Electronic device and method for manufacturing housing of same

An electronic device, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, may comprise: a housing comprising a first plate facing a first direction, a second plate facing a second direction opposite the first direction, and a side member having a first thickness in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction, while at least partially enclosing a space between the first plate and the second plate; a display disposed between the first plate and the second plate within the housing; a printed circuit board disposed between the display and the second plate within the housing; and an inner structure disposed between the printed circuit board and the second plate within the housing while having a second thickness in the first direction, wherein the inner structure may comprise a flat portion extending from the side member and made of the same metal material as the side member, and wherein the maximum value of the first thickness may be greater than the maximum value of the second thickness. The electronic device as above may vary according to the embodiments.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is the National Phase of PCT International Application No. PCT/KR2016/009385, which was filed on Aug. 24, 2016, which designated the U.S. and claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0178412, which was filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 14, 2015, the entire disclosure of each of these applications being incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to an electronic device. For example, various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an electronic device including a case and/or a housing made of a metallic material, and a method of manufacturing the housing of the electronic device.

BACKGROUND ART

Typically, an electronic device means a device that performs a specific function according to a program incorporated therein, such as an electronic scheduler, a portable multimedia reproducer, a mobile communication terminal, a tablet PC, an image/sound device, a desktop/laptop PC, a vehicular navigation system, or the like, including a home appliance. For example, the above-mentioned electronic devices may output information stored therein as sound or an image. As the integration degree of such electronic devices has increased, and super-high speed and large-capacity wireless communication has become popular, various functions have recently been provided in a single mobile communication terminal. For example, various functions, such as an entertainment function (e.g., a game function), a multimedia function (e.g., a music/video reproducing function), a communication and security function for mobile banking or the like, a schedule management function, and an e-wallet function, are integrated in a single electronic device, in addition to a communication function.

By using a metallic material in manufacturing the case and/or the housing that forms the appearance of the electronic device, various circuit devices, or the like can be protected from the external environment and the appearance can be made beautiful.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Technical Problem

There may be a limitation on a forming method and a processing method depending on a metallic material. For example, molding various types of cases and/or housings using a die-casting process is easy, but silicon (Si) may be added such that a molten metal has sufficient fluidity, and the silicon-added metal may suffer from a limitation in surface treatment. The surface treatment of the metallic material may enhance a color or luster inherent to the metal or may form a variety of patterns or colors through an anodizing treatment or the like. However, as mentioned above, since it is difficult to perform surface treatment on a silicon-added metallic material, it may be difficult to impart a pattern, a color, and the like.

In processing a metallic material, processing using computerized numerical control (CNC) lathe may be usefully utilized. In manufacturing a case and/or a housing of a miniaturized electronic device such as a mobile communication terminal, it is possible to cut and process a hexahedral block-shaped metal into a desired shape using a CNC lathe, although this process may vary somewhat depending on the shape or size of the case and/or the housing to be manufactured. CNC lathe processing is relatively less restricted in terms of a material, but may increase the manufacturing time and material consumption because material is cut from a metal block larger than the case and/or the housing to be manufactured.

Various embodiments may provide an electronic device having a beautiful appearance by utilizing a metallic material and a method of manufacturing a housing of the electronic device.

Various embodiments may provide an electronic device and a method of manufacturing a housing including a housing made of a metallic material and easily processed and surface-treated.

Various embodiments may provide a method of manufacturing a housing for an electronic device capable of being manufactured from a metallic material and capable of reducing a manufacturing time and material consumption.

Technical Solution

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may include:

a housing including a first plate facing in a first direction, a second plate facing in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a side member having a first thickness in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction, while at least partially enclosing a space between the first plate and the second plate;

a display disposed between the first plate and the second plate within the housing;

a printed circuit board disposed between the display and the second plate within the housing; and

an inner structure disposed between the printed circuit board and the second plate within the housing while having a second thickness in the first direction,

wherein the inner structure may include a flat portion extending from the side member and made of the same metal material as the side member, and

the maximum value of the first thickness may be greater than the maximum value of the second thickness.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, an electronic device may include:

a housing including a first plate facing in a first direction, a second plate facing in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a side member at least partially surrounding a space between the first plate and the second plate;

a display disposed between the first plate and the second plate within the housing;

a printed circuit board disposed between the display and the second plate within the housing; and

an inner structure disposed between the printed circuit board and the second plate within the housing while having a second thickness in the first direction.

