Methods and apparatus for a rugged mobile device housing

Abstract

A rugged mobile device housing is provided for protecting a component (e.g., a liquid crystal display, a keyboard, a printed circuit board, or the like) and includes one or more first structures comprising a first material provided in a region of the housing capable of withstanding deflection, wherein the first material is an elastomer, and one or more second structures bonded to the first structure, wherein the second structure is a high-stiffness plastic. In one embodiment, the first material is a high-stiffness elastomer and the second material is a long glass fiber filled thermoplastic (“LGF” plastic). In one embodiment, the first structure is located at a corner of the housing and the second structure is located in the middle of the housing. In another embodiment, the first structure is located in the center of the housing and the second structures are located at the ends. In yet another embodiment, a projecting handle and hinge are provided, where the first structure is located at the handle and the second structure is located at the hinge.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates generally to mobile device housings and, more particularly, to a rugged mobile device housing elastically tailored to the application and incorporating multiple materials. BACKGROUND [0002] Mobile devices such as cellular phones, personal data assistants (PDAs), and the like often incorporate components that are susceptible to shock damage incurred during an impact event. Such components include, for example, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), keyboards, printed circuit boards (PCBs), and other structures prone to breaking under moderate stress. [0003] Conventional housings aimed at addressing this problem in mobile devices often incorporate a stiff frame (e.g., a die-cast magnesium frame), which provides internal structure and thereby prevents large deflections. Such frames, however, take up a significant amount of space and add yet another costly component to the system. [0004] In order to accommodate sudden shock, conventional hou...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] In accordance with the present invention, a rugged mobile device housing for protecting a component (e.g., a liquid crystal display, a keyboard, a printed circuit board, or the like) includes one or more first structures comprising a first material provided in a region of the housing capable of withstanding deflection, wherein the first material is an elastomer, and one or more second structures bonded to the first structure, wherein the second structure is a high-stiffness, high-impact-resistance plastic. The elasticity of the housing is thereby tailored by combining sections made from a stiff plastic (where deflection needs to be minimized) with adjacent sections made from a stiff elastomer (where shock absorption is desired and large deflections can be tolerated). Such tailored elasticity is of particular utility in mobile computing devices with large displays where a small form factor and rugged design is desired.

Problems solved by technology

Mobile devices such as cellular phones, personal data assistants (PDAs), and the like often incorporate components that are susceptible to shock damage incurred during an impact event.

Such frames, however, take up a significant amount of space and add yet another costly component to the system.

The use of such elastomers, however, often requires additional internal components or over-molded, wear-resistant plastics on the outside of the device housing.

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