Electronic device with multi-piece antenna structure for increased strength and connection stability

An electronic device which is simple to manufacture includes a carrier frame and an outer frame. The carrier frame and the outer frame are both made of metal. The carrier frame serves as a ground terminal. A portion of the outer frame serves as an antenna of the electronic device. The antenna includes a feeding portion and a grounding portion. The feeding portion connects to a feed source. The grounding portion is attached to the carrier frame, and it is fixed to the carrier frame by welding process.

FIELD

The disclosure generally relates to an electronic device.

BACKGROUND

Antenna structure of a mobile electronic device and a carrier frame of the antenna structure are usually a one-piece structure. However, the one-piece structure needs a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) operation to be manufactured, which has a complicated process and high cost. There is room for improvement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The term “comprising” when utilized, means “include, but is not limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like. The term “coupled” when utilized, means “either a direct electrical connection between the things that are connected, or an indirect connection through one or more passive or active intermediary devices, but is not limited to”.

FIG. 1illustrates an electronic device100. The electronic device100can be, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, or the like. In the present embodiment, the electronic device100is a mobile phone.

The electronic device100includes an outer frame10and a carrier frame30. The outer frame10and the carrier frame30are both made of metal. The metal can be, but is not limited to, aluminum, aluminum alloy, aluminum-magnesium alloy, magnesium alloy, stainless steel, titanium, titanium alloy, and the combinations thereof.

The outer frame10is positioned on the carrier frame30. In the present embodiment, the outer frame10has a rectangular structure. The outer frame10is manufactured by at least a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) process.

Referring toFIG. 2, in the present embodiment, at least a portion of the outer frame10is an antenna20of the electronic device100.

The antenna20includes a body201, a grounding portion203, and a feeding portion205.

The body201is a portion of the outer frame10. The body201is air-isolated from the carrier frame30.

In the present embodiment, the grounding portion203and the feeding portion205are on the same surface of the body201. The feeding portion205and the grounding portion203are spaced apart from each other and protrude from the body201.

The grounding portion203is configured to ground the antenna20. The grounding portion203connects to the carrier frame30. In the present embodiment, the carrier frame30is a ground terminal of the antenna20, and the grounding portion203is electrically connected to the carrier frame30. The grounding portion203grounds the antenna20through the carrier frame30.

Referring toFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the feeding portion205is configured to connect the antenna20to a feed source501. The feeding portion205is provided with an electrical connection portion2053, such as a pin, a terminal, or a spring. The electrical connection portion2053is connected to the feed source501on a circuit board50of the electronic device100through a spring piece, a wire, or a screw. The feed source501provides signal to the antenna20.

In the present embodiment, the carrier frame30is a middle frame of the electronic device100for carrying various electronic components, providing electromagnetic shielding, and strengthening structure of the electronic device100. The electronic component is a display screen, a battery, a circuit board, and others. The carrier frame30is manufactured by at least a metal stamping process.

Referring toFIG. 1, the carrier frame30includes a bottom plate301and a side edge303. The side edge303is on a periphery of the bottom plate301to form an accommodating portion305together with the bottom plate301. The accommodating portion305is configured to receive the electronic components of the electronic device100. The electronic component such as a display screen, a battery, or a circuit board.

Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the side edge303includes a first surface3031and a second surface3032. The first surface3031and the second surface3032are on opposite sides of the side edge303. The first surface3031is adjacent to the bottom plate301.

The side edge303further includes a first slot3033. The first slot3033matches with the grounding portion203. When the grounding portion203passes through the first slot3033, the grounding portion203is exposed on the first surface3031.

The side edge303further includes at least one protrusion307. The at least one protrusion307is positioned on one side of the first slot3033for electrically connecting the grounding portion203, so that the grounding portion203of the antenna20is grounded through the carrier frame30.

Referring toFIG. 4andFIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the side edge303includes two protrusions307, namely, a first protrusion302and a second protrusion304. The first protrusion302and the second protrusion304are both formed by the first surface3031extending away from the second surface3032. The first protrusion302and the second protrusion304are spaced apart from each other. The first protrusion302and the second protrusion304are at two sides of the first slot3033. The first protrusion302is located at a junction of the first surface3031and the bottom plate301.