The inner structure may include a first portion extending from the side member and made of the same metallic material as the side member, a plurality of openings formed through the first portion, and a synthetic resin member disposed in at least one of the openings.

The synthetic resin member may include a screw hole extending in the first direction.

A method of manufacturing a housing of an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may include:

a pressing operation for forming a first workpiece including a bottom plate and a side wall member formed on an edge of the bottom plate by processing a metal sheet or a metal plate using a press;

a first computerized numerical control (CNC) processing operation for forming a second workpiece by removing a part of a metallic material constituting the first workpiece;

an injection molding operation for forming a third workpiece by forming an injection-molded structure on the second workpiece through insert injection molding; and

a second CNC processing operation for forming a housing member by removing a part of the metallic material constituting the third workpiece.

The side wall of the housing member, which is formed by the side wall member, may be formed to have a thickness, which is the same as a thickness of a flat portion of the housing member formed by processing the bottom plate and is larger than a thickness of the flat portion.

Advantageous Effects

In an electronic device and a method of manufacturing a housing thereof according to various embodiments, a metal sheet and/or a metal plate are pressed to roughly form the shape of a case and/or a housing, and then the case and/or the housing is cut through CNC processing so as to obtain a designed shape. Thus, it is possible to reduce a manufacturing time and material consumption in comparison with the case of machining a metallic block. According to one embodiment, since the case and/or the housing are manufactured through a combination of pressing and CNC processing, it is possible to impart a variety of patterns or colors to the external appearance by manufacturing a case and/or a housing using a metal easily subjected to surface treatment, such as aluminum. For example, it is possible to make the external appearance of the electronic device beautiful.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the present disclosure, the expression “A or B”, “at least one of A or/and B”, or “one or more of A or/and B” may include all possible combinations of the items listed. For example, the expression “A or B”, “at least one of A and B”, or “at least one of A or B” may include (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, or (3) both at least one A and at least one B.

The expressions such as “first”, “second”, or the like used in various embodiments of the present disclosure may modify various elements regardless of order or importance, and do not limit corresponding elements. The above-described expressions may be used to distinguish an element from another element. For example, a first user device and a second user device indicate different user devices although both of them are user devices. For example, a first element may be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element may be termed a first element without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

As used herein, the expression “configured to” may be interchangeably used with the expression “suitable for”, “having the capability to”, “designed to”, “adapted to”, “made to”, or “capable of”. The expression “configured to” may not necessarily mean “specially designed to” in terms of hardware. Alternatively, in some situations, the expression “device configured to” may mean that the device, together with other devices or components, “is able to”. For example, the phrase “processor adapted (or configured) to perform A, B, and C” may mean a dedicated processor (e.g., embedded processor) only for performing the corresponding operations or a generic-purpose processor (e.g., central processing unit (CPU) or application processor (AP)) that can perform the corresponding operations by executing one or more software programs stored in a memory device.

The terms used herein are merely for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of other embodiments. A singular expression may include a plural expression unless they are definitely different in a context. Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical terms and scientific terms, may have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. Terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is the same or similar to their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. In some cases, even the term defined in the present disclosure should not be interpreted to exclude embodiments of the present disclosure.

For example, the electronic device may include at least one of a smartphone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a mobile phone, a video phone, an electronic book (e-book) reader, a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a netbook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), an MP3 player, a mobile medical appliance, a camera, and a wearable device (e.g., a head-mounted-device (HMD) such as electronic glasses, electronic clothes, an electronic bracelet, an electronic necklace, an electronic appcessory, electronic tattoos, or a smart watch).

FIG. 1is an exploded perspective illustrating an electronic device100according to various embodiments of the present disclosure in a disassembled state.

Referring toFIG. 1, an electronic device100according to various embodiments includes a housing including a first plate101a, a second plate101b, a side member111, a display121accommodated in the housing, and a printed circuit board123.

The first plate101amay be disposed to face in a first (Z) direction, for example, toward the front side of the electronic device100, and may include a window member made of a transparent glass material. The second plate101bmay be disposed to face in a second (−Z) direction opposite the first (Z) direction. In one embodiment, the second plate101bmay be disposed substantially parallel to the first plate101awith a predetermined distance therebetween. The side member111may be provided as a portion of the housing member101cand may be disposed to at least partially surround the space between the first plate101aand the second plate101b. According to one embodiment, the side member111may have a first thickness in a third direction (e.g., the X direction and/or the Z direction) perpendicular to the first (Z) direction.

