U.S. patent application number 11/753210 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-03 for electronic device housing and method for manufacturing the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO.,LTD.. Invention is credited to YU-CHUAN CHEN, HUNG-CHANG LEE, CHIH-PEN LIN, CHUANG LIU, HUI-FENG WEI, JIAN-PENG YU.
Application Number | 20080156057 11/753210 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39582055 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080156057 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LIN; CHIH-PEN ; et
al. |
July 3, 2008 |
ELECTRONIC DEVICE HOUSING AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME
Abstract
A housing (10) used in portable electronic devices includes
gripping portions (40) defined thereon, such gripping portions
being bounded by grooving created in a surface of the housing. A
method of manufacturing the housing is also provided, the method
includes these steps: forming a housing; grinding the housing;
polishing the housing; and forming the gripping portions on the
housing.
Inventors: |
LIN; CHIH-PEN; (Shindian,
TW) ; LEE; HUNG-CHANG; (Shindian, TW) ; CHEN;
YU-CHUAN; (Shenzhen, CN) ; LIU; CHUANG;
(Shenzhen, CN) ; WEI; HUI-FENG; (Shenzhen, CN)
; YU; JIAN-PENG; (Shenzhen, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PCE INDUSTRY, INC.;ATT. CHENG-JU CHIANG
458 E. LAMBERT ROAD
FULLERTON
CA
92835
US
|
Assignee: |
SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION
INDUSTRIAL CO.,LTD.
Shenzhen
CN
SUTECH TRADING LIMITED
Tortola
VG
|
Family ID: |
39582055 |
Appl. No.: |
11/753210 |
Filed: |
May 24, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
72/112 ;
413/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 5/023 20130101;
H04M 1/0279 20130101; G06F 1/1613 20130101; G06F 1/182
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
72/112 ;
413/1 |
International
Class: |
B21D 51/04 20060101
B21D051/04; B21D 1/02 20060101 B21D001/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 29, 2006 |
CN |
200610064627.9 |
Claims
1. A portable electronic device housing comprising a surface and a
plurality of gripping portions defined in the surface of the
housing, such gripping portions being bounded by grooving created
in the surface of the housing.
2. The housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gripping portions
protrude from their surroundings.
3. The housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gripping portions
are rhomboid-shaped.
4. The housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gripping portions
are formed by two groups of arcs, wherein each arc in a respective
group of arcs crosses a plurality of arcs of the other of the two
groups, and all arcs of a same group are arranged to be essentially
equidistant from any adjacent arc in a given same group.
5. The housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is made
of a material comprised of at least one of copper, iron, aluminum,
and titanium.
6. A method for manufacturing a housing, comprising these steps:
forming a housing; polishing the housing; and forming gripping
portions on the housing by employing an engraving step.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the housing is made of
a material comprised of at least one of copper, iron, aluminum, and
titanium.
8. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of
washing the housing after the step of polishing the housing.
9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of forming
gripping portions on the housings includes performing a first
engraving procedure along a first direction and a second engraving
procedure along a second direction that crosses the first
direction.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the housing is
substantially rectangular, the first direction corresponds to a
first diagonal of the housing, and the second direction corresponds
to a second diagonal of the housing.
11. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of
anodizing the housing after forming gripping portions on the
housing.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a step of
dyeing the housing after the step of anodizing the housing.
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a step of
forming a protecting film on the housing after the step of dyeing
the housing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to electronic device housings
and methods for manufacturing the housings and, particularly, to a
housing defining gripping portions thereon and a method of
manufacturing the same.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Nowadays, portable electronic devices such as mobile phones,
laptops and personal digital assistants (PDA) are widely used.
Metallic housings are often used to protect and decorate these
portable electronic devices. Generally, in a typical manufacturing
process for the housings, paint is sprayed onto the housings. The
paint is used to decorate and protect the housings.
[0005] However, the paint tends to have a low wear-resistance. When
portable electronic devices having metallic housings are used, the
paint adhering on the housings is likely to be abraded onto/against
other surfaces. Additionally, the surfaces of the housings tend to
be very smooth because they are covered by paint, which makes them
difficult to hold and thus easier to accidentally drop.
