PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8456586-B2
Application Number: US-48320609-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Portable computer display structures

Abstract:
An electronic device housing may have upper and lower portions that are attached with a hinge. At least one portion of the housing may have a rear planar surface and peripheral sidewalls having edges. A display module may be mounted in the housing. The display module may have glass layers such as a color filter glass layer and a thin-film transistor substrate. The color filter glass layer may serve as the outermost glass layer in the display module. The edges of the display module may be aligned with the edges of the peripheral housing sidewalls to create the appearance of a borderless display for the electronic device. The display module may be provided with an opening that allows a camera or other electronic components to receive light. Traces may be provided on the underside of the thin-film transistor substrate to serve as signal paths for the electrical components.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device, comprising:
 a plurality of glass layers in a display including a color filter glass layer and a thin-film transistor substrate layer formed under the color filter glass layer, wherein the display comprises a layer of light-guide structures, wherein the color filter glass layer and the thin-film transistor substrate layer extend laterally past peripheral portions of the layer of the light-guide structures to form an overhanging portion; 
 an electronic component selected from the group consisting of: a proximity sensor, a digital data port, an audio jack, and an analog port, wherein the electronic component is mounted on one of the plurality of glass layers; and 
 traces formed on an upper surface of the thin-film transistor substrate that convey signals for the electronic component, wherein the display comprises an opaque coating having an opaque border and wherein the opaque border blocks peripheral portions of the display from view. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the thin-film transistor substrate has an array of thin-film transistors that define an active area for the display and wherein the traces are formed outside of the active area. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device defined in  claim 2  wherein the electronic component is mounted to the color filter glass layer. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device defined in  claim 2  wherein the electronic component is mounted to the thin-film transistor substrate layer. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the electronic component comprises the camera. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the electronic component comprises the audio jack. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the electronic component comprises the analog port. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the electronic component comprises the digital data port. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the electronic component comprises the proximity sensor. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the one of the plurality of glass layers on which the electronic component is mounted comprises a hole. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the one of the plurality of glass layers on which the electronic component is mounted comprises a hole and wherein the hole is disposed over the electronic component that is mounted on the one of the plurality of glass layers on which the electronic component is mounted. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the one of the plurality of glass layers on which the electronic component is mounted comprises a hole, wherein the hole is disposed over the electronic component that is mounted on the one of the plurality of glass layers on which the electronic component is mounted, and wherein portions of the electronic component extend into the hole. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the one of the plurality of glass layers on which the electronic component is mounted comprises a hole, wherein the hole is disposed over the electronic component that is mounted on the one of the plurality of glass layers on which the electronic component is mounted, and wherein portions of the electronic component extend into the hole and extend entirely through the one of the plurality of glass layers on which the electronic component is mounted. 
     
     
       14. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the electronic component comprises the camera, wherein the one of the plurality of glass layers on which the electronic component is mounted comprises a hole through which the camera receives light. 
     
     
       15. An electronic device, comprising:
 a plurality of layers in a display including a color filter layer and a thin-film transistor substrate layer, wherein the display comprises a layer of light-guide structures, wherein the color filter glass layer and the thin-film transistor substrate layer extend laterally past peripheral portions of the layer of the light-guide structures to form an overhanging portion; 
 an electronic component selected from the group consisting of: a camera, a proximity sensor, a digital data port, an audio jack, and an analog port, wherein the electronic component is mounted on one of the plurality of layers in the display; and 
 signal traces formed on a first surface of the thin-film transistor substrate that convey signals for the electronic component, wherein the display comprises an opaque coating having an opaque border and wherein the opaque border blocks inactive peripheral portions of the display from view. 
 
     
     
       16. The electronic device defined in  claim 15  further comprising:
 thin-film transistors formed on a second surface of the thin-film transistor substrate layer. 
 
     
     
       17. The electronic device defined in  claim 15  wherein the thin-film transistor substrate layer is formed under the color filter layer. 
     
     
       18. The electronic device defined in  claim 15  further comprising:
 thin-film transistors formed on a second surface of the thin-film transistor substrate layer, wherein the first surface of the thin-film transistor substrate layer comprises a lower surface of the thin-film transistor substrate layer and 
 wherein the second surface of the thin-film transistor substrate layer comprises an upper surface of the thin-film transistor substrate layer. 
 
     
     
       19. The electronic device defined in  claim 15  wherein the thin-film transistor substrate has an array of thin-film transistors that define an active area for the display and wherein the traces are formed outside of the active area. 
     
     
       20. The electronic device defined in  claim 19  wherein the electronic component is mounted to the color filter layer. 
     
     
       21. The electronic device defined in  claim 19  wherein the electronic component is mounted to the thin-film transistor substrate layer. 
     
     
       22. The electronic device defined in  claim 15  wherein the one of the plurality of layers on which the electronic component is mounted comprises a hole and wherein the hole is disposed over the electronic component that is mounted on the one of the plurality of layers on which the electronic component is mounted. 
     
     
       23. The electronic device defined in  claim 15  wherein the one of the plurality of layers on which the electronic component is mounted comprises a hole, wherein the hole is disposed over the electronic component that is mounted on the one of the plurality of layers on which the electronic component is mounted, and wherein portions of the electronic component extend into the hole and extend entirely through the one of the plurality of layers on which the electronic component is mounted. 
     
     
       24. The electronic device defined in  claim 15  wherein the electronic component comprises the camera, wherein the one of the plurality of layers on which the electronic component is mounted comprises a hole through which the camera receives light. 
     
     
       25. An electronic device, comprising:
 a plurality of layers in a display including a color filter layer and a thin-film transistor substrate layer, wherein the display comprises a layer of light-guide structures, wherein the color filter layer and the thin-film transistor substrate layer extend laterally past peripheral portions of the layer of light-guide structures to form an overhanging portion; 
 an electronic component selected from the group consisting of: a camera, a microphone, a sensor, and an antenna, wherein the electronic component is mounted on one of the plurality of layers in the display; and 
 signal traces formed on a first surface of the thin-film transistor substrate that convey signals for the electronic component, wherein the display comprises an opaque coating having an opaque border and wherein the opaque border blocks inactive peripheral portions of the display from view. 
 
     
     
       26. The electronic device defined in  claim 15  further comprising a flex circuit cable that connects the electronic component to the conductive traces on the first surface of the thin-film transistor substrate layer.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates to electronic devices and, more particularly, to display structures for electronic devices such as portable computers. 
     Portable computers typically have upper and lower housing portions that are connected by a hinge. The lower housing portion contains components such as printed circuit boards, disk drives, a keyboard, and a battery. The upper housing portion contains a display. When the computer is in an open configuration, the upper housing portion is vertical and the display is visible to the user of the portable computer. When the computer is closed, the upper housing lies flat against the lower housing. This protects the display and keyboard and allows the portable computer to be transported. 
     Portable computer displays typically contain fragile structures such as layers of glass and can be challenging to mount properly within the upper housing. If care is not taken, the display and the surrounding portions of the upper housing will be bulky and unsightly. At the same time, the elimination of certain structures in the display may result in display that is overly fragile. This could lead to damage to the display during normal use. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved display structures in electronic devices such as portable computers. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device such as a portable computer may have a housing. The housing may have upper and lower portions that are connected by a hinge. A display module may be mounted in a portion of the housing such as the upper housing portion. 
     The upper housing may have a planar rear surface and portions that extend upwards to form peripheral housing sidewalls. The housing sidewalls may extend around the display module to form a border or the display module may be mounted so that the outermost edges of the display module are aligned with the outermost edges of the peripheral housing sidewalls. 
     The display module may have a color filter glass layer and a thin-film transistor substrate layer. A layer of light-guide structures may be mounted under the thin-film transistor substrate layer. The peripheral edges of the color glass layer and the thin-film transistor substrate layer may extend laterally past the peripheral edges of the light guide structures to form an overhanging structure. The overhanging structure may rest on the peripheral housing edges without any intervening display module chassis members. 
     An opening may be provided through the color filter and thin-film transistor substrate layers. A camera may receive light through the opening. Other electronic components may also be mounted within the housing of the electronic device such as ambient light sensors, proximity sensors, other sensors, indicator lights such a light-emitting diodes, input-output ports, buttons, microphones and speakers, antennas, etc. These electrical components can be electrically connected to traces formed on the underside of the thin-film transistor substrate layer or traces formed on other glass surfaces. 
     To block unsightly portions of the device from view around the periphery of the display module, the display module may be provided with an opaque border. The opaque border may be formed from a peripheral ring of black ink. The black ink may be formed on a glass layer such as the color filter glass. A polymer film that includes a black ink may also be used in forming the opaque border. 
     If desired, the display module may contain no cover glass layers. In this type of configuration, the outermost glass layer in the display module may be formed from the color filter glass. The polymer film layer and other layers such as polarizing layers may be formed on top of the color filter glass layer. 
     The display module may contain integrated circuits such as display driver circuits. A display driver circuit may be mounted on the thin-film transistor substrate. A support structure such as a glass member with a recess to accommodate the drive circuit may be placed over the driver circuit. The support structure may support coating layers such as the polymer film layer with the opaque border. 
     Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative portable computer with display structures in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of a conventional liquid crystal display (LCD) module in a portable computer display housing. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of an edge portion of a conventional LCD module. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative display module in an electronic device such as a portable computer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative display module with a thin plastic coating that has a border region that is coated with an opaque ink in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrative display module for an electronic device such as a portable computer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrative display module that has extending portions that rest on housing walls in an electronic device such as a portable computer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative electronic device showing how components such as a camera module and antenna may be formed through an opening in display module layers such as a color filter glass layer and thin-film transistor substrate layer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device showing how a camera module or other electronic component may be mounted to the underside of a layer of glass in a display module and how the component may operate through a clear window region in the glass in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a portion of a display module in which an electrical component has been mounted to an upper surface of a thin-film transistor substrate layer and in which conductive traces have been formed that route signals on the upper surface of the thin-film transistor substrate outside of the active area of the display module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a portion of a display module in which an electrical component has been mounted to an upper surface of a color filter glass layer and in which conductive traces have been formed that route signals outside of the active area of the display module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a display module showing how edge portions of layers of glass such as a cover glass layer, color filter, and thin-film transistor substrate layer may rest on a housing wall ledge above a metal chassis portion in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a display module in which an elastomeric trim structure has been used to cover the uppermost surfaces of a housing wall in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An illustrative electronic device such as a portable computer in which display structures may be provided is shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , portable computer  10  may have housing  12 . Housing  12 , which is sometimes referred to as a case, may be formed from one or more individual structures. For example, housing  12  may have a main structural support member that is formed from a solid block of machined aluminum or other suitable metal. One or more additional structures may be connected to the housing  12 . These structures may include, for example, internal frame members, external coverings such as sheets of metal, etc. Housing  12  and its associated components may, in general, be formed from any suitable materials such as such as plastic, ceramics, metal, glass, etc. An advantage of forming housing  12  at least partly from metal is that metal is durable and attractive in appearance. Metals such as aluminum may be anodized to form an insulating oxide coating. 
     Housing  12  may have an upper portion  26  and a lower portion  28 . Lower portion  28  may be referred to as the base or main unit of computer  10  and may contain components such as a hard disk drive, battery, and main logic board. Upper portion  26 , which is sometimes referred to as a cover, lid, or display housing, may rotate relative to lower portion  28  about rotational axis  16 . Portion  18  of computer  10  may contain a hinge and associated clutch structures and is sometimes referred to as a clutch barrel. 
     Lower housing portion  28  may have a slot such as slot  22  through which optical disks may be loaded into an optical disk drive. Lower housing portion may also have a touchpad such as touchpad  24  and may have keys  20 . If desired, additional components may be mounted to upper and lower housing portions  26  and  28 . For example, upper and lower housing portions  26  and  28  may have ports to which cables can be connected (e.g., universal serial bus ports, an Ethernet port, a Firewire port, audio jacks, card slots, etc.). Buttons and other controls may also be mounted to housing  12 . Speaker openings such as speaker openings  30  may be formed in lower housing portion  28  by creating an array of small openings (perforations) in the surface of housing  12 . 
     A display such as display  14  may be mounted within upper housing portion  26 . Display  14  may be, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, or plasma display (as examples). Display  14  may contain a number of layers of material. These layers may include, for example, layers of optically transparent glass. Layers of plastic and optical adhesive may also be incorporated into display  14 . In a liquid crystal display, layers of polarizer, light diffusing elements and light guides for backlight structures, a liquid crystal layer, and a thin-film transistor array that drives the image pixels in the display may be incorporated into the display. The collection of material layers and associated support structures that are used to form display  14  are sometimes referred to as a module. Display  14  may therefore sometimes be referred to as a display module. 
     Computer  10  may have input-output components such as touch pad  24 . Touch pad  24  may include a touch sensitive surface that allows a user of computer  10  to control computer  10  using touch-based commands (gestures). A portion of touchpad  24  may be depressed by the user when the user desires to “click” on a displayed item on screen  14 . 
     A cross-sectional side view of a conventional liquid crystal display (LCD) display module is shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , display module  32  may have display structures  46  such as an upper polarizer layer, a color filter, a thin-film transistor glass layer, a lower polarizer, and a layer of light-guide structures such as light guides and diffuser layers. Display module  32  may also have a plastic chassis member such as plastic chassis member  44  and a metal chassis member such as metal chassis member  42  into which the layers of glass and other display module structures may be mounted. Cover glass  36  may be placed on top of structures  46 . 
     Metal chassis member  42  may have a tab with a hole through which screw  40  passes. Screw  40  may be screwed into a threaded hole in housing  34 . In the arrangement of  FIG. 2 , housing  34  is formed of aluminum. The presence of the extending tab portion of chassis  42  allows module  32  to be firmly secured in housing  34 , but adds undesirable width to the perimeter of display module  32 . 
     Elastomeric gasket  38  is used to form a cushioned interface between cover glass layer  36  and housing  34 . This helps to prevent damage to cover glass layer  36 . Cover glass  36  is formed from clear glass and helps to protect layers  46  of LCD module  32  from damage, but adds undesirable thickness. 
     Another cross-sectional view of a conventional liquid crystal display module is shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , display module  32  may have polarizers such as upper polarizer layer  50  and lower polarizer  62 . Light guide structure  64  may provide backlight for module  32 . The light from structure  64  passes through the display pixels of module  32  and exits display module  32  in direction  31 . 
     Color filter glass layer  52 , liquid crystal layer  54 , and thin-film transistor (TFT) glass layer  58  are interposed between polarizer layers  50  and  62 . 
     The polarization of individual pixels of liquid crystal material in liquid crystal layer  54  interacts with the polarizing effects of layers  50  and  62  to determine which display pixels block light and which pixels allow light to pass. Color filter glass layer  52  contains an array of colored filters that provide display  32  with the ability to represent different colors. The polarization of liquid crystal material in liquid crystal layer  54  is controlled electrically by thin-film transistor array  56 . Thin-film transistors in array  56  are formed on the upper surface of thin-film transistor (TFT) glass layer  58 . 
     Thin-film transistors  56  are controlled by drivers contained in driver circuit  60 . Color filter layer  52  is horizontally (laterally) recessed with respect to TFT layer  58  to form a ledge on which driver circuit  60  is mounted. In a typical display module, there may be a number of driver chips such as circuit  60  that are mounted around the periphery of the display. Conductive traces on the upper surface of TFT layer  58  interconnect driver circuit  60  with thin-film transistors  56 . 
     In conventional arrangements of the type shown in  FIG. 3 , black ink  48  is placed on the underside of cover glass  36  around the periphery of the display. This creates an opaque region that blocks inactive peripheral portions of display module  32  from view. Black ink  48  can also hide mounting structures such as screw  40  of  FIG. 2  from view. Display glass  36  may help provide structural support to the display housing of the portable computer in which display module  32  is mounted, but the presence of glass  36  can add a non-negligible amount of extra thickness and weight to a display. 
     Display  14  in device  10  ( FIG. 1 ) may be implemented using a display module with structural enhancements. A display module with illustrative enhancements is shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional side view of a portion of upper housing  26  of device  10  ( FIG. 1 ) in which display module  82  has been mounted. Upper housing  26  may, for example, be formed from machined aluminum. Elastomeric gasket  66  may be used to provide a soft interface between potentially fragile glass layers in module  82  and housing  26 . 
     Display module  82  may produce an image using any suitable display technology (e.g., light-emitting diodes such as an array of organic light-emitting diodes, liquid crystal display pixels, plasma-based pixels, etc.). An arrangement in which display module  82  is based on liquid crystal display (LCD) technology is sometimes described herein as an example. The use of LCD structures in display module  82  is, however, merely illustrative. Display module  82  may, in general, be formed from any suitable type of display structures. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , display module  82  may have an upper polarizer layer  68  and a lower polarizer layer  78 . Light guide structure layer  80  may provide backlight for module  82 . Light-guide structure layer  80  may include light guide structures and diffuser layers. These structures may help route light from a light-emitting diode light source or other backlight source through the layers of module  82  in direction  75 . 
     Thin-film transistor substrate glass layer  76  may contain thin-film transistors in array  73 . Color filter glass layer  70  may contain an array of optical filters of different colors to provide display module  82  with the ability to display color images. Color filter layer  70  may be formed from glass into which dye of different colors has been impregnated, from a glass layer coated with a pattern of colored dye, from a glass or plastic layer that is covered with a pattern of thin colored filter structures (e.g., filters formed from polymer or glass containing dye), or any other suitable color filter structures. Liquid crystal layer  72  may be controlled by the electric fields produced by the thin-film transistors of array  73 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the layer of cover glass that is present in conventional display modules is not present in display module  82  and device  10 . Rather, color filter layer  70  serves as the uppermost glass layer in module  82  and device  10 . To ensure that module  82  is sufficiently robust, color filter layer  70  may be thickened or may be stiffened using support structures on the underside of display module  82 . Color filter layer  70  may be formed of a durable clear layer (e.g., a strong glass or plastic) that resists damage from contact. Anti-scratch coatings may also be provided on the surface of color filter layer  70  (e.g., as part of polarizer layer  68  or above polarizer layer  68 ). 
