PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9648744-B2
Application Number: US-201213610701-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Ejectable component assemblies in electronic devices

Abstract:
Electronic devices are provided with ejectable component assemblies. Each ejectable component assembly may include a tray that can be loaded with one or more types of removable module, such as a mini-SIM card and a micro-SIM card, and inserted into the device. Each assembly may also include a cover coupled to a circuit board. The tray may be inserted through an opening in the electronic device and into a space between the cover and the circuit board. A portion of the space is contained within the pocket. A portion of the tray may be contained within the pocket when the tray is inserted into the device for holding the module at a functional insertion position within the device.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device comprising:
 a housing comprising an opening; 
 a tray inserted into the opening of the housing and configured to hold a removable electronic card; 
 a circuit board within the housing and comprising:
 a top surface; 
 a bottom surface; 
 a pocket recessed into the top surface toward the bottom surface and forming a flat middle surface that is open with respect to the top surface; 
 a set of electrical signal pins coupled to the middle surface; and 
 one or more openings in the pocket extending through the circuit board and configured to receive a portion of the set of signal pins; 
 
 a cover comprising a flat top portion extending across the pocket;
 wherein 
 
 the pocket and flat top portion together define a receiving assembly that is sized to receive and hold the tray and the removable electronic card held within the tray; and 
 the flat top portion is substantially parallel to the flat middle surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is directly coupled to the middle surface of the pocket. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the removable electronic card module is one of:
 a subscriber identity module card and a memory card. 
 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the removable electronic card is inserted into the tray that is inserted through the opening and into the receiving assembly defined between the pocket and the cover. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a detect mechanism directly coupled to the circuit board, wherein the detect mechanism is configured to detect when the removable electronic card module is inserted into the receiving assembly. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical pin extending from the pocket and configured to communicate with the removable electronic card module when the removable electronic card module is inserted into the receiving assembly. 
     
     
       7. A circuit board comprising:
 a top surface; 
 a bottom surface; and 
 a flat middle surface parallel to the top surface and comprising a right edge and a left edge, the middle surface positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface and defining a portion of a receiving volume defined between the top surface and the middle surface and defining a portion of a coupling element recess; 
 a cover coupled to the circuit board, the cover extending across the middle surface from the right edge to the left edge and comprising:
 a flat top portion that is parallel to the top surface and parallel to the middle surface; 
 a first leg extending from the flat top portion and coupled to a portion of the coupling element recess; and 
 a second leg extending from the flat top portion and coupled to the top surface; wherein 
 
 the circuit board is configured to receive, within the receiving volume, at least a lower portion of a tray configured to hold a subscriber identity module. 
 
     
     
       8. The circuit board of  claim 7 , wherein the middle surface is configured to be directly coupled to a first portion of the cover for holding at least a second portion of the subscriber identity module between a portion of the cover and the middle surface. 
     
     
       9. The circuit board of  claim 7 , wherein the top surface is configured to be directly coupled to a second portion of the cover. 
     
     
       10. The circuit board of  claim 7 , wherein the top surface is configured to be directly coupled to a detect mechanism for detecting when the tray is received within the receiving volume. 
     
     
       11. The circuit board of  claim 7 , wherein the middle surface is configured to be directly coupled to a signal pin for communicating with the subscriber identity module when the tray is received within the receiving volume. 
     
     
       12. A method comprising:
 forming an open face recess through a top surface of a circuit board for exposing a planar middle surface of the circuit board positioned between the top surface and a bottom surface of the circuit board, the open face recess defining at least a portion of a tray receiving volume and at least a portion of a coupling element volume; 
 coupling a set of electrical pins to the planar middle surface; 
 forming one or more openings in the middle surface extending through the circuit board and configured to receive a portion of the set of signal pins; and 
 coupling a cover to the circuit board over the open face and substantially parallel to the substantially planar middle surface such that the tray receiving volume has a rectangular cross-section, the tray receiving volume being defined between the planar top surface of the cover and the middle surface of the circuit board, wherein the tray receiving volume is sized to receive a tray configured to hold a removable electronic card module. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the coupling comprises directly coupling a first portion of the cover to the middle surface of the circuit board. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the directly coupling comprises soldering the first portion of the cover to the middle surface of the circuit board. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the coupling comprises directly coupling a second portion of the cover to the top surface of the circuit board. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising coupling a signal pin to the middle surface of the circuit board for communicating with the removable module when the removable module is received by the volume. 
