Housing, manufacturing method thereof, and electronic device having the housing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016233573-A1
Application number	US-201614997126-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 15, 2016
Priority date	Feb 6, 2015
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A portable electronic device and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The portable electronic device includes a front cover that forms a front face of the electronic device, a rear cover that forms a rear face of the electronic device, a bezel that surrounds a space formed by the front cover and the rear cover, a display device that is embedded in the space and includes a screen region that is exposed through the front cover, a metal structure that is positioned within the space, and includes a first face facing the front cover and a second face facing the rear cover, a non-metal structure that is positioned within the space to partially overlap with the metal structure, and includes a first surface facing the front cover and a second surface facing the rear cover, and a metal filler extending from the first surface to the second surface of the non-metal structure through a portion of the non-metal structure. The metal filler is formed of a material that is equal in strength to that of the metal structure, and includes a first end portion adjacent to the first surface and a second end portion adjacent to the second surface, and at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion are aligned to be coplanar with a portion of the first surface and a portion of the second surface, respectively.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A portable electronic device comprising:
a front cover that forms a front face of the electronic device; a rear cover that forms a rear face of the electronic device; a bezel that surrounds a space formed by the front cover and the rear cover; a display device that is embedded in the space and includes a screen region that is exposed through the front cover; a metal structure that is positioned within the space, and includes a first face facing the front cover and a second face facing the rear cover; a non-metal structure that is positioned within the space to partially overlap with the metal structure, and includes a first surface facing the front cover and a second surface facing the rear cover; and a metal filler extending from the first surface to the second surface of the non-metal structure through a portion of the non-metal structure, wherein the metal filler is formed of a metallic material that is equal to that of the metal structure, and includes a first end portion adjacent to the first surface and a second end portion adjacent to the second surface, and at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion are aligned to be coplanar with a portion of the first surface and a portion of the second surface, respectively.

2 . The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the front cover is formed of glass.

3 . The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first end portion is aligned to be coplanar with the first surface, and
the second end portion protrudes from the second surface.

4 . The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first end portion protrudes from the first surface, and
the second end portion is aligned to be coplanar with the second surface.

5 . The portable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
an antenna pattern arranged adjacent to one of the first surface and the second surface, wherein the antenna pattern is electrically connected to the metal filler.

6 . The portable electronic device of claim 5 , further comprising:
a communication circuit within the space, wherein the communication circuit is electrically connected to the antenna pattern through the metal filler.

7 . The portable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a flexible conductive structure that forms an electrical connection with one of the first end portion and the second end portion.

8 . The portable electronic device of claim 7 , further comprising:
a printed circuit board (PCB) within the space, wherein the PCB is arranged to be electrically in contact with the flexible conductive structure.

9 . The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the PCB is positioned between the front cover and the non-metal structure,
the flexible conductive structure is positioned between the PCB and the first end portion of the metal filler, and an antenna pattern is positioned between the rear cover and the non-metal structure to be electrically in contact with the second end portion of the metal filler.

10 . The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the bezel is formed of a metallic material that is equal to that of the metal structure, and is formed integrally with at least a portion of the metal structure.

11 . The portable electronic device of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the bezel forms a portion of the antenna of the electronic device.

12 . A portable electronic device comprising:
a front cover that forms a front face of the electronic device; a rear cover that forms a rear face of the electronic device; a bezel that surrounds a space formed by the front cover and the rear cover; a display device that is embedded in the space and includes a screen region that is exposed through the front cover; a metal structure that is positioned within the space, and includes a first face facing the front cover and a second face facing the rear cover; a non-metal structure that is positioned within the space to partially overlap with the metal structure, and includes a first surface facing the front cover and a second surface facing the rear cover; and a non-metal filler extending from the first face to the second face of the metal structure through a portion of the metal structure, wherein the non-metal filler is formed of a non-metallic material that is equal to that of the non-metal structure, and includes a first end portion adjacent to the first face of the metal structure and a second end portion adjacent to the second face of the metal structure, and at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion are aligned to be coplanar with a portion of the first face of the metal structure and a portion of the second face of the metal structure, respectively.

13 . The portable electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the front cover is formed of glass.

14 . The portable electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the non-metal filler further includes a through-hole, and a fastener inserted into the through-hole.

15 . A method of manufacturing a portable electronic device, the method comprising:
manufacturing a structure that includes a bezel forming at least a portion of a side face of the electronic device to surround a space that is formed by a front cover and a rear cover of the electronic device, a metal structure connected to the bezel, and a non-metal structure, wherein manufacturing the structure comprises:
extruding a metal plate;
forming at least a portion of the metal structure on the extruded metal plate, the metal structure including at least one protrusion;
forming at least a portion of the non-metal structure by insert-molding the metal plate, the non-metal structure surrounding at least a portion of the protrusion; and
concurrently cutting the at least a portion of the metal structure and the at least a portion of the non-metal structure to align the metal structure and the non-metal structure such that a face of the at least one protrusion and a portion of a surface of the non-metal structure are coplanar with each other.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
installing the rear cover to form a rear face of the electronic device.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
installing the front cover that forms a front face of the electronic device.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the front cover is formed of glass.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Son Kwonho
• Baek Sangin
• Choi Bongsuk
• Kim Gyeongtae
• Lee Minsung

Classifications

• H04M1/0202

  Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets (constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03) · CPC title

• H05K13/00

  Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components · CPC title

• H04B1/3888

  Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers · CPC title

• H05K5/03

  Covers · CPC title

• H01Q1/42

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