PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8725198-B2
Application Number: US-201213429563-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Ejectable component assemblies in electronic devices

Abstract:
Electronic devices are provided with ejectable component assemblies that can be substantially flush with the external surfaces of the housings of the devices, despite variations in their manufacture. The ejectable component assemblies may include connectors coupled to circuit boards of the devices, and trays that can be loaded with removable modules, inserted through openings in the housings of the devices, and into the connectors for functionally aligning the removable modules with the circuit boards. The ejectable component assemblies may also include ejectors coupled to the housings of the devices for ejecting the trays from the connectors and, thus, from the devices themselves.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A removable entity configured to be received by a connector of an electronic device, the removable entity comprising:
 a first end; 
 a second end; 
 a body portion extending between the first end and the second end; and 
 at least one groove extending inwards towards a center of the body portion, the at least one groove configured to receive a biasing member when the removable entity is received by the connector; wherein 
 the shape of the at least one groove allows the biasing member to further insert the removable entity into the electronic device in a first direction and prevents the biasing member from moving the removable entity in a second direction opposite the first direction; and wherein: 
 a shape of the at least one groove is a right triangle; 
 a first cathetus of the right triangle is along the side of the body portion; and 
 the hypotenuse of the right triangle extends into the body portion from the side of the body portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The removable entity of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion comprises electronic circuitry. 
     
     
       3. The removable entity of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to exchange data with the electronic device. 
     
     
       4. The removable entity of  claim 2 , wherein the removable entity is one of an integrated circuit card, a chip card, a memory card, a microprocessor card, and a smart card. 
     
     
       5. The removable entity of  claim 2 , wherein the removable entity is a subscriber identity module card. 
     
     
       6. The removable entity of  claim 1 , wherein the removable entity is a tray configured to hold a card containing electronic circuitry. 
     
     
       7. The removable entity of  claim 6 , wherein the card is a subscriber identity module card. 
     
     
       8. The removable entity of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the body portion comprises a holder within a first surface of the body portion; and 
 the holder is configured to hold the card. 
 
     
     
       9. The removable entity of  claim 8 , wherein the holder is sized to hold the card by a snap-fit. 
     
     
       10. A removable entity configured to be received by a connector of an electronic device, the removable entity comprising:
 a first end; 
 a second end; and 
 a body portion extending between the first end and the second end, wherein:
 the body portion comprises at least a first groove in a first side of the body portion, the first groove extending inwards towards a center of the body portion; 
 the first groove is configured to receive a first biasing force exerted by the connector when the removable entity is received by the connector; 
 the geometry of the first groove allows the first biasing force to further insert the removable entity into the electronic device in a first direction; and 
 the geometry of the first groove prevents the first biasing force from moving the removable entity in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction; and 
 
 wherein:
 a shape of the first groove is a right triangle; 
 a first cathetus of the right triangle is along the first side of the body portion; and 
 the hypotenuse of the right triangle extends into the body portion from the first side of the body portion. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The removable entity of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the body portion further comprises a second groove in a second side of the body portion, the second groove extending inwards towards a center of the body portion and being defined in a common surface with the first groove; 
 the second groove is configured to receive a second biasing force exerted by the connector when the removable entity is received by the connector; 
 the geometry of the second groove allows the second biasing force to further insert the removable entity into the electronic device in the first direction; and 
 the geometry of the second groove prevents the second biasing force from moving the removable entity in the second direction. 
 
     
     
       12. The removable entity of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the body portion further comprises a second groove in a second side of the body portion; 
 the second groove is configured to receive a second biasing force exerted by the connector when the removable entity is received by the connector; 
 the geometry of the second groove allows the second biasing force to further insert the removable entity into the electronic device in the first direction; 
 the geometry of the second groove prevents the second biasing force from moving the removable entity in the second direction; 
 a shape of the second groove is a second right triangle; 
 a first cathetus of the second right triangle is along the second side of the body portion; and 
 the hypotenuse of the second right triangle extends into the body portion from the second side of the body portion. 
 
     
     
       13. The removable entity of  claim 10 , wherein an outer surface of the first end is curved to be continuous with a curvature of an outer surface of the electronic device about an opening of the electronic device through which the second end of the removable entity is configured to be inserted for being received by the connector. 
     
     
       14. The removable entity of  claim 10 , wherein the body portion comprises electronic circuitry. 
     
     
       15. The removable entity of  claim 14 , wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to exchange data with the electronic device. 
     
