBED EMBODIMENTS 
     This paper describes various embodiments that relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for providing an enclosure suitable for a portable computing device. In particular, at least portions of the enclosure can be transparent or at least translucent and as such can be formed of materials such as glass. It will be understood that the enclosure can be formed of glass but does not need to have any transparent portion. In other words, the entire glass enclosure can be opaque. In other embodiments, the glass enclosure can be fully transparent or partially transparent or translucent. 
     According to one embodiment, a portable computing device capable of wireless communications is described. The portable computing device includes an integral and substantially seamless enclosure that surrounds and protects the internal operational components of the portable computing device. The enclosure includes a tube like main body that is extruded in its entirety with glass material that permits wireless communications therethrough. 
     According to another embodiment, a portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device includes a substantially seamless enclosure that surrounds and protects the internal operational components of the portable electronic device. The enclosure also includes at least one structural wall formed from a glass material. 
     According to yet another embodiment, a method for manufacturing a portable electronic device capable of wireless communications is disclosed. The portable electronic device surrounds and protects internal operation components. The method can be carried out by the following operations: providing an integral and substantially seamless enclosure extending along a longitudinal axis, sliding at least one operational component into an internal lumen defined by the enclosure, and securing the operational component to the lumen when the operational component is in its desired position within the lumen. The enclosure includes a structural wall defining a shape or form of the portable electronic device and is formed from a glass material that permits wireless communications therethrough. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention 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  is an exploded perspective diagram of an electronic device, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded side view of a touch screen display assembly in a glass enclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a LCD display integrated with a glass enclosure. 
         FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of end caps for a glass enclosure. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  show embodiments of end caps for a glass enclosure. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  show embodiments of end caps for a glass enclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a side cross-sectional view of a glass enclosure having a wall with a continuous uniform thickness all around. 
         FIG. 8  is a side cross-sectional view of a glass enclosure having a wall with a thicker wall portion at the edge or corner portions. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective diagram of a handheld computing device, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of a glass seamless enclosure, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a top plan view of a glass enclosure co-extruded with both an opaque material and a transparent material, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a two-layer clad glass enclosure. 
         FIG. 13  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of an electronic device having an enclosure formed from two glass members bonded together. 
         FIGS. 14A and 14B  are a top plan view and perspective view of a glass band, respectively. 
         FIG. 15  is a side cross-sectional view of a glass enclosure with two flat pieces of glass bonded to the glass band shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16A  is a perspective view of a ceramic disk formed around several metal rods for forming a water-resistant audio jack in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 16B  is a top plan view of the water-resistant audio jack shown in  FIG. 16A . 
         FIG. 17  is a method of manufacturing an electronic device with a glass enclosure, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a solid block of glass prior to being formed into a glass enclosure. 
         FIGS. 19 and 20  are side view showing chamfered edges and radius edges of an embodiment of a glass enclosure. 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a glass enclosure made by a deep drawn blow molding process. 
         FIG. 22  is a side cross-sectional view of a glass main body with ink printing or back printing to achieve opacity around a display. 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a glass main body having textured portions for use as light indicators. 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view of a method of sealing of the interior of a glass enclosure to achieve a thicker surface layer in compression in a chemical strengthening process in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 25  shows an embodiment of a main body with rails that are adhered to and a screw boss molded into the main body. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following descriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments to one preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the appended claims. It should be noted that issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,515,431 “Handheld Computing Device” filed Jul. 2, 2004 by Zadesky et. al., and issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,724,532 “Handheld Computing Device” filed Aug. 7, 2006 by Zadesky et. al., (CIP of &#39;431 patent) are both hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective diagram of an electronic device  50 , in accordance with one embodiment. The device  50  may be sized for one-handed operation and placement into small areas, such as a pocket. In other words, the device  50  can be a handheld pocket-sized electronic device. By way of example, the electronic device  50  may correspond to a computer, media device, telecommunication device, and the like. 
     The device  50  includes a housing  52  that encloses and supports internally various electrical components (including, for example, integrated circuit chips and other circuitry) to provide computing operations for the device  50 . The housing  52  can also define the shape or form of the device  50 . That is, the contour of the housing  52  may embody the outward physical appearance of the device  50 . It should be noted that, although the device  50  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  with 90 degree edges, it will be understood that the device  50  can have rounded or chamfered edges. 
     The housing  52  generally includes a main body  54  in the form of an integral tube. By integral, it is meant that the main body is a single complete unit. By being integrally formed, the main body is structurally stiffer than conventional housings, which typically include two parts that are fastened together. Furthermore, unlike conventional housings that have a seam between the two parts, the main body has a substantially seamless appearance. Moreover, the seamless housing prevents contamination and is more water resistant than conventional housings. 
     Because of the tube like configuration, the main body  54  can define a cavity  56  therethrough between two open ends. In some embodiments, the main body  54  has only one open end. The main body  54  can also include one or more windows  62 , which provide access to the electrical components, particularly the user interface elements, when they are assembled inside the cavity  56  of the main body  54 . 
     The main body  54  may be formed from a variety of materials or material combinations including, but not limited to, glass, metals, metal alloys, plastics, ceramics and the like. In a particular embodiment, the main body is formed of glass. 
     The material selected generally depends on many factors including, but not limited to, strength (tensile), density (lightweight), strength to weight ratio, Young&#39;s modulus, corrosion resistance, formability, finishing, recyclability, tooling costs, design flexibility, manufacturing costs, manufacturing throughput, reproducibility, and the like. The material selected may also depend on electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, radio wave transparency, combustibility, toxicity, and the like. The material selected may also depend on aesthetics, including color, surface finish, and weight. 
     In one particular embodiment, the main body or glass enclosure  54 , with or without internal rails  80 , is formed from a glass tube. The glass tube may be formed from an extrusion or extrusion-like process. Some of the reasons for using glass over other materials are that glass is strong, stiff, and radio transparent and therefore a suitable material for an enclosure of an electronic device capable of wireless communications. The radio transparency is especially important for wireless hand held devices that include antennas internal to the enclosure. Radio transparency allows the wireless signals to pass through the enclosure and, in some cases, even enhances these transmissions. It will be understood that, although a glass enclosure is capable of wireless communications, the embodiments described herein need not be capable of wireless communication. 
     A glass enclosure can also provide the portable electronic device with a unique, aesthetically pleasing appearance. To further provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance, the glass can also be coated with an oleophobic coating to reduce finger prints and smudging on the glass. The glass can also be coated with an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare. It will be understood that chemically strengthened glass can also be scratch resistant. The glass can also be color tinted in a wide variety of colors and can also have a variety of surface finishes including smooth and rough. For example, the glass can be polished to create a smooth (gloss) finish, or a blasting operation can performed to create a rough or textured (matte) finish. Portions  480  of the glass can also be textured so that the textured surface will disperse light and can be used as light indicator, as shown in  FIG. 23 . 
     As discussed in more detail below, the glass material can be formed so that the enclosure can have a seamless or substantially seamless appearance. The seamless enclosure, in addition to being aesthetically pleasing, can provide the added benefit of less contamination and moisture intrusion into the interior of the device. 
     It should be noted that glass has been used in a wide variety of products, including electronic devices, such as watches, and phones. In these cases, however, the glass materials have not been used as structural components. In most of these cases, the glass materials have been used as cosmetic accoutrements or solely as a screen for a display. It is believed that, up until now, glass materials have never been used as a structural element providing substantially all of the structural frames, walls and main body of a consumer electronic device, and more particularly an enclosure of a portable electronic device, such as a media player or mobile phone. 
     The glass enclosure also allows a display screen to be positioned underneath and protected by the glass enclosure. The glass material of the enclosure is capable of capacitive sensing so that a touch screen can be used through the glass enclosure. An embodiment of a touch screen display in a glass enclosure  54  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 , which is an exploded side view of the glass enclosure  54  with a liquid crystal display (LCD) touch screen assembly  120 . According to this embodiment, the glass enclosure  54  can have an opening  55  on its rear face opposite the face with the display. In this embodiment, the entire touch screen display assembly  120  can be inserted through the opening  55  and into the enclosure. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the touch screen display assembly  120  includes a double indium tin oxide (DITO)  124  layer sandwiched between two optically clear adhesive (OCA) layers  122 , and a LCD  126  over one of the OCA layers  122 . The top OCA layer  122  can adhere the DITO layer  124  to the LCD  126 . The bottom OCA layer  122  can adhere the touch screen display assembly  120  to the glass enclosure  54 . By adhering the touch screen display assembly  120  directly to the glass enclosure  54 , the cover glass of a conventional touch screen display assembly can be eliminated and the device can therefore be thinner as well as more aesthetically pleasing with a seamless enclosure. In this embodiment, the housing can be sealed with a door or a cap formed of glass or any other suitable material, including metal, plastic, and ceramic. 
     The glass enclosure around the display can be made opaque so the operational components of the device are not visible. One method of making the glass opaque is to use ink printing  128  in the areas where opacity is desired, as shown in  FIG. 2 . A mask can be used to mask off the display area. Alternatively, the opacity can be painted or screen printed. Other techniques for achieving opacity in certain areas, such as using a two-layer clad glass, can be used, as will be described in more detail below. 
     According to another embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , a LCD  130  can be integrated with the glass enclosure  54 . In this embodiment, a color filter panel  132  may be positioned between a thin film transistor (TFT) glass  134  and the glass enclosure  54  to form the LCD  130 . A conventional LCD has a color filter panel sandwiched between two TFT glass layers. In this embodiment, the glass enclosure  54  is used in place of one of the TFT glass layers. This embodiment therefore allows the device to be thinner, as one less piece of TFT glass is used. It will be understood, that although the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3  shows an opening in the enclosure  54 , this embodiment of the LCD can be employed in any of the embodiments of glass enclosures described herein. 
     In order to seal the main body  54 , the housing  52  can additionally include a pair of end caps or plugs  64 A and  64 B. Each of the end caps or plugs  64  is configured to cover one of the open ends of the main body  54 , thereby forming a fully enclosed housing system. In some embodiments, the end caps  64  can be formed of materials, such as plastic, metal, and ceramic. The end caps  64  also serve as protection for the edges of the glass main body  54 , as will be explained in more detail below. 
     As noted above, it is desirable for an enclosure to be durable. A piece of glass typically breaks due to an exposed edge. For glass materials, crisp, 90 degree edges and corners are prone to failure. Crisp edges can easily be chipped off and become an origin for crack propagation. Thus, it is important to treat the edges of the glass. The edges can be machined or buffed to make an edge chamfer  160  (as shown in  FIG. 19 ) or an edge radius  162  to round out the edges (as shown in  FIG. 20 ). In addition, the edges can be coated with a protective material. In some embodiments, the exposed ends of the glass enclosure can be covered by applying protective coatings, such as plated metal using metallization or PVD plate metal. Alternatively, polymer coatings can be applied over the exposed glass edges. The end caps  64  can also provide further protection for the glass edges. 
     Furthermore, the end caps  64  may be attached to the main body  54  using a variety of techniques, including but not limited to, fasteners, glues, snaps, and the like. In some cases, the end caps  64  may be positioned on the surface of the open ends. If so, they typically have the same shape as the outer periphery of the main body  54 . In order to eliminate gaps, cracks or breaks on the front and side surfaces, the end caps  64  may alternatively be placed inside the cavity  56  at each of the ends. In this arrangement, the outer periphery of the end cap  64  generally matches the inner periphery of the main body  54 . This implementation is typically preferred in order to form a housing  52  with a uniform and seamless appearance, i.e., no breaks when looking directly at the front, back or side of the housing. 
       FIGS. 4-6  illustrate additional embodiments of end caps  64  for the glass main body  54 . The end caps  64  can cover the open ends of the main body  54  in order to provide a fully contained housing  52 . Although the end caps  64  can be applied in a variety or ways, in the particular embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the end caps  64  have a shape that coincides with the internal shape of the main body  54  such that a portion of the end caps  64  may be inserted into the open ends. In  FIG. 5B , the end caps  64  do not fully cover the open ends, but do provide protection to the edge of the main body  54 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5B , a feature, such as a door, can be used to fully cover an open end of the main body  54 .  FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of an end cap  64  shown in the side view of  FIG. 6A . 
     The cross-sectional shape, including both the outer and inner shapes, of the main body  54  may be widely varied. They may be formed from simple or intricate shapes, whether rectilinear and/or curvilinear. For hand held devices, it is typically preferred to use a shape that better fits the hand (e.g., form fits). By way of example, a rectangle with curved edges or an oval or pill shaped cross section having curvature that more easily receives the hand may be used. It should be noted that the inner cross-sectional shape may be the same or different from the external cross sectional shape of the main body. For example, it may be desirable to have a pill shaped external and a rectangular shaped interior, etc. In addition, although not a requirement, the front surface of the main body  54  may be substantially planar for placement of the user interface of the device  50 . 
     In some embodiments, the main body  54  can have a wall having a continuous uniform thickness all around, as shown in  FIG. 7 . In other embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the wall of the main body  54  can be thicker at the edge or corner portions to provide strength in the areas where strength is more needed. 
     The seamless main body  54  can extend along a longitudinal axis, and can include an internal lumen that is sized and dimension for receipt of the internal components of the device  50  through an open end of the main body  54 . The device  50  can also include one or more electronic subassemblies. The subassemblies can each include a carrier  68  and one or more operational components  70  of the electronic device  50 . The carrier  68  can provide a structure for carrying the operational components  70  and supporting them when assembled inside the housing  52 . By way of example, the carrier  68  may be formed from plastics, metals, or a printed circuit board (PCB). The operational components  70 , on the other hand, perform operations associated with the computing device  50 . The operational components  70  may, for example, include components such as user interface elements  70 A and circuit elements  70 B. The user interface elements  70 A allow a user to interact with the computing device  50 . By way of example, the user interface elements  70 A may correspond to a display or an input device, such as a keypad, touch pad, touch screen, joystick, trackball, buttons, switches and the like. The circuit components  70 B, on the other hand, perform operations, such as computing operations for the computing device  50 . By way of example, the computing components  70 B may include a microprocessor, memory, hard drive, battery, I/O connectors, switches, power connectors, and the like. 
     During assembly, the subassemblies are positioned inside the cavity  56  of the main body  54 . In particular, the subassemblies can be inserted into an open end of the main body  54  mainly along a longitudinal axis  74  of the main body  54  to their desired position within the housing  52 . Once the subassemblies are positioned inside the cavity  56 , the end caps  64  of the housing  52  may be attached to the main body  54  in order to fully enclose the housing  52  around the subassemblies. In most cases, the user interface elements  70 A are positioned relative to the window opening  62  so that a user may utilize the user interface elements  70 A. By way of example, the window  62  may allow viewing access to a display or finger access to a touch pad or button. However, as discussed above, the glass main body  54  is capable of capacitive sensing, so a touch screen or a touch pad could be positioned underneath the glass enclosure without a window opening  62 . 
     In order to more efficiently assemble the electronic subassemblies  66  inside the cavity  56 , the device  50  may include an internal rail system  78  disposed inside the cavity  56  of the main body  54 . In most cases, the internal rail system  78  is integrally formed with the main body  54 , i.e., formed as a single part. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 25 , the rail system  78  can be adhered to the main body  54 . Features, such the internal rails  80  and screw bosses  79 , for mounting subassemblies can be adhered or molded into the main body  54 . 