     
     
       17. The circuit board of  claim 7 , wherein the cover further comprises a biasing mechanism configured to retain the tray within the coupling element recess.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of prior filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/675,328, filed Jul. 24, 2012, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This can relate to systems and methods for providing ejectable component assemblies in electronic devices and, more particularly, to systems and methods for embedding ejectable component assemblies in circuit boards of electronic devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     To enhance the use of electronic devices (e.g., cellular telephones), ejectable component assemblies may be used to couple removable modules (e.g., subscriber identity module (“SIM”) cards) to the device. Some known ejectable component assemblies for personal electronic devices include a tray for receiving a removable module, and a connector coupled to a top surface of a circuit board within the housing of the device for receiving the tray as it is inserted through an opening in the housing. The connector may retain the tray such that contacts of the module may be electrically coupled to the circuit board. However, stacking such a connector above the top surface of the circuit board may limit the reduction in size of such electronic devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Systems and methods for providing ejectable component assemblies in electronic devices are provided. 
     For example, in some embodiments, there is provided an electronic device that may include a housing having an opening. The electronic device may also include a circuit board having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a pocket through the top surface that may expose a middle surface of the circuit board between the top surface and the bottom surface. The electronic device may also include a cover coupled to the circuit board, and a removable module operable to be inserted through the opening and into a space between the cover and the circuit board, where a portion of the space is within the pocket. 
     In other embodiments, there is provided a circuit board that may include a top surface, a bottom surface, and a middle surface positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface. The circuit board is configured to receive at least a first portion of a subscriber identity module in a space between the top surface and the middle surface. 
     In other embodiments, there is provided a method that may include forming a recess through a top surface of a circuit board for exposing a middle surface of the circuit board positioned between the top surface and a bottom surface of the circuit board. The method may also include coupling a cover to the circuit board for defining a space between the cover and the middle surface that is configured to receive a removable module. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects of the invention, its nature, and various features will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters may refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device that includes an ejectable component assembly, with a removable module at least partially ejected therefrom, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the ejectable component assembly and a portion of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 , but with the removable module fully inserted therein, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an perspective view of the ejectable component assembly and electronic device of  FIGS. 1  and  2 , similar to  FIG. 2 , but exploded for clarity, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective cross-sectional view of the ejectable component assembly and electronic device of  FIGS. 1-3 , taken from line IV-IV of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the ejectable component assembly and electronic device of  FIGS. 1-4 , taken from line V-V of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the ejectable component assembly and electronic device of  FIGS. 1-5 , showing in more detail called-out area VI of  FIG. 5 , in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another ejectable component assembly and a portion of another electronic device, similar to  FIG. 2 , in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the ejectable component assembly and electronic device of  FIG. 7 , taken from line VIII-VIII of  FIG. 7 , in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; and 
         FIG. 9  a flowchart of an illustrative process for embedding an assembly in a circuit board, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Systems and methods for providing ejectable component assemblies in electronic devices are provided and described with reference to  FIGS. 1-9 . 
     An ejectable component assembly may include any suitable assembly operative to insert into an electronic device and eject from an electronic device a removable module, such as a subscriber identity module (“SIM”) card. The assembly can include a module tray that may hold the module and be insertable into and ejectable from the device. The tray may include a cosmetic outer portion that may be configured to match the exterior of the electronic device through which the tray may be inserted, and a holder inner portion that may be configured to retain the module and load it into the electronic device. 
     Electrical contacts of the removable module may be inserted into the device in order to functionally align with and electrically couple to electrical contacts extending from a circuit board of the device. In some embodiments, one or more detents may be provided through the circuit board or other components of the device such that when the removable module physically interacts with the contacts, at least a portion of the contacts may be forced downwardly through the detents. These detents may prevent the contacts from being damaged during interaction with the module and/or during removal of the module from the device. 
     The circuit board may be pocketed with a recess formed in through a top surface of the circuit board such that a middle surface of the circuit board may be exposed by the recess. Portions of the ejectable component assembly (e.g., a cover and/or electrical pins or spring contacts for coupling to the removable module) may be directly soldered to portions of the circuit board exposed by the recess. When the removable module is inserted into the device, at least a portion of the removable module may be positioned within the recess or pocket of the circuit board (e.g., below a top surface of the circuit board). This may allow the device to have a reduced geometry (e.g., to have a reduced height). 