In another embodiment, the side member111may have a closed loop shape or a frame shape and may include at least one pair of curved portions. For example, the side member111may include four straight or flat plate-shaped side walls and curved portions connecting two adjacent side walls. In one embodiment, at least one pair of curved portions may be arranged symmetrical to each other. For example, based on the center of the electronic device100in the longitudinal direction (e.g., the Y direction inFIG. 1) and/or the width direction (e.g., the X direction inFIG. 1), at least one pair of the curved portions may be arranged symmetrical to each other. In another embodiment, at least one pair of curved portions may have shapes that are symmetrical to each other.

According to various embodiments, the first plate101aand the second plate101bmay be mounted on the front face and the second face of the housing member101c, respectively. The side member111may be positioned at an edge portion of each of the first plate101aand the second plate101b. For example, the electronic device100may include a housing including the first plate101a, the second plate101b, and the side member111, and the display121, a circuit board123, a battery127, and the like may be disposed within the housing. In one embodiment, the electronic device100may include an antenna member129disposed between the first plate101aand the second plate101b, for example, on the inner face of the second plate101. The antenna member129may include a radiation conductor in which conductors are arranged in a flat coil shape and/or a loop shape, and the electronic device100may perform wireless power transmission/reception, near-field communication (NFC), or the like through the antenna member.

According to various embodiments, the display121may be disposed between the first plate101aand the second plate101bwithin the housing. For example, the display121may be coupled to and/or attached to the inner face of the first plate101a. In one embodiment, a touch panel may be incorporated in the display121and/or the first plate101a, and an input device may be formed through a combination of the display121and the touch panel.

The printed circuit board123may be disposed between the display121and the second plate101bwithin the housing. In one embodiment, a processor, a communication module, a sound module, a power management module, various sensors, and the like may be mounted on the printed circuit board123. In some embodiments, each of a processor, a communication module, a sound module, a power management module, various sensors, etc., may be provided as a separate integrated circuit chip, or at least two modules (and/or a sensor) may be integrated into one module or integrated circuit chip.

In the electronic device100, for example, the housing member101cmay include an inner structure113, for example, a flat portion. The inner structure113may have a substantially flat plate shape disposed in the space extending from the inner face of the side member111and surrounded by the side member111disposed, for example, between the printed circuit board123and the second plate101b. In one embodiment, the inner structure113may include an opening115formed by removing a portion of the flat portion. For example, the opening115may be formed to penetrate the flat portion of the internal structure113in the first (Z) direction and/or the second (−Z) direction. According to various embodiments, the opening115may accommodate at least a portion of the battery127.

According to various embodiment, the inner structure113may have a second thickness in a first (Z) direction and/or the second (−Z) direction. According to one embodiment, the second thickness may be equal to or smaller than the first thickness. In some embodiments, the measured values of the first thickness or the second thickness may be different according to a measurement position on the side member111and/or a measurement position on the inner structure113. According to various embodiments, the maximum value of the first thickness may be greater than the maximum value of the second thickness. The design of the first thickness and the second thickness as described above may maintain and improve the rigidity of the housing and/or the electronic device100. For example, by securing the thickness of the side member111to a certain extent, it is possible to secure sufficient rigidity to withstand external force such as torsion or the like applied to the housing and/or the electronic device100. According to various embodiments, the inner structure113extending from the side member111may also contribute to enhancing the rigidity of the housing and/or the electronic device100by supporting the side member111in the form of a frame.

According to various embodiments, the inner structure113may be made of the same metallic material as the side member111. For example, the housing member101cmay be provided in the form in which the inner structure113is formed integrally with the side member through pressing and/or CNC processing of a metal sheet and/or a metal plate made of an aluminum material.

In one embodiment, the electronic device100may further include an intermediate plate125. The intermediate plate125may be disposed between the first plate101aand the second plate101b, for example, between the display121and the printed circuit board123. The intermediate plate125is able to maintain and improve the rigidity of the housing and/or the electronic device100. When the intermediate plate125is made of a conductive material, the intermediate plate125can be used as a shielding member for blocking electromagnetic interference. For example, the intermediate plate125may prevent electromagnetic waves generated from an integrated circuit chip(s) disposed on the printed circuit board123from interfering with the operation of other integrated circuit chips or the display121.

FIG. 2is a set of six drawings illustrating an electronic device200according to various embodiments.

In describing various embodiments below, for the components that can be easily understood through the preceding embodiment, the same reference numerals as those of the preceding embodiment may be given, or the reference numerals components may be omitted, and the detailed descriptions thereof may also be omitted.

