# US 8,238,087 B2 · Display module

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- Number: US 8,238,087 B2
- Document ID: US8238087B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/694,168
- Filed: 2010-01-26
- Published: 2011-07-07
- Granted: 2012-08-07
- Earliest claimed: 2010-01-06
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Stephen R. McClure; Joshua D. Banko; John P. Ternus; Matthew B. Morris; Peter M. Thompson; Kevin Gibbs; Timothy G. Van Vorhis; Martin B. Adamcyk; Arthur J. Lucchesi; Brian S. Carpenter
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8238087B2

## CPC

- G06F 1/1637: {Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing}
- G06F 1/1613: {for portable computers (cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202)}
- G06F 1/1626: {with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]}
- G06F 1/1643: {the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads (details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615)}
- G06F 1/1656: {Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203)}
- G06F 1/182: {with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]}
- H04B 1/3888: Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
- H04M 1/0252: {by means of a snap-on mechanism}
- H04M 1/0266: {for a display module assembly}
- H04M 1/0277: {for a printed circuit board assembly}
- H05K 1/0281: {Reinforcement details thereof}
- H05K 1/118: {specially for flexible printed circuits, e.g. using folded portions}
- H05K 1/147: {at least one of the printed circuits being bent or folded, e.g. by using a flexible printed circuit (H05K1/148 takes precedence)}
- Y10S 248/917: Video display screen support
- Y10T 29/49004: including measuring or testing of device or component part
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- Y10T 292/1076: Link and lever
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include a single piece housing and a display module. The display module can include a protective top glass cover that is bonded to a plastic display frame and surrounded by a seal frame. The display module can also include a display panel and its associated circuitry suspended from the display frame below the protective glass cover. The display module is coupled to the single piece housing mounting clips in a manner that allows the display module to move relative to the single piece housing during an impact event. The plastic display frame can include inserts that provide structural support near openings in the single piece housing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A portable computing device, comprising:
a single piece housing having a front opening, the single piece housing further comprising an integral bottom and side walls that cooperate to form a cavity in cooperation with the front opening, an edge of the side walls surrounding and defining the front opening;
a display module disposed within the front opening and secured to the seamless housing without a bezel, the display module comprising:
a display frame;
a display panel supported by the display frame;
a protective cover supported by the display frame used to protect the display panel; and
a plurality of attachment features incorporated into the display frame, wherein the plurality of attachment features secure the display module to the housing without using a bezel when the portable computing device is deemed to be adequately functional.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The portable computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein prior to being placed within the front opening, the display module is electrically coupled to components previously placed within the cavity, at least one of which provides power to the display module.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The portable computing device as recited in claim 2, wherein after the display module is connected to the previously placed components, the portable computing device is functionally tested.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The portable computing device as recited in claim 3, wherein if the portable computing device passes the functional testing, then the plurality of attachment features secure the display panel to the housing, otherwise the display panel is removed from the front opening.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The portable computing device, as recited in claim 4, wherein the plurality of attachment features comprise attachment snaps, the attachment snaps having an extendable securing portion, wherein the attachment snaps secure the display panel to the housing by extending the securing portion into a recess formed in the side wall, otherwise the extendable securing portion of each of the plurality of attachment snaps are constrained from extending into the recess by a constraining device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The portable computing device as recited in claim 5, wherein if the portable computing device passes the functional testing, then the constraining device is removed and the securing portion of the attachment snaps extend into the recess to secure the display panel to the housing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The portable computing device as recited in claim 5, wherein after the display module is secured to the housing, the display module is removed from the front opening by serially breaking the plurality of attachment snaps.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The portable computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of attachment features comprise compressible mounting clips, wherein the compressible mounting clips are placed between the edge of the front opening and a display panel protective seal.

### Claim 9

A method comprising:
electrically connecting a display module configured for use in a portable computing device to at least one operational component located within a cavity formed by a housing of the portable computing device;
temporarily securing the display module to a front opening that provides access to the cavity, the temporarily secured display module effectively enclosing the at least one operational component within the housing;
functionally testing the portable computing device; and
if the portable computing device passes the functional testing, then securing the display module to the housing without using a bezel, otherwise, removing the display panel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the display module comprises a plurality of attachment features, wherein the plurality of attachment features comprise attachment snaps each having an extendable securing portion that secure the display module to the housing by extending into a recess formed in the housing.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the display module is temporarily secured to the housing by,
placing the display module within the open; and
using a restraining device to restrain the extendable securing portion from extending into the recess.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method as recited in claim 11, wherein when the portable computing device passes the functional testing, then securing the display module to the housing by removing the restraining device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the restraining device is a shim.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method as recited in claim 12, wherein after the display module is secured to the housing, the display module is detached from the housing by serially breaking the plurality of attachment snaps.

### Claim 15

A method of assembling a display module to a portable computing device without using a bezel, the portable computing device having a single piece housing, the single piece housing having a front opening, an integral bottom and side walls that cooperate to form a cavity in cooperation with the front opening, and an edge of the side walls surrounding and defining the front opening, comprising:
placing the display module within the front opening and secured to the seamless housing without using a bezel; and
deploying an attachment feature, the attachment feature being incorporated into the display module.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the display module is secured to the housing by activating the deployed attachment feature.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the attachment feature comprises a extendable securing portion.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the attachment feature is activated by causing the extendable securing feature to extend into and engage a recess formed in the side wall, otherwise the extendable securing portion is constrained from extending into the recess by a constraining device.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the constraining device is shim.