     The following discussion describes various embodiments of an electronic device that includes at least one ejectable component assembly. The term “electronic device” can include, but is not limited to, music players, video players, still image players, game players, other media players, music recorders, video recorders, cameras, other media recorders, radios, medical equipment, calculators, cellular telephones, other wireless communication devices, personal digital assistants, remote controls, pagers, laptop computers, desktop computers, tablets, servers, printers, or combinations thereof. In some cases, the electronic device may perform a single function (e.g., an electronic device dedicated to conducting telephone calls) and in other cases, the electronic device may perform several functions (e.g., an electronic device that plays music, displays video, stores pictures, and receives and transmits telephone calls). 
     The electronic devices may generally be any portable, mobile, hand-held, or miniature electronic device so as to allow a user, for example, to listen to music, play games, record videos, take pictures, and/or conduct communications operations (e.g., telephone calls) wherever he or she travels. Some miniature electronic devices may have a form factor that is smaller than that of hand-held electronic devices, such as an iPod™ available by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Illustrative miniature electronic devices can be integrated into various objects that include, but are not limited to, watches, rings, necklaces, belts, accessories for belts, headsets, accessories for shoes, virtual reality devices, other wearable electronics, accessories for sporting equipment, accessories for fitness equipment, key chains, or any combination thereof. Alternatively, electronic devices that incorporate an ejectable component assembly may not be portable at all. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device  10  that may include an ejectable component assembly in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. Electronic device  10  can include at least one user input component assembly  12  that may allow a user to interface with device  10 , at least one device output component assembly  14  that may provide the user with information generated by device  10 , at least one ejectable component assembly  16  that may allow a user to insert and eject a removable module into and from device  10 , and a protective housing  18  that may at least partially enclose the one or more input, output, and ejectable component assemblies of device  10 . 
     Component assemblies  12  and  14  can include any type of component assembly operative to receive and/or transmit digital and/or analog data (e.g., audio data, video data, other types of data, or a combination thereof). Input component assembly  12  may include any suitable input mechanism, such as, for example, sliding switches, buttons, keypads, track balls, joysticks, dials, scroll wheels, touch screen displays, electronics for accepting audio and/or visual information, antennas, infrared ports, or combinations thereof. Output component assembly  14  may include any suitable output component forms, such as, for example, audio speakers, headphones, audio line-outs, visual displays, antennas, infrared ports, rumblers, vibrators, or combinations thereof. It should be noted that one or more input component assemblies  12  and one or more output component assemblies  14  may sometimes be referred to collectively herein as an input/output (“I/O”) interface. It should also be noted that an input component assembly  12  and an output component assembly  14  may sometimes be a single I/O component, such as a touch screen that may receive input information through a user&#39;s touch of a display screen and that may also provide visual information to a user via that same display screen. 
     Ejectable component assembly  16  may include any suitable assembly operative to insert and eject a removable module  30  from device  10 . Removable module  30  may include, for example, any suitable type of integrated circuit card (“ICC”), chip card, memory card, flash memory card, microprocessor card, smart card, such as a subscriber identity module (“SIM”) card (e.g., a mini-SIM card or a micro-SIM card), or combinations thereof. Removable module  30  may have a top surface  31  and a bottom surface  33 . In some embodiments, removable module  30  may contain electronic circuitry (e.g., on bottom surface  33 ) from which electronic device  10  may read data and/or to which device  10  may write data. 
