Abstract: An electronic device may include a ring-shaped housing member defining an interior volume. The ring-shaped housing member may be configured to receive electronic device components. The ring-shaped housing member may include a first element comprising an angled region, and a second element comprising an angled region. A first intermediate element may be placed between the first and second elements, where the intermediate element is secured to internal surfaces of each of the first and second elements such that the first and second elements do not overlap. The first intermediate element may fasten the first and second elements to one another, and electrically isolate the first and second elements from one another.

Abstract: An electronic device having a unitary housing is disclosed. The device can include a first housing component having an open cavity, an internal electronic part disposed within the cavity, a second housing component disposed across the cavity, and a support feature disposed within the cavity and arranged to support the second housing component. The first housing component can be formed from metal, while the second housing component can be formed from a plurality of laminated foil metal layers. The second housing component can be attached to the first housing component via one or more ultrasonic welds, such that a fully enclosed housing is created. The fully enclosed housing can be hermetically sealed, and the outside surfaces thereof can be machined or otherwise finished after the ultrasonic welding.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a ring-shaped housing member defining an interior volume. The ring-shaped housing member may be configured to receive electronic device components. The ring-shaped housing member may include a first element comprising an angled region, and a second element comprising an angled region. A first intermediate element may be placed between the first and second elements, where the intermediate element is secured to internal surfaces of each of the first and second elements such that the first and second elements do not overlap. The first intermediate element may fasten the first and second elements to one another, and electrically isolate the first and second elements from one another.

Abstract: An electronic device may have buttons, a display, and a vibrator unit. Buttons may be included in electronic devices such as glass buttons, metal buttons, buttons that are assembled on printed circuit boards, and buttons that are partly formed from antenna structures. Button coatings may be used to improve the sliding performance of metal-on-metal buttons. A layer of polymer may be interposed between a button plate and a housing structure. A glass button member may have an underside on which a layer of patterned ink is formed. Elastomeric members may be used to reduce button rattle. Portions of a button may be provided with conductive features that form portions of an antenna.

Abstract: A connector for receiving a cylindrical plug includes a body defining a plug aperture and a cavity for receiving the cylindrical plug. A plurality of electrical contacts in communication with the cavity make electrical connections with the cylindrical plug and retain the cylindrical plug. A microphone is coupled to the body such that the plug aperture and the cavity provide an acoustic path to the microphone. The microphone may be at an end of the connector opposite the plug aperture or on a side of the connector adjacent the plug aperture. The connector allows a microphone to be added to a device, such as a mobile telephone, without the need for an additional external aperture. The microphone in the connector may operate with a second microphone and processing electronics in the device to provide audio processing functions such as noise cancellation or audio beamforming.

Abstract: Laminate lanyards and methods for making the same are disclosed. The laminate lanyards may include a head formed from a reinforcing loop of yarn incorporated within a scrim. The head can be coupled to the head section of a body, which also includes a main section that forms the loop of the laminate lanyard. A gusset can be coupled to ends of the main section of the body to couple the two ends of the body together and facilitate opening and closing of the loop of the laminate lanyard. A slider may also be included in laminate lanyard for adjusting the size of the loop.

Abstract: An electronic device having a unitary housing is disclosed. The device can include a first housing component having an open cavity, an internal electronic part disposed within the cavity, a second housing component disposed across the cavity, and a support feature disposed within the cavity and arranged to support the second housing component. The first housing component can be formed from metal, while the second housing component can be formed from a plurality of laminated foil metal layers. The second housing component can be attached to the first housing component via one or more ultrasonic welds, such that a fully enclosed housing is created. The fully enclosed housing can be hermetically sealed, and the outside surfaces thereof can be machined or otherwise finished after the ultrasonic welding.

Abstract: Attachment mechanisms that may be employed to attach accessory devices to electronic devices are provided. The attachment mechanism may include a displaceable post that is moveable between deployed and stored configurations. In the deployed configuration an accessory may be attached to the displaceable post, whereas in the stored configuration the displaceable post may be at least partially inaccessible. Movement of the displaceable post may be controlled by cam surfaces, a spring, and a follower. The spring may be conical and configured to fold flat to reduce the height of the attachment mechanism.

Abstract: An electronic device having a unitary housing is disclosed. The device can include a first housing component having an open cavity, an internal electronic part disposed within the cavity, a second housing component disposed across the cavity, and a support feature disposed within the cavity and arranged to support the second housing component. The first housing component can be formed from metal, while the second housing component can be formed from a plurality of laminated foil metal layers. The second housing component can be attached to the first housing component via one or more ultrasonic welds, such that a fully enclosed housing is created. The fully enclosed housing can be hermetically sealed, and the outside surfaces thereof can be machined or otherwise finished after the ultrasonic welding.

