COSMETICALLY SELF-CENTERING REMOVABLE MODULE TRAY
This application relates to methods and apparatus pertaining to a SIM tray that includes a deformable portion. When the SIM tray is subjected to stresses that result from tolerance stacking, the deformable portion accommodates the differences tolerance errors by allowing the non-deformable portion of the SIM tray to move substantially independently from one another. Creating the deformable portion can be accomplished by utilizing materials with lower relative moduli of elasticity, dovetails, magnets, or other means.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/500,966, filed Sep. 29, 2014, of the same title, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
FIELDThis paper describes various embodiments that relate to mobile telephony devices such as a mobile telephone. More specifically, a user accessible tray that allows users to swap out components such as a subscriber identification module (SIM) card is described.
BACKGROUNDSubscriber identification module (SIM) cards are generally removable cards for mobile devices that include integrated circuits that store subscriber information for the mobile devices. SIM cards are typically supported within a mobile device by a user accessible tray, which typically slides in and out of the mobile device. The user accessible tray should perform two essential functions: (1) facilitate easy access and removal of the SIM card, and (2) when inserted into a mobile device, maintain a seamless external cosmetic appearance in relation to a housing of the mobile device. However, SIM trays can be prone to deformation once inserted into a mobile device as a result of a phenomenon known in the art as tolerance stacking. When tolerance stacking causes a substantial misalignment between an external opening in the mobile device and internal connectors configured to mate with the SIM card, the user accessible tray can be subjected to substantial stresses. As a result, the user accessible tray can deform, which can make it more difficult for the user to remove the tray. In some cases, misalignment of internal and external features can cause an external portion of the SIM tray to deform in a way that prevents the external portion from matching a surrounding exterior surface of the housing of the mobile device, thereby marring an external cosmetic appearance of the mobile device.
SUMMARYThis paper describes various embodiments that relate to methods and apparatus for cosmetically aligning a subscriber identification module (SIM) tray with a SIM tray opening of a portable electronic device.
A subscriber information module (SIM) tray assembly is disclosed that is utilized with a portable electronic device. The SIM tray assembly can include an external portion designed to cover an opening in a housing of the portable electronic device. The opening can take the form of a slot for the SIM tray. The SIM tray assembly can also include a tray portion designed to hold a SIM card with an opening disposed on the SIM tray assembly. The SIM tray assembly also includes a compliant part forming a joint between the tray portion and the external portion. The compliant part can adjust for tolerances between internal and external features of the portable electronic device.
A subscriber information module (SIM) tray is disclosed that can include an external portion and a tray portion. The external portion can cover a SIM slot of a mobile device. The tray portion can include an opening configured to hold a SIM card. The SIM tray can also include an interface located between the tray portion and the external portion. The interface can constrain relative movement between the external portion and the tray portion in a first direction parallel to a surface of the tray portion that is configured to hold the SIM card while also facilitating movement between the external portion and the tray portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
A mobile device is disclosed that includes a housing forming an interior volume, a slot defined by the housing that allows access to the interior volume from outside the housing and an electrical components positioned within the interior volume that includes a number of electrical components. A subscriber identification module (SIM) tray assembly is inserted into the slot so that a SIM card supported by the SIM tray assembly contacts the of electrical contacts. The SIM tray assembly includes at least the following: an external portion that covers the slot of the mobile device and sits flush with an exterior surface the housing; a tray portion that supports the SIM card; and a flexible region connecting the external portion to the tray portion, the flexible region configured to allows the tray portion to shift with respect to the external portion to accommodate manufacturing tolerances that cause an offset between a location of the slot and a location of the plurality of electrical contacts.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the described embodiments.
The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:
Representative applications of methods and apparatus according to the present application are described in this section. These examples are being provided solely to add context and aid in the understanding of the described embodiments. It will thus be apparent to one skilled in the art that the described embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps have not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the described embodiments. Other applications are possible, such that the following examples should not be taken as limiting.
In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the description and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in accordance with the described embodiments. Although these embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the described embodiments, it is understood that these examples are not limiting; such that other embodiments may be used, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the described embodiments.
