Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090266699 | Switch structures for use on printed circuit boards - An electrical contact area on a printed circuit board (“PCB”), that would otherwise be subject to abrasion and possibly also corrosion, can be protected by covering it with another, more durable contact structure that is bonded to the first-mentioned contact area using an anistropic conductive adhesive (“ACA”). The more durable contact structure may include a member of PCB material or the like with electrically connected electrical contacts on its upper and lower surfaces. At least the upper one of these contacts (which is exposed for the service that involves possible abrasion and/or corrosion) may be given high durability by plating it with hard gold. The lower of these contacts is adhered to the main PCB via the above-mentioned ACA. | 10-29-2009 |
20100061040 | HANDHELD COMPUTING DEVICE - A minimum Z height handheld electronic device and methods of assembly is described. The electronic device includes a single seamless housing having a front opening and a cover disposed within the front opening and attached to the seamless housing without a bezel. | 03-11-2010 |
20100061055 | HANDHELD COMPUTING DEVICE - A minimum Z height handheld electronic device and methods of assembly is described. The electronic device includes a single seamless housing having a front opening and a cover disposed within the front opening and attached to the seamless housing without a bezel. | 03-11-2010 |
20100146766 | HANDHELD COMPUTING DEVICE - A minimum Z height handheld electronic device and methods of assembly is described. The electronic device includes a single seamless housing having a front opening and a cover disposed within the front opening and attached to the seamless housing without a bezel. | 06-17-2010 |
20110051360 | HANDHELD COMPUTING DEVICE - A handheld computing device is disclosed. The handheld computing device includes a seamless housing formed from an extruded tube. The extruded tube includes open ends and internal rails which serve as a guide for slidably assembling an operational assembly through the open ends of the extruded tube, a reference surface for positioning the operational assembly relative to an access opening in the seamless housing, and a support structure for supporting the operational assembly during use. | 03-03-2011 |
20120055767 | WATER INHIBITING SLIDE SWITCH - Electromechanical switches are provided. The electromechanical switches can include conductive components that are configured to change position relative to one another in response to a mechanical input. The electromechanical switch can include a distribution mechanism for replenishing a moisture inhibiting layer, such as an oleophobic material, on surface portions of conductive components within the switch. During actuation of the electromechanical switch, the distribution mechanism can be configured to reapply the moisture inhibiting material to the surface portions of the conductive components to prevent damage resulting from moisture intrusion. | 03-08-2012 |
20120281354 | COOLING SYSTEM FOR MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICES - A cooling system for a mobile computing device configured to drive two devices, a fan and an alert device. The fan cools components of the mobile computing device by exchanging air between an inner cavity of the mobile computing device and an outer environment surrounding the mobile computing device. The alert device produces an alert, e.g., a vibration, for the mobile computing device. The cooling system includes a motor operably connected to a first device (either the fan or the alert device) and operably connected via a clutch to a second device (either the fan or the alert device). The clutch allows the second device to be selectively activated depending on a speed or rotational direction of a drive shaft of the motor. | 11-08-2012 |
20120281380 | HOUSING FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH REDUCED BORDER REGION - An electronic device having a housing structure that is configured to receive at least one glass cover is disclosed. The glass cover serves to cover a display assembly provided within the electronic device. The glass cover can be secured to the housing structure so as to facilitate providing a narrow border between an active display area and an outer edge of the housing structure. The enclosure for the electronic device can be thin yet be sufficiently strong to be suitable for use in electronic devices, such as portable electronic devices. | 11-08-2012 |
20120286943 | VIBRATION IN PORTABLE DEVICES - One embodiment may take the form of a method of reducing noise from vibration of a device on a hard surface. The method includes activating a haptic device to indicate an alert and sensing an audible level during activation of the haptic device. Additionally, the method includes determining if the audible level exceeds a threshold and initiating mitigation routines to reduce the audible level to a level below the threshold if the threshold is exceeded. | 11-15-2012 |
20130010405 | FLEXIBLE DISPLAY DEVICES - Electronic devices may be provided that contain multiple housing portions. The housing portions may be coupled together using hinges. The hinges may include hinges based on a three-bar linkage, hinges based on a four-bar linkage, hinges with slotted members, hinges formed from flexible support structures, and hinges based on flexible housing structures. Flexible displays may be mounted to the housing portions overlapping the hinges. When the housing portions in a device are rotated relative to each other, the flexible display may bend. The hinge may be configured to allow the flexible display to be placed in a front-to-front configuration in which an active side of the display faces itself or a back-to-back configuration. Engagement structures may be used to help the housing grip external objects and to hold the housing portions together. The hinges may be provided with rotational detents to help hold the flexible display in desired positions. | 01-10-2013 |
