High transparency integrated enclosure touch screen assembly for a portable hand held device

A portable electronic device comprising:

• a housing comprising a transparent top surface and at least one lens structure, wherein said at least one lens structure is integrated into said housing;
• a display device disposed within said housing directly below said transparent surface and viewable through said transparent surface;
• a light source disposed within said housing and for generating light;
• and
• an optical sensor integrated into said housing and for detecting an object in proximity to said transparent surface based upon interference with said light by said object, and for detecting a set of coordinates of said object based upon said interference;
• wherein the light source, the at least one lens structure and the optical sensor are enclosed within a single piece cover of the housing, the single piece cover including the transparent top surface, the lens structure embedded within the transparent top surface.

A housing for a portable electronic device, said housing comprising:

• a single piece cover including a transparent top surface disposed directly above a display;
• a first integrated lens structure for interfacing with a light source, said first integrated lens structure further for directing light from said light source parallel to said transparent surface, said first integrated lens structure further for enabling interference between said light and an object located in proximity to said transparent surface;
• and
• a second integrated lens structure for interfacing with an optical sensor integrated into said housing, said second integrated lens structure further for receiving a portion of said light and for detecting a position of said object with respect to said transparent surface based upon said interference, and
• wherein the display, the light source and the optical sensor are enclosed within the single piece cover, and the first and second integrated lens structures are embedded within the transparent top surface.