     Ejectable component assembly  16  can include a module tray  20  that may be insertable into (e.g., in the direction of arrow I) and ejectable from (e.g., in the direction of arrow O) housing  18  through housing opening  19 . It is to be noted that although opening  19  is shown in  FIG. 1  to be provided through a wall that may be defining a width of housing  18  (e.g., along axis X), opening  19  for ejectable component assembly  16  may be provided through any wall portion of housing  18 . For example, in some embodiments, opening  19  for ejectable component assembly  16  may be provided through a wall that may be defining a length of housing  18  (e.g., along axis Y), which may be longer than the wall defining the width of housing  18  (e.g., the wall of housing  18  along which input component assembly  12  is provided as shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
     Tray  20  of ejectable component assembly  16  may include a body portion  22  extending between a first tray end  21  and a second tray end  23 . Tray  20  may include an outer surface  21   x  at first end  21  to provide a cosmetic surface for device  10  when tray  20  is inserted into device  10 . In some embodiments, outer surface  21   x  of tray  20  may be fashioned to be aesthetically pleasing to a user of device  10 , for example, by matching the color and/or material of surface  21   x  with that of the exterior surface of housing  18  about opening  19 . First tray end  21 , second tray end  23 , and/or body portion  22  may define the periphery and/or walls of a module holder  24 . Module holder  24  may be operative to receive and hold removable module  30  with respect to tray  20  (e.g., when module  30  is inserted into holder  24  in the direction of arrow H). More particularly, module holder  24  may be operative to receive and hold removable module  30  with respect to an opening  26  that may be provided through a portion of tray  20 . 
     Tray  20  may be formed as a single unitary component from any suitable material, such as plastic, glass, metal, ceramic materials, epoxies, composite materials, or the like. Moreover, tray  20  may be a single unitary component made by any suitable process, such as casting, molding, forming, forging, machining, extruding, and the like. Alternatively, tray  20  may be formed by joining at least two distinct tray portions. Holder  24  can be sized to substantially match that of removable module  30 , such that module  30  can be snap-fitted or otherwise releasably retained in holder  24 , and such that a portion of module  30  may be exposed through opening  26 . For example, opening  26  may allow electrical circuitry of electronic device  10  to access data from one or more electrical contacts of module  30  (e.g., electrical contacts on bottom surface  33  of module  30 ) through opening  26  when tray  20  is partially or fully inserted into device  10 . 
     In some embodiments, tray  20  may also include one or more detents  29   d  that may be placed on the top, bottom, or various sides of tray  20 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , each side of tray  20  may include at least one detent  29   d  between end  21  and end  23 . As described below, detents  29   d  may interact with biasing mechanisms of assembly  16  (e.g., biasing mechanisms  84 ) within device  10  in order to retain tray  20  in a functional position with device  10 . The depth of each detent  29   d  may be selected based on any suitable criteria, including, for example, such that detent  29   d  may receive a portion of a biasing mechanism for securing tray  20  in a functional position. 
     As mentioned, tray  20  may be configured to receive and retain any suitable module for insertion into device  10 , such as an integrated circuit card, chip card, memory card, flash memory card, microprocessor card, smart card, such as a SIM card, and the like. As shown, module  30  may include a top surface  31  and a bottom surface  33 . One or more electrical contacts may be exposed along bottom surface  33 . Therefore, when bottom surface  33  of module  30  is placed within holder  24  of tray  20 , at least a portion of some or all of the electrical contacts along bottom surface  33  may be exposed through opening  26  of tray  20  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). 
       FIGS. 2-6  are views of a portion of device  10  including ejectable component assembly  16  once tray  20  has been inserted into electronic device  10 . As shown, ejectable component assembly  16  may include a cage or connector or cover  40  positioned at least partially above a circuit board  50  and operative to receive and/or restrain tray  20  at least partially above circuit board  50  (e.g., at least partially within a space defined between cover  40  and board  50 ). For example, as shown, cover  40  can include a top portion  42  that may be positioned above a top surface  52  of circuit board  50 . In some embodiments, top portion  42  may be substantially parallel to top surface  52  of circuit board  50 . In some embodiments, cover  40  may include one or more legs  44  extending downwardly from top portion  42 , and a free end of each one of legs  44  may be coupled to circuit board  50  for holding top portion  42  above circuit board  50  (e.g., for defining a space between circuit board  50  and top portion  42  for receiving tray  20 ). For example, as shown, cover  40  may include four legs  44  (e.g., legs  44   a ,  44   b ,  44   c , and  44   d ). Module  30  may be placed in tray  20  and tray  20  may be slid through housing opening  19  in the direction of arrow I and into the space defined between top cover portion  42 , legs  44 , and circuit board  50 . 