Referring toFIG. 2, an electronic device200(e.g., electronic device100ofFIG. 1) according to various embodiments may include a first plate101adisposed on the front face and a display121mounted on the inner face of the first plate101a. The first plate101amay visually expose the display121(e.g., a screen display region of the display121ofFIG. 1) to the outside therethrough. For example, the first plate101amay be made of a transparent glass material in order to expose a screen, which is output through the display121, therethrough while protecting the display121. In one embodiment, the electronic device200may include input/output devices such as a key221, a receiver223, and the like disposed around the display121on the front face. In another embodiment, the electronic device200may include a camera module225disposed on the rear face (e.g., the second plate101b). The electronic device200may image a subject through the camera module225, and the image of the subject detected through the camera module225may be output through the display121.

At least a portion of the housing member101cof the electronic device200(e.g., the side member111described above) may be exposed to a side face of the electronic device200. A volume control key231, a power key233, a slot cover235, and the like may be disposed on a side face of the electronic device200. The volume control key231or the power key233may provide various functions according to the operation mode of the electronic device200. For example, the volume control key231is generally used for volume control but may also be used for activating the camera mode in a sleep mode or moving/selecting icons among the icons output through the display121. The slot cover235may conceal a slot exposed to a side face of the electronic device200, and may be provided as a tray for mounting a subscriber identification module (SIM) card, an external memory, or the like according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

For example, at least one of the upper face and the lower face of the housing member101cof the electronic device200may be provided with various connectors. For example, an interface connector219for connecting a charging or data cable, an earphone jack, or the like may be disposed on the upper face or the lower face of the electronic device. It is noted that the arrangement of the volume control key231, the power key233, and various connectors does not limit the present disclosure. For example, the arrangement of the key, the connector, and the like may vary depending on the external appearance and the utilization form of the electronic device200.

According to one embodiment, the housing member101c, for example, the side member111ofFIG. 1, may be made of an electrically conductive material and a portion thereof may be insulated from the other portions. For example, at least one of the upper face and the lower face of the electronic device200may have split portions211and215extending across the housing member101c. Here, the “slit portion” may mean a portion that interrupts the continuity of the material constituting the housing member101c. For example, although the side member111described above has a frame shape made of a generally conductive material, some portions of the conductive material portion are cut off so as to form the split portions211and215, and another material, for example, an electrically non-conductive synthetic resin material may be disposed in the split portions211and215. Portions213and217of the housing member101ccan be electrically insulated from the other portions by the split portions211and215. According to one embodiment, the portion213and217of the housing member101c(e.g., the portions electrically insulated from the other portions by the split portions211and215) may form an antenna of the electronic device200.

The construction for forming the antenna using the housing member101cis disclosed in Korean Laid-Open Patent No. 10-2015-0051588 (published on May 13, 2015) and US Laid-Open Patent No. US 2015/0123857 (published on May 7, 2015), etc., and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the structure in which the split portions211and215or the like are formed will be described in more detail with reference to the following embodiments.

FIG. 3is a perspective view illustrating a portion of a housing member301cof the electronic device according to various embodiments.FIG. 4is a plan view illustrating a portion of the housing member301cof the electronic device according to various embodiments.

The housing member301cof the electronic device according to various embodiments may be formed of a combination of a metallic material and a synthetic resin material. For example, an injection-molded structure may be formed in a metallic material portion through a process such as insert injection molding after partially processing the metallic material. It is noted that the structure illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4is illustrated in the state in which an injection-molded structure is removed from the housing member301cof the electronic device according to various embodiments. A housing member in which an injection-molded structure is molded and coupled to a metallic material portion will be described in more detail with reference toFIG. 5and the like.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, the housing member301cof the electronic device according to various embodiments may include a side member311and an inner structure313extending integrally from the side member311. The side member311may have, for example, a frame shape, and the inner structure313may include a flat portion extending from the inside of the side member311. In one embodiment, the inner structure313may include openings315a,315b,315c, and315dformed through the flat portion.

The openings315a,315b,315c, and315dmay be formed to accommodate at least a portion of a battery (e.g., the battery127ofFIG. 1) (e.g., the opening indicated by reference numeral “315a”), or to cause a portion of the conductive material portion of the side member311(e.g., the opening indicated by reference numeral “315b”) to be disconnected from the other portion of the conductive material portion. In one embodiment, some of the openings315a,315b,315c, and315d, for example, the opening indicated by reference numeral315cmay provide a path or means for fastening and fixing the housing member301cto another structure (e.g., the intermediate plate125ofFIG. 1). In another embodiment, some other openings of the openings315a,315b,315c, and315d, or another opening (e.g., the opening indicated by reference numeral “315d”) may provide an imaging path of a camera module (e.g., camera module225illustrated inFIG. 2).