A subscriber identification module (SIM) card is an integrated circuit that securely stores service and subscriber information used to identify the subscriber on mobile telephony devices, such as a mobile telephone. A SIM tray is a user accessible tray utilized in mobile telephony devices that is adapted to receive and secure the SIM card within the mobile device. A SIM tray generally includes a tray portion that supports the SIM card rigidly joined to an external portion that covers an opening in a housing of the mobile device. The SIM tray should perform two essential functions: (1) facilitate easy access and removal of the SIM card, and (2) when inserted into a mobile device, maintain a seamless external cosmetic appearance in relation to a housing of the mobile device. However, SIM trays can be prone to deformation once inserted into a mobile device as a result of manufacturing tolerances in both the opening that facilitates insertion of the SIM tray and the positioning and dimensioning of internal components configured to support and mate with the SIM card. These manufacturing tolerances can generate offsets that cause the rigid coupling between the tray portion and the external portion to experience substantial stresses. Because the tray portion of the SIM tray is engaged by internal coupling features that align and position the SIM card with respect to internal connectors, when the external portion of the SIM tray contacts the surfaces forming the opening, the external portion is forced to deform to accommodate any offsets causing misalignment between the opening and the internal components. Accordingly, deformation of the external portion of the SIM tray can cause the external portion of the SIM tray to deviate relative to the housing, thereby adversely affecting the external cosmetic appearance between the SIM tray and the housing of the mobile device.
Moreover, the aforementioned bending of the SIM tray can increase the stress and strain applied to the internal electrical components of the mobile device. Consequently, electrical contacts between the SIM card and the internal electrical components can be damaged due the SIM tray bending. Furthermore, over time the SIM tray can become permanently bent or in severe cases break from being subjected to the constant stress and strain. As a result, binding can develop between the housing of the mobile device and the SIM tray during removal of the SIM tray. These limitations may be remedied by reducing manufacturing tolerances of the parts; unfortunately, such machinery can be substantially more expensive and in some cases can substantially increase an amount of time spent to produce the part and/or the device due to processes associated with the higher precision manufacturing operations.
One solution to the aforementioned problem is to build a compliant portion into a SIM tray assembly that joins the external portion to the tray portion. The compliant portion can be designed to accommodate both the internal and external manufacturing tolerance ranges associated with the mobile device. The compliant portion of the SIM tray assembly allows the external portion of the SIM tray to shift or deflect with respect to the tray portion without adversely affecting other portions of the SIM tray assembly. Moreover, the compliant portion of the SIM tray can allow the tray portion of the SIM tray to move independently of an external portion of the SIM tray. In this way, substantial tolerance mismatches of components contacting the tray portion of the SIM tray will not adversely affect the external portion.
In some embodiments, the compliant portion can take the form of an elastomeric polymer that forms an interface between the internal and external portions of the SIM tray. In such a configuration, the elastomeric polymer acts as a point of deflection once the SIM tray is fully inserted into the mobile device. Once inserted, the tray portion of the SIM tray is free to travel within the mobile device as a result of the interface being flexible. Moreover, the external portion of the SIM tray can remain fixed and unaffected from movement of the tray portion. Alternatively, the compliant portion can take the form of a series of interlocking features that form an interface between the internal and external portions of the SIM tray. Furthermore, the series of interlocking features can decouple horizontal movement of the tray portion from the external portion. In this way, the tray portion of the SIM tray does not have to deflect in order to interact with the internal electrical components but instead can translate into a proper position. In some embodiments, the compliant portion can include a series of magnets that form the interface between the internal and external portions of the SIM tray. The magnetic coupling permits self-alignment of the external portion of the SIM tray with the opening in the housing without exerting any continuous force upon the tray portion of the SIM tray.
In some embodiments, the SIM tray can be machined or formed from a single piece of material and an interface between the tray portion and the external portion is optimized by removing material from the interface until a desired balance between flexibility and structural integrity is achieved at the interface. The material can be removed in any number of ways and in any number of patterns. For example, in some embodiments, a number of holes can be drilled at the interface. In other embodiments, a unitary opening can be formed to achieve the desired balance. In this way, the flexible interface joining the tray portion to the external portion can allow deflection of the external portion without substantially affecting the rigid region of the tray portion supporting the SIM card.
These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to
Electrical component 202 occupies a height D1within mobile device 100. In some embodiments, electrical component 202 can be a main logic board (MLB). Standoffs 206 occupy a height D2 and can support electrical component 202 above an interior surface of housing 102. The interior surface of housing 102 is defined by a housing wall, which has a thickness D3. In the case where contacts 204 form a substantially flat surface, SIM tray 108 is positioned substantially parallel to a top surface of electrical component 202 once inserted into mobile device 100. The sum of D1, D2, and D3 can be equal to a distance Dtotal. Dtotal can be critical in a design such as a position of slot 106 in housing 102 in order to position SIM tray 108 and assure that SIM tray 108 remains substantially flush or parallel to surface 112 advantageously creating a desirable cosmetic appearance. Designers can take into account Dtotal to achieve the desirable cosmetic appearance or other design goals.