     Circuit board  50  may be any type of circuit board, such as a printed circuit board (“PCB”), logic board, printed wiring board, etched wiring board, or any other suitable board that may be used to mechanically support and electronically connect various electrical components (e.g., component assemblies  12 ,  14 , and  16 ). Circuit board  50  can be constructed using one or more layers of a non-conductive substrate and signal conducting pathways. The signal conducting pathways may exist in one or more layers or in each layer of the non-conductive substrate. The signal conducting layers, sometimes referred to as traces, members, or leads, may be a metal conductive material (e.g., copper or gold) or an optical conductive material (e.g., fiber optics). When one or more portions of component assemblies  12 ,  14 , and  16  are electrically coupled to board  50  (e.g., via coupling circuitries), board  50  may communicate with the one or more component assemblies of device  10  using the signal conducting layers. For example, an electronic component  90  may be coupled to top surface  52  of circuit board  100 . Component  90  may be a portion or all of one of component assemblies  12  and  14 . 
     Cover  40  may be formed of any suitable material, such as plastic, glass, metal, ceramic materials, epoxies, composite materials, and the like. For example, cover  40  may be formed from sheet metal that may be directly coupled to board  50 . Cover  40  may be coupled to any suitable component of assembly  16  and/or device  10 , such as circuit board  50 , using any suitable approach, including, for example, soldering, surface mount technology, welding, adhesives, and the like. For example, as shown, cover  40  may be coupled to circuit board  50  or any other suitable component of device  10  by one or more coupling elements  49  (e.g., screws, solder, adhesives, mechanical tabs or latches, etc.). For example, in some embodiments, four coupling elements  49   a ,  49   b ,  49   c , and  49   d  may couple each one of respective legs  44   a ,  44   b ,  44   c , and  44   d  to circuit board  50 . Each leg  44  may be coupled to circuit board  50  (e.g., at one or more respective circuit board couplings  59  (e.g., copper ground pads)) via a coupling element  49 . For example, each circuit board coupling  59  may be electrically coupled to a ground plane of circuit board  50  for grounding cover  40 . As shown, each one of legs  44   a ,  44   b ,  44   c , and  44   d  may be coupled to a respective circuit board coupling  59   a ,  59   b ,  59   c , and  59   d  via a respective coupling element  49   a ,  49   b ,  49   c , and  49   d.    
     Assembly  16  may also include one or more electrical signal pins  58  that may electrically couple with one or more conductive portions of module  30  (e.g., module electrical contacts on bottom  33  of module  30 ). For example, as shown, one or more electrical pins  58  may each be electrically coupled to circuit board  50  (e.g., at one or more respective circuit board couplings  56  (e.g., copper signal pads via solder)). Each electrical pin  58  may be directly soldered or otherwise connected to a circuit board coupling  56 . Each circuit board coupling  56  may be electrically coupled to an appropriate electrical via of circuit board  50 . Each electrical pin  58  may also include a free end  57  that may be configured to extend up away from circuit board  50  and into tray opening  26  for electrically coupling with a respective electrical contact of module  30 . Electrical contacts of module  30  can include any suitable integrated circuit (“IC”), such as a microchip, silicon chip, or computer chip that may include semiconductor and/or passive components in the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material (e.g., on bottom surface  33  of module  30 ). The electrical contact between module contacts of module  30  and electrical pins  58  may allow device  10  to read data from and/or write data into module  30 . The data read from and/or written into module  30  may take any electrical form, and the communication between module  30  and device  10  may be synchronous or asynchronous. 
     Electrical pins  58  may have any suitable shape. For example, each electrical pin  58  may be biased to deflect upward away from circuit board  50  and through opening  26  in tray  20 . Electrical pins  58  may include springs or wedges operative to contact module  30 . For example, electrical pins  58  may be coupled to any suitable location or portion of circuit board  50  to form a cantilever spring. Each electrical pin  58  may be formed from any suitable conductive material (e.g., a metallic conductor, semiconductor, or superconductor) to communicate with electrical contacts of module  30 . In some embodiments, as shown, at least a first portion of each electrical pin  58  may be coupled to circuit board  50  at a circuit board coupling  56 , such that electrical data may be communicated between module  30  and board  50  through pin  58 . Circuit board  50  may then communicate this data to various other components of device  10  (e.g., component assemblies  12  and/or  14 ). 
