Glass Cover Housing Structure for Narrow Display Borders

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for securing cover windows in portable electronic devices impede the usage of peripheral areas, and as devices become smaller and thinner, there is a need for improved techniques to support and secure these components without compromising the device's structure.

Innovation Solution

A housing structure is designed with a thin glass cover that is secured using mounting brackets and a frame, allowing for a narrow border between the active display area and the housing edge, enhancing structural integrity and protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional methods are used to secure cover windows, then the cover window can be protected, but the peripheral area usage is impeded and border thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecover window protectionVSAvoidborder thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into multiple components: a main housing body, a separate frame member, and mounting brackets. The frame member is attached to the housing body and provides additional structural support for the cover window, allowing the border thickness to be reduced while maintaining protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Mounting brackets are introduced as intermediary components between the cover window and the housing body. These brackets provide secure attachment points that allow the cover window to be firmly secured without requiring thick borders, thereby reducing border thickness while maintaining protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Length of moving object

If devices are made smaller and thinner, then portability is improved, but structural integrity becomes more difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice thicknessVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The housing structure is segmented into a main housing body, a frame member, and mounting brackets. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity even in thin-device configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing employs a composite structure combining different materials and components: the housing body provides the base structure, the frame member adds rigid support, and mounting brackets provide secure attachment points. This composite approach maintains structural integrity in thin-device designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3611594B1Housing for portable electronic device with reduced border region
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 APPLE INC
  • EP3611594B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3611594B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3611594B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~2E

AI summary

An electronic device having a housing structure that is configured to receive at least one glass cover is disclosed. The glass cover serves to cover a display assembly provided within the electronic device. The glass cover can be secured to the housing structure so as to facilitate providing a narrow border between an active display area and an outer edge of the housing structure. The enclosure for the electronic device can be thin yet be sufficiently strong to be suitable for use in electronic devices, such as portable electronic devices.