     
       16. The removable entity of  claim 14 , wherein the removable entity is one of an integrated circuit card, a chip card, a memory card, a microprocessor card, a subscriber identity module card, or a smart card. 
     
     
       17. The removable entity of  claim 10 , wherein the removable entity is a tray configured to hold a card containing electronic circuitry. 
     
     
       18. An electronic device comprising:
 a housing; and 
 an ejector fixed to the housing for ejecting a removable entity having an insertable end and an exterior end through an opening in the housing, the ejector comprising
 an extension arm pivotably coupled to the housing; and 
 a contact plate connected to the extension arm; wherein 
 
 the extension arm selectively engages the contact plate against the exterior end of the removable entity to eject the insertable end of the removable entity from the opening. 
 
     
     
       19. The electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the ejector is fixed to a first wall of the housing; and 
 the opening is through the first wall. 
 
     
     
       20. A system comprising:
 an electronic device comprising:
 a housing comprising an outer surface; and 
 a connector at least partially within the housing; and 
 
 a removable entity comprising:
 a first end; 
 a second end; 
 a body portion extending between the first end and the second end; and 
 a groove defined in the body portion and extending inwards towards the body portion; wherein: 
 an outer surface of the first end is curved to be continuous with a curvature of a portion of the outer surface of the housing; 
 the portion of the outer surface of the housing is about an opening through the housing; 
 the second end is configured to be inserted through the opening for being received by the connector; and 
 a shape of the groove allows a biasing member to further insert the removable entity into the electronic device in a first direction and prevents the biasing member from moving the removable entity in a second direction opposite the first direction; and wherein: 
 a shape of the groove is a right triangle; 
 a first cathetus of the right triangle is along the side of the body portion; and 
 the hypotenuse of the right triangle extends into the body portion from the side of the body portion. 
 
 
     
     
       21. The removable entity of  claim 10 , wherein the first groove defines a cutout in the body portion. 
     
     
       22. The removable entity of  claim 11 , wherein the first groove and the second groove are formed on opposing sides of the body portion. 
     