     The internal rail system  78  is configured to receive the various subassemblies and guide them to their desired position within the main body  54  when the subassemblies are inserted through one of the open ends. The internal rail system  78  enables the subassemblies to be easily and quickly assembled within the device  50 . For example, the rail system  78  provides for insertion (or removal) with minimal effort and without tools. The internal rail system  78  also helps support and store the subassemblies in an organized manner within the device  50 . By way of example, the rail system  78  may store the subassemblies in a stacked parallel arrangement thereby using available space more efficiently. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the rail system  78  includes at least one set of opposed rails  80 , each of which extends longitudinally through the cavity  56  and each of which protrudes from the inner sides of the main body  54 . The rails  80  are configured to receive the subassemblies and cooperate to guide subassemblies to their desired position within the housing  52 . The internal rails  80  generally allow the subassemblies to be slid into the cavity  56  through an open end following the longitudinal axis  74  of the main body  54 . That is, the subassemblies are capable of sliding in and out of the housing  52  along one or more surfaces of the rails  80 . 
     The portion of the subassemblies that engages the rails  80  may be a surface of the subassemblies or alternatively one or more posts or mounts that extend outwardly from the subassemblies. Furthermore, the reference surfaces for the opposed rails  80  may be positioned in the same plane or they may be positioned in different planes. The configuration generally depends on the configuration of the subassemblies. By way of example, in some cases, the subassemblies may have a cross section that is stepped rather than completely planar. In cases such as these, the opposed rails  80  have references surfaces in different planes in order to coincide with the stepped cross section. Moreover, although typically continuous between the ends, each of the rails  80  may be segmented or include removed portions as for example at the ends for placement of the flush mounted end caps. 
     The width of the rails  80  may be widely varied. For example, they may be one integral piece that extends entirely from one side to the other, or they may be separate pieces with a gap located therebetween (as shown). The position and cross sectional dimensions and shapes of each of the rails may also be widely varied. The size and shape as well as the position of the rails  80  generally depend on the configuration of the subassemblies. The rails  80  may have the same shape and size or they may have different shape and size. In most cases, the size and shape is a balance between keeping them as small as possible (for weight and space requirements) while providing the required reference surface and ample support to the subassemblies. 
     To elaborate, the rails  80  define one or more channels  82  that receive the one or more subassemblies. In the illustrated embodiment, the rails  80  along with the main body  54  define a pair of channels, particularly an upper channel  82 A and a lower channel  82 B. The upper channel  82 A receives a first subassembly  66 A and the lower channel  82 B receives a second subassembly  66 B. It should be noted, however, that this is not a limitation and that additional sets of rails  80  may be used to produce additional channels  82 . It should also be noted that although only one subassembly is shown for each channel  82 , this is not a requirement and that more than one subassembly may be inserted into the same channel  82 . Moreover, it should be noted that the subassemblies are not limited to being fully contained with a single channel and that portions of a subassembly may be positioned in multiple channels. For example, the second subassembly  66 B, which is positioned in the lower channel  82 B, may include a protruding portion that is positioned through the rails  80  and into the upper channel  82 A. 
     The channels  82  generally include an entry point and a final point. The entry point represents the area of the channel  82  that initially receives the subassemblies  66 , i.e., the area proximate the ends of the main body  54 . The final point, on the other hand, represents the area of the channel  82  that prevents further sliding movement. The final point may, for example, set the final mount position of the subassemblies  66  within the housing  52 . The final point may, for example, correspond to an abutment stop. The abutment stop may be integral with the main body  54  or a separate component. By way of example, the abutment stop may correspond to one more posts that are mounted inside the cavity  56  on the inside surface of the main body  54  at a predetermined distance along the longitudinal axis  74 . 
     In order to prevent the subassemblies  66  from sliding once assembled, the interface between the subassemblies  66  and housing  52  may include a locking or securing mechanism. The locking mechanism generally consists of two parts, including a housing side locking feature and a subassembly side locking feature that are cooperatively positioned so that when the subassembly  66  is inserted into the housing  52 , the locking features engage with one another thus holding the subassembly  66  in its desired position within the housing  52 . In most cases, the locking features are configured to provide quick and easy assembly of the subassembly into the housing without the use of tools. The locking features may correspond to snaps, friction couplings, detents, flexures and/or the like. Alternatively or additionally, the subassemblies  66  may be attached to the main body  54  with fasteners or adhesives. In other embodiments, the operational components  70  can be directly secured to the main body  54 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the locking features of the subassemblies  66  each include a flexure tab  88  that engages a recess  90  located on an inner surface of the main body  54 . When the subassembly  66  is slid into the housing  52 , the tab  88  snaps into the recess  90  thereby securing the subassembly  66  at a predetermined position along the longitudinal axis  74 . That is, because the tabs  88  flex, they allow the subassemblies  66  to pass when pushed into the cavity  76 . When the subassemblies  66  pass over the recess  90 , the tabs  88  resume their natural position thereby trapping the subassemblies  66  in the channel  82  between the locking tab/recess  88 / 90  and the abutment stop at the end of the channel  82 . Using this arrangement, the subassemblies  66  are prevented from sliding out of the channels  82  on their own. In order to remove the subassembly  66 , a user simply lifts the tab  88  away from the recess  90  while pulling on the subassembly  66 . The recess  90  and abutment stop may cooperate to set the final position of the subassembly  66  in the cavity  56  of the main body  54 . For example, the recess and abutment stop may be configured to position the user interface elements  70 A directly behind the window opening  62  so that a user has full access to the user interface elements  70 A. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, the main body  54 , which may include the internal rails  80  (or other internal features), is formed via an extrusion or extrusion-like process. The process is capable of producing an integral tube without seams, crack, breaks, and the like. As is generally well known, extrusion of conventional materials, such as metals and plastics, is a shaping process where a continuous work piece (i.e., a solid block of glass  10  as shown in  FIG. 18 ) is produced by forcing molten or hot material through a shaped orifice. The extrusion process produces a length of a particular cross sectional shape. The cross-sectional shape of the continuous or length of the extruded work piece is controlled at least in part on the shaped orifice. As the shaped work piece exits the orifice, it is cooled and thereafter cut to a desired length. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a handheld computing device  100 , in accordance with one embodiment. By way of example, the computing device  100  may generally correspond to the device  50  shown and described in  FIG. 1 . The computing device  100  is capable of processing data and more particularly media, such as audio, video, images, and the like. By way of example, the computing device  100  may generally correspond to a music player, game player, video player, camera, cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), and the like. With regard to being handheld, the computing device  100  can be operated solely by the user&#39;s hand(s), i.e., no reference surface, such as a desktop, is needed. In some cases, the handheld device is sized for placement into a pocket of the user. By being pocket sized, the user does not have to directly carry the device and therefore the device can be taken almost anywhere the user travels (e.g., the user is not limited by carrying a large, bulky and heavy device). In the illustrated embodiment, the computing device  100  is a pocket-sized hand held music player that allows a user to store a large collection of music. By way of example, the music player may correspond to the iPod series MP3 players, including for example the iPod Mini™ and iPod Nano™ manufactured by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. 
     As shown, the computing device  100  includes a housing  102 , which can be formed of glass, which encloses and supports internally various electrical components (including integrated circuit chips and other circuitry) to provide computing operations for the device. The integrated circuit chips and other circuitry may include a microprocessor, hard drive, Read-Only Memory (ROM), Random-Access Memory (RAM), a battery, a circuit board, and various input/output (I/O) support circuitry. In addition to the above, the housing  102  may also define the shape or form of the device  100 . In this particular illustrated embodiment, the housing  102  extends longitudinally and has a pill like cross section. The size and shape of the housing  102  is preferably dimensioned to fit comfortably within a user&#39;s hand. In one particular embodiment, the housing is formed from a glass material and has a seamless or substantially seamless look along the length of the device  100 . That is, unlike conventional housings, the housing  102 , particularly the main body, does not include any breaks between the top and bottom ends, thereby making it stiffer and more aesthetically pleasing. 
     The computing device  100  can also include a display screen  104 . The display screen  104 , which is assembled within the housing  102  and which can be visible through the glass housing  102  or can be positioned in a window  106 , can be used to display a graphical user interface (GUI) as well as other information to the user (e.g., text, objects, graphics). The display screen  104  can also employ touch screen technology. As noted above, the glass material of the housing  102  allows the display screen  104  to be positioned underneath and protected by the glass housing  102 . The glass material of the housing  102  is also capable of capacitive sensing so that a touch screen or touch pad can be used through the glass housing  102 . 
     The computing device  100  can also include one or more input devices  108  configured to transfer data from the outside world into the computing device  100 . The input devices  108  may, for example, be used to perform tracking or scrolling to make selections or to issue commands in the computing device  100 . By way of example, the input devices  108  may correspond to keypads, joysticks, touch screens, touch pads, track balls, wheels, buttons, switches, and the like. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the computing device  100  includes a touch pad  108 A and one or more buttons  108 B, which are assembled within the housing  102  and which are accessible through an opening  110  in the housing  102 . 
     The touch pad  108 A generally consists of a touchable outer surface  111  for receiving a finger for manipulation on the touch pad  100 A. Although not shown, beneath the touchable outer surface  111  is a sensor arrangement. In an embodiment, the sensor arrangement may be positioned directly underneath the glass enclosure without the touchable outer surface  111 , as the glass is capable of capacitive sensing and can act as the touchable outer surface. The sensor arrangement includes a plurality of sensors that are configured to activate as the finger passes over them. In the simplest case, an electrical signal is produced each time the finger passes a sensor. The number of signals in a given time frame may indicate location, direction, speed and acceleration of the finger on the touch pad, i.e., the more signals, the more the user moved his or her finger. In most cases, the signals are monitored by an electronic interface that converts the number, combination and frequency of the signals into location, direction, and speed and acceleration information. This information may then be used by the device  100  to perform the desired control function on the display screen  104 . 
     The buttons  108 B are configured to provide one or more dedicated control functions for making selections or issuing commands associated with operating the device  100 . In most cases, the button functions are implemented via a mechanical clicking action although they may also be associated with touch sensing similar to the touch pad  108 A. The position of the buttons  108 B relative to the touch pad  108 A may be widely varied. Several touch pad/button arrangements, which may be used in the device  100 , are described in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/643,256, 10/188,182, 10/722,948, which are all hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. The computing device  100  can also include one or more switches  112 , including power switches, hold switches, and the like. Like the touch pad  108 A and buttons  108 B, the switches  112  can be accessible through a second opening  114  in the housing  102 . 
