Abstract: A device is disclosed, which may include a color-filter layer and a thin-film transistor (TFT) layer. The TFT layer may have an alignment layer. The device may have spacers, between the color-filter layer and the TFT layer, that form space between the color-filter layer and the TFT layer for liquid crystals. The device may include a scratch-resistant coating on the alignment layer of the TFT layer.

Abstract: A display includes a thin-film transistor (TFT) glass layer having a top surface and a bottom surface and a color-filter glass layer having a top and a bottom surface. The TFT glass layer extends beyond the color-filter glass layer to form an overhanging portion of the TFT glass layer. The overhanging portion is flexible, and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) is affixed to the overhanging portion. The FPC includes an integrated strain gauge for measuring strain at a plurality of locations on the overhanging portion of the TFT glass layer. The display device may be incorporated into a chassis to secure the display in the device. A processor, within the housing, may instruct the strain gauge to measure the strain.

Abstract: A display includes an integrated strain-gauge layer in or on the display for measuring the strain at a plurality of locations on the display. The display is deformable and secured to a display device by a first chassis. A method includes measuring, over a period of time, strain of the display of a first device at the plurality of locations and recording the strain measurements in a memory of the display device. Strain measurements associated with a failure of the display may be identified. The method may include simulating a dynamic system including a model of a second device. The model of the second device includes a model of a second chassis different than the first chassis and a model of the display associated with the failure. Simulating the dynamic system may include simulating deformation of the model of the display based on the identified strain measurements.

Abstract: To address the issue of securely joining thin sections of magnesium housing, a computing device with a housing, a metal strip, and a plastic interlock structure is provided. The housing may include adjacently arranged first and second metal sections separated by a void. The metal strip may have a hole with an undercut region formed therein, and it may be joined to a surface of one of the metal sections. The plastic interlock structure may be positioned at least partially in the void, and the metal strip may be embedded in the plastic interlock structure to strengthen the joint between the metal sections of the housing. The plastic interlock structure may physically and electrically isolate adjacent metal sections from one another to form an antenna that permits transmission of radio waves.

Abstract: An electronic device in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present technology includes a rigid covering substrate, an acoustic port extending through the covering substrate, an acoustic transducer carried by the covering substrate, and another electronic component (e.g., a touch sensor or an antenna) also carried by the covering substrate. The electronic device can also include processing circuitry and an array of electrodes through which the acoustic transducer and the other electronic component are electrically connected to the processing circuitry. The array of electrodes can be part of a flexible circuit board extending between a contact region of the covering substrate and the processing circuitry. The transducer lead can extend between a region of the covering substrate including the acoustic port and the contact region.

Abstract: To address the issue of securely joining thin sections of magnesium housing, a computing device with a housing, a metal strip, and a plastic interlock structure is provided. The housing may include adjacently arranged first and second metal sections separated by a void. The metal strip may have a hole with an undercut region formed therein, and it may be joined to a surface of one of the metal sections. The plastic interlock structure may be positioned at least partially in the void, and the metal strip may be embedded in the plastic interlock structure to strengthen the joint between the metal sections of the housing. The plastic interlock structure may physically and electrically isolate adjacent metal sections from one another to form an antenna that permits transmission of radio waves.

Abstract: A device is display device is disclosed, which may include a color-filter layer and a thin-film transistor (TFT) layer. The TFT layer may have an alignment layer. The display device may have spacers, between the color-filter layer and the TFT layer, that form space between the color-filter layer and the TFT layer for liquid crystals. The display device may include a scratch-resistant coating on the alignment layer of the TFT layer.

Abstract: An electronic device in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present technology includes a rigid covering substrate, an acoustic port extending through the covering substrate, an acoustic transducer carried by the covering substrate, and another electronic component (e.g., a touch sensor or an antenna) also carried by the covering substrate. The electronic device can also include processing circuitry and an array of electrodes through which the acoustic transducer and the other electronic component are electrically connected to the processing circuitry. The array of electrodes can be part of a flexible circuit board extending between a contact region of the covering substrate and the processing circuitry. The transducer lead can extend between a region of the covering substrate including the acoustic port and the contact region.

Abstract: A display includes a thin-film transistor (TFT) glass layer having a top surface and a bottom surface and a color-filter glass layer having a top and a bottom surface. The TFT glass layer extends beyond the color-filter glass layer to form an overhanging portion of the TFT glass layer. The overhanging portion is flexible, and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) is affixed to the overhanging portion. The FPC includes an integrated strain gauge for measuring strain at a plurality of locations on the overhanging portion of the TFT glass layer. The display device may be incorporated into a chassis to secure the display in the device. A processor, within the housing, may instruct the strain gauge to measure the strain.

Abstract: A display includes an integrated strain-gauge layer in or on the display for measuring the strain at a plurality of locations on the display. The display is deformable and secured to a display device by a first chassis. A method includes measuring, over a period of time, strain of the display of a first device at the plurality of locations and recording the strain measurements in a memory of the display device. Strain measurements associated with a failure of the display may be identified. The method may include simulating a dynamic system including a model of a second device. The model of the second device includes a model of a second chassis different than the first chassis and a model of the display associated with the failure. Simulating the dynamic system may include simulating deformation of the model of the display based on the identified strain measurements.