The number, position, shape, etc. of the openings315a,315b,315c, and315dmay vary in some embodiments. For example, when the electronic device (e.g., the electronic device200ofFIG. 2) is a mobile communication terminal requiring portability, ten openings for fastening and fixing may be formed. In another embodiment, when the electronic device has a larger size than the mobile communication terminal, such as a vehicle navigation system or a tablet PC, more than ten openings for fastening and fixing may be formed.

FIG. 5is an (outer) plan view illustrating a part of the housing member401cof the electronic device according to various embodiments.FIG. 6is a (inner) plan view illustrating a part of the housing member401cof the electronic device according to various embodiments.

Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6, the housing member401cmay include a synthetic resin material integrally formed on a metallic material portion (e.g., a portion of the housing member301cillustrated inFIG. 3). For example, the internal structure413of the housing member401cmay include a synthetic resin material molded on or bonded to the flat portion313through insert injection molding. The synthetic resin material has considerable fluidity at a high temperature and may be useful for forming structures of various shapes (e.g., injection-molded structures415aand415b) by being cured to a predetermined shape when cooled. In one embodiment, after the synthetic resin material is molded to, e.g., the injection-molded structures415aand415b, some of the openings formed through the flat portion313(e.g., the openings indicated by reference numerals315b′ and315c′ inFIG. 3) may be filled with the injection-molded structures415aand415band the other openings (e.g., openings indicated by reference numerals315aand315dinFIG. 3) may remain in an open state. In one embodiment, no injection-molded structure is formed in at least a portion of the opening indicated by reference numeral315ainFIG. 3, and the above-mentioned battery (e.g., the battery127ofFIG. 1) may be least partially accommodated in a region or space remaining in the open state.

The injection-molded structures415aand415bmay be formed in the above-described split portions (e.g., the split portions211and215inFIG. 2) or openings for fastening and fixing (e.g., openings indicated by reference numeral315cinFIG. 3). For example, the injection-molded structure415aformed in an opening (e.g., an opening indicated by reference numeral315binFIG. 3) for forming the split portions211and215may electrically insulate the portions (the portions indicated by reference numerals213and217inFIG. 2) disconnected from the other portions in the metallic material portion while mechanically connecting the disconnected portions and the other portions to each other. In another embodiment, the injection-molded structures415bformed in the openings for fastening and fixing (e.g., the openings indicated by reference numeral315cinFIG. 3) may include screw holes415cextending in the first (Z) direction and/or the second (−Z) direction (e.g., the thickness direction of the internal structure413or the flat portion313) therethrough. For example, a portion of the synthetic resin material molded on or coupled to the flat portion313may include fixing bosses.

Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing a housing (e.g., the above-mentioned housing member) of an electronic device according to various embodiments will be described with reference toFIGS. 7 to 16. In the following detailed description, in some embodiments, for components that can be easily understood through the preceding embodiments, reference numerals of the drawings may be identically given or omitted, and detailed descriptions thereof may also be omitted.

FIG. 7is a flowchart for describing a method of manufacturing a housing of an electronic device (700) according to various embodiments.

Referring toFIG. 7, a method of manufacturing a housing of an electronic device (700) according to various embodiments may include a pressing operation (701), a first computerized numerical control (CNC) processing operation (702), an injection molding operation (703), and a second CNC processing operation (704), and some embodiments may further include at least one of a forging operation (715), a first finishing operation (735), and a second finishing operation (745).

FIG. 8is a view for describing an operation in which a first workpiece802is formed through pressing in a method according to various embodiments.FIG. 9is a perspective view illustrating the first workpiece802formed through pressing in the method according to various embodiments.FIG. 10is a cross-sectional view illustrating the first workpiece802formed through pressing in the method according to various embodiments.