     
       23. The removable entity of  claim 22 , wherein the first groove and the second groove point towards each other.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/967,234, filed Dec. 14, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/824,032, filed Jun. 28, 2007 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,865,210), which claims the benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application No. 60/878,805, filed Jan. 5, 2007, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present invention can relate to apparatus and methods for improving the construction of ejectable component assemblies in electronic devices. 
     The proliferation of electronic devices (e.g., portable MP3 players) and the various ways in which such devices are being transported have created a need for improved construction of ejectable component assemblies for such devices. 
     Some known ejectable component assemblies for personal electronic devices include a tray for receiving a removable module, and a connector coupled to a circuit board within the housing of the device for receiving the tray as it is inserted through an opening in the housing and for retaining the tray such that the module is functionally aligned with the circuit board. Variations in the manufacture of such electronic devices result in, for example, variations in the distance between the circuit board and the opening in the housing through which the tray of an ejectable component assembly is to be inserted. These manufacturing variations generally create an undesirable abruptness in the profile created by the tray and the external surface of the housing about its opening once the tray has been inserted therein. 
     Moreover, some known ejectable component assemblies for personal electronic devices also include an ejector coupled to the circuit board of the device for ejecting the tray from the connector and, thus, the housing of the device. The manufacturing variations of the device also tend to create variations in the distance between a user external to the device and the ejector. Therefore, the interaction between the user and the ejector for ejecting a tray from the device may not function similarly in all devices due to these manufacturing variations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Personal electronic devices with ejectable component assemblies that can be substantially flush with the external surfaces of the housings of the devices, despite variations in their manufacture, are provided. 
     According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device that can include a circuit board, a housing about the circuit board, and an ejectable component assembly. The ejectable component assembly can include a tray for holding a removable module, and a connector coupled to the circuit board for retaining the tray when the tray is inserted in a first direction through an opening in the housing. In one embodiment, when the tray is retained by the connector, the tray can not be inserted further in the first direction through the opening, and the tray can not be ejected in a second direction opposite to the first direction from the opening. However, the circuit board can be moved in at least one of the first direction and the second direction with respect to the opening. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device that can include a circuit board with coupling circuitry, a housing enclosing the circuit board, and an ejectable component assembly. The ejectable component assembly can include a connector coupled to the circuit board for retaining a removable module when the module is inserted through an opening in the housing, and an ejector coupled to the housing for ejecting the module from the connector when the module is retained by the connector. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features of the present invention, its nature and various advantages will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary personal electronic device, in a first stage of actuation, in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an elevational view of a portion of the personal electronic device of  FIG. 1 , taken from line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an elevational view of an embodiment of a removable module to be used with the personal electronic device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  is an elevational view, similar to  FIG. 3 , of an alternative embodiment of a removable module to be used with the personal electronic device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an elevational view of a portion of the personal electronic device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , similar to  FIG. 2 , cooperating with the removable module of  FIG. 3 , in a second stage of actuation in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the personal electronic device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , taken from line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 , but cooperating with the removable module of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in the second stage of actuation of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the personal electronic device of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  5 , similar to  FIG. 5 , but in a third stage of actuation, in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the personal electronic device of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5 , and  6 , taken from line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the personal electronic device of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  5 - 7 , taken from line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the personal electronic device of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  5 - 8 , taken from line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the personal electronic device of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  5 - 9 , taken from line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the personal electronic device of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  5 - 10 , similar to  FIG. 10 , but with portions of an ejectable component assembly removed; 
