Abstract:
A coupling frame to provide structural support and electrical functionality includes a plurality of conductive frames spaced from each other and having predetermined gaps. A plurality of conductive sheets are electrically connected to the different places of the inside surface of the conductive frames and an insulating frame fills in the predetermined gaps. Each conductive frame and the insulating frame are annular structures. The insulating frame extends inwardly to partially cover the plurality of conductive sheets. A method for making the coupling frame is also provided.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The subject matter herein generally relates to electrically insulating structures. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A frame of an electronic device is utilized by the inside circuitry, such as being utilized for an antenna of the electronic device. In order to make the frame meet different needs of the circuit, the frame needs to made of segments. Some metal segments are coupled together, and plastic is injected between the metal segments to create the complete frame. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of a coupling frame. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a side, elevational view of the coupling frame of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the coupling frame taken along a line III-III of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the coupling frame taken along a line IV-IV of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a coupling frame. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart of a process for a method for making the coupling frame. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. 
         [0011]    Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
         [0012]    Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
         [0013]    The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “inside” indicates that at least a portion of a region is partially contained within a boundary formed by the object. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape, or other feature that the term modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, “substantially cylindrical” means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a coupling frame  100  which is configured both to protect the internal electronic components and function as part of an electronic device. The coupling frame  100  can include a first conductive sheet  111  and a second conductive sheet  121  electrically connected to different places of the inside surface of the coupling frame  100 , and a support portion  131  extending from the inside surface of the coupling frame  100 . The first conductive sheet  111  and the second conductive sheet  121  can be a conductive material and can be coupled to the inside surface of the coupling frame  100  by a soldering procedure. In another embodiment, the first conductive sheet  111  and the second conductive sheet  121  can be integrated with the inside surface of the coupling frame  100 . The first conductive sheet  111  and the second conductive sheet  121  can be configured to couple the coupling frame  100  with the inside circuitry. The support portion  131  can be configured to support the internal electronic components. 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates that the coupling frame  100  can include a first conductive frame  110 , a second conductive frame  120  and an insulating frame  130 . The first conductive frame  110  and the second conductive frame  120  can be made of conductive material and be annular structures. 
         [0016]    A predetermined gap can be formed between the first conductive frame  110  and the second conductive frame  120 . The insulating frame  130  can be made of insulating material and be annular structures. The insulating frame  130  can be sandwiched between the first conductive frame  110  and the second conductive frame  120 . The insulating frame  130  can be coupled to the first conductive frame  110  and the second conductive frame  120  by the entire annular surface to increase the contact area and enhance the strength of the connection. 
         [0017]      FIG. 3  illustrates that the first conductive frame  110  can include a first main body  112  and a first extending portion  113  extending inwardly from the first main body  112 . The first main body  112  and the first extending portion  113  can form a substantially “L”-shaped semi-closed space to receive the insulating frame  130 . The first extending portion  113  can increase the contact area of the insulating frame  130  and the first conductive frame  110  to enhance the structural strength of the insulating frame  130  and the first conductive frame  110 . The second conductive frame  120  can include a second main body  122  and a second extending portion  123  extending inwardly from the second main body  122 . The second main body  122  and the second extending portion  123  can form a substantially “L”-shaped semi-closed space to receive the insulating frame  130 . The second extending portion  123  can increase the contact area of the insulating frame  130  and the second conductive frame  120  to enhance the structural strength of the insulating frame  130  and the second conductive frame  120 . That is, a part of the insulating frame  130  can be sandwiched between the first main body  112  of the first conductive frame  110  and the second main body  122  of the second conductive frame  120 , and an extended part of the insulating frame  130  can be located between the first extending portion  113  of the first conductive frame  110  and the second extending portion  123  of the second conductive frame  120 . The insulating frame  130  can include a support portion  131  extending from an inner surface thereof and a through hole  132  defined on the support portion  131 . The support portion  131  can be configured to locate and support the internal electronic components, and the through hole  132  can be configured to tighten the internal electronic components. 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates that the first conductive sheet  111  and the second conductive sheet  121  can be substantially “L”-shaped. One ends of the first conductive sheet  111  and of the second conductive sheet  121  can be coupled to the different places of the first main body  112  and the second main body  122 , and the other ends of the first conductive sheet  111  and of the second conductive sheet  121  can be extended inside the coupling frame  100 . In another embodiment, the first conductive sheet  111  and the second conductive sheet  121  can be substantially triangular, or rectangular, or other shape. The insulating frame  130  can extend to partially cover the first conductive sheet  111  and the second conductive sheet  121 . The insulating frame  130  can avoid exposure of the first conductive sheet  111  and the second conductive sheet  121  inside the coupling frame  100  and can enhance the structural and connecting strength of the first conductive frame  110  and the second conductive frame  120 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of a coupling frame  200 . The coupling frame  200  can include a first conductive frame  210 , a second conductive frame  220  and a third conductive frame  230 . The insulating frame  240  can be arranged between the first conductive frame  210 , the second conductive frame  220  and the third conductive frame  230 . A first conductive sheet  211 , a second conductive sheet  221  and a third conductive sheet  231  can be electrically connected to the different places of the inside surface of the first conductive frame  210 , the second conductive frame  220 , and the third conductive frame  230 . The insulating frame  240  can extend to partially cover the first conductive sheet  211 , the second conductive sheet  221  and the third conductive sheet  231 . The first conductive frame  210  can include a first main body  212  and a first extending portion  213  extended from the first main body  212 . The first extending portion  213  can increase the contact area of the insulating frame  240  and the first conductive frame  210 . The second conductive frame  220  can include a main body only. In another embodiment, the quantity of the second conductive frame  220  can be any quantity. The third conductive frame  230  can include a third main body  232  and a third extending portion  233  extended from the third main body  232 . The third extending portion  233  can increase the contact area of the insulating frame  240  and the third conductive frame  230 . The first extending portion  213  and the third extending portion  233  can be arranged to extend along a same direction. The insulating frame  240  can be arranged between the first extending portion  213  and the third extending portion  233 . In another embodiment, the coupling frame  200  can include four or more conductive frames, and an insulating frame can be arranged between any number of conductive frames. 
         [0020]      FIG. 6  illustrates a flowchart in accordance with an example embodiment. The example method is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to carry out the method. The method described below can be carried out using the configurations illustrated in  FIG. 1 , for example, and various elements of the figure are referenced in explaining example method. Each block shown in  FIG. 6  represents one or more processes, methods or subroutines, carried out in the example method. Additionally, the illustrated order of blocks is by example only and the order of the blocks can change. The example method can begin at block  101 . 
         [0021]    At block  101 , each conductive frame can be made with a predetermined shape. 
         [0022]    The conductive frames can be made, and each conductive frame can include a main body and an extending portion extending from the main body, or just include a simple main body. 
         [0023]    At block  102 , one conductive sheet can be coupled to inside surface of each conductive frame. 
         [0024]    Conductive sheets can be coupled to different places inside each conductive frame, thus the coupling frame can electrically connected to the inside circuitry. 
         [0025]    At block  103 , each conductive frame can be placed in an injection mold and kept a predetermined gap between each two conductive frames. 
         [0026]    At block  104 , the gap between each two conductive frames can be filled with insulating material to form an insulating frame, the insulating frame can partially cover the conductive sheets. 
         [0027]    During the forming work, the molten insulating material can be filled in the gap to form the insulating frame and the insulating frame can extend to partially cover the conductive sheets. The insulating frame can also extend to form a support portion in predetermined places. The support portion can be configured to support the internal electronic components. 
         [0028]    The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of a coupling frame. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the details, including in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims.