Wedge-Shaped Portable Computing Device Housing Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable computing devices face challenges in achieving a balance between being lightweight, durable, and aesthetically pleasing, with traditional metal enclosures often compromising on one or more of these aspects due to conflicting design goals such as rigidity, weight, and aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
A wedge-shaped portable computing device design featuring a lightweight and durable outer housing with a hollow clutch assembly and integrally formed fastening components, incorporating a high-speed memory card and card connector with short signal paths and a split ground plane, along with a touchpad made from glass for reduced thickness and improved ergonomics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional metal enclosures are used to provide structural rigidity, then strength is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials in the enclosure design, combining different materials with complementary properties. The top case uses a composite structure that provides high strength-to-weight ratio, while the bottom case incorporates materials that balance durability and lightness. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by achieving structural rigidity without the excessive weight of traditional solid metal enclosures.
2Weight of moving object
If enclosure thickness is reduced to decrease weight, then weight is improved, but strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is segmented into multiple functional layers and components. The top case is divided into distinct sections with different thicknesses and material compositions optimized for specific regions. This segmentation allows thinner overall construction while maintaining strength where needed through strategic reinforcement rather than uniform thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
Composite materials with high strength-to-weight ratios are used to enable reduced thickness. The multi-layer composite structure provides adequate structural strength even at reduced thickness, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and strength maintenance.
3Speed
If high-speed memory card connector with short signal paths is implemented, then speed is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The memory card connector implements short signal paths by transitioning to a different dimensional approach - using direct vertical contacts and optimized signal routing in the Z-dimension rather than long horizontal traces. This dimensional change achieves high-speed performance without proportionally increasing planar complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector design replaces complex mechanical signal routing with optimized electrical contact geometry. The short signal paths are achieved through direct electrical contacts and minimized trace lengths, substituting mechanical complexity with streamlined electrical design.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable computing device includes at least a base portion of a lightweight material that includes at least a wedge shaped top case having a trough formed at an interfacing edge thereof. The trough includes a raised portion having a first contact surface and a receiving area, and a bottom case coupled to the top case to form a complete housing for at least a portion of the portable computing device for enclosing at least a plurality of operational components and a plurality of structural components. The portable computing device also includes at least a lid portion pivotally connected to the base portion by a hinge assembly. In the described embodiments, the lid portion has a display in communication with one or more of the plurality of components in the base portion by way of or more electrical conductors that electrically connect the base portion to the lid portion.