Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080200069 | UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS PLUG AND SOCKET COUPLING ARRANGEMENTS - A Universal Serial Bus socket-equipped arrangement (USB-SEA) configured for mating with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug having a plug metal housing and an aperture disposed in the plug metal housing. The arrangement includes a plug-receiving cavil configured to receive the USB plug. The arrangement further includes a spring-loaded mechanism disposed within the plug-receiving cavity. The spring-loaded mechanism is biased toward an interior region of the plug-receiving cavity. The spring-loaded mechanism is also configured to slide along the connector metal housing of the USB plug when the USB plug is inserted into the plug-receiving cavity and to movably mate with the aperture disposed in the plug metal housing when the USB plug is in a terminal mating position with the USB socket assembly. The spring-loaded mechanism represents one of a spring-loaded ball and a spring-loaded pin. | 08-21-2008 |
20090078553 | COSMETIC DOME SWITCH - The systems and methods described herein are directed to a switch for use in an electronic device. The switching assembly may include an elastically deformable actuator having a conductive inner surface and a cosmetic outer surface. The actuator may be disposed on an exterior surface of an enclosure that houses an electric circuit board of the electronic device. The enclosure may have one or more openings for providing an electrical connection between the actuator and the enclosed circuit of the electronic device. When the actuator is pressed, an electrical circuit may be closed and electric current may flow through the conductive inner surface of the actuator. The actuator may be combined with a perimeter element for snapping on and off the enclosure. | 03-26-2009 |
20090141459 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING HOLES THROUGH PORTIONS OF A HOUSING OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Electronic devices are provided with housing components that have improved aesthetics. One or more holes may be formed through an extruded portion of the housing. | 06-04-2009 |
20100142164 | ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS COUPLED TO CIRCUIT BOARDS - The present invention can facilitate the coupling between electrical components and a circuit board after the circuit board is inserted into a housing of an electronic device. An electrical component can be integrated with a flexible circuit of another electrical component. The flexible circuit can be electrically and mechanically coupled to the circuit board after the circuit board is inserted into the housing. Alternatively, electrical contacts can be disposed on a body of the electrical component and a complementary set of electrical contacts can be disposed on the circuit board. When the circuit board is disposed within a receptacle of the electrical component, the electrical contacts on the electrical component are coupled directly to the electrical contacts on the circuit board. | 06-10-2010 |
20100167574 | UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS PLUG AND RECEPTACLE COUPLING ARRANGEMENTS - A Universal Serial Bus socket-equipped arrangement (USB-SEA) configured for mating with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug having a plug metal housing and an aperture disposed in the plug metal housing. The arrangement includes a plug-receiving cavity configured to receive the USB plug. The arrangement further includes a spring-loaded mechanism disposed within the plug-receiving cavity. The spring-loaded mechanism is biased toward an interior region of the plug-receiving cavity. The spring-loaded mechanism is also configured to slide along the connector metal housing of the USB plug when the USB plug is inserted into the plug-receiving cavity and to movably mate with the aperture disposed in the plug metal housing when the USB plug is in a terminal mating position with the USB socket assembly. The spring-loaded mechanism represents one of a spring-loaded ball and a spring-loaded pin. | 07-01-2010 |
20100265676 | SUPPORT TABS FOR PROTECTING A CIRCUIT BOARD FROM APPLIED FORCES - The present invention can relate to an electronic device having one or more support tabs that protect a circuit board disposed inside the device from externally applied compressive forces. In particular, when a force is applied to a housing of the device, the support tabs can buttress the housing of the device, either directly or through other intervening components disposed within the device, to reduce the likelihood that the housing or intervening components will contact and damage the circuit board. The present invention also can relate to methods for manufacturing such an electronic device. | 10-21-2010 |
