Abstract: Housings for electronic devices are disclosed. According to one aspect, adjoining surfaces of electronic device housings can be mounted or arranged such that adjoining surfaces are flush to a high degree of precision. The electronic devices can be portable and in some cases handheld.

Abstract: Improved approaches to providing a sealed acoustic chamber (e.g., a back volume) for an acoustic component (e.g., speaker) resident in a compact portable electronic device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a compact portable electronic device includes an internal module (or housing), such as an optical camera module that includes optical components, which contains a module volume. The module volume can be provided with a port (e.g., opening) but is otherwise a substantially enclosed (e.g., at least substantially sealed) volume. By acoustically coupling the acoustic component to the port, the module volume can be used as some or all of the back volume for the acoustic component. Advantageously, a compact portable electronic can provide quality acoustic audio output while requiring only a limited amount of dedicated space.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a proximity sensor for determining when a user's face is near the device. The sensor can include an emitter and a detector that are separated by a foam block to limit cross-talk between the emitter and detector. A sheet can be placed over the foam block to define openings for each of the emitter and detector. Some electronic devices can also include a camera. A glass cover secured to the device enclosure can protect the camera. To improve an adhesive bond between the glass cover and a metal enclosure, an ink layer can be placed between an adhesive and the glass. During assembly, the position of the camera can shift due to closing an enclosure. A grounding assembly that maintains contact with the camera in its initial and final positions may be provided.

Abstract: Various sapphire and laminate structures are discussed herein. One embodiment may take the form of a sapphire structure having a first sapphire sheet with a first sapphire plane type forming the major surface and a second sapphire sheet having a second different sapphire plane type forming the major surface. The first and second sapphire sheets are fused together to form the sapphire structure.

Abstract: Electronic devices may include assemblies of structures such as electronic device assemblies connected using light-cured liquid adhesive such as ultraviolet-light-cured adhesive. Light guide structures may be mounted in the assemblies. During manufacture of an electronic device, ultraviolet light may be injected into a light guide structure to cure the light-cured liquid adhesive. A light guide structure may include portions that prevent escape of ultraviolet light and portions that allow ultraviolet light to escape into the light-cured liquid adhesive. Light guide structures may include masked portions, rigid support members, and one or more openings. Openings in a light guide structure may allow the light-cured liquid adhesive to be injected into an assembly through the openings. An adhesive applicator may be used to apply the adhesive to portions of the assembly. An external light source may be used to inject light that cures the adhesive into the light guide structures.

Abstract: Techniques or processes for providing markings on products are disclosed. The markings provided on products can be textual and/or graphic. The techniques or processes can provide high resolution markings on surfaces that are flat or curved. In one embodiment, the products have housings and the markings are to be provided on the housings. For example, the housing for a particular product can include a housing surface and the markings can be provided on the housing surface such that the marking are visible to users of the products. The products can be electronic devices (e.g., portable electronic devices).

Abstract: Flexible battery packs for use in electronic devices are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible battery pack may include a plurality of cells, such as galvanic or photovoltaic cells. The battery pack also may include a plurality of laminate layers coupled to the cells that include a top laminate layer and a bottom laminate layer. An adhesive may be used to couple the top and bottom laminate layers together such that each of the plurality of cells is isolated from each other. This arrangement may allow the battery to be shaped to fit a form factor of the electronic device. This arrangement also may allow one or more of the cells to be selectively removed from the plurality, which may be desirable from a manufacturing perspective.

Abstract: An electronic device can include different components providing different functionality. Some electronic devices can include a proximity sensor for determining when a user's face is near the device. The sensor can include an emitter and a detector that are separated by a foam block to limit cross-talk between the emitter and detector. A sheet can be placed over the foam block to define openings for each of the emitter and detector. Some electronic devices can also include a camera. A glass cover secured to the device enclosure can protect the camera. To improve an adhesive bond between the glass cover and a metal enclosure, an ink layer can be placed between an adhesive and the glass. In addition, the camera or another component may need to be grounded to ensure proper operation. During assembly, however, the position of the camera can shift due to closing an enclosure. A grounding assembly that maintains contact with the camera in its initial and final positions can be provided.