         FIG. 12  is a vertical cross-sectional view, similar to  FIG. 11 , of an alternative embodiment of a personal electronic device in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 13  is a vertical cross-sectional view, similar to  FIG. 11 , of another alternative embodiment of a personal electronic device in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Apparatus and methods are provided for improving the construction of ejectable component assemblies, and are described below with reference to  FIGS. 1-13 . 
       FIGS. 1-11  show an embodiment of personal electronic device  10  including at least one ejectable component assembly. The term “personal 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, printers, or combinations thereof. In some cases, the electronic devices may perform a single function (e.g., an electronic device dedicated to playing music) and, in other cases, the electronic devices may perform multiple functions (e.g., an electronic device that plays music, displays video, stores pictures, and receives and transmits telephone calls). 
     In any case, these electronic devices are generally any portable, mobile, hand-held, or miniature electronic device having an ejectable component assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention so as to allow a user to listen to music, play games, record videos, take pictures, and/or conduct telephone calls, for example, wherever the user travels. Miniature personal electronic devices may have a form factor that is smaller than that of hand-held personal electronic devices, such as an iPod™ available by Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Illustrative miniature personal 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. 
     Personal electronic device  10  can include at least one user input component assembly (see, e.g., input component assembly  12 ) that allows a user to manipulate a function of the device, at least one device output component assembly (see, e.g., output component assembly  14 ) that provides the user with valuable device generated information, at least one ejectable component assembly (e.g., ejectable component assembly  16 ) that allows a user to insert and eject a removable module into and from the device, and a protective housing (see, e.g., housing  18 ) that at least partially encloses the one or more input, output, and ejectable component assemblies of the device. 
     I/O component assemblies  12 ,  14 , and  16  can include any type of component assembly that receives and/or transmits digital and/or analog data (e.g., audio data, video data, other types of data, or a combination thereof). For example, input component assembly  12  may be of a variety of input component forms, including, but not limited to, sliding switches, buttons, keypads, dials, scroll wheels, touch screen displays, electronics for accepting audio and/or visual information, antennas, infrared ports, or combinations thereof. Furthermore, output component assembly  14  may be of a variety of output component forms, including, but not limited to, audio speakers, headphones, audio line-outs, visual displays, antennas, infrared ports, or combinations thereof. Moreover, ejectable component assembly  16  may be any assembly that inserts into and ejects from the device a removable module (see, e.g., module  30  of  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) that may be of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, integrated circuit cards (ICCs), chip cards, memory cards, flash memory cards, microprocessor cards, smart cards, such as subscriber identity module (SIM) cards, or combinations thereof, containing electronic circuitry (see, e.g., circuitry  32  of  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) from which the device may read data and/or to which the device may write data. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in  FIG. 1 , ejectable component assembly  16  can include removable module tray  20  that may be insertable into and ejectable from housing  18  through housing opening  19  in a surface thereof. As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 , for example, tray  20  can include first end  21 , second end  23 , and body portion  22  extending therebetween. A module holder  24  can be included in first surface  25  of body portion  22  for holding a removable module therein during use of assembly  16 . Holder  24  can be sized to substantially match that of module  30 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , such that module  30  may be snap-fitted into holder  24  by a user, and such that electronic circuitry  32  on first surface  31  of module  30  is facing away from holder  24  of tray  20  and is therefore exposed, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Electronic circuitry  32  can be any integrated circuit (IC), such as a microchip, silicon chip, or computer chip, that generally includes semiconductor devices and passive components that have been manufactured in the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material on surface  31  of module  30 , such that device  10  may read data from or write data into the circuitry when module  30  is inserted into the device using ejectable component assembly  16 . 
     A module retainer or module retaining element  26  may be coupled to one or more sides of holder  24  for retaining module  30  therein. For example, retaining element  26  may be a spring flexure coupled to tray  20  within holder  24  such that the spring flexure may be compressed by removable module  30  upon its insertion into holder  24  for tightly retaining module  30  therein, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Moreover, a hole, such as hole  27 , can be provided through holder  24  of tray  20 , such that a user may easily release module  30  from holder  24  by exerting a force on module  30  through hole  27  in a direction substantially away from holder  24  (see, e.g., the direction of arrow  33  in  FIG. 10 , but when tray  20  has been ejected from device  10 ). 