     Although each pin  58  may at least initially extend away from circuit board  50  up towards tray  20 , a second free end of each pin  58  may eventually deflect downwards back towards circuit board  50 . For example, as shown, a free end  57  of each electrical pin  58  may be free and may be biased to deflect downwards towards circuit board  50 . In some embodiments, circuit board  50  may include one or more detents  55  (e.g., one or more gaps, holes, or at least recesses), each of which may allow a free end  57  of a pin  58  to pass therethrough or at least deflect therein. The additional deflection afforded to pins  58  by detents  55  of circuit board  50  may prevent pins  58  from being permanently deformed as a result of a strong downward force exerted by tray  20  and/or module  30  on pins  58  toward board  50 . When tray  20  is being removed from device  10 , free pin ends  57  may deflect upwards away from board  50 , but, due to the additional downward deflection afforded to pins  58  by detents  55 , pins  58  may be biased such that free pin ends  57  may not deflect upwards so much so that they can be snagged by tray  20  upon its removal. 
     Assembly  16  may also include tray detect mechanism  70 , which may include one or more detect springs (e.g., detect springs  72  and  74 ) that may make contact with tray  20  and/or each other when tray  20  is fully inserted into device  10 . Each one of the detect springs of tray detect mechanism  70  may be electrically coupled to circuit board  50  (e.g., at one or more respective circuit board couplings  59  (e.g., copper signal pads via solder)). Each one of detect springs  72  and  74  may be directly soldered or otherwise connected to a respective circuit board coupling  59  (e.g., via one or more coupling elements  49  (e.g., screws, solder, adhesives, mechanical tabs, etc.)). For example, in some embodiments, coupling elements  49   e  and  49   f  may couple a one of respective detect springs  72  and  74  to a respective one of circuit board couplings  59   e  and  59   f . Each one of circuit board couplings  59   e  and  59   f  may be electrically coupled to an appropriate electrical via of circuit board  50  for detecting tray  20  when it is fully inserted into device  10 . 
     In some embodiments, a recess or pocket  53  may be formed into circuit board  50  (e.g., by removing a portion of top surface  52 ). For example, pocket  53  may expose a middle surface  54  of circuit board  50 . Middle surface  54  may be a surface formed by a portion of a non-conductive substrate of circuit board  50  that may run below top surface  52  of circuit board  50 . The depth D of pocket  53  (e.g., the distance between middle surface  54  and top surface  52  along an edge of pocket  53  (e.g., along the Z axis) may be any suitable depth, such as in the range of 0.1 millimeters to 0.9 millimeters, or in the range of 0.3 millimeters to 0.7 millimeters, or in the range of 0.45 millimeters to 0.55 millimeters, or may be about 0.50 millimeters (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). In other embodiments, the depth D of pocket  53  may be much larger or much smaller. Pocket  53  may help to reduce the geometry of device  10  (e.g., the height of device  10  along the Z axis) by forming at least a portion of the space between cover  40  and circuit board  50  within which tray  20  may be inserted for functionally aligning module  30  with pins  58 . It is to be understood that middle surface  54  need not be exactly in the middle of circuit board  50  between top surface  52  and a bottom surface  51  of circuit board  50 . Instead, middle surface  54  may generally be formed at any depth D between top surface  52  and bottom surface  51  of circuit board  50 . Moreover, pocket  53  may be exposed through or end at a side surface  50   s  of board  50  (e.g., a side surface  50   s  that may extend from bottom surface  51  to top surface  52  in an X-Z plane). At pocket  53 , side surface  50   s  may only extend from bottom surface  51  to middle surface  54 . Pocket  53  may be formed in any suitable manner. For example, pocket  53  can be machined away after one or more of the FR-4 (e.g., a glass epoxy) and/or copper layers of board  50  are formed. Alternatively or additionally, pocket  53  may be formed by fixturing a die in a space where pocket  53  is to be formed, such that during the layering of various layers of board  50  (e.g., copper and/or FR-4 layers, the die will leave behind the pocketed geometry of pocket  53 . Top surface  52  of board  50  may have a black soldermask adhered over it for cosmetic purposes. Middle surface  53  may be an exposed FR-4 or glass-reinforced epoxy laminate layer of board  50 , which may have no soldermask. 
