IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,162,442
Granted Patent B2
US 10,162,442 · App. 14/039,451 · Granted Dec 25, 2018

Compliant support for a display device

Inventors: Chien-Hui Wen (Redmond, WA); Adam Petri (Seattle, WA); Stephan Alexander Cummings (Wilsonville, OR); Eric M. Leong (Kirkland, WA); Kabir Siddiqui (Sammamish, WA)
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
G06F3/0414G06F1/1637G06F3/0488
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,162,442
App. No.
14/039,451
Filed
Sep 27, 2013
Granted
Dec 25, 2018
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2185
USPC
710/305
Abstract

A compliant support for a display device is described. In one or more implementations, an apparatus includes an external enclosure configured to assume a mobile computing device configuration and one or more computing components secured by and disposed within the external enclosure. The one or more computing components are configured to perform one or more operations that are specified by software. A display device is secured to the external enclosure such that the display device is viewable by a user, the display device supporting touchscreen functionality. A compliant support is disposed between the one or more computing components and the display device, the compliant support configured to reduce deflection of the display device by compression of the compliant support, the deflection caused in response to contact against a surface of the display device.

Claims (37)

1. An apparatus comprising:

an external enclosure configured as a mobile computing device configuration;

one or more computing components secured by and disposed within a cavity formed within the external enclosure, the one or more computing components configured to perform one or more operations that are specified by software;

a display device secured to the external enclosure such that the display device is viewable by a user, the display device supporting touchscreen functionality; and

a compliant support disposed between the one or more computing components and the display device, the compliant support filling-in gaps in the cavity formed within the external enclosure and reducing deflection of the display device by compression of the compliant support, the deflection caused in response to contact against a surface of the display device, wherein the compliant support includes a first zone and a second zone, each comprising a same deformable material, the first zone and the second zone having different amounts of resistance to compression, wherein:

the deformable material has a plurality of holes into which the deformable material flows when the compliant support is compressed, and

the different amounts of resistance to compression are caused by the first zone having different sizes and/or frequency of holes than the second zone.

2. An apparatus as described in claim 1 , wherein the compliant support is configured to reduce the deflection by the contact which is part of a touch input provided to interact with the touchscreen functionality of the display device.

3. An apparatus as described in claim 1 , wherein the compliant support is configured to reduce the deflection by the contact and thereby reduce one or more artifacts that are made visual to a user by the display device.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 3 , wherein the one or more artifacts are caused by disruption of liquid crystals of the display device.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 1 , wherein the compliant support is configured using a foam or gel.

6. An apparatus as described in claim 1 , wherein the compliant support is configured as a thermal pad that is configured to conduct heat generated by the display device or the computing components.

7. An apparatus as described in claim 1 , wherein the computing components include a processor, memory, and one or more sensors.

8. An apparatus as described in claim 1 , wherein the first zone is nested within the second zone.

9. An apparatus as described in claim 1 , wherein the display device includes a display module configured as a liquid crystal display module or organic light emitting diode (OLED) display module.

10. An apparatus as described in claim 1 , wherein the touchscreen functionality is supported by the display device using a touch panel assembly that is configured to detect proximity of one or more objects.

11. An apparatus as described in claim 1 , further comprising a display device tray and wherein the compliant support is disposed between the display device and the display device tray.

12. An apparatus as described in claim 1 , wherein the compliant support is configured to deform to cause the reduction in the deflection.

13. A mobile computing device comprising:

an external enclosure configured to be held in one or more hands of a user;

one or more computing components secured by and disposed within the external enclosure;

a display device secured to the external enclosure such that the display device is viewable by a user, the display device supporting touchscreen functionality; and

a compliant support disposed between the one or more computing components and the display device, the compliant support reducing deflection of the display device by deformation of the compliant support, the deflection caused in response to contact against a surface of the display device, wherein the compliant support includes a first zone and a second zone, each comprising a same deformable material, the first zone and the second zone having different amounts of resistance to compression, wherein:

the deformable material has a plurality of holes into which the deformable material flows when the compliant support is compressed; and

the first zone has different sizes and/or frequency of holes than the second zone.

14. A mobile computing device as described in claim 13 , wherein the first zone and the second zone are included in a single piece.

15. A mobile computing device as described in claim 13 , wherein the external enclosure is configured as a housing for a mobile phone or tablet computer.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a display device tray;

a display device secured to the display device tray such that the display device is viewable by a user when secured to an external enclosure of a computing device, the display device supporting touchscreen functionality; and

a compliant support disposed to conform and fill-in spaces between the display device tray and the display device, the compliant support reducing deflection of the display device by compression of the compliant support, the deflection caused in response to contact received to interact with the touchscreen functionality of the display device, wherein the compliant support includes a first zone and a second zone, each comprising a same deformable material, the first zone and the second zone having different amounts of resistance to compression, wherein:

the deformable material has a plurality of holes into which the deformable material flows when the compliant support is compressed, and

the first zone has different sizes and/or frequency of holes than the second zone.

17. An apparatus as described in claim 16 , wherein the external enclosure is configured as a housing for a mobile phone or tablet computer.

18. An apparatus as described in claim 16 , wherein the compliant support is configured to reduce the deflection in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a surface of the display device.

19. A mobile computing device as described in claim 13 , wherein the first zone is nested within the second zone.

20. An apparatus as described in claim 16 , wherein the first zone is nested within the second zone.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2015
From: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 039025/0454 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE TO ADD THE APPLICATION NUMBER, FILING DATE, AND RECEIVING OFFICE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 031301 FRAME 0181. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Feb 24, 2014
From: WEN, CHIEN-HUI; PETRI, ADAM; CUMMINGS, STEPHAN ALEXANDER; LEONG, ERIC M.; SIDDIQUI, KABIR
To: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032330/0094 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2013
From: WEN, CHIEN-HUI; PETRI, ADAM; CUMMINGS, STEPHAN ALEXANDER; LEONG, ERIC M.; SIDDIQUI, KABIR
To: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031301/0181 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150091839A1 · Apr 2, 2015