     Once module  30  has been loaded into holder  24 , tray  20  may be inserted into a connector that is internal to housing  18  of device  10 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , ejectable component assembly  16  may also include a connector (see, e.g., connector  40 ) for receiving and holding removable tray  20  within housing  18  of device  10  such that electronic circuitry  32  of module  30  may align with and be accessed by a module reader/writer of device  10  (see, e.g., coupling circuitry  17  of  FIGS. 5 and 10 , as described in more detail below). Therefore, housing  18  of device  10  may be designed to protect the electrical components (e.g., I/O component assemblies  12 ,  14 , and  16 ) and at least one circuit board  11  coupled thereto. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show how the signals of each I/O component assembly  12 ,  14 , and  16  may, for example, be coupled to circuit board  11 , and the signals of circuit board  11  may be coupled to each I/O component assembly  12 ,  14 , and  16 , via a respective coupling circuitry  13 ,  15 , and  17 . Each one of coupling circuitries  13 ,  15 , and  17  can allow circuit board  11  to properly receive signals from and/or transmit signals to its respective I/O component assembly  12 ,  14 , and  16 . Each of coupling circuitries  13 ,  15 , and  17  can include, but is not limited to, any flexible printed circuit (FPC), including one-sided, double-sided, multi-layer, dual access, rigid-flex FPCs, or combinations thereof. 
     Circuit board  11  may be any type of circuit board, including, but not limited to, printed circuit boards (PCBs), logic boards, printed wiring boards, etched wiring boards, and other known boards, that may be used to mechanically support and electronically connect electrical components (e.g., I/O component assemblies  12 ,  14 , and  16  via coupling circuitries  13 ,  15 , and  17 ). Circuit board  11  can, for example, 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). Therefore, when one or more of I/O component assemblies  12 ,  14 , and  16  are physically and electrically coupled to board  11  via coupling circuitries  13 ,  15 , and  17 , board  11  may communicate with the one or more component assemblies of device  10  concurrently in order for the device to function properly. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show, for example, how connector  40  of ejectable component assembly  16  may be coupled to board  11  (e.g., by surface mount technology 
     (SMT)) such that, when tray  20  loaded with module  30  is inserted into device  10  through opening  19  of housing  18  in the direction of arrow  39 , connector  40  may receive, guide, and hold tray  20  such that electronic circuitry  32  of module  30  aligns with coupling circuitry  17  of circuit board  11  (also, see, e.g.,  FIG. 10 ). Although the portions of housing  18  about opening  19  may at least initially guide the insertion of end  23  of tray  20  through opening  19  in the direction of arrow  39 , connector  40  can include track  42  provided by guide rails  42 A and  42 B extending between their respective first ends  41 A and  41 B and their respective second ends  43 A and  43 B for guiding tray  20  in the direction of arrow  39  once it has been inserted through opening  19 . 
     In one embodiment, first end  41  of track  42  between first ends  41 A and  41 B of guide rails  42 A and  42 B, respectively, can have a width W that is greater than the width W′ of the second end  43  of track  42  between second ends  43 A and  43 B, such that track  42  may increasingly narrow about tray  20  as tray  20  is inserted further into connector  40  of assembly  16  through opening  19  in the direction of arrow  39 . Therefore, in the event that second end  23  of tray  20  happens to be inserted through opening  19  at some angle offset from the direction of arrow  39 , the larger dimension of width W of first opening  41  can enable guide rails  42 A and  42 B of track  42  to nevertheless receive second end  23  of tray  20  therebetween and direct second end  23  of tray  20  towards second ends  43 A and  43 B of the guide rails in the direction of arrow  39 . 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  also show, for example, how a tray detector or tray detecting element  44  may be provided by connector  40  for detecting when a tray (e.g., tray  20 , with or without module  30  loaded therein) has been received by track  42 . For example, detecting element  44  may be any circuitry capable of communicating with circuit board  11  such that board  11  can determine whether a tray has been fully loaded into a connector of the ejectable component assembly of the device (also see, e.g.,  FIG. 10 ). It is to be understood, especially with respect to  FIGS. 11-13 , that tray detecting element  44  can have no resistive effect on the movement of tray  20  in the direction of arrow  39  into connector  40  or in the direction of arrow  59  out of connector  40 . Moreover, connector  40  may also include hole  45  therethrough, at least partially running between guide rails  42 A and  42 B, such that coupling circuitry  17  of board  11  may be exposed to electronic circuitry  32  of module  30  when tray  20  has been fully received by track  42  (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 5 and 10 ). Alternatively, connector  40  may include its own circuitry that allows communication between circuitry  32  of module  30  and circuitry  17  of board  11 . 
     Track  42  may receive and guide tray  20  towards an appropriate position that functionally aligns electronic circuitry  32  of module  30  with coupling circuitry  17  of board  11 . However, connector  40  may also be provided with one or more tray retainers or retaining elements  46  for retaining tray  20  once tray  20  has been fully inserted into connector  40  through opening  19  of housing  18  and has reached a functional alignment with board  11 . The one or more tray retainers  46  of connector  40  can be provided to retain tray  20  not only such that electronic circuitry  32  of module  30  remains properly aligned with coupling circuitry  17  of circuit board  11  when loaded into holder  24  of tray  20 , but also such that end  21  of tray  20  is at least substantially flush with the surface of housing  18  about opening  19 . 