20130019207 | Removable Clip With User InterfaceAANM Rothkopf; Fletcher R.AACI Mountain ViewAAST CAAACO USAAGP Rothkopf; Fletcher R. Mountain View CA USAANM Dabov; TeodorAACI San FranciscoAAST CAAACO USAAGP Dabov; Teodor San Francisco CA US - Various embodiments of removable user interfaces, electronic computing devices, and systems are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a body having a bend and a user interface area, a connector adapted to couple to a corresponding connector on an electronic device, and a plurality of conductive elements. The bend enables the user interface area to wrap around a portion of the electronic device when the connector is coupled to the corresponding connector on the electronic device. In another embodiment, a portable electronic system includes a removable user interface and an electronic computing device having a display surface, where the removable user interface is couplable to the electronic computing device such that the removable user interface is disposed over at least a part of the display surface. | 01-17-2013 |
20130021280 | HANDHELD COMPUTING DEVICE - A minimum Z height handheld electronic device and methods of assembly is described. The electronic device includes a single seamless housing having a front opening and a cover disposed within the front opening and attached to the seamless housing without a bezel. | 01-24-2013 |
20130076965 | PARTIALLY LIT SENSOR - An image sensing system for an electronic device. The image sensing system includes a lens and an image sensor. The image sensor includes a indirectly lit area of pixels and a directly lit area of pixels. The lens is in optical communication with the directly lit area of pixels. | 03-28-2013 |
20130086373 | CUSTOMIZED CONTENT FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES - A method for providing customized content to an electronic device. The method may include activating the electronic device through a packaging that substantially surrounds the electronic device, without substantially damaging or removing the packaging. Once the device is activating, connecting the electronic device to a content and providing the content to the electronic device without substantially damaging or removing the packaging. | 04-04-2013 |
20130098191 | SHIM SLEEVE FOR PIVOTING BUTTONS - A shim sleeve for pivot buttons is described herein. One embodiment may take the form of button assembly with a stem and a receiving portion pivotally coupled to the stem. The stem is positioned within an aperture of the receiving portion, with the aperture providing a gap between the receiving portion and the stem. A shim sleeve having non-uniform thickness is coupled over the stem and positioned between the receiving portion and the stem. The shim sleeve is configured to reduce the gap between the receiving portion and the stem. | 04-25-2013 |
20130148315 | Electronic Devices with Tubular Flexible Circuitry - An electronic device may be provided that has flexible circuitry such as spiral wrapped flexible circuitry. Flexible circuitry may be connected to one or more sides of an electronic component such as rigid printed circuit board or coupled between a rigid printed circuit board an another device component. Flexible circuitry may include an adhesive strip for maintaining a spiral wrap configuration of the flexible circuitry. An adhesive strip may be covered by a removable protective liner during manufacturing of an electronic device so that the flexible circuitry may be tested in a flat, unrolled configuration prior to installation in the electronic device. Flexible circuitry may include a conductive layer configured to form an electromagnetic shield for an electronic component mounted in the spiral wrap. Flexible circuitry may be wrapped around an elongated support member that is mounted along an edge of the electronic component. | 06-13-2013 |
20130156242 | HANDHELD COMPUTING DEVICE - A handheld computing device is disclosed. The handheld computing device includes a seamless housing formed from an extruded metal tube. The extruded tube includes open ends and internal rails which serve as a guide for slidably assembling an operational assembly through the open ends of the extruded tube, a reference surface for positioning the operational assembly relative to an access opening in the seamless housing, and a support structure for supporting the operational assembly during use. | 06-20-2013 |
20130207851 | Electronic Device With Component Trim Antenna - An optical component such as a camera, an acoustic component such as a speaker, or other electrical component may be mounted on the surface of an electronic device housing. A window structure may overlap the component. The window structure may be formed from an optically transparent material to allow light to pass or may be formed from an acoustically transparent material to allow acoustic signals to pass. A conductive structure such as a metal member may surround at least part of the periphery of the window structure. The conductive structure may serve as an antenna structure for an antenna. Radio-frequency transceiver circuitry may be coupled to an antenna feed for the antenna using a radio-frequency transmission line. The conductive structure may serve as a cosmetic trim for the electrical component. | 08-15-2013 |
20130215638 | Methods For Assembling Electronic Devices Using Embedded Light Guide Structures - Electronic devices may include assemblies of structures such as electronic device assemblies connected using light-cured liquid adhesive such as ultraviolet-light-cured adhesive. Light guide structures may be mounted in the assemblies. During manufacture of an electronic device, ultraviolet light may be injected into a light guide structure to cure the light-cured liquid adhesive. A light guide structure may include portions that prevent escape of ultraviolet light and portions that allow ultraviolet light to escape into the light-cured liquid adhesive. Light guide structures may include masked portions, rigid support members, and one or more openings. Openings in a light guide structure may allow the light-cured liquid adhesive to be injected into an assembly through the openings. An adhesive applicator may be used to apply the adhesive to portions of the assembly. An external light source may be used to inject light that cures the adhesive into the light guide structures. | 08-22-2013 |