[0006] Therefore, a new device housing and a new method of
manufacturing the housing are desired in order to overcome the
above-described shortcomings.
SUMMARY
[0007] In one aspect, a housing used in portable electronic devices
includes a surface having being roughened or knurled to facilitate
gripping thereof.
[0008] In another aspect, a method for manufacturing the housing
includes these steps: forming a housing; polishing the housing; and
forming a surface having being roughened or knurled to facilitate
gripping of the housing.
[0009] Other advantages and novel features will become more
apparent from the following detailed description when taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Many aspects of the present electronic device housing and
the method of making such can be better understood with reference
to the following drawings. The components in the various drawings
are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being
placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present
electronic device housing and the method of making such. Moreover,
in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding
parts throughout the diagrams.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the electronic device housing,
in accordance with a present embodiment;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method, in accordance with a
present embodiment, for manufacturing the housing shown in FIG. 1;
and
[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the step of
engraving the housing, according to the method shown in FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows an
electronic device housing 10, in accordance with a present
embodiment. The housing 10 can quite advantageously be used in
portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, laptops,
digital cameras, etc. The housing 10 is approximately rectangular
in shape and can be made of a metal such as copper, iron, aluminum,
titanium, or alloys including these metals, etc. The housing 10
includes gripping portions 40 (i.e., groove-bounded sections or
knurled portions of surface protruding and/or recessing (depending
on perspective) from their surroundings so as to facilitate
gripping) defined thereon (i.e., extending integrally from an outer
surface (not labeled) thereof). The gripping portions 40 are
usefully groove-bounded sections formed by engraving,
advantageously, two groups of arcs. In the interest of production
time and achieving the desired final appearance and structure, each
arc crosses with at least some of the arcs of another group, and
all arcs of a same group are arranged to be essentially equidistant
from and parallel to any adjacent arc in that group. Thus, most all
of the gripping portions 40 of the present embodiment are
resultingly rhomboid-shaped (i.e., gripping portions 40 at the
exterior edges of the housing 10 may not necessarily be rhomboid,
given that they could be bounded by less than four arc portions).
It is also to be understood that another pattern of grooves may be
chosen to result in gripping portions 40 having a shape other than
rhomboid, and such non-rhomboid gripping sections 40 would still be
within the scope of the present electronic device housing. Further,
the grooves associated with the gripping portions 40 could,
potentially, be essentially linear in appearance, and such grooves
are considered to be contemplated by the present embodiment.
[0015] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a method, in accordance with
a present embodiment, for manufacturing the housing 10 is provided.
The method includes steps as follows.
[0016] Forming the housing 10: A precursor metal board (not shown
in initial form) is punched or cut, for example, to form an
essentially rectangular shape and then sides of the metal board are
finished to form the housing 10. A thickness of the housing 10 can,
e.g., be approximately 0.6 mm, permitting ready machining thereof
yet ensuring sufficient mechanical durability to act as the housing
10.
[0017] Grinding the housing 10 to remove protuberances and/or
stains therefrom: A method for grinding the housing 10 can include
placing the housing 10 into a container (not shown) containing a
plurality of ceramic balls, placing a cleaning agent into the
container, and shaking the container (i.e., essentially
ball-milling). In this way, the ceramic balls grind off
protuberances on the housing 10, and the cleanser gets rid of
stains on the housing 10. It is, however, to be understood that
such grinding could be achieved by other known grinding means
(e.g., rotary grinder; high-grit slurry spray) and be within the
scope of the present method. Likewise, the cleanser could be
applied before, during, and/or after the actual grinding and still
be effective and within the present scope.
[0018] Polishing the housing 10: Usefully, a lubricant is spread on
a rag wheel (not shown), the rag wheel is rotated rapidly, and the
housing 10 is polished by the rag wheel. In this way, the friction
between the rag wheel and the housing 10 creates heat, thus
eliminating small nicks on the housing 10. After being polished, a
roughness of the housing 10 should be in an approximate range from
0.08-0.1 microns. Of course, other polishing procedures could,
alternatively or additionally, be employed and still be in line
with the current method.