20100271790 | MULTI-CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY - The present invention can relate to multiple-connector assemblies for use in, for example, electronic devices. Each of the connectors are constrained to another connector by aligning one or more complementary sets of reference features. A locating bracket may be used to couple multiple connectors together. Alternatively, the connectors may be coupled to each other directly. The electronic device also may include a retainer coupled to the connectors (either directly or indirectly through the locating bracket). The retainer and a surface of one of the connectors may form a single plane to which an end cap of the housing may be coupled, thereby accurately locating the end cap with respect to the connectors. The present invention also can relate to methods of manufacturing such an electronic device. | 10-28-2010 |
20110195187 | DIRECT LIQUID VAPORIZATION FOR OLEOPHOBIC COATINGS - This is directed to a liquid vaporization process for depositing an oleophobic ingredient on a surface of an electronic device component using a PVD process. A raw liquid material that includes the oleophobic ingredient can be placed in a liquid supply system coupled to a vacuum chamber. The liquid supply system can be pressured by an inert gas to prevent undesired chemical reactions between the oleophobic ingredient and air. The liquid, including the oleophobic ingredient, can vaporize upon reaching the vaporizing unit, and the oleophobic ingredient can be deposited on the component. | 08-11-2011 |
20120075814 | SUPPORT TABS FOR PROTECTING A CIRCUIT BOARD FROM APPLIED FORCES - The present invention can relate to an electronic device having one or more support tabs that protect a circuit board disposed inside the device from externally applied compressive forces. In particular, when a force is applied to a housing of the device, the support tabs can buttress the housing of the device, either directly or through other intervening components disposed within the device, to reduce the likelihood that the housing or intervening components will contact and damage the circuit board. The present invention also can relate to methods for manufacturing such an electronic device. | 03-29-2012 |
20120170236 | ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS COUPLED TO CIRCUIT BOARDS - The present invention can facilitate the coupling between electrical components and a circuit board after the circuit board is inserted into a housing of an electronic device. An electrical component can be integrated with a flexible circuit of another electrical component. The flexible circuit can be electrically and mechanically coupled to the circuit board after the circuit board is inserted into the housing. Alternatively, electrical contacts can be disposed on a body of the electrical component and a complementary set of electrical contacts can be disposed on the circuit board. When the circuit board is disposed within a receptacle of the electrical component, the electrical contacts on the electrical component are coupled directly to the electrical contacts on the circuit board. | 07-05-2012 |
20130321237 | COMPONENTS OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHODS FOR THEIR ASSEMBLY - Various components of an electronic device housing and methods for their assembly are disclosed. The housing can be formed by assembling and connecting two or more different sections together. The sections of the housing may be coupled together using one or more coupling members. The coupling members may be formed using a two-shot molding process in which the first shot forms a structural portion of the coupling members, and the second shot forms cosmetic portions of the coupling members. | 12-05-2013 |
20140016303 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING HOLES THROUGH PORTIONS OF A HOUSING OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Electronic devices are provided with housing components that have improved aesthetics. One or more holes may be formed through an extruded portion of the housing. | 01-16-2014 |
20140109382 | METHODS FOR SECURING FEATURES TO HOUSINGS - A housing for an electronic device as well as methods for forming the housing are disclosed. The housing can be formed from a substrate having perforations to assist in adhering components internal to the housing. The substrate is typically a multi-layer substrate having at least two layers. In one embodiment, an inner layer of the multi-layer substrate can be provided with perforations. The perforations can them be used to adhere internal features to the multi-layer substrate. The internal features can be used for attaching parts or components to the multi-layer substrate, thereby securing the parts or components to the multi-layer substrate and thus the housing. | 04-24-2014 |
20140174607 | RETENTION OF MAGNETIC PROPERTIES - Methods, systems, and apparatuses for retaining magnetic properties of magnetic elements while undergoing manufacturing processes are presented. In one embodiment, a manufacturing fixture includes a temperature controlled region suitable for retaining a magnetic element. The manufacturing fixture also includes a cooling mechanism configured to maintain the magnetic element at an acceptable temperature range during a thermally active manufacturing process. The temperature controlled or stabilized region can include a structure configured to receive the magnetic element and a sensor, or sensors. In one embodiment, the sensor can be configured to measure an ambient temperature of the temperature stabilized region. In another embodiment, the sensor can be a magnetic sensor configured to determine a magnetic property of the magnetic element. | 06-26-2014 |