Abstract: This is directed to systems and methods for cover assembly retention of a portable electronic device. In some embodiments, a cover assembly and/or housing of an electronic device can include one or more retention features such as detents, hooks, tabs, extensions, screw plates, screw holes, shuttles, latches, or any combination of the above, for retaining the cover assembly to the housing. In some embodiments, one or more retention features can be included on an internal platform of the electronic device to retain the cover assembly. In some embodiments, a hidden screw feature can be included in a SIM tray slot of the electronic device. Once a SIM tray has been inserted into the SIM tray slot, the screw feature can be hidden from sight and may become unapparent to an end user of the electronic device.

Abstract: An electronic device may have a housing. A camera window assembly may be mounted in a hole within the housing. The housing may be formed from a structure such as a planar glass member. The hole in which the camera window assembly is formed may be circular. A mating circular trim member in the camera window assembly may be mounted in the hole. A flange structure on the trim member may help retain the trim member within the housing. A shelf portion of the trim member may receive a ring of adhesive. The camera window assembly may have a clear disk-shaped lens with planar opposing front and rear surfaces that is mounted on the shelf portion using the adhesive. An elastomeric ring may be compressed between sidewall portions of the trim member and the lens to help retain the lens within the camera window assembly.

Abstract: A coated chassis is disclosed. The chassis can be made from a non-conductive material and can be operable to support a display. A conductive material can be applied to at least a portion of the chassis to form a continuous strip on the chassis frame. The conductive material can further form a closed-loop around the chassis frame. The chassis frame can be included within a device, such as a mobile phone, touchpad, portable computer, portable media player, and the like. The conductive material on the chassis can be coupled to the system ground of the device. Processes for making a coated chassis are also disclosed.

Abstract: Improved housings for electronic devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, an electronic device housing can have one or more outer members (e.g., exposed major surfaces), such as front or back surfaces, that are formed of glass. The one or more glass surfaces can be part of outer member assemblies that can be secured to other portions of the electronic device housing. In other embodiments, apparatus, systems and methods for robustly attaching a cover portion of an electronic device to a bottom portion, e.g., a housing portion, of the electronic device are described. The electronic device can be portable and in some cases handheld.

Abstract: This is directed to systems and methods for cover assembly retention of a portable electronic device. In some embodiments, a cover assembly and/or housing of an electronic device can include one or more retention features such as detents, hooks, tabs, extensions, screw plates, screw holes, shuttles, latches, or any combination of the above, for retaining the cover assembly to the housing. In some embodiments, one or more retention features can be included on an internal platform of the electronic device to retain the cover assembly. In some embodiments, a hidden screw feature can be included in a SIM tray slot of the electronic device. Once a SIM tray has been inserted into the SIM tray slot, the screw feature can be hidden from sight and may become unapparent to an end user of the electronic device.

Abstract: Electronic devices may have openings that serve as potential pathways for moisture intrusion into interior portions of the devices. An electronic device may be provided with moisture repelling coatings in the vicinity of these openings to help prevent moisture from reaching the interior of the device. The openings may be associated with gaps between adjacent housing structures, openings for buttons, openings for audio and connector ports or other openings in device structures. The moisture repelling coatings may be applied to housing surfaces, button members, structures associated with audio and connector ports, and other device structures.

Abstract: Electronic devices and other apparatuses adapted to receive electromagnetic wave communications are disclosed. An outer housing encloses various device components, including at least an internal antenna located fully therewithin and adapted to receive/send communications from/to an outside source via RF or other electromagnetic waves. A ceramic coating can be a thermal spray coating that covers at least a portion of the outer surface proximate to the internal antenna, and can be “RF transparent”—adapted to allow communications to/from the internal antenna via electromagnetic waves. The outer housing can be plastic, metal or a combination thereof. For metal or other non-RF transparent housings, an RF-transparent insert can be fitted into a window in the housing to permit communications to the internal antenna. The ceramic coating covers some or all of the metal, plastic and/or insert that comprise the outer housing and surface for a final aesthetic finish to the device.

Abstract: An electronic device can include different components providing different functionality. Some electronic devices can include a proximity sensor for determining when a user's face is near the device. The sensor can include an emitter and a detector that are separated by a foam block to limit cross-talk between the emitter and detector. A sheet can be placed over the foam block to define openings for each of the emitter and detector. Some electronic devices can also include a camera. A glass cover secured to the device enclosure can protect the camera. To improve an adhesive bond between the glass cover and a metal enclosure, an ink layer can be placed between an adhesive and the glass. In addition, the camera or another component may need to be grounded to ensure proper operation. During assembly, however, the position of the camera can shift due to closing an enclosure. A grounding assembly that maintains contact with the camera in its initial and final positions can be provided.