     For example, connector  40  can include first and second tray retaining elements  46 A and  46 B on opposite sides of hole  45 . Each retaining element  46  can include base  47 , head  49 , and arm  48  extending between base  47  and head  49 . Base  47  can cooperate with arm  48  such that the flexibility of retainer  46  may allow head  49  to pivot from its original position with respect to base  47  (e.g., in the general directions of arrows  46 ′) when an external force is exerted upon head  49  (e.g., by end  23  of tray  20 ). Moreover, base  47  can cooperate with arm  48  such that the bias of retainer  46  may exert its own force on head  49 , in a direction opposite to that exerted by the external force, to attempt to return head  49  to its original position with respect to base  47  (e.g., the position of head  49  with respect to base  47  as shown in  FIG. 5 , wherein heads  49 A and  49 B are separated by a distance D). 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , heads  49 A and  49 B of tray retainers  46 A and  46 B, respectively, can be separated by a distance D when each head is in its original position with respect to its base. However, as shown in  FIG. 6 , for example, heads  49 A and  49 B can be separated by a distance D′ that is equal to or greater than distance D. This can be due to the fact that heads  49 A and  49 B can extend through guide rails  42 A and  42 B, respectively, and can retain a portion of tray  20  therebetween by exerting the force exerted by the bias of retainers  46 A and  46 B on that portion of tray  20 . As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 9 , heads  49 A and  49 B can, for example, contact and exert their biasing force on tray  20  within respective grooved or notched portions  29 A and  29 B along the sides of tray  20 . 
     The length of distance L between the external surface of housing  18  about opening  19  and circuit board  11  (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 5 and 9 ), and thereby the length of distance L′ between that surface and coupling circuitry  17  (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 5 and 10 ), can vary significantly because of inconsistencies in the ways in which each of the various parts of device  10  are fabricated and assembled together. Connector  40  of ejectable component assembly  16  may be able to tolerate these changes in the length of distances L and L′, and, regardless of these manufacturing variations, may be able to ensure that tray  20  is pulled into and retained by connector  40  in such a way that end  21  of tray  20  is at least substantially flush with the surface of housing  18  about opening  19  and does not jut out beyond that surface, for example. As shown in  FIGS. 11-13 , for example, variations in the length of distance L between the surface of housing  18  about opening  19  and circuit board  11  can be absorbed by the ability of tray retainer  46  to pull tray  20  as far as possible in the direction of arrow  39  to its fully loaded position. Moreover, these manufacturing variations can be absorbed by the ability of tray retainer  46  to retain tray  20  at that fully loaded position, such that the interaction of end  21  of tray  20  with the portions of housing  18  about opening  19  can define how far tray  20  may be pulled in the direction of arrow  39  to its fully loaded position by retainer  46 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , which may be similar to  FIG. 6 , but with track  42  and tray ejector  50  (described in more detail below) removed for the sake of clarity, circuit board  11  can be manufactured into device  10  in such a way that it is separated by the surface of housing  18  about opening  19  by a distance L, and, thus, in such a way that second end  23  of tray  20  in its fully loaded position is separated by the end of connector  40  by distance E. In this embodiment of device  10 , for example, upon insertion of tray  20  into connector  40  in the direction of arrow  39 , heads  49 A and  49 B of retainer  46  may slide along and exert their biasing force on the sides of tray  20  until they finally maintain and hold their positions at points PM within respective grooves  29 A and  29 B that are substantially half-way therealong between end points P 1  and P 2  of the grooves. 
     The biasing force of retainer  46  may attempt to push heads  49 A and  49 B closer together (i.e., to reduce the length of distance D′ therebetween to that of original distance D (see, e.g., FIG.  5 )), for example, by sliding heads  49  along their respective grooves in the direction of arrow  59  from points PM towards points P 1 . However, the movement of tray  20  in the direction of arrow  39  that would be required for this sliding of heads  49  towards points P 1  can be prevented by the interaction of end  21  of tray  20  with the portions of housing  18  about opening  19 . 
     Moreover, the slope of grooves  29  from points P 1  to P 2  along with the biasing force of retainer  46  to reduce the length of distance D′ can prevent heads  49  from sliding from points PM towards points P 2 , and therefore can prevent tray  20  from moving in the direction of arrow  59  with respect to housing  18 . Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the interaction of the geometry of grooves  29  and the biasing force exerted by heads  49  of retainer  46  therein (e.g., at points PM) can pull tray  20  as far as possible in the direction of arrow  39  to its fully loaded position. Furthermore, this interaction of the geometry of grooves  29  and the biasing force exerted by heads  49  of retainer  46  therein can retain tray  20  at that position such that the interaction of end  21  of tray  20  with the portions of housing  18  about opening  19  can define how far tray  20  is pulled in the direction of arrow  39  to its fully loaded position by retainer  46 . 
       FIG. 12  shows device  10 ′, which can be similar to device  10  of  FIGS. 1-11 , except that, in this embodiment, circuit board  11  can be manufactured into device  10 ′ such that it is separated by the surface of housing  18  about opening  19  by a distance LL that may be substantially longer than distance L of  FIG. 11 . Likewise, circuit board  11  can be manufactured into device  10 ′ in such a way that second end  23  of tray  20  in its fully loaded position can be separated by the end of connector  40  by a distance EL that may be substantially longer than distance E of  FIG. 11 . In this embodiment of device  10 ′, for example, upon insertion of tray  20  into connector  40  in the direction of arrow  39 , heads  49 A and  49 B of retainer  46  may slide along and exert their biasing force on the sides of tray  20  until they finally maintain and hold their positions substantially at points P 2  within respective grooves  29 A and  29 B. 
