Abstract:
Housing of electronic device includes a metal base, a ceramic layer forming on the metal base, and at least one pattern formed on the surface of the ceramic layer. The disclosure also described a method to make the housing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. US37448) entitled “HOUSING OF ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME”. Such application has the same assignee as the present application. The above-identified application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to housings of electronic devices and a method for making the same. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    At least one pattern on many housings of electronic devices are formed by printing or application of transfers or paint that are not strongly bonded to the surface of the housing Therefore, the materials used can easily be worn or scraped off. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Many aspects of the present housing of electronic device and method for making the same can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of a housing of an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a sectional schematic view of the housing shown in  FIG. 1  along a line II-II. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart to fabricate the housing shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]      FIGS. 1 and 3  show an exemplary embodiment of a housing  100  of an electronic device such as a mobile phone. The housing  100  includes a metal base  11  and a ceramic layer  12  integrally formed on the external surface of the base  11 . The base  11  can be stainless steel. A thickness of the base  11  can be 0.5 mm (millimeter) or more, and is about 0.5 mm in this exemplary embodiment. A thickness of the ceramic layer  12  is in a range of 0.18 mm-0.4 mm, and is 0.2 mm in this exemplary embodiment. The thicknesses of the base  11  and the ceramic layer  12  are independent of each other. The ceramic layer  12  has at least one pattern  13  formed on the external surface. 
         [0012]      FIG. 3  shows a process to fabricate the housing  100 , the process includes following steps: 
         [0013]    Step 1: A metal base  11  is provided and processed to abrade a surface thereof. Before abrading the surface, the base  11  is cleaned and dried. A conventional cleaning solution such as oxalic acid, or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) may be used to clean the surface of the base  11 . Then, the surface is abraded by, for example, sand-blasting. The blasting material used may be comprised of emery, chromium iron alloy, copper ore, quartz sand, or ceramic base sand. 
         [0014]    Step 2: The base  11  is coated with enamel after abrading to form the ceramic layer  12  on the surface. The enamel may be applied in two steps: glazing then baking. During glazing, the enamel glaze may comprise inorganic silicate to form the ceramic layer  12  and is electrically conductive. The glaze is evenly arranged on the surface of the base  11 , then the base  11  is placed in an electrical field, causing the base  11  and the glaze to be oppositely charged and thereby form a bond. The thickness of the glaze can be adjusted by adjusting the intensity of the electrical field. During baking, the base  11  is placed into an oven and heated, and the glaze is melted evenly to form the ceramic layer  12 . Due to abrasion of the surface, the ceramic layer  12  will firmly attach to the surface of the base  11 . Then, the oven is allowed to cool and then the base  11  is taken out from the oven. 
         [0015]    Step 3: The base  11  having the ceramic layer  12  is processed to form at least one pattern  13  on the ceramic layer  12 . The processing includes following steps: a carrier film is provided that has been treated with paint corresponding to the at least one pattern  13 . The carrier film is attached on the base  11 , with the paint pressed against the ceramic layer  12 . The base  11  is placed into an oven and heated, transferring the paint to the ceramic layer  12  to form the at least one pattern  13 . The remainder of the carrier film evaporates. The paint can include inorganic silicate. 
         [0016]    Step 4: During the above steps, an oxidation layer may form on the internal surfaces of the base  11 . In this step any oxidized surfaces may be sand blasted as above to remove the oxidized layer. 
         [0017]    It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of assemblies 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.