Microsoft Patents Ruggedized Display Technology For Touchscreen Devices

During the launch of all of its Surface products, Microsoft always touts the design of these tablets that can withstand casual drops. One of Microsoft’s key marketing points for Surface is the tablet’s durability. Panos Panay couple of times dropped the tablet on stage to demonstrate this. In the recent patent filings, we noticed that Microsoft is patenting a ruggedized display device. We are not sure whether this is an existing technology found on Surface tablets or it will be seen on upcoming devices.

Abstract:

A ruggedized display device is disclosed. The ruggedized display device may include an optical stack configured to resist a load up to a load threshold. The optical stack may include an electronic display including a top surface and a bottom surface, and a top protective component coupled to the top surface of the electronic display via a bonding material layer, to shield the electronic display. The top protective component and the bonding material layer may collectively have a first thickness of less than 1.0 millimeters. The optical stack may further include a bottom protective component, coupled to the bottom surface via a resiliently deformable adhesive layer, to support the electronic display from below. The bottom protective component and the adhesive layer may collectively have a second thickness less than 10.0 millimeters.

Source: USPTO