PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9047044-B2
Application Number: US-201313908970-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Trimless glass enclosure interface

Abstract:
An enclosure for a portable computing device can include a cover glass affixed to an enclosure without trim pieces disposed between the cover glass and the disclosure. In one embodiment, the enclosure can include an edge profile that can define a relatively large contact pad about the enclosure. The contact pad can distribute impact forces over a relatively large area and thereby protect the cover glass integrity.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for attaching a cover glass to an enclosure of a portable computing device, the method comprising:
 forming a bottom portion in the enclosure; 
 forming a sidewall extending from the bottom portion; 
 forming a profile in the sidewall, the profile including a slope having an apex defined by a junction between a sloped surface extending from a top corner of the enclosure and a curved surface extending from the bottom portion; 
 affixing a display assembly to the enclosure; 
 applying an adhesive to a support ledge in the enclosure; and 
 adhesively attaching the cover glass to the support ledge. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein affixing the display assembly to the enclosure comprises forming a cavity in the enclosure for housing the display assembly. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the apex extends away from the top corner of the enclosure. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the apex exclusively defines an outermost edge of the enclosure. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein adhesively attaching the cover glass to the support ledge further comprises forming a gap between the top corner of the enclosure and the cover glass. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein forming the gap between the top corner of the enclosure and the cover glass comprises controlling the gap to be less than approximately 0.05 mm. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the adhesive to the support ledge further comprises:
 applying a pressure sensitive adhesive on two sides of a compliant foam; and placing the compliant foam on the support ledge. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of forming the bottom in the enclosure, forming the sidewall extending from the bottom portion, and forming the profile in the sidewall comprises any one of: machining a piece of aluminum and cutting a piece of aluminum. 
     
     
       9. An enclosure for a portable computing device, the enclosure comprising:
 a body formed from a single piece of material, the body comprising:
 a bottom having a first ledge configured to support a display assembly; and 
 a side wall having an apex defined by a junction between both a sloped surface extending from a top corner of the enclosure and a curved surface extending from the bottom; 
 a second ledge adjacent to the side wall; and 
 a cover glass adhesively bonded to the second ledge, wherein a gap exists between the cover glass and the top corner of the enclosure. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The enclosure of  claim 9 , wherein the apex extends away from the top corner of the enclosure. 
     
     
       11. The enclosure of  claim 9 , wherein the gap between the top corner of the enclosure and the cover glass is less than approximately 0.05 mm. 
     
     
       12. The enclosure of  claim 9 , wherein the body includes a broad contact pad configured to spread impact forces over an area relatively greater than an area of the broad contact pad. 
     
     
       13. The enclosure of  claim 9 , wherein the apex exclusively defines an outermost edge of the body. 
     
     
       14. A personal computing device, comprising:
 a body formed from a single and continuous piece material, the body comprising:
 a bottom having a first ledge configured to support and abut a display assembly; 
 a side wall, wherein the side wall includes an apex defined by a junction between both a sloped surface extending from a top corner of the body and a curved surface extending from the bottom; 
 
 a second ledge adjacent to the side wall; and 
 a cover glass adhesively bonded to the body at the second ledge. 
 
     
     
       15. The personal computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the apex extends away from the top corner. 
     
     
       16. The personal computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the body includes a cavity configured to support:
 a processor; 
 a memory in communication with the processor; 
 at least one wireless interface in communication with the processor; and 
 at least one battery configured to power the processor, the memory, and the at least one wireless interface. 
 
     
     
       17. The personal computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the body comprises at least four sidewalls, and wherein the at least four side walls each include a profile having an apex located on a slope below the top corner of the body relative to each sidewall. 
     
     
       18. The personal computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the side wall is adjacent the second ledge and the top corner of the body forms a narrow gap with the cover glass. 
     
     
       19. The personal computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the profile forms a contact pad adjacent to the top corner of the body, and wherein the contact pad is configured to spread impact forces received on the contact pad over an area relatively greater than an area of the contact pad. 
     