     The device  100  may also include one or more connectors  116  for transferring data and/or power to and from the device  100 . In the illustrated embodiment, the device  100  includes an audio jack  116 A, a data port  116 B and a power port  116 C. In some cases, the data port  116 B may serve as both a data and power port thus replacing a dedicated power port  116 C. A data port such as this is described in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/423,490, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     In order to provide user access to an input assembly, such as a touch pad or touch screen display, the glass main body  54  can include an access opening or window  62  having a shape that coincides with the shape of the input assembly. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the access openings  62  for the display and touch pad can be located in the front planar surface  280 . The access openings  62  may be formed from processes (individually or in combination), such as machining, drilling, cutting, punching, and the like. In embodiments having the access openings  62 , some of the operational components may be loaded into the enclosure through the access openings  62 . 
     As noted above, the access openings  62  may provide user access to components, such as displays, touch pads, and buttons. Another way to provide access to a display is through the transparent glass enclosure. However, it can be appreciated that it is generally not desirable for the entire enclosure to be transparent because the internal operational components are usually not aesthetically pleasing. Thus, as discussed above, opacity (or translucency) around components, such as displays, is desirable. One way to achieve opacity is by ink printing or back printing the glass, as described above.  FIG. 22  is a side cross-sectional view of a glass main body  54  with ink printing or back printing  450  to achieve opacity around a display. As shown in  FIG. 22 , the printing  450  does not go all the way around the main body  54  so as to leave an area or transparency  460  for the display. 
     Another way to achieve opacity around a display or other component is to form the main body  54  by co-extruding an opaque glass material  146  together with a transparent glass material  148 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . The dotted lines in  FIG. 11  illustrate the separation between the opaque material  146  and the transparent material  148 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the access opening or window  62  for the display is in the transparent material  148  portion. 
     Yet another way to achieve opacity around a component, such as a display, is to use a two-layer clad glass  140  for the main body  54 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . The clad glass  140  is formed by fusing together a layer of opaque glass material  142  and a layer of transparent glass material  144  at a high temperature. The two layers  142 ,  144  will cool as a single fused layer. If the opaque glass material  142  is positioned as the external layer and the transparent glass material  144  is positioned as the internal layer, then a portion of the opaque glass  142  can be etched, or otherwise removed, to expose a portion of the transparent glass  144  underneath to form a window for the display. 
     Another benefit of using a two-layer clad glass  140  is that the enclosure can be made stronger if the glass includes two layers having different coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE). If the external layer has a high CTE and the internal layer has a low CTE, then the two layers  142 ,  144  will fuse into one layer, with the external surface glass layer  142  being in a compressive state. The skilled artisan will appreciate that glass is stronger in compression and weaker in tension, and the different cooling rates of the two layers of glass will result in the external surface layer  142  being in compression and therefore stronger. 
     Typically, a sheet of glass can be made stronger by chemically strengthening it. For example, the glass can be placed in a potassium bath to cause the entire surface of the glass to be in a compressed state and therefore stronger. Thus, a glass enclosure, as described herein, having a single layer of glass material could be chemically treated to improve the strength of the glass. However, potassium baths are expensive, so using a two-layer clad glass with layers that have different CTEs can provide cost savings. Thus, by using a two-layer clad glass  140 , opacity in desired portions can be achieved and the glass enclosure can be made stronger without employing an expensive potassium bath. 
       FIG. 24  is a perspective view illustrating a method of sealing of the interior of a glass enclosure to achieve a thicker surface layer in compression in a chemical strengthening process, in accordance with an embodiment. According to this embodiment, a thicker layer of compression on the external surface of the glass main body  54  is achieved. This thicker layer of compression on the external surface is relative to the internal surface of the main body  54 . In the illustrated embodiment, the external surface of the glass main body  54  can be made even stronger by sealing the open ends of the main body  54  to close off the interior of the main body  54  with seals  650  and placing the sealed off glass main body  54  in a potassium bath to compress only the exterior of the tube and not the interior. By compressing only the external surface of the glass main body  54  so that the interior of the main body  54  remains not chemically strengthened, a thicker layer of compression on the external surface can be achieved. It will be understood that any suitable method for sealing off the interior may be employed to achieve a thicker layer of compression on the external surface. 
     Although not shown, the internal components may also include components for processing, transmitting and receiving wireless signals (e.g., transmitter, receiver, antenna, etc.) through the glass enclosure  54 . By way of example, the device may include components for supporting FM, RF, Bluetooth, 802.11, and the like. In one embodiment, the device can include functionality for supporting cellular or mobile phone usage. In this embodiment, the device includes processors, transmitters, receivers, and antennas for supporting RF, and more particularly GSM, DCS and/or PCS wireless communications in the range of about 850 to about 1900 MHz. The device may, for example, include one or more antennas tuned to operate over the GSM, PCS and/or DCS frequency bands. By way of example, monopole, dipole and tri band and quad band antennas may be used. In one example, a PCS+DCS dipole antenna is used. The antenna may protrude out of the enclosure or it may be fully enclosed by the enclosure. If the latter, the glass enclosure is radio transparent and therefore capable of transmitting and receiving RF signals therethrough. 