Further referring toFIGS. 8 to 10, in the pressing operation (701), the first workpiece802may be formed by working a metal sheet or metal plate801using a press. The first workpiece802has a hexahedron shape with one face is opened, and may include, for example, a bottom plate821and a side wall member823formed along the edges of the bottom plate821so as to form four side walls. First curved portions827and829may be formed on the outer face and/or inner face of the first workpiece802while the edge portions of the metal sheet or the metal plate801are bent in the pressing process. For example, the first curved portions827and829may be formed along the boundary between the bottom plate821and the side wall member823and may have a closed loop shape surrounding the bottom plate821. The side wall member823may include four straight or flat plate-shaped side walls, and two adjacent side walls may be connected via a second curved portion825. By connecting the two adjacent side walls of the side wall member823via the second curved portion825, cracking and the like of the side wall member823can be prevented, for example, in the operation in which the metal sheet or the metal plate801is bent in the pressing operation (701). In one embodiment, at least one pair, e.g., two pairs, of the second curved portions825may be disposed, and at least one pair of the second curved portions825may be disposed symmetrically with respect to each other.

According to one embodiment, the method (700) may further include the forging operation (715). In the first workpiece802formed through the pressing operation, the thicknesses of the bottom plate821and the side wall member823may be the same as each other. The forging operation715may increase the thickness of the side wall member823by pressing or impacting the side wall member823. Referring toFIG. 10, when the upper end of the side wall member823is pressed or impacted, the thickness of the side wall member823can be increased while the height of the side wall member823is decreased. As will be described later, in the first CNC processing operation (702), an opening or the like is formed at least in the bottom plate821of the first workpiece802, and the forging operation performed after forming the opening or the like, may cause deformation of the previously formed opening or the like. According to one embodiment, the forging operation (715) is performed before the first CNC processing operation (702) or the injection molding operation (703), thereby preventing deformation or damage of an opening, an injection-molded structure, or the like.

FIG. 11is a perspective view illustrating a second workpiece1102formed through first CNC processing in the method according to various embodiments.

Further referring toFIG. 11, the first CNC processing operation (702) may include forming at least one opening1121in the first workpiece802, for example, at least the bottom plate821, or forming the second workpiece1102by cutting at least a part of the bottom plate821so as to partially reduce the thickness of the bottom plate821. According to one embodiment, when the housing member (e.g., the housing member101cinFIG. 2) of the electronic device includes split portions (e.g., split portions211and215inFIG. 2), a portion of the second workpiece1102may be disconnected from the other portions by the first CNC processing operation (702). A disconnected portion and another portion of the second workpiece1102may be mechanically connected through the injection molding operation (703), but may be electrically insulated.

FIG. 12is a perspective view illustrating a third workpiece1202formed through injection molding in the method according to various embodiments.FIG. 13is a cross-sectional view illustrating the third workpiece1202formed through injection molding in the method according to various embodiments.

Further referring toFIGS. 12 and 13, the injection molding operation (703) may include an insert injection molding process. For example, the injection molding operation (703) may be performed by performing injection molding in the state in which the second workpiece1102is disposed in a mold, so that it is possible to form the third workpiece1202including injection-molded structures1221coupled to at least the bottom plate821. In one embodiment, some of the injection-molded structures1221may be formed on the bottom plate821, some of the injection-molded structures1221may be formed on the side wall member823, and the remaining injection-molded structures may be formed over the bottom plate821and the side wall member.

According to one embodiment, the injection-molded structure1221may include a first curved portion (e.g., the first curved portion indicated by reference numeral “829” inFIG. 10) formed on the inner face of the second workpiece1102. The first curved portion829may have a different curvature depending on the force applied to the metal sheet or the metal plate801in the pressing operation (701), the time, the working temperature, and the like. The injection-molded structure1221may be at least partially formed in the first curved portion829so as to eliminate such a difference in curvature and to improve the quality of the third workpiece1202and/or the above-described housing member (e.g., the housing member401cinFIG. 5). In another embodiment, the curvatures of the first curved portions829and the like may be uniformly formed in the first CNC processing operation (702) and/or the second CNC processing operation (704) to be described later. For example, the structure in which the injection-molded structure1221is formed on the first curved portion829does not limit the present disclosure, and various methods of making the curvature or the like of the first curved portion829uniform may exist.

The injection-molded structures1221may mechanically connect, fix, or electrically insulate disconnected portions in the second workpiece1102. In one embodiment, the injection-molded structures1221may provide a fastening structure, such as a fastening boss. In some embodiments, a fastening boss may be formed in the injection molding operation (703), or may be formed through additional CNC processing or the like. For example, the method (700) may further include a first finishing operation (735). In the first finishing operation (735), the injection-molded structures1221may be processed according to the design specification and/or the application by partially cutting the injection-molded structure1221and so on.