     
       20. The personal computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the apex exclusively defines an outermost edge of the body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/715,970, filed Oct. 19, 2012 and entitled “TRIMLESS GLASS ENCLOSURE INTERFACE” by John RAFF which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DESCRIBED EMBODIMENTS 
     The described embodiments relate generally to enclosures for portable computing devices and more particularly to glass interfaces with enclosures for portable computing devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Portable computing devices such as media players or tablet computers typically include a generous display configured to show a user graphical output and oftentimes the display is combined with a touch sensitive input device that allows the user to control the portable computing device. 
     As portable computing devices become more compact, the enclosure design and the display must also become smaller. However, simply size reducing older designs can provide a product that may not provide adequate display area or may not adequately protect a cover glass attached to the portable computing device. Furthermore, conventional device enclosures include trim gaskets, trim pieces, or other trim-protective features which may decrease the aesthetics of a final device. 
     Therefore, what is desired is a portable computing device with an enclosure design that can be reduced in size, that can increase aesthetic qualities, and that will adequately protect the cover glass. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIBED EMBODIMENTS 
     This paper describes various embodiments that relate to enclosures for a portable computing device. In one embodiment, a method for attaching a cover glass to an enclosure of a portable computing device absent a trim piece disposed between the cover glass and the enclosure is disclosed. The method includes affixing a display assembly to the enclosure, applying an adhesive to the enclosure, and attaching the cover glass to the adhesive. 
     In another embodiment, an enclosure for a portable computing device can include a body formed from a single and continuous piece of aluminum, the body including a bottom an four side walls, where at least one side wall includes a profile including a curve and an apex where the apex is arranged to be located on a 45 degree slope below an upper corner of the body, an opening configured to receive internal components, a support ledge configured to receive an adhesive and a cover glass configured to fit within the opening and bond to the adhesive on the support ledge. 
     In another embodiment, a personal computing device is disclosed. The personal computing device may be a tablet computer, telephone, media player, or other computing device. The device may include a body formed from a single and continuous piece of aluminum. The body may include a bottom and at least one side wall. The at least one side wall includes a profile including a curve and an apex arranged to be located on a slope below an upper corner of the body. The body may further include a cavity configured to receive internal components, a support ledge configured to receive an adhesive, and a cover glass configured to fit within the opening and bond to the adhesive on the support ledge. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the described embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The described embodiments and the advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. These drawings in no way limit any changes in form and detail that may be made to the described embodiments by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the described embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  (Prior Art) is a cross sectional view of a conventional portable computing device. 
         FIG. 2  (Prior Art) is a planar view of a portion of the computing device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of a portable computing device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a planar view of a portion of the computing device of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart of a method of forming a device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart of a method of forming a device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS 
     Representative applications of methods and apparatus according to the present application are described in this section. These examples are being provided solely to add context and aid in the understanding of the described embodiments. It will thus be apparent to one skilled in the art that the described embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps have not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the described embodiments. Other applications are possible, such that the following examples should not be taken as limiting. 
     In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the description and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in accordance with the described embodiments. Although these embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the described embodiments, it is understood that these examples are not limiting; such that other embodiments may be used, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the described embodiments. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view of a conventional portable computing device  100 . The portable computing device  100  can include an enclosure  102 . The enclosure can form a cavity that can enclose various functional components for the portable computing device such as a battery, a processor, memory, wireless interfaces etc. The portable computing device  100  can include a display assembly  101  that can include a liquid crystal display, filters and a light source. The portable computing device  100  can include a cover glass  105  that can be attached to the enclosure  102  with an adhesive  103 . Disposed between cover glass  105  and enclosure  102  is a trim piece  110 . The trim piece  110  can absorb some shock that can be transmitted from enclosure  102  to cover glass  105  when portable computing device  100  is exposed to an impact along the X-axis as shown. Additionally trim piece  110  can be used to mask any tolerance build up problems that can be present in the design of portable computing device  100 , particularly in the area of the interface between the cover glass  105  and the enclosure  102 . 
     An impact along the X-axis can occur when portable computing device falls and lands on or near apex  115 . The edge profile  120  near apex  115  can define a narrow contact pad  125  (shown with cross hatched lines). A consequence of the narrow contact pad  125  is that forces subjected to the region of the narrow contact pad  125  are concentrated and can deliver a relatively sharper shock or impact in the region near narrow contact pad  125 , such as near cover glass  105 . In some cases, a blow or impact to the narrow contact pad  125  can cause damage to cover glass  105 , even with trim piece  110  available to absorb a portion of the impact forces. 
       FIG. 2  is a planar view of a portion of the device  100 . As shown, the device  100 , when viewed from above the cover glass  105 , includes a clear view of the trim piece  110 . The trim piece  110  extends about the cover glass  105 , and therefore is seen while a user is manipulating or using device  100 . As such, the trim piece  110  may detract from the overall aesthetic quality of device  100 . 