     The biasing force of retainer  46  may attempt to push heads  49 A and  49 B closer together (i.e., to reduce the length of distance D″ therebetween to that of original distance D (see, e.g., FIG.  5 )), for example, by sliding heads  49  along their respective grooves in the direction of arrow  59  from points P 2  towards points P 1 . However, the movement of tray  20  in the direction of arrow  39  that would be required for this sliding of heads  49  towards points P 1  can be prevented by the interaction of end  21  of tray  20  with the portions of housing  18  about opening  19 . Moreover, the slope of grooves  29  from points P 1  to P 2  along with the biasing force of retainer  46  to reduce the length of distance D″ can prevent heads  49  from sliding in the direction of arrow  39  from points P 2  to a portion of tray  20  outside of grooves  29 , and therefore can prevent tray  20  from moving in the direction of arrow  59  with respect to housing  18 . 
     Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 12 , despite the potential shift of circuit board  11  further away from opening  19  in the direction of arrow  39  to a length LL, the interaction of the geometry of grooves  29  and the biasing force exerted by heads  49  of retainer  46  therein (e.g., substantially at points P 2 ) can pull tray  20  as far as possible in the direction of arrow  39  to its fully loaded position. Furthermore, this interaction of the geometry of grooves  29  and the biasing force exerted by heads  49  of retainer  46  therein can retain tray  20  at that position such that the interaction of end  21  of tray  20  with the portions of housing  18  about opening  19  can define how far tray  20  is pulled in the direction of arrow  39  to its fully loaded position by retainer  46 . 
     Conversely,  FIG. 13  shows illustrative device  10 ″, which can be similar to device  10  of  FIGS. 1-11 , except that circuit board  11  can be manufactured into device  10 ″ in such a way that it is separated by the surface of housing  18  about opening  19  by a distance LS that may be substantially shorter than distance L of  FIG. 11 . Likewise, circuit board  11  can be manufactured into device  10 ″ in such a way that second end  23  of tray  20  in its fully loaded position is separated by the end of connector  40  by a distance ES that may be substantially shorter than distance E of  FIG. 11 . In this embodiment of device  10 ″, for example, upon insertion of tray  20  into connector  40  in the direction of arrow  39 , heads  49 A and  49 B of retainer  46  can slide along and exert their biasing force on the sides of tray  20  until they finally maintain and hold their positions substantially at points P 1  within respective grooves  29 A and  29 B. 
     The biasing force of retainer  46  may attempt to push heads  49 A and  49 B closer together (e.g., to reduce the length of distance D′″ therebetween to that of original distance D (see, e.g., FIG.  5 )), for example, by sliding heads  49  along their respective grooves further in the direction of arrow  59 . However, the movement of tray  20  in the direction of arrow  39  that would be required for this sliding of heads  49  further towards points P 1  can be prevented by the interaction of end  21  of tray  20  with the portions of housing  18  about opening  19 . Moreover, the slope of grooves  29  from points P 1  to P 2  along with the biasing force of retainer  46  to reduce the length of distance D′″ can prevent heads  49  from sliding in the direction of arrow  39  from points P 1  to points P 2 , and therefore can prevent tray  20  from moving in the direction of arrow  59  with respect to housing  18 . 
     Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 13 , despite the potential shift of circuit board  11  closer towards opening  19  in the direction of arrow  59  to a length LS, the interaction of the geometry of grooves  29  and the biasing force exerted by heads  49  of retainer  46  therein (e.g., substantially at points P 1 ) can pull tray  20  as far as possible in the direction of arrow  39  to its fully loaded position. Furthermore, this interaction of the geometry of grooves  29  and the biasing force exerted by heads  49  of retainer  46  therein can retain tray  20  at that position such that the interaction of end  21  of tray  20  with the portions of housing  18  about opening  19  can define how far tray  20  is pulled in the direction of arrow  39  to its fully loaded position by retainer  46 . The length PL of grooves  29  of tray  20  between points P 1  and P 2  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 9 ) can be at least equal to the difference between the greatest potential shifts of circuit board  11  closer to and farther away from opening  19  (e.g., the difference between LL and LS) that may occur due to variations in the manufacturing of the device. 
     It is to be understood that, despite these manufacturing variations of device  10 , the surface of end  21  of tray  20  can be any suitable shape such that it can be substantially flush with the portions of housing  18  about opening  19  when tray  20  is held in its fully loaded position by connector  40 , thereby creating a smooth profile for that portion of the device. For example, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the surface of housing  18  about opening  19  may be substantially straight and flat, and, therefore, so can be the surface of end  21  of tray  20 , linearly, with the surface of housing  18  about opening  19 . 
     Alternatively, however, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the surface of housing  18  about opening  19  may be substantially curved, and, therefore, so can be the surface of end  21  of tray  20 . The curvature of end  21  can be continuous with the curvature of housing  18  about opening  19  so as to create a smooth profile for that portion of the device. Moreover, the surface of end  21  of tray  20  can be any suitable shape such that it may not jut out beyond where the portion of housing  18  would be if not for opening  19  when tray  20  is held in its fully loaded position by connector  40 . For example, as also shown in  FIG. 13 , tray  20  can instead be provided with a surface of end  21 ′ that may be straight and flat between the curved portions of housing  18  about opening  19 . Alternatively, tray  20  can be provided with a surface of end  21 ″ that may be sunken by a distance S within the curved portions of housing  18  about opening  19 . 