     As shown, one or more of circuit board couplings  59  may be formed in or on top surface  52  of circuit board  50 . Additionally or alternatively, one or more of circuit board couplings  59  may be formed in or on middle surface  54  of circuit board  50  within pocket  53 . For example, as shown, circuit board couplings  59   a  and  59   b  may be formed in or on middle surface  54  of circuit board  50  within pocket  53 , while circuit board couplings  59   c ,  59   d ,  59   e , and  59   f  may be formed in or on top surface  52  of circuit board  50  (e.g., about the periphery of pocket  53 ). Therefore, legs  44   a  and  44   b  of cover  40  may be longer than legs  44   c  and  44   d  such that top cover portion  42  may remain substantially parallel with the exposed surfaces of circuit board  50  that face top cover portion  42  (e.g., top surface  52  and/or middle surface  54 ). Moreover, one or more of circuit board couplings  56  may be formed in or on top surface  52  of circuit board  50 . Additionally or alternatively, one or more of circuit board couplings  56  may be formed in or on middle surface  54  of circuit board  50  within pocket  53 . For example, as shown, circuit board couplings  56  may be formed in or on middle surface  54  of circuit board  50 . Moreover, one or more of detents  55  may be formed through top surface  52  of circuit board  50 . Additionally or alternatively, one or more of detents  55  may be formed through middle surface  54  of circuit board  50  within pocket  53 . For example, as shown, detents  55  may be formed through middle surface  54  of circuit board  50 . One or more of couplings  56  and/or one or more of couplings  59  may be formed by layering in between FR-4 layers, but couplings  56  may be tied to signal lines of board  50  and couplings  59  may be tied to ground. 
     Cover  40  and circuit board  50  may collectively define a receiving assembly for receiving, guiding, and holding tray  20  and/or module  30  within device  10 . While top cover portion  42  of cover  40  may limit the movement of tray  20  in the “Z” direction (e.g., along the Z axis) above and away from circuit board  50 , signal springs  58  and circuit board  50  may limit the movement of tray  20  in the “Z” direction (e.g., along the Z axis) below and toward cover portion  42 , and cover legs  49  and biasing mechanisms  84  may limit the movement of tray  20  in at least the “X” directions (e.g., along the X axis). Assembly  70  may limit the movement of tray  20  in the “Y” direction (e.g., along the Y axis). 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a height H between top surface  52  of circuit board  50  and top cover portion  42  of assembly  16  of  FIGS. 1-6  may be less than a height H′ between top surface  52  of circuit board  50  and top cover portion  42  of assembly  16 ′ of  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Assembly  16 ′ may be similar to assembly  16 , except that assembly  16 ′ may not include a pocket  53  in circuit board  50 , such that tray  20  is positioned between top cover portion  42  and top surface  52  of circuit board  50 . Whereas, in assembly  16 , at least a portion of tray  20  may be positioned within pocket  53  between middle surface  54  of circuit board  50  and top cover portion  42  (i.e., in assembly  16 , at least a portion of tray  20  may be positioned within pocket  53  between middle surface  54  of circuit board  50  and top surface  52  of circuit board  50 ). For example, in some embodiments, height H may be about 1.00 millimeters, while height H′ may be about 1.55 millimeters. Moreover, in some embodiments, assembly  16 ′ may also include a connector  80  that may be coupled to top surface  52  of circuit board  50 , while connector  80  may support electrical pins  58  and couplings  56  and  59 , such that they are not directly coupled to circuit board  50 . 
     As described above, cover  40  may be operative to engage and retain tray  20 . For example, cover  40  can include one or more biasing mechanisms  84  that may be constructed to complement a respective tray detent  29   d . Biasing mechanisms  84  may assist in guiding tray  20  into assembly  16  (e.g., towards its functional position with module  30  above pins  58 ) and to retain the periphery of tray  20  (e.g., the side walls of tray  20 ). Each detent  29   d  of tray  20  may be operative to receive a portion of a biasing mechanism  84  for holding tray  20  within assembly  16  at its functional position. In some embodiments, as shown, a biasing mechanism  84  may be fixed at a first end and may include a free end portion biased towards tray  20 . For example, each detent  29   d  may be operative to receive a free end portion of a biasing mechanism  84 , such that when tray  20  is fully inserted in device  10  at its functional position, a free end portion of a biasing mechanism  84  may engage a respective detent  29   d . In some embodiments, the first end of each biasing mechanism  84  may be coupled to and extend from a cover leg  49  (e.g., leg  49   a ). In some embodiments, cover  40  may include leg  49   a  and a biasing mechanism  84 , with top surface  42  only existing above biasing mechanism  84  for preventing movement of tray  20  away from circuit board  50  in the Z-axis at biasing mechanism  84 , but cover  40  may not include a top surface  42  extending across the entirety of tray  20  along the X-axis. Each biasing mechanism  84  may be coupled to, fixed on, abut, or otherwise contact any other suitable component within device  10  besides cover  40  in other embodiments, such as circuit board  50 , for example. Each biasing mechanism  84  may be of any suitable spring type, such as a tension spring, extension spring, compression spring, torsional spring, wire spring, coil spring, flat spring, cantilever spring, helical spring, hairspring, balance spring, leaf spring, or any combination thereof, as to effectively assist in retaining tray  20 . Each biasing mechanism  84  may be formed of any suitable material, such as stainless steel and the like. 