Abstract: Integrated protective mesh techniques are described herein. In one or more implementations, a computing device includes electronic components attached to circuitry for the computing device, such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC). The electronic components are sensitive devices such as audio components and other sensors that rely on exposure to environmental inputs for operation and that may be adversely impacted by external contaminants (water, dust, ferritic material, etc.). To provide for proper operation of the electronic components, a housing for the computing device includes a port for the electronic components that extends from outside of the housing to an interior of the housing to create a pathway through the housing. A protective mesh is assembled as an integrated component of the circuitry (e.g., FPC) and configured to align with the port to protect the electronic components from passage of contaminants through the pathway created by the port.

Abstract: Integrated protective mesh techniques are described herein. In one or more implementations, a computing device includes electronic components attached to circuitry for the computing device, such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC). The electronic components are sensitive devices such as audio components and other sensors that rely on exposure to environmental inputs for operation and that may be adversely impacted by external contaminants (water, dust, ferritic material, etc.). To provide for proper operation of the electronic components, a housing for the computing device includes a port for the electronic components that extends from outside of the housing to an interior of the housing to create a pathway through the housing. A protective mesh is assembled as an integrated component of the circuitry (e.g., FPC) and configured to align with the port to protect the electronic components from passage of contaminants through the pathway created by the port.

Abstract: A portable electronic device (200), including a first housing (204), a second housing (202) slidably coupled to the first housing, the first housing and the second housing movable between a closed position, an open position and a transition position between the open position and the closed position, at least one input device (212), and at least one position sensor (230, 232) operable to detect whether the portable electronic device is in the open position, the closed position or the transition position. When the at least one position sensor detects the transition position, the at least one input device is disabled.

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit connector structure and assembly method. A panel with a back side that is parallel to a first plane and a flexible printed circuit backer that has a base and a backing structure. The base is attached to the back side of the panel. The backing structure depends from the base and extends along a second plane that forms an angle with the first plane. A first flexible circuit side of the flexible printed circuit is attached to a first side and an opposite second side of the backing structure. The flexible printed circuit has exposed conductors on a second flexible circuit side that is opposite the first flexible circuit side.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a lower housing and an upper housing slidable relative to the lower housing between closed and open positions. The upper housing includes an auxiliary input device and a display. A primary flex connector electrically connects the lower and upper housings. At least one secondary flex connector may electrically connect the primary flex connector to the auxiliary input device or the display. The upper housing may include a cover plate that is removable to allow access to at least a portion of the flex connectors.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a lower housing slidably coupled to an upper housing, the lower and upper housings being movable between a closed position and an open position, and a holster sized and shaped for holding the device in a holster position. The device also includes a first position sensor to detect proximity of at least one positioning object and output a first sensor output signal indicative of the proximity of the at least one positioning object to the first position sensor, a second position sensor to detect proximity of the at least one positioning object and output a second sensor output signal indicative of the proximity of the at least one positioning object to the second position sensor. The first and second sensor output signals cooperate to indicate whether the portable electronic device is in one of the open position, the closed position and the holster position.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a lower housing slidably coupled to an upper housing, the lower and upper housings being movable between a closed position and an open position, and a holster sized and shaped for holding the device in a holster position. The device also includes a first position sensor to detect proximity of at least one positioning object and output a first sensor output signal indicative of the proximity of the at least one positioning object to the first position sensor, a second position sensor to detect proximity of the at least one positioning object and output a second sensor output signal indicative of the proximity of the at least one positioning object to the second position sensor. The first and second sensor output signals cooperate to indicate whether the portable electronic device is in one of the open position, the closed position and the holster position.

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit connector structure and assembly method. A panel with a back side that is parallel to a first plane and a flexible printed circuit backer that has a base and a backing structure. The base is attached to the back side of the panel. The backing structure depends from the base and extends along a second plane that forms an angle with the first plane. A first flexible circuit side of the flexible printed circuit is attached to a first side and an opposite second side of the backing structure. The flexible printed circuit has exposed conductors on a second flexible circuit side that is opposite the first flexible circuit side.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a lower housing slidably coupled to an upper housing, the lower and upper housings being movable between a closed position and an open position, and a holster sized and shaped for holding the device in a holster position. The device also includes a first position sensor to detect proximity of at least one positioning object and output a first sensor output signal indicative of the proximity of the at least one positioning object to the first position sensor, a second position sensor to detect proximity of the at least one positioning object and output a second sensor output signal indicative of the proximity of the at least one positioning object to the second position sensor. The first and second sensor output signals cooperate to indicate whether the portable electronic device is in one of the open position, the closed position and the holster position.

Abstract: A portable electronic device (200), including a first housing (204), a second housing (202) slidably coupled to the first housing, the first housing and the second housing movable between a closed position, an open position and a transition position between the open position and the closed position, at least one input device (212), and at least one position sensor (230, 232) operable to detect whether the portable electronic device is in the open position, the closed position or the transition position. When the at least one position sensor detects the transition position, the at least one input device is disabled.