FIG. 14is a perspective view illustrating a housing member1402formed through second CNC processing in the method according to various embodiments.FIGS. 15 and 16are cross-sectional views each illustrating the housing member1402formed through second CNC processing in the method according to various embodiments.

Further referring toFIGS. 14 to 16, in the second CNC processing operation (704), the housing member1402(e.g., the housing member401cinFIG. 5) may be formed by partially cutting the third workpiece1202to be suitable for the designation specification of the electronic device. In the second CNC processing operation (704), an openings1415aor1515for accommodating a battery may be formed by cutting the bottom plate821of the third workpiece1202, or holes in which a volume control key (e.g., the volume control key231inFIG. 2), a slot cover (e.g., the slot cover235inFIG. 2), and the like are disposed may be formed by cutting the side wall member823of the third workpiece1202. In one embodiment, in the second CNC processing operation704, a partially cut injection-molded structure1421,1521, or1621may be formed. When the processing of the injection-molded structure is possible in the second CNC processing operation (704), the first finishing operation (735) may be omitted. In another embodiment, the first finishing operation (735) may be a part of the second CNC processing operation (704).

According to one embodiment, the method700may further include a second finishing operation (745). The housing member1402completed in the second CNC processing operation (704) may exhibit an inherent color of the metallic material in the external appearance thereof. According to one embodiment, when the metallic material is exposed to a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, it may be vulnerable to contamination, corrosion, or the like. In the second finishing operation (745), a surface treatment may be performed on the housing member1402completed in the second CNC processing operation (704). For example, when the housing member1402is made of an aluminum material, an anodized film may be formed on the surface of the housing member1402through an anodizing process. The anodized film formed by the anodizing process can prevent the aluminum material from being exposed to the external environment and can improve the surface hardness of the housing member1402. Further, the anodized film formed by the anodizing process can be more easily colored than the surface of the aluminum itself, so that the color of the housing member1402can be varied.

As described above, in the method of manufacturing a housing (700) according to various embodiments, a housing and/or a housing member of a metallic material can be manufactured through pressing and/or CNC processing, so that it is possible to reduce the manufacturing time and material consumption. For example, it is possible to reduce the amount of material removed by cutting compared with CNC processing from a hexahedral block-shaped metallic material, and as the amount of material to be removed is reduced, it is possible to reduce the cutting time.

FIG. 17is a cross-sectional view illustrating the electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure in which a portion of the electronic device is cut away.

InFIG. 17, it is noted that some components of the electronic device such as the above-described first plate, second plate, and display (e.g., the first plate101a, second plate101b, and display121inFIG. 1), are omitted for the sake of conciseness of the drawings and/or detailed description.

Referring toFIG. 17, an electronic device1700(e.g., the electronic device100ofFIG. 1) may include a housing member1701. The housing member1701may include a side member1713at least partially surrounding a space between the first and second plates (e.g., the first and second plates101aand101bofFIG. 1) and an inner structure, for example, a flat portion1711, extending from the side member1713. In one embodiment, the housing member1701may include a synthetic resin member, e.g., an injection-molded structure1721, disposed in an opening formed through the flat portion1711. The injection-molded structure1721may include a screw hole1731extending therethrough in a first (Z) direction. For example, the injection-molded structure1721may be used as a fastening boss.

The electronic device1700may include an intermediate plate1725accommodated in the space surrounded by the side member1713and at least partially facing the flat portion1711, and a printed circuit board1723may be mounted between the flat portion1711and the intermediate plate1725. The intermediate plate1725may include a through hole1733extending in the first (Z) direction, and when the intermediate plate1725is disposed to face the plane portion1711, the through hole1733may be aligned with the screw hole1731. In one embodiment, when the screw1735is fastened to the through hole1733through the screw hole1731, the intermediate plate1725can be fixed to the inner structure (e.g., the flat portion1711of the housing member1701). According to various embodiments, the housing member1701may include a plurality of fastening bosses in a part of the injection structure1721, and some fastening bosses may be utilized to fix the printed circuit board1723.

In another embodiment, a dummy member1737may be provided between the intermediate plate1725and the side member1713. The dummy member1737firmly fixes the side member1713and the intermediate plate1725to each other, thereby improving structural stability, ease of assembly, and the like. For example, even if an external force is applied to the outer face of the side member1713in a third direction (e.g., the X direction) perpendicular to the first (Z) direction, the dummy member1737and the intermediate plate1735are able to support the side member1713, thereby preventing deformation or the like of the side member1713.