     It is to be understood that, although ejectable component assembly  16  has been described as including a cover  40  and a tray  20  for loading a removable module  30  at least partially within the space defined between cover  40  and circuit board  50 , tray  20  may be unnecessary and any removable module to be inserted into device  10  may be shaped with the features of tray  20 . For example, a removable module can be provided that may be substantially the same as removable module  30 , but that also can include a first end shaped similarly to end  21  of tray  20 , a second end shaped similarly to end  23  of tray  20 , and detents shaped similarly to detents  29   d  of tray  20 , such that the module may be inserted into and removed from device  10  in the same way that tray  20  may be inserted into and removed from device  10 . 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart of an illustrative process  900  for embedding an assembly in a circuit board. At step  902  of process  900 , a recess may be formed through a top surface of a circuit board for exposing a middle surface of the circuit board positioned between the top surface and a bottom surface of the circuit board. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 2-6 , recess  53  may be formed through top surface  52  of circuit board  50  for exposing middle surface  51  of circuit board  50  positioned between top surface  52  and bottom surface  51  of circuit board  50 . Then, at step  904  of process  900 , a cover may be coupled to the circuit board for defining a space between the cover and the middle surface that is configured to receive a removable module. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 2-6 , cover  40  may be coupled to circuit board  50  for defining a space between top surface  42  of cover  40  and middle surface  54  of circuit board  50  that is operable to receive tray  20  and/or module  30 . In some embodiments, the coupling of step  904  may include directly coupling (e.g., soldering) a first portion of the cover to the middle surface of the circuit board. In some additional embodiments, the coupling of step  904  may also include directly coupling (e.g., soldering) a second portion of the cover to the top surface of the circuit board. Process  900  may also include coupling a signal pin (e.g., pin  58 ) to the middle surface of the circuit board (e.g., middle surface  54  of circuit board  50 ) for communicating with the removable module when the removable module is received by the space. 
     It is understood that the steps shown in process  900  of  FIG. 9  are merely illustrative and that existing steps may be modified or omitted, additional steps may be added, and the order of certain steps may be altered. 
     While there have been described systems and methods for providing ejectable assemblies in electronic devices, it is to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. It is also to be understood that various directional and orientational terms such as “up and “down,” “front” and “back,” “top” and “bottom” and “side,” “length” and “width” and “thickness,” “X-” and “Y-” and “Z-,” and the like are used herein only for convenience, and that no fixed or absolute directional or orientational limitations are intended by the use of these words. For example, the devices of this invention can have any desired orientation. If reoriented, different directional or orientational terms may need to be used in their description, but that will not alter their fundamental nature as within the scope and spirit of this invention. Moreover, an electronic device constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention may be of any suitable three-dimensional shape, including, but not limited to, a sphere, cone, octahedron, or combination thereof, rather than a hexahedron, as illustrated by  FIGS. 1-8 . 
     Therefore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration rather than of limitation.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20120911
Publication Date: 20170509
Grant Date: 20170509
Priority Date: 20120724
Inventors: WITTENBERG MICHAEL B.
CHRISTOPHY MIGUEL C.
MALEK SHAYAN
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H05K1/183", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06K13/0825", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/117", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/09063", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/4913", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M2250/14", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1658", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K3/30", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/09163", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1658", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/117", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/09036", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/18", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49124", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K7/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/09036", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/09063", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/4913", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49124", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K3/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06K13/0825", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49124", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/09163", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/183", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K3/30", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/4913", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06K13/0825", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/09036", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/09063", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K3/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/18", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K7/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1658", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M2250/14", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/117", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 49994698