When the grounding portion203passes through the first slot3033, the grounding portion203is exposed on the first surface3031and is located between the first protrusion302and the second protrusion304. The grounding portion203is in contact with the first protrusion302and the second protrusion304, so that the antenna20is grounded.

Further, in order to enhance stability of the antenna20, at least one of the first protrusion302and the second protrusion304is also fixedly connected to the grounding portion203. In one embodiment, a junction of the grounding portion203and the first protrusion302, and a junction of the grounding portion203and the second protrusion304are connected by laser spot welding, such that the grounding portion203connects to the first protrusion302and the second protrusion304on the side edge303. In the present embodiment, the antenna20and the carrier frame30are both made of metal. Thus, the metal at the junction of the grounding portion203and the first protrusion302, and the metal at the junction of the grounding portion203and the second protrusion304are fused together due to the high temperature of the welding process, so that the grounding portion203, the first protrusion302, and the second protrusion304are tightly coupled. Stability of the electrical connection and strength of the mechanical connection between the antenna20and the carrier frame30are both improved.

Further, the first protrusion302includes a first recessed hole3021. The second protrusion304includes a first through hole3041which faces the first recessed hole3021. Correspondingly, the grounding portion203includes a first hole2031. The first hole2031is positioned on a side of the grounding portion203near the body201. The first hole2031extends through the grounding portion203. As such, when the grounding portion203passes through the first slot3033, the grounding portion203is between the first protrusion302and the second protrusion304. Moreover, when the first through hole3041, the first hole2031, and the first recessed hole3021are in air communication with each other and are aligned along a common axis, a mounting member40can pass through the first through hole3041, the first hole2031, and the first recessed hole3021to firmly fix the antenna20to the carrier frame30. The mounting member40can be a fixing pin, a screw, or the like.

In order to ensure the connection quality of the grounding portion203, the first protrusion302, and the second protrusion304, the antenna20can be initially fixed to the carrier frame30by the mounting member40.

The side edge303further includes a second slot3034as shown inFIG. 2. The second slot3034cooperates with the feeding portion205. When the feeding portion205passes through the second slot3034, the feeding portion205is exposed on the first surface3031. The feeding portion205is air-isolated from the side edge303.

To firmly fix the antenna20to the carrier frame30, the side edge303further includes at least one fixing portion309for facilitating the connection of the antenna20to the carrier frame30. In the present embodiment, the side edge303includes two fixing portion309, namely, a first fixing portion306and a second fixing portion308as shown inFIG. 4andFIG. 5. The first fixing portion306and the second fixing portion308are both formed by the first surface3031extending away from the second surface3032. The first fixing portion306and the second fixing portion308are spaced apart from each other. The first fixing portion306and the second fixing portion308are at two sides of the second slot3034, for example, as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 4. The first fixing portion306is located at a junction of the first surface3031and the bottom plate301.

Referring toFIG. 4, the first fixing portion306includes a second recessed hole3061. The second fixing portion308includes a second through hole3081facing the second recessed hole3061. Correspondingly, the feeding portion205includes a second hole2051. The second hole2051is positioned on a side of the feeding portion205near the body201. The second hole2051extends through the feeding portion205. As such, when the feeding portion205passes through the second slot3034, and the feeding portion205is between the first fixing portion306and the second fixing portion308, for example, as shown inFIG. 5. The second through hole3081, the second through hole2051and the second recessed hole3061are in air communication with each other and are aligned along a common axis, a mounting member40can pass through the second through hole3081, the second hole2051, and the second recess3061to fix the antenna20to the carrier frame30.

The grounding portion203and the carrier frame30are connected by welding process such that the antenna20is grounded through the grounding portion203, the antenna20is fixed on the electronic device100, and the stability of the antenna20is enhanced. In addition, the outer frame10and the carrier frame30can be processed separately and in different ways, which simplifies the manufacturing process of the electronic device100and reduces the production cost. For example, the carrier frame30can be manufactured by metal stamping process. Structure of electronic device100disclosed is simpler than a one-piece structure of frame and carrier being formed by CNC process.