     To hide the peripheral portions of display module  82  that lie along the outer edges of display housing  26  from view, an opaque material such as black ink layer  74  may be incorporated around the periphery of display module  82  to form a black border. Opaque layer  74  may be formed on the underside of color filter layer  70  or on the upper surface of thin-film transistor glass layer  76  (as examples). 
     With the arrangement of  FIG. 4 , color filter layer  70  and thin-film transistor layer  76  have been extended outwardly (in the leftward direction in the orientation of  FIG. 4 ) so as to form an overhanging portion  84  that is supported by the matching ledge in housing  26 . If desired, only color filter layer  70  may be extended in this way (e.g., so that the overhanging portion of layer  70  rests on the ledge formed by housing  26 ). In this type of arrangement, the thin-film transistor layer may extend only as far as light-guide structures  80  of  FIG. 4 . If desired, portions of gasket  66  may be interposed between module  82  and housing  26  in region  84 . 
     If desired, black ink layer  74  may be formed above color filter glass layer  70 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , for example, a layer of material such as layer  86  may be provided on the upper surface of color filter glass layer  70 . Layer  86  may, for example, be a layer of plastic such as polyester. Ink layer  88  may be printed on the underside of plastic layer  86  in region  90 . When plastic layer  86  is attached to the surface of display module  82 , the ink in region  90  will block unsightly internal components in housing  26  and module  82  from view by a user. Layers in module  82  may be interconnected using fastening mechanisms and adhesive (e.g., optically clear adhesive such as epoxy). 
     Integrated circuits such as display driver circuits may be incorporated into display module  82  to drive display signals into thin-film transistor array  73  ( FIG. 4 ). If desired, circuits such as these or other circuits may be mounted on the upper surface of thin-film transistor substrate layer  76  under a support member. This type of configuration is shown in  FIG. 6 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , circuit  600  may be mounted under support  92 . Support  92  may have a recessed portion that accommodates the thickness of circuit  600 . Circuit  600  may be a display driver circuit or other suitable electrical component for device  10 . 
     With arrangements of the type shown in  FIG. 6 , support  92  has about the same thickness as color filter glass layer  70  and straddles circuit  600 . This allows support structure  92  to support layer  86  in peripheral region  96 . Support  92  may be formed from glass, plastic, metal, or other suitable materials. If desired, color filter glass layer  70  may be provided with a recess on its underside that accommodates circuit  600 . In this situation, a separate support structure need not be used. 
     Conductive traces, thin-film transistors, and other circuitry  94  may be formed on the upper surface of thin-film transistor substrate  76 . When circuit  600  is mounted on substrate  76 , the traces on the surface of substrate layer  76  may convey signals (e.g., display driver signals) to the thin-film transistors on layer  76 . Other signals may also be routed using these traces. For example, the traces on layer  76  may be used to route radio-frequency signals, touch sensor signals, signals associated with status indicator lights or other output devices, proximity sensor signals, etc. 
     If desired, housing  26  may be formed directly under the edge of the display module layers. This type of arrangement is shown in  FIG. 7 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , display module  82  may have an upper layer formed from color filter  70 . Color filter layer  70  may be formed from glass or other suitable material and includes a pattern of colored pixel-sized filters. A band of opaque material such as ink  88  may be formed on the underside of the periphery of color filter layer  70 . Ink  88  may hide inactive portions of display module  82  and other structures such as housing  26  from view through the upper surface of display module. 
     An elastomeric member such as gasket  66  may be used to provide an interface between hosing  26  and the underside of thin-film transistor substrate layer  76 . Gasket  66  may help prevent glass structures and other structures in display module  70  from being scratched by housing  26  (e.g., when housing  26  is formed from aluminum or other hard materials). If desired, gasket  66  may be omitted or gaskets of other shapes may be used. 
     Light-guide structure  80  may be located under thin-film transistor layer  76 . Structure  80  may contain light guides for directing light through the display, diffuser layers for diffusing light, etc. Polarizer layers may be incorporated into display module  82  above cover glass layer  70  and below thin-film transistor layer  76 . 
     With arrangements of the type shown in  FIG. 7 , housing  26  may have housing walls that form a substantially planar rear portion with a substantially planar exterior rear surface. In the example of  FIG. 7 , this is shown by planar rear portion  26 B. Portions of the housing sidewalls may also protrude vertically upward (in the orientation of  FIG. 7 ). For example, at least some of housing wall portions  26 A around the periphery of housing  26  may extend vertically upward in direction  99 . At the uppermost portion of peripheral housing walls  26 A, housing wall  26 A may be provided with a flat horizontal upper surface  101  that supports the overhanging lower surface of color filter layer  70  and/or thin-film transistor substrate layer  76  (with optional intervening gasket  66 ). Because the outermost edge of display module  82  (i.e., the leftmost edges of layers  70  and  76 ) are laterally (horizontally) aligned with the outermost edge portions of housing walls  26 A along vertical axis  98 , the display module may have the appearance of being borderless. This configuration also allows the active region of the display to be extended close to the outer edge of housing  26 . 