     As described above, the main body of the enclosure can be formed from a glass material that is radio-transparent. By utilizing a glass enclosure that is radio-transparent, an internal antenna may be used, which is typically more robust and durable than an external antenna. Furthermore, many advantages regarding the use of an internal antenna may be achieved. For example, a smaller and cheaper antenna may be used. Moreover, the antenna can be integrated with other components and placed at almost any location within the enclosure, which helps make a smaller and more compact device in addition to reducing the cost of manufacture. An example of wireless communication devices and mechanisms can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/423,490, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     In another embodiment shown in  FIG. 21 , the glass enclosure  400  can be formed using a deep drawing and a blow molding process. The deep drawing and blow molding processes result in a bucket or cup-like glass enclosure  400  with only one open end  410 , as shown in  FIG. 21 . Therefore, only one end cap  64  is necessary to close off or seal such housing. 
       FIG. 13  shows one embodiment of an enclosure  550  that includes a top member  552  with a bottom member  554  attached thereto. The top and bottom members  552  and  554  can be formed from the same or different materials. In one embodiment, the top and bottom members  552 ,  554  are both formed of glass. As should be appreciated, any combination can be used. Furthermore, this design can be made with or without using end caps. For example, the top and bottom members may include a closed end. According to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 , the two members  552 ,  554  allow components to be assembled onto the members  552 ,  554  before the two members  552 ,  554  are bonded together using, for example, an adhesive or laser frit bonding. For example, if both members  552 ,  554  are glass, the laser frit bonding may be employed to hermetically seal the two members  552 ,  554  together to form the enclosure  550 . Ink printing or back painting to achieve opacity in certain areas can also he performed prior to assembling the components and bonding the members  552 ,  554  together. After the two members  552 ,  554  are bonded together; the enclosure  550  can be polished so that the enclosure  550  has a more continuous and substantially seamless appearance. If no openings are provided in the enclosure  550 , then a laser frit bonded enclosure  550  can be fully hermetically sealed and therefore water resistant, as will be described in more detail below. 
       FIGS. 14A and 14B  are a top plan view and perspective view of a glass band  610  according to an embodiment. According to an embodiment, the glass band  610  is formed by an extrusion process and then cut to the desired height. In the illustrated embodiment shown in  FIG. 15 , to form the housing  600 , the glass band  610  is laser frit bonded to two flat pieces of glass: a cover glass  620  and a back glass  630  to form a hermetic seal. In another embodiment, the glass band  610  can be bonded to a cover glass  620  and a back plate (not shown). 
     Because the cover glass  620  and back glass  630  are laser frit bonded to the glass band  610 , the embodiment of the housing  600  shown in  FIG. 15  can be made fully hermetically sealed if the housing  600  is not provided with any access openings. As discussed above, the glass housing is capable of capacitive sensing, so components such as touch screens and touch pads can be positioned underneath the glass enclosure. Other controls, such as buttons for volume control or power, can also be positioned underneath the glass enclosure by placing capacitive sensors underneath the glass housing so that openings for buttons are unnecessary. Speakers and microphones may be provided with a GORETEX® membrane, which is waterproof. The device can send and receive signals using wireless signals, which can be transmitted through the radio transparent glass housing  600 . 
     If a method of transferring electric signals through an impermeable wall is desired for the embodiment shown in  FIG. 15 , a component such as the one shown in  FIG. 16  can be provided to maintain the water resistant characteristic of the device. The electrical signal transferring component  700  is made by forming a ceramic disk  710  around several metal rods  720 , as shown in  FIG. 16A . These metal rods are then shaved down or machined away to leave metal contacts  720  in the ceramic disk, thereby forming the water resistant audio jack, as shown in  FIG. 16B . It will be understood that the metal contacts  720  serve as electrical contacts. The component  700  can be used to receive signals from an audio jack and pass them into a water-resistant device, such as the one shown in  FIG. 15 , such that no water can get through this geometry, but the electric signals can. 
     According to another embodiment, a display screen can be built into the glass enclosure. LCDs are typically formed with a carrier. However, the glass enclosure can be used as the carrier for the display, thereby decreasing the bulk of the device. It will be understood that such a display screen can only be built into an enclosures formed by bonding together two members, such as the one illustrated in  FIG. 13 . 
     It should be noted that the invention is not limited to this particular form factor. For example, the cross-sectional shape, width, thickness, and height of the enclosure can all be adjusted according to the needs of the device. For example, in some cases, the width and thickness may be reduced while increasing the height. In addition, the openings in the enclosure can also be modified and may take on other shapes. For example, the touch pad circle may be decreased in diameter. In one example, the enclosure may have dimensions similar to the iPod Nano manufactured by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. 
     It should also be noted that completely different form factors may be used. For example, the device may correspond to smaller more compact devices, such as the Shuffle and remote controls manufactured by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. 
       FIG. 17  is a method of manufacturing an electronic device with a glass enclosure, in accordance with one embodiment. The glass enclosure may be embodied in various forms including those previously mentioned. The method begins at block  1700 , where a hollow glass tube is provided. It will be understood that the glass may be tinted a desired color or made opaque or translucent in certain areas. The tube can have any cross-sectional shape to create the desired shaped enclosure formed from glass. 
     Thereafter, in block  1710 , the glass enclosure can be machined to create holes and features into the enclosure, such as, for example, the openings in the front face of the enclosure. For example, a CNC machine may be used to perform some or all of the machining operations. Alternatively, the openings and features may be made with laser cutting, jet cutting, ultrasonic cutting, chemical etching, or any other suitable material removal operation. 