To illustrate,
As shown in
SIM tray assembly 500 can also be utilized to accommodate tolerance stacking of internal components of mobile device 100. For example, SIM tray assemblies 400 and 450 can be inserted into mobile device 100 in the same manner as SIM tray 108. In this particular embodiment, tolerance stacking can cause a stress concentration to form at region 510. However, joint 506 can allow external portion 504 and tray portion 502 to translate relative to each other in the z direction to dissipate any stress concentration resulting from the tolerance stacking. Rather than deforming, joint 506 allows tray portion to translate by movement of protrusion 514 within channel 512. Likewise, external portion can also translate in z direction. In this way, tray portion 502 is not adversely affected by tolerance stacking and communication between SIM card 110 and electrical component 202 can be maintained. Additionally, external portion 304 can be flush with surface 112 providing an aesthetically appealing exterior for mobile device.
To illustrate,
To illustrate,
The various aspects, embodiments, implementations or features of the described embodiments can be used separately or in any combination. Various aspects of the described embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware or a combination of hardware and software. The described embodiments can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable medium for controlling manufacturing operations or as computer readable code on a computer readable medium for controlling a manufacturing line. The computer readable medium is any data storage device that can store data which can thereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable medium include read-only memory, random-access memory, CD-ROMs, HDDs, DVDs, magnetic tape, and optical data storage devices. The computer readable medium can also be distributed over network-coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.
The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the described embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.
Claims
1. An electronic device, comprising:
- a housing that includes an internal volume, the housing having a through hole that opens to the internal volume;
- a subscriber identification module (SIM) tray capable of carrying a SIM card, wherein the through hole includes a size and shape to receive the SIM tray; and
- a gasket formed from a compliant material, the gasket located at an interface between the SIM tray and the through hole, wherein when the SIM tray is positioned in the through hole, the gasket forms a seal that prevents a contaminant from entering the internal volume via the through hole.
2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the SIM tray comprises an external portion that is co-planar with respect to the housing when the SIM tray is inserted into the through hole.
3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the gasket located between the external portion and the through hole.
4. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the SIM tray further comprises an internal portion secured with the external portion, the internal portion capable of carrying the SIM tray, wherein the internal portion comprises an opening.
5. The electronic device of claim 4, further comprising electrical contacts positioned in the internal volume, wherein when 1) the SIM card is carried by the internal portion and 2) the SIM tray is inserted into the opening, the SIM card electrically couples to the electrical contacts.
6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the through hole defines an internal surface, and wherein the gasket engages the internal surface when the SIM tray is positioned in the through hole.
7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the compliant material comprises a rubber gasket.
8. An electronic device, comprising:
- an enclosure that defines an internal volume, the enclosure further comprising a sidewall;
- a slot formed in the sidewall and in communication with the internal volume;
- a subscriber identification module (SIM) tray that is movable with respect to the enclosure, the SIM tray comprising an internal portion capable of carrying a SIM card, the SIM tray further comprising external portion extending from the internal portion, wherein the external portion is flush with respect to the sidewall in an inserted configuration defined by the SIM tray being positioned in the slot; and
- a sealing element positioned within the slot when the SIM tray is in the inserted configuration, wherein the sealing element inhibits a contaminant from entering the slot.
9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the external portion carries the sealing element.
10. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the sealing element comprises a compliant material.
11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the compliant material comprises a rubber gasket.
12. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the sealing element is carried by the external portion.
13. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the sealing element comprises a rubber gasket.
14. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the slot defines an internal surface, and wherein the sealing element engages the internal surface in the inserted configuration.
15. A method for assembling an electronic device having an enclosure that defines an internal volume, the enclosure further comprising a sidewall having a slot that opens to the internal volume, the method comprising:
- providing a subscriber identification module (SIM) tray that is movable with respect to the enclosure, the SIM tray comprising an internal portion capable of carrying a SIM card, the SIM tray further comprising external portion extending from the internal portion, wherein the external portion is flush with respect to the sidewall in an inserted configuration of the SIM tray defined by the SIM tray being positioned in the slot; and
- receiving a sealing element at the SIM tray, wherein the sealing element is positioned within the slot when the SIM tray is in the inserted configuration such that the sealing element inhibits a contaminant from entering the slot.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving the sealing element comprises receiving a compliant material.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving the compliant material comprises receiving a rubber gasket.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the internal portion includes an opening.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising electrical contacts, wherein when 1) the SIM card is carried by the internal portion and 2) the SIM tray is inserted into the opening, the SIM card electrically couples to the electrical contacts.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the sealing element engages an internal surface of the slot in the inserted configuration.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 11, 2017
Publication Date: Aug 3, 2017
Inventors: Gregory N. STEPHENS (Sunnyvale, CA), James B. SMITH (San Francisco, CA)
Application Number: 15/485,063