According to one embodiment, the thickness tb of the inner structure, for example, the flat portion1711may be smaller than the thickness is of the side member1713. For example, the housing member1701is manufactured by pressing a metal sheet or a metal plate having a substantially uniform thickness. However, as the metal sheet or the like is partially cut through the CNC processing operation or the like, the thickness of the side member1713may be the same as or larger than the thickness of the flat portion1711.

As described above, an electronic device according to various embodiments may include:

a housing including a first plate facing in a first direction, a second plate facing in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a side member having a first thickness in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction, while at least partially enclosing a space between the first plate and the second plate;

a display disposed between the first plate and the second plate within the housing;

a printed circuit board disposed between the display and the second plate within the housing; and

an inner structure disposed between the printed circuit board and the second plate within the housing while having a second thickness in the first direction.

The inner structure may include a flat portion extending from the side member and made of the same metal material as the side member, and

the maximum value of the first thickness may be greater than the maximum value of the second thickness.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device may further include a battery and

the inner structure may further include an opening that is formed through the flat portion to at least partially accommodate the battery.

According to various embodiments, the inner structure may further include a synthetic resin material coupled to the flat portion.

According to various embodiments, at least a portion of the synthetic resin material may be located between the printed circuit board and the flat portion.

According to various embodiments, the synthetic resin material may form a fastening boss.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device may further include an intermediate plate between the printed circuit board and the display, and

the intermediate plate may be coupled to the inner structure through the fastening boss.

According to various embodiments, the side member may include at least a pair of curved portions disposed symmetrical to each other.

According to various embodiments, an electronic device may include:

a housing including a first plate facing in a first direction, a second plate facing in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a side member at least partially surrounding a space between the first plate and the second plate;

a display disposed between the first plate and the second plate within the housing;

a printed circuit board disposed between the display and the second plate within the housing; and

an inner structure disposed between the printed circuit board and the second plate within the housing while having a second thickness in the first direction.

The inner structure may include a first portion extending from the side member and made of the same metallic material as the side member, a plurality of openings formed through the first portion, and a synthetic resin member disposed in at least one of the openings.

The synthetic resin member may include a screw hole extending in the first direction.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device may further include a screw engaged in the screw hole, and an intermediate plate disposed between the printed circuit board and the display within the housing,

the intermediate plate may further include a through hole extending in the first direction and aligned with the screw hole, and

the screw may be fixed to the through hole to fix the intermediate plate to the inner structure.

According to various embodiments, the method of manufacturing a housing of an electronic device may include:

a pressing operation for forming a first workpiece including a bottom plate and a side wall member formed on an edge of the bottom plate by processing a metal sheet or a metal plate using a press;

a first computerized numerical control (CNC) processing operation for forming a second workpiece by removing a part of a metallic material constituting the first workpiece;

an injection molding operation for forming a third workpiece by forming an injection-molded structure on the second workpiece through insert injection molding; and

a second CNC processing operation for forming a housing member by removing a part of the metallic material constituting the third workpiece.

The side wall of the housing member, which is formed by the side wall member, may be formed to have a thickness, which is the same as a thickness of a flat portion of the housing member formed by processing the bottom plate and is larger than a thickness of the flat portion.

According to various embodiments, the method may further include

a forging operation for increasing the thickness of the side wall member by pressing or impacting an upper end of the side wall member after forming the first workpiece.

According to various embodiments, the method may further include

a first finishing operation for removing a part of a synthetic resin constituting the injection-molded structure after the injection molding operation.

According to various embodiments, the method may further include

a second finishing operation for anodizing a surface of the housing member after the second CNC processing operation.

According to various embodiments, in the pressing operation, in an outer face or an inner face of the first workpiece, a first curved portion may be formed in a circumference of the bottom plate.

According to various embodiments, the first curved portion may be formed to have a closed loop shape enclosing the bottom plate.

According to various embodiments, in the first CNC processing operation, at least one opening may be formed in the bottom plate of the second workpiece, and at least a part of the injection-molded structure is formed inside the opening.

According to various embodiments, the injection-molded structure may be formed to include a fastening boss.

According to various embodiments, after the second CNC processing operation, the side wall member of the housing member may be formed to be thicker than the bottom plate.

According to various embodiments, in the pressing operation, the first workpiece may be formed to include at least one pair of second curved portions disposed to be symmetrical to each other as a portion of the side wall member.

According to various embodiments, in the pressing operation, in an inner face of the first workpiece, a first curved portion may be formed in a circumference of the bottom plate, and

the injection-molded structure may be formed to conceal the first curved portion.