IP Library Granted Patent US 11,573,599
Granted Patent B2
US 11,573,599 · App. 17/019,151 · Granted Feb 7, 2023

Electrical connectors for electronic devices

Inventors: Eric T. Chiang (San Francisco, CA); Steven C. Roach (San Francisco, CA); Ross L. Jackson (San Francisco, CA); Maegan K. Spencer (La Honda, CA); William C. Lukens (San Francisco, CA); Michael R. Parker (Santa Cruz, CA); YoungHoon Kim (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: APPLE INC.
G06F1/163G06F1/1643G06F3/0412H01Q1/2283H04R1/025H04R1/026H04R1/2803H05K5/0017H05K5/0026
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,573,599
App. No.
17/019,151
Granted
Feb 7, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device can include a housing defining an aperture and a display assembly at least partially positioned in the aperture. The display assembly can include a substrate having a conductive portion, a display layer having pixels, a touch sensitive layer positioned on a first side of the substrate, an operational component positioned on a second side of the substrate opposite the first side, and a flexible electrical connector electrically coupled with the conductive portion and the operational component. The flexible electrical connector can include an electromagnetic antenna. A transparent cover can overlay the display assembly and can be secured to the housing.

Claims (23)

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing defining an aperture;

a display assembly at least partially positioned in the aperture, the display assembly comprising:

conductive portion;

a display layer comprising pixels;

a touch detection layer;

an operational component; and

a flexible electrical connector extending between the conductive portion and the operational component, the flexible connector having a first end directly connected to the conductive portion and a second end opposite the first end directly connected to the operational component, the flexible electrical connector in electrical communication with the conductive portion and the operational component, the flexible electrical connector comprising an electromagnetic antenna; and

a transparent cover overlying the display assembly and secured to the housing.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:

the flexible electrical connector comprises a first flexible electrical connector; and

the electronic device further comprises a second flexible electrical connector, comprising:

a first portion in electrical communication with the touch detection layer; and

a second portion in electrical communication with the display layer;

the first portion and the second portion joined together at an end portion of the second flexible electrical connector.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the second flexible electrical connector has an L-shape.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the second flexible electrical connector is in electrical communication with the display layer and the touch detection layer through a substrate.

5. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein:

the second flexible electrical connector is positioned on the second side of the substrate; and

the display assembly further comprises a portion of conductive material overlying the display layer and spanning an entire width thereof, the conductive material electrically grounding the display layer.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the portion of conductive material has a thickness of about 100 microns or less.

7. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the portion of conductive material comprises a conductive pressure sensitive adhesive.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the antenna comprises an NFC antenna.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2020
From: CHIANG, ERIC T.; ROACH, STEVEN C.; JACKSON, ROSS L.; SPENCER, MAEGAN K.; LUKENS, WILLIAM C.; PARKER, MICHAEL R.; KIM, YOUNGHOON
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 053863/0674 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63037987 · Jun 11, 2020
Related Publication 20210389797A1 · Dec 16, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,712,253