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 5-10 , the ejectable component assembly can also include a tray ejecting element or tray ejector  50  for ejecting tray  20  from connector  40 . Tray ejector  50  can include base  52  coupled to housing  18  by pivot  51 . Extension arm  54  may not only extend from base  52  in a first direction and be coupled to user contact plate  53 , but extension arm  54  may also extend from base  52  in a second direction and be coupled to tray contact plate  55 . Tray ejector  50  can be provided such that base  52  and, thereby, extension arm  54  may pivot about pivot  51  in the direction of arrows  51 ′. Moreover, tray ejector  50  can be provided such that base  52  may be biased with respect to pivot  51  (e.g., by a spring), whereby user contact plate  53  abuts or is substantially adjacent to the interior of housing  18  about opening  19  absent any external forces that may be applied to either or both of user contact plate  53  and tray contact plate  55 . 
     A user of device  10  may eject tray  20  from connector  40 , either to load tray  20  with a module  30  or to remove module  30  from tray  20 , using ejector  50 . For example, a user may insert a paperclip or any other suitable instrument  60  through hole  56  in housing  18  adjacent opening  19 , in the direction of arrow  57  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 7 ), thereby exerting a force against user contact plate  53  in the direction of arrow  57 . Alternatively, a user may insert paperclip or any other suitable instrument  60  through hole  28  in first end  21  of tray  20  and through hole  58  in housing  18  adjacent opening  19 , in the direction of arrow  57  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 8 ), thereby exerting a force against user contact plate  53  in the direction of arrow  57 . In any event, a force exerted by the user on user contact plate  53  in the direction of arrow  57  can pivot extension arm  54  and base  52  about pivot  51  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 9 ) such that a force in the direction of arrow  59  (generally opposite to that of arrow  57 ) can be exerted against tray  20  by tray contact plate  55  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 10 ), thereby forcing tray  20  in the direction of arrow  59  and releasing tray  20  from its retained position between heads  49 A and  49 B of tray retainer  46 . 
     By coupling tray ejector  50  to housing  18  (e.g., by pivot  51 ), as opposed to coupling ejector  50  to connector  40  or board  11 , ejector  50  (e.g., user contact plate  53 ) can be at the same distance d from the flushness of housing  18  about opening  19  with end  21  of tray  20  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 8 ) despite any variations in the distance L between board  11  and that flushness, as described above with respect to  FIGS. 11-13 . Therefore, the same ejector  50  can function properly, and as described above, within any device provided with an ejectable component assembly  16 , regardless of any variance in the distance L between the circuit board  11  and housing  18  of the device. 
     Tray  20  may be formed of any suitable material such as plastic or metal, for example. However, when tray  20  is formed of a metal, such as aluminum, tray  20  can be anodized and coated such that it may be insulated and rendered substantially not conductive. Yet, despite this coating, if a user handling tray  20  has a charge, that charge could shock device  10  as the user inserts tray  20  therein. Therefore, one or more portions of an anodized metal tray  20  (see, e.g., sides  70  of tray  20  in  FIGS. 1 and 9 ) can be laser etched to expose the conductive metal material, such that when tray is inserted into connector  40  as described above, exposed portions  70  may contact one or more grounding portions provided by connector  40  (see, e.g., grounding element  72  of track  42  in  FIG. 9 ) to remove any charge imparted by the user onto the metal tray. 
     It is to be understood that, although ejectable component assembly  16  has been described as including a connector  40  and a tray  20  for loading a removable module  30  within the connector, tray  20  may be unnecessary and any removable module to be inserted into connector  40  may be shaped with the features of tray  20 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 3A , a removable module  30 ′ can be provided that may be substantially the same as removable module  30 , but that also can include first end  21 ′ shaped similarly to end  21  of tray  20 , second end  33 ′ shaped similarly to end  23  of tray  20 , and grooves  29 ′ shaped similarly to grooves  29  of tray  20 , such that module  30 ′ may be inserted into and removed from connector  40  in the same way that tray  20  may be inserted into and removed from connector  40 . 
     While there have been described electronic devices with ejectable component assemblies that create smooth profiles with the external surfaces of the housings of the devices, despite variations in their manufacture, it is to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will also be understood that various directional and orientational terms such as “upper” and “lower,” “length” and “height,” 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 present 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 device  10  of  FIGS. 1-13 . 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, and the invention is limited only by the claims which follow.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20120326
Publication Date: 20140513
Grant Date: 20140513
Priority Date: 20070105
Inventors: WANG ERIK L.
MURPHY ROBERT SEAN
TAN TANG YEW
NEAVES JEFFREY EUGENE
DAVIS LAWRENCE E.
KIM SUNG
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06K13/08", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0295", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K7/1405", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/026", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M2250/14", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M2250/14", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0295", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K7/1427", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/026", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 39594055