Abstract: A technique for tamper protection in an electronic device is disclosed. A conductive mesh is affixed onto one or more interior surfaces of the outer housing of the device. The mesh includes one or more conductive traces coupled to one or more detectors within the device. The detector can detect an open-circuit or short-circuit condition resulting from an unauthorized attempt to open the housing, and output a signal to trigger an appropriate countermeasure. The electrical contacts along the trace that are monitored can be selected differently from one manufactured unit to the next, and can be selected based on a randomness function. The selection of contacts may be made during or after manufacturing of the device. The mesh can include multiple metal traces that run very close together, in parallel, across one or more interior surfaces of the housing, allowing detection of both open-circuit and short-circuit conditions.

Abstract: An electronic device having a unitary housing is disclosed. The device can include a first housing component having an open cavity, an internal electronic part disposed within the cavity, a second housing component disposed across the cavity, and a support feature disposed within the cavity and arranged to support the second housing component. The first housing component can be formed from metal, while the second housing component can be formed from a plurality of laminated foil metal layers. The second housing component can be attached to the first housing component via one or more ultrasonic welds, such that a fully enclosed housing is created. The fully enclosed housing can be hermetically sealed, and the outside surfaces thereof can be machined or otherwise finished after the ultrasonic welding.

Abstract: A card reader includes a body including a slot that is configured to receive a swipe of a card along a first axis with an edge of the card abutting a bottom surface of the slot, the slot including at least one region that is configured to increase frictional drag on the card in response to a longitudinal axis of the card varying from parallel to the bottom surface of the slot; and a reader interface positioned in the body and configured to read a magnetic stripe on the card as the card is swiped through the slot along the first axis.

Abstract: An electronic device having a unitary housing is disclosed. The device can include a first housing component having an open cavity, an internal electronic part disposed within the cavity, a second housing component disposed across the cavity, and a support feature disposed within the cavity and arranged to support the second housing component. The first housing component can be formed from metal, while the second housing component can be formed from a plurality of laminated foil metal layers. The second housing component can be attached to the first housing component via one or more ultrasonic welds, such that a fully enclosed housing is created. The fully enclosed housing can be hermetically sealed, and the outside surfaces thereof can be machined or otherwise finished after the ultrasonic welding.

Abstract: A battery assembly for use in an electronic device is provided. The battery assembly may include a battery cell (e.g., a rechargeable battery cell), a battery connector for providing power from the battery cell to the electronic device, and a flex circuit electrically coupling the battery cell to the electronic device. The battery connector may be located adjacent the battery cell, and may include one or more alignment mechanisms for ensuring that conductive pads of the battery connector align properly with corresponding conductive elements of the electronic device. The battery cell may be fixed to the electronic device using an adhesive layer (e.g., double sided tape) placed between the cell and the electronic device. A tab may extend beyond the periphery of the battery cell to allow a user to pull or peal the battery cell from the electronic device for replacement or repair. In some embodiments, a tool may be used to grasp the tab.

Abstract: Attachment mechanisms may be employed to attach accessory devices to electronic devices. The attachment mechanisms may each include a displaceable post that is moveable between recessed and extended configurations. In the extended configuration an accessory may be attached to the displaceable post, whereas in the recessed configuration the displaceable post may be at least partially inaccessible. The accessory device may be a lanyard with a tool coupled thereto. The tool may be configured to engage a head of the accessory device to rotate the displaceable post and move the accessory device between the recessed configuration and the extended configuration. The tool may be embedded in the lanyard.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a ring-shaped housing member defining an interior volume. The ring-shaped housing member may be configured to receive electronic device components. The ring-shaped housing member may include a first element comprising an angled region, and a second element comprising an angled region. A first intermediate element may be placed between the first and second elements, where the intermediate element is secured to internal surfaces of each of the first and second elements such that the first and second elements do not overlap. The first intermediate element may fasten the first and second elements to one another, and electrically isolate the first and second elements from one another.

Abstract: Laminate lanyards and methods for making the same are disclosed. The laminate lanyards may include a head formed from a reinforcing loop of yarn incorporated within a scrim. The head can be coupled to the head section of a body, which also includes a main section that forms the loop of the laminate lanyard. A gusset can be coupled to ends of the main section of the body to couple the two ends of the body together and facilitate opening and closing of the loop of the laminate lanyard. A slider may also be included in laminate lanyard for adjusting the size of the loop.

Abstract: A technique for tamper protection in an electronic device is disclosed. A conductive mesh is affixed onto one or more interior surfaces of the outer housing of the device. The mesh includes one or more conductive traces coupled to one or more detectors within the device. The detector can detect an open-circuit or short-circuit condition resulting from an unauthorized attempt to open the housing, and output a signal to trigger an appropriate countermeasure. The electrical contacts along the trace that are monitored can be selected differently from one manufactured unit to the next, and can be selected based on a randomness function. The selection of contacts may be made during or after manufacturing of the device. The mesh can include multiple metal traces that run very close together, in parallel, across one or more interior surfaces of the housing, allowing detection of both open-circuit and short-circuit conditions.