     However, exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatuses which overcome these and other drawbacks, as described below. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of a portable computing device  200  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Portable computing device  200  can include an enclosure  202 . The enclosure  202  can be formed from a resilient and sturdy material. In one embodiment, enclosure  202  can be formed from aluminum. Enclosure  202  can be shaped to form a cavity  204  to enclose and protect various components that can be included with the portable computing device  200  such as a processor, memory, wireless interfaces, battery, etc. Portable computing device can also include a display assembly  201  that can include a LCD display and a backlight. In one embodiment, the display assembly  201  can be configured to include a relatively smaller border area than conventional display assemblies. Smaller border areas can enable an active screen area to be affected to a lesser extent even when an overall size of the portable computing device  200  can be smaller than portable computing device  100 . 
     Adhesive  203  can be disposed on a support  220  formed within enclosure  202 . In one embodiment adhesive  203  can bond a cover glass  205  to enclosure  202 . The cover glass  205  can be bonded directly to enclosure  202  without any extra layers between cover glass  205  and enclosure  202  (such as trim piece  110  shown above). In one embodiment machining operations for the enclosure  202 , especially operations for forming support  220  and side wall  221  can be formed at relatively the same time thereby allowing relatively good control of tolerances associated with the opening configured to receive cover glass  205 . Machining operations for cover glass  205  can also be well controlled enabling the cover glass  205  to fit relatively well with a highly controlled gap  223  between enclosure  202  and cover glass  205 . 
     Enclosure  202  can include a gentle sweeping edge profile  225 . The edge profile  225  can form a broad contact pad  215 . The broad contact pad  215  can spread any impact forces received in this edge area over a relatively greater area than the narrow contact pad  125 . This larger area can absorb and distribute impact forces through more of enclosure  202 . The gentle sweeping edge profile  225  also provides a less prominent apex  235  in the edge area. The less prominent apex  235  can also help distribute impact forces received in the edge area. In one embodiment, apex  235  can be positioned on a 45 degree line emanating from top corner  222  of enclosure  202 . In another embodiment, the apex  235  can be positioned on a line at a differing angle than that illustrated, according to any desired structural or aesthetic characteristics of a finished product. 
     According to one embodiment, device  200  weighs approximately 0.7 lbs. According to another embodiment, device  200  weighs less than about 0.7 lbs. According to yet another embodiment, the device  200  weighs less than about 1.4 lbs. Accordingly, the relatively low weight of device  200  further enhances the applicability of the edge profile  225 , allowing for the clean lined top-down view without necessitating the additional trim piece  110  of device  100 . However, in some embodiments, a trim piece somewhat similar to trim piece  110  may be included for additional protection of cover glass  205 . 
     According to one embodiment, the gap  223  is approximately 0.05 mm. According to another embodiment, the gap  223  is less than about 0.05 mm. According to yet another embodiment, the gap  223  is slightly larger than about 0.05 mm. Accordingly, the small size of the gap  223  allows for a desirable and clean interface between the enclosure  202  and display panel glass  205  further enhancing aesthetics of the device  200 . 
       FIG. 4  is a planar view of a portion of the device  200 . As shown, the device  200 , when viewed from above the cover glass  205 , includes a clean and desirable interface between cover glass  205  and enclosure  202 , with only the relatively small gap  223  viewable. As such, the aesthetic quality of device  200  may be desirable. 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart  300  of a method of forming a device similar to device  200 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The method can begin in step  302  by receiving the enclosure  202 . In step  304 , a display assembly  201  can be mounted within the enclosure  202  and/or cavity  204 . In step  306 , adhesive  203  can be applied to the enclosure  202 . In one embodiment, adhesive  203  can be applied to support  220  on enclosure  202 . In another embodiment, adhesive  203  can be a pressure sensitive adhesive. In yet another embodiment, adhesive  203  can be a compliant foam with a pressure sensitive adhesive applied on two sides of the compliant foam. In step  308 , the cover glass  205  can be attached to the adhesive. 
     As described above, the enclosure  202  may be received, a display assembly mounted, and a cover glass attached. However, the same may be varied in many ways. For example, pressure sensitive adhesive may be applied in any step preceding application of the cover glass  205 . Furthermore, machining, polishing, and other steps may also be applicable. 
     For example,  FIG. 6  is a flow chart of a method  400  of forming a device similar to device  200 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The method  400  can begin in step  402  by forming the enclosure  202  with the sweeping edge profile  225  and associated sidewall  221  adjacent to support  220 . The forming may include forming the enclosure  202  from a single piece of aluminum, for example, using a machining device, cutting device, or any other suitable device to form the features described herein. 
     In step  404 , a display assembly  201  can be mounted within the enclosure  202  and/or cavity  204 . In step  406 , adhesive  203  can be applied to the enclosure  202 . In step  408 , the cover glass  205  can be attached to the adhesive. 
     The various aspects, embodiments, implementations or features of the described embodiments can be used separately or in any combination. Various aspects of the described embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware or a combination of hardware and software. The described embodiments can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable medium for controlling manufacturing operations or as computer readable code on a computer readable medium for controlling a manufacturing line. The computer readable medium is any data storage device that can store data which can thereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable medium include read-only memory, random-access memory, CD-ROMs, HDDs, DVDs, magnetic tape, and optical data storage devices. The computer readable medium can also be distributed over network-coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. 
     The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the described embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20130603
Publication Date: 20150602
Grant Date: 20150602
Priority Date: 20121019
Inventors: RAFF JOHN
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "Y10T156/10", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1626", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1637", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/16", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0266", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T156/10", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1637", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1637", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1656", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0266", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/16", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0217", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1626", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T156/10", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0266", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1637", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1637", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/16", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1626", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 50485122