     Electronic device may contain electrical components such as integrated circuits, antennas, and cameras, etc. Traces may be formed on the underside of thin-film transistor layer  76  (i.e., the opposite surface of layer  76  from the surface on which the thin-film transistors are formed). These traces may be used to help route signals to and from the electrical components. Openings may also be formed in the layers of display module  82  to accommodate components. For example, a vertical hole may be formed through color filter layer  82  and thin-film transistor layer  76 . This hole may be used to receive light for a camera or to accommodate other electronic components such as a status light indicator (i.e., a status light-emitting diode), a speaker, a microphone, a button, or other suitable electrical component. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of a display module that incorporates features such as these. As shown in  FIG. 8 , display module  82  may have color filter glass  70  and thin-film transistor glass layer  76 . Upper polarizer  68  may be located above color filter glass  70 . Lower polarizer  78  may be located below thin-film transistor glass layer  76 . A cylindrical hole or other suitable opening such as opening  100  may be formed through color filter glass  70  and thin-film transistor glass layer  76 . This hole may be used to accommodate electrical component  102 . Electronic component  102  may be a camera, a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, an antenna, a microphone, a speaker, a digital data port, an audio jack or other analog port, a button, a touch sensor, etc. Arrangements in which component  102  is a camera are sometimes described herein as an example. 
     Opaque layer  88  may be formed by printing black ink or other suitable opaque material on a plastic layer such as layer  86  that is attached to the upper surface of polarizer  68  and color filter  70  (as an example). Opaque layer  88  may be formed in a border around the periphery of display module  82  (i.e., along the outermost edge of housing  26 ). To prevent interference with camera  102  (or other electronic component  102 ), it may be desirable omit black ink in the region above opening  100 . 
     As with the example of  FIG. 7 , the illustrative display module configuration of  FIG. 8  is mounted in housing  26  so that the outermost peripheral edges of housing  26  (e.g., edge  103 ) and the outermost edges of filter layer  70  and thin-film transistor layer  76  (e.g., edges  105 ) are laterally aligned (i.e., outermost edges  103  of housing  26  and the outermost edges  105  of display module  82  are horizontally aligned with the same vertical axis—axis  98 —in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 8 ). As with the  FIG. 7  arrangement, this edge alignment can be maintained around the entire periphery of display module  82 , providing device  10  with a borderless appearance (i.e., with no visible border-shaped housing structures surrounding the display). If desired, other configurations such as the configuration of  FIG. 5  may be used (e.g., configurations in which housing  26  has vertical sidewalls within which module  82  is mounted to create a visible housing border that surrounds module  82  on all four of its outer edges). 
     Camera  102  contains a digital sensor that generates image data. A flex circuit cable or other data path may be used to covey camera data from camera  102  to storage and processing circuitry in device  10 . The upper surface of thin-film transistor layer  76  contains an array of thin-film transistors and associated conductive traces. As shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 8 , the lower surface of thin-film transistor layer  76  may be provided with traces  104 . Flex circuit cable  106  may have contact pads that are electrically connected to camera  102  at end  108  and contact pads that are electrically connected to traces  104  at end  110 . Using this type of arrangement, camera data can be conveyed using traces  104 . This may help reduce or eliminate the need for additional cables in device  10 . 
     Camera  102  is merely an example of an electrical component for which signals may be routed through underside traces on thin-film transistor substrate  76 . In general, any electrical component that produces or receives electrical signals in device  10  can be electrically connected to traces  104 . The use of traces  104  on layer  76  can reduce the number of cables used to route signals between these electrical components and processing circuitry in device  10  (i.e., circuits on a main logic board and other storage and processing circuitry in device  10 ). 
     As shown by dashed line  112 , an antenna may be formed from some of the traces  104  on layer  76 . Antenna  112  may be, for example, an antenna for a local wireless network or a cellular telephone. 
     Traces  104  may be formed from any suitable conductor. In typical configurations for display module  82 , backlighting is provided by structures  80 . It is therefore typically desirable to form traces  104  from transparent conductive materials such as indium-tin oxide. This is, however, merely one illustrative material that may be used for traces  104 . In general, any suitable conductor may be used. Moreover, it is not necessary to form traces  104  on the underside of thin-film transistor substrate layer  76 . Traces  104  may be formed on other glass layers in module  82 . For example, signal paths for camera signals, antenna signals, or other electrical component signals can be formed from indium-tin oxide patterns on the surface of a cover glass layer, a color filter layer (e.g., layer  70 ), a glass layer in structures  80 , or other suitable display module layers. 