[0019] Washing the housing 10: The housing 10 can be washed using a
degreaser, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution, a surfactant,
and/or another cleaning agent. After the housing 10 is washed, any
dust (including particles generated during grinding/polishing),
cleanser, and/or lubricant remaining on the housing 10 can be
removed, such as by rinsing and/or by air jet.
[0020] Engraving the housing 10 to form gripping portions 40
thereon: The housing 10 is held on a worktable (not shown). An
engraving wheel 20 and an engraver 30 mounted on a peripheral
portion of the engraving wheel 20 are, beneficially, used to
engrave the housing 10. The engraving wheel 20 with the engraver 30
can rotate at a rate of about 2300 r/min, and the housing 10 can be
moved (e.g., via X, Y, and/or 0 directions) under the engraver 30
to be engraved at the desired location(s). An engraving depth
achievable can, for example, be in a range of about 0.05.about.0.2
mm and, preferably, is about 0.1 mm. It is, of course, to be
understood that the use of another type of engraving mechanism
(e.g., a laser, a diamond-embedded saw, etc.) could prove suitable
for achieving the engraving step of the present method.
Additionally, it is to be understood that the engraver 30 is
advantageously configured for engraving a plurality of grooves in a
single pass to both ensure groove uniformity and minimize
production time (i.e., beneficially allowing all grooves in certain
direction to be simultaneously formed). That said, it could be
useful in certain instances to use fewer engraving elements
(including potentially just one) as part of a given engraver 30 to
permit more customized engraving, if so desired.
[0021] The engraver 30 engraves the housing 10 along two distinct
directions. In a first engraving, the rotating engraving wheel 20
moves along a first diagonal 1. As such, the engraver 30 rotates
and moves with the engraving wheel 20 to engrave a group/set of
approximately equidistant and thereby parallel arcs on the housing
10. In a second engraving, the rotating engraving wheel 20 moves
along a second diagonal 11, with the engraver 30 rotating and
moving with the engraving wheel 20 to thereby engrave another group
of approximately equidistant arcs that cross the arcs formed in the
first engraving on the housing 10. In this way, rhombic gripping
portions 40 are formed on the housing 10. With respect to the first
and second diagonals I and II, it is to be understood that such
diagonals could potentially be linear or essentially so, in nature
(as opposed to arcuate) and still generate a desirable shape for
the gripping portions 40.
[0022] Anodizing the housing 10: The engraved housing 10 is placed
into an anodizing container (not shown) containing, beneficially,
sulfuric acid solution having a concentration of about 0.2 g/ml.
The housing 10 is connected to an anode and electrolyzed for about
30-40 minutes, thus an oxide film (not shown) having many holes is
formed on the housing 10. The housing 10 is then placed into a
dyeing container (not shown) containing dye (e.g., pigment/paint),
and the dye is absorbed into the holes of the oxide film. In this
way, the housing 10 is dyed to a predetermined color. Finally, the
dyed housing 10 is placed into a resin container (not shown),
containing resin particulates (for example, fluorin resin, epoxy
resin or polyvinyl resin) suspended in liquid (for example, water
or ethanol). The resin particulates form a hard protecting film
(not shown) on the oxide film, giving the housing 10 a higher
wear-resistance and a higher degree of polish/shine. In this way,
the housing 10 is protected, and the portable electronic devices
using the housing 10 can be firmly held because of the gripping
portions 40.
[0023] Understandably, the shape and depth of the gripping portions
40 can be adjusted via adjusting, e.g., the angle, rotation, and/or
movement (e.g., speed) of the engraving wheel 20. For improving
manufacturing efficiency, such engraving parameters can be
automatically adjusted. The engraver 30 can be made of diamond,
ceramics (e.g., alumina, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, etc.),
metals/alloys, and/or cermets having a high level of hardness.
[0024] It is to be further understood that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of
structures and functions of various embodiments, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by
the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims
are expressed.
* * * * *