     Thereafter, in block  1720 , the edges of the glass tube are treated by creating chamfered or radius edges. In block  1730 , a surface finishing operation may be performed. In one embodiment, a polishing operation can be performed to create a smooth (gloss) finish. In another embodiment, a blasting operation can be performed to create a rough (matte) finish. 
     In some cases, the method may include an additional step  1740  of applying a protective coating or protective features to the outside of the glass enclosure. This may be performed before or after placement of the internal components. The coatings or features may, for example, be formed from deformable materials, such as silicon, foam and rubber materials. The coatings or protective features are typically positioned on the exterior surface to prevent cracking and protect the glass enclosure from undesirable forces as, for example, when the glass enclosure is dropped. The coatings and protective features can be placed almost anywhere on the glass enclosure, but in most cases are placed at least at the edges where the glass enclosure may be susceptible to cracking. In some cases, the end plates may even serve this function. 
     The method then proceeds to block  1750  where the enclosure is cleaned and inspected. The inspection may include micro photography as well as chemical composition analysis. When approved, the enclosure can be used to assemble the final product (e.g., internal components inserted inside) in block  1760 . In step  1770 , the end caps are placed on the open ends to seal the housing. 
     Although the invention has been primarily directed at a single enclosure (except for the end plates), it should be appreciated that, in some cases, the enclosure may be formed from multiple parts rather than a single integrally formed piece. Each of these parts may be extruded or otherwise formed. Furthermore, they may be formed from the same materials (glass/glass), same class of materials (first glass material/second glass material) or from different classes of materials (glass/metal, glass/plastic, plastic/metal or glass/plastic/metal). By way of example, it may be beneficial to combine materials to obtain advantages of each of the materials. Any combination may be used. Moreover, the multiple parts may include frame components with plates attached thereto, or a top member and a bottom member that are attached together. The attachment means may be widely varied and may include such things as fasteners, glues, epoxies, double sided tape, snaps, mechanical interlocks that are molded together, and the like. One example of connecting parts together can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,012,189 and U.S. application Ser. No. 10/928,780, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
     Moreover, although not shown, the various components of the enclosure may consist of multiple layers that are glued, press fit, molded or otherwise secured together. In one example, the enclosure consists of multiple layers that form a single laminate structure formed for example by gluing. By way of example, the entire or portions of the enclosure walls may be formed from layers of metals, ceramics and/or plastics. In the case of radio transparency, the layers may include glass and ceramics as, for example, forming a wall with a glass outer layer and a ceramic inner layer (or vice versa). 
     Generally speaking, when using an internal antenna, it is desirable to increase the radio transparency of the enclosure in order to effectively perform wireless transmissions therethrough. Thus, a substantial portion of the enclosure is formed form materials capable of providing radio-transparency (e.g., glass, ceramics, plastics, etc.). In most cases, the radio transparent portions of the enclosure constitute a significant area of the entire enclosure, for example, greater than 50%, more particularly greater than 75%, and even more particularly greater than 85%. The radio transparent portions may even be greater than 90%, and more particularly greater than 95%, and in some cases 100% of the enclosure. 
     The radio transparent portions may be embodied in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, the radio transparent portions constitute the entire enclosure. For example, all the walls of the enclosure are radio transparent (e.g., both the main body and the end caps). In another embodiment, the radio transparent portions constitute one or more walls of the housing, such as, for example, the top and/or bottom member of the enclosure shown in  FIG. 13 . In another embodiment, the radio transparent portions may constitute a part of one or more walls of the enclosure. That is, only a portion of a wall may be radio transparent. For example, the wall may be separated into two parts, or in the case of a laminated wall, some portion of the wall may include a non radio transparent layer. 
     It is generally believed that a greater area of radio transparency produces a stronger signal during transmissions and stronger reception when a signal is received. However, other factors may play a role as for example the location of the internal antenna. By way of example, in an enclosure with a decreased amount of radio transparency, the internal antenna may be positioned closer or proximate to the radio transparent portions of the enclosure. Furthermore, it should be noted that although non radio transparent portions such as metals typically degrade radio transmissions, in some cases, non radio transparent portions may be designed in such a manner as to enhance or help radio transmissions. 
     While this invention has been described in terms of several preferred embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents, which fall within the scope of this invention. For example, although some embodiments include an integrally formed internal rail system, in some cases the internal rail system may be a separate component that is attached within the main body or it may not even be included in some cases. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and apparatuses of the present invention. 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 may be used in some cases (e.g., injection molding, press forming). In addition, although the invention is directed primarily at portable electronic devices such as media players, and mobile phones, it should be appreciated that the technologies disclosed herein can also be applied to other electronic devices, such as remote controls, mice, keyboards, monitors, and accessories for such devices. 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 present invention.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20180628
Publication Date: 20190827
Grant Date: 20190827
Priority Date: 20100917
Inventors: PREST, CHRISTOPHER
SANFORD, EMERY A.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F1/1626", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0091", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0249", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1643", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49002", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0086", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M2201/38", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/3888", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/13439", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/13338", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0217", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1656", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0017", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49002", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/3888", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1656", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0017", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1643", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0086", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/13338", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0217", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49002", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0091", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M2201/38", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0249", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/13439", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1656", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 45817589