Multi-part electronic device housing having contiguous filled surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10897825-B2
Application number	US-202016820513-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2020
Priority date	Sep 30, 2015
Publication date	Jan 19, 2021
Grant date	Jan 19, 2021

Abstract

A housing for an electronic device that allows electromagnetic waves to pass through the housing is disclosed. The housing may include a first portion having an opening, a second portion positioned within the opening, and an insert including a protrusion extending into at least a portion of a gap formed between the first portion and the second portion. The housing also may include a first ink layer disposed within the gap and substantially surrounding the protrusion, and a second ink layer disposed within the gap and over the first ink. The first portion, second ink layer, and second portion may cooperate to form a substantially contiguous surface, and the second ink layer may be positioned approximately 5 microns (μm) or less below an exposed surface of the first portion and an exposed surface of the second portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a display module;
a cover positioned over the display module and defining a front surface; and
a housing comprising:
a first housing portion formed from a first metal material and coupled to the cover, the first housing portion defining at least three side surfaces of the housing and a first portion of a rear surface of the electronic device opposite to the front surface of the cover;
a second housing portion formed from a second metal material and defining at least a portion of a fourth side surface of the housing and a second portion of the rear surface; and
a non-conductive component formed from a non-metal material and positioned between the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the electronic device configured to transmit electromagnetic signals at least partially through the non-conductive component.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic signals are produced by an antenna positioned within the housing.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic signals are transmitted through at least a portion of the second housing portion.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first housing portion defines an opening; and
the second housing portion is positioned within the opening.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the non-conductive component is positioned at least partially within a gap defined between the first and second housing portions;
the non-conductive component includes a polymer material; and
the non-conductive component is flush with the first housing portion and the second housing portion along a region including the gap.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein:
the non-conductive component includes an outer cosmetic layer that defines an exterior surface of the non-conductive component.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first metal material and the second metal material are an aluminum material; and
the non-conductive component is formed from a polymer material that is adhered to the aluminum material of the first and second housing portions.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a tablet computing device.

9. A housing for an electronic device comprising:
a body formed from a first metal material and defining a first side and a first portion of a rear surface of the housing;
an antenna window formed from a second metal material and defining at least a portion of a second side opposite to the first side and a second portion of the rear surface of the housing; and
an insert formed from a non-metal material and positioned at least partially within a gap defined between the body and the antenna window, wherein:
the housing is configured to pass electromagnetic signals through at least one of the insert or the antenna window.

10. The housing of claim 9 , wherein:
the housing defines a first opening configured to receive a display;
the rear surface of the housing is opposite to the display;
the body defines a second opening; and
the antenna window is positioned within the second opening.

11. The housing of claim 9 , wherein the body defines at least a portion of a third side of the housing and a fourth side of the housing opposite to the third side.

12. The housing of claim 9 , wherein the insert is bonded to the body and the antenna window.

13. The housing of claim 9 , wherein:
the insert is coupled to the body along an inner surface of the body;
the insert is coupled to the antenna window along an inner surface of the antenna window; and
an outer cosmetic layer is positioned over the insert and defines an exterior surface of the housing.

14. The housing of claim 13 , wherein the outer cosmetic layer includes an ink layer.

15. A tablet computing device comprising:
a cover defining a front external surface of the tablet computing device;
a display module positioned below the cover;
a first housing portion formed from a first conductive material and defining a first portion of a rear external surface opposite to the front external surface;
a second housing portion formed from a second conductive material and defining a second portion of the rear external surface; and
a non-conductive component positioned at least partially within a gap between the first housing portion and the second housing portion and defining a third portion of the rear external surface, the tablet computing device configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals through the gap.

16. The tablet computing device of claim 15 , wherein:
the first housing portion defines a first side external surface, at least a portion of a second side external surface, and at least a portion of a third side external surface; and
the second housing portion defines at least a portion of a fourth side external surface that is opposite to the first side external surface.

17. The tablet computing device of claim 15 , wherein the tablet computing device is configured to transmit and receive the electromagnetic signals through the second housing portion.

18. The tablet computing device of claim 15 , wherein:
the non-conductive component comprises a first material that is positioned at least partially within the gap between the first and second housing portions;
the non-conductive component further comprises a second material that is different from the first material; and
the second material defines the third portion of the rear external surface.

19. The tablet computing device of claim 18 , wherein:
the first material is a polymer material; and
the second material is a resin material.

20. The tablet computing device of claim 15 , wherein the third portion of the rear external surface is flush with the first and second portions of the rear external surface.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Shi Ming Kun
• Corbet Lindsay D
• Bruni Christopher
• Chan Collin D

Classifications

• H05K5/10 Primary

  comprising several parts forming a closed casing · CPC title

• H01Q1/42 Primary

  Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome · CPC title

• H05K5/0217

  Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03) · CPC title

• H05K5/062

  sealed by a material injected between a non-removable cover and a body, e.g. hardening in situ · CPC title

• H01Q1/22

  by structural association with other equipment or articles · CPC title