20130335275 | Structures for Shielding and Mounting Components in Electronic Devices - An electronic device may be provided with a conductive housing. An antenna window structure may be formed in an opening in the housing. The antenna window structure may have an antenna support structure that is attached to the conductive housing and that supports antenna structures. An antenna window cap may be mounted in the opening and attached to the antenna support structure with liquid adhesive. Alignment structures may be provided in the antenna support structure. An antenna support plate with mating alignment structures may be used in attaching the antenna structures to the antenna support structures. Metal shielding structures may be used to provide electromagnetic shielding. A shielding wall may be formed from a sheet metal structure supported by a plastic support structure. A flexible metal shielding foil layer may be welded to the shielding wall using a sacrificial plate. | 12-19-2013 |
20130342099 | Displays with Vias - An electronic device may include a display. The display may be an organic light-emitting diode display. The organic light-emitting diode display may have a substrate layer, a layer of organic light-emitting diode structures, and a layer of sealant. Vias may be formed in the substrate layer. The vias may be formed before completion of the display or after completion of the display. The vias may be filled with metal using electroplating or other metal deposition techniques. The vias may be connected to contacts on the rear surface of the display. The vias may be located in active regions of the display or inactive regions of the display. The display may include a top surface emission portion and a bottom surface emission portion. | 12-26-2013 |
20140028902 | Electronic Device With Input-Output Component Mounting Structures - An electronic device may have a housing such as a metal housing. Openings may be formed in the housing to accommodate a button, to form a camera window, to form a microphone port, and to form a camera flash window. An input-output component mounting member may be used to mount input-output components to the housing of the electronic device. The input-output component mounting member may have a recess that mates with a corresponding protrusion on the housing. Screws may attach the input-output component mounting member to the housing. The protrusion and recess in the input-output component mounting member may ensure that the input-output component mounting member is accurately aligned with respect to the housing. Input-output components such as a microphone, button switch, camera, and camera flash may be mounted to the electronic device with the input-output component mounting member. | 01-30-2014 |
20140104807 | ESD PROTECTION IN A VERY SMALL FORM FACTOR CONSUMER ELECTRONIC PRODUCT - A very small form factor consumer electronic product includes at least a single piece housing having an integral front and side walls that cooperate to form a cavity in cooperation with a front opening where an edge of the side walls define a rear opening and at least some of the edges have flanges. The consumer electronic product also includes an user input assembly having a size and shape in accordance with the front opening and a clip assembly having a size and shape in accordance with the rear opening and having an external user actionable clip, a plurality of internal hooking features, and a plurality of internal latching features. The clip assembly is secured by engaging at least some of the hooking features and the flanges on the edges of the housing and engaging the latching features and corresponding attachment features on the internal support plate. | 04-17-2014 |
20140147703 | BATTERY SAFETY CIRCUIT AND TAB PLACEMENT AND ORIENTATION - In a first embodiment, a battery pouch has a long edge seal and a short edge seal. An electrical connection tab is positioned on the short edge seal and at least a portion of a power control module is positioned on the long edge seal. In a second embodiment, a battery pouch has a long edge seal and a short edge seal. An electrical connection tab and at least a portion of a power control module are positioned on the long edge seal. | 05-29-2014 |
20140328041 | Flexible Display Devices - Electronic devices may be provided that contain multiple housing portions. The housing portions may be coupled together using hinges. The hinges may include hinges based on a three-bar linkage, hinges based on a four-bar linkage, hinges with slotted members, hinges formed from flexible support structures, and hinges based on flexible housing structures. Flexible displays may be mounted to the housing portions overlapping the hinges. When the housing portions in a device are rotated relative to each other, the flexible display may bend. The hinge may be configured to allow the flexible display to be placed in a front-to-front configuration in which an active side of the display faces itself or a back-to-back configuration. Engagement structures may be used to help the housing grip external objects and to hold the housing portions together. The hinges may be provided with rotational detents to help hold the flexible display in desired positions. | 11-06-2014 |
20140333490 | Electronic Device With Component Trim Antenna - An optical component such as a camera, an acoustic component such as a speaker, or other electrical component may be mounted on the surface of an electronic device housing. A window structure may overlap the component. The window structure may be formed form an optically transparent material to allow light to pass or may be formed from an acoustically transparent material to allow acoustic signals to pass. A conductive structure such as a metal member may surround at least part of the periphery of the window structure. The conductive structure may serve as an antenna structure for an antenna. Radio-frequency transceiver circuitry may be coupled to an antenna feed for the antenna using a radio-frequency transmission line. The conductive structure may serve as a cosmetic trim for the electrical component. | 11-13-2014 |