Seamless Housing Display Module with Embedded Metal Reinforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable computing devices face challenges in enclosure design, requiring a balance between being lighter, stronger, and aesthetically pleasing, while also simplifying assembly processes and reducing component complexity to enhance durability and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A portable computing device with a single piece seamless housing that integrates a display module without a bezel, using a metal or plastic housing with a protective glass cover and attachment features for secure mounting, allowing for easier assembly and improved durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If thinner plastic structures and fewer fasteners are used to make the enclosure lighter, then weight is reduced, but the enclosure becomes more flexible and prone to buckling and bowing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a polymer housing structure with a metal reinforcement component. The polymer provides lightweight construction while the metal reinforcement embedded within the housing provides structural rigidity and resistance to buckling and bowing, creating a composite structure that achieves both light weight and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by providing metal reinforcement specifically at critical stress points within the housing structure rather than uniformly throughout. This localized reinforcement approach provides necessary structural support to prevent buckling and bowing while maintaining overall lightweight construction and aesthetic appearance.
2Strength
If thicker plastic structures and more fasteners are used to make the enclosure stronger, then strength and rigidity are improved, but the enclosure becomes thicker and carries more weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials to achieve high strength without excessive weight. By combining polymer and metal components, the structure gains the strength of metal while maintaining the lightweight advantage of polymer, avoiding the need for thick plastic structures that would increase weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the structural reinforcement function from the plastic housing itself and separates it into a distinct metal reinforcement component. This allows the plastic housing to be thin and lightweight while the metal reinforcement provides the necessary strength and rigidity, eliminating the need for thick plastic structures.
3Strength
If multiple parts are screwed, bolted, or riveted together to make the enclosure stronger, then strength is improved, but assembly becomes time consuming and complex with visible cracks, seams, and gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple housing parts into a single integrated housing structure with embedded metal reinforcement. This eliminates the need for separate components that would require screwing, bolted, or riveted connections, thereby simplifying assembly and removing visible cracks, seams, and gaps while maintaining structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal reinforcement is preliminarily embedded within the housing structure during manufacturing rather than being added as a separate assembly step. This preliminary integration eliminates the need for complex assembly operations and visible fasteners, creating a seamless structure that is both strong and simple to manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
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 using 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.