     As shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 9 , ink border  88  may be provided with opening  87  and polarizer  68  may be provided with opening  681 . This allows light to pass to and from the lower layers of display module  82 , without forming holes in thin-film transistor substrate layer  76  and color filter glass layer  70 . Even though no hole is formed in layers  70  and  76  (in the  FIG. 9  example), light for electronic component  102  may still pass through openings  87  and  681  and may pass through the clear portions of layers  70  and  76  under openings  87  and  681 . Electronic component  102  may be a camera, sensor, or other suitable electronic component. Component  102  may receive light along path  89 . Component  102  may be mounted to the underside of thin-film-transistor layer or, as indicated by dashed line  1020 , may be mounted to the underside of color filter glass layer  70 . 
     The perspective view of  FIG. 10  shows how an electrical component  102  (e.g., a camera, sensor, antenna, button, or any other suitable component) may be mounted to the upper surface of thin-film transistor substrate layer  76  outside of the active area of display module  82 . The active area of display module  82  may be aligned with color filter  70  or may have an area that is somewhat smaller than the surface area of color filter  70  (i.e., in alignment with the thin-film transistor array on thin-film transistor substrate  76 ). As shown in  FIG. 10 , conductive traces  94  may also be formed outside of the active area to route signals to and from electrical component  102 . 
     In the illustrative arrangement of  FIG. 11 , electrical component  102  has been mounted to an upper surface of color filter glass layer  70 . Conductive traces  94  that lie outside of the active area of display module  82  may be used to convey signals to and from electrical component  102 . Conductive traces  94  may be formed on the upper surface of color filter glass layer  70  (e.g., under a polymer coating layer or other protective layer) or may be formed on the lower surface of color filter glass layer  70  or the upper surface layer of thin-film transistor substrate layer  76 . Vias  95  may be formed through color filter glass layer  70  to interconnect component  102  and conductive traces that have been formed lower in the display module stack. Vias may also be formed through other glass layers such as thin-film transistor substrate layer  76  (e.g., to use traces on the lower surface of the thin-film transistor substrate layer to route signals in module  82 ). 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a display module showing how layers of glass such as cover glass layer  360 , color filter glass  70 , and thin-film transistor substrate layer  76  may each have peripheral edge portions  117  that rest on housing wall ledge portion  116  of housing  26 . Module  82  may be provided with a chassis such as metal chassis member  420 . A laterally extending edge portion of member  420  may also rest on ledge  116  below cover glass  360 , color filter  70 , and thin-film transistor substrate  76 . Adhesive  114  may be used to secure these layers to housing  26 . 
       FIG. 13  shows an arrangement of the type shown in  FIG. 12  in which elastomeric trim  66  (sometimes referred to as a gasket) has extending portion  660 . Extending portion  660  covers portion  26 AA of housing  26  and all of the exposed upper surfaces of housing  26  (i.e., all of surfaces  263 ,  265 , and  267 , including the portions of surface  263  that are adjacent to peripheral outer edge  269  of housing  26 ). Because all upper surface portions of housing  26  are covered (either with cover glass or trim), the arrangement of  FIG. 13  helps improve the cosmetic appearance of device  10  when viewed from direction  661 . 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20090611
Publication Date: 20130604
Grant Date: 20130604
Priority Date: 20090611
Inventors: MATHEW DINESH C.
WILSON, JR. THOMAS W.
YIN VICTOR H.
POSNER BRYAN W.
LIGTENBERG CHRIS
DEGNER BRETT W.
AUGENBERGS PETERIS K.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F1/1658", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133308", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1637", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1637", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1601", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133308", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0017", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10D86/441", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10D86/411", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10D86/60", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10D86/40", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10D86/441", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10D86/60", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10D86/411", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133331", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/13332", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133331", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133317", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133317", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/13332", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 43306147