Patent Publication Number: US-9905907-B2

Title: Housing for electronic device and method for making same

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to housings for electronic devices, and particularly to a housing with an antenna coating layer for an electronic device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic devices commonly includes an antenna assembly configured for transmitting/receiving signals such as an antenna coating layer. The typical antenna coating layer can be an Laser Direct structuring (LDS) antenna coating layer, a double double-shot antenna coating layer, a printing antenna coating layer, and so on. However, considering cost of the antenna coating layer and development of the electronic devices tend to light and thin, the antenna coating layer mentioned-above cannot satisfy requirements of users. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an electronic device, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device along line III-III of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device of  FIG. 2 , showing the cover further includes a protective layer. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device of  FIG. 2 , showing the cover further includes a shielding layer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     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. 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. 
     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. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates that an isometric view of an electronic device  100 , according to an exemplary embodiment. The electronic device  100  can be, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, or a panel computer. In this exemplary embodiment, the electronic device  100  is a mobile phone, for example. The electronic device  100  includes a window portion  10  and a housing  30 . The window portion  10  and the housing  30  are assembled together. The window portion  10  is assembled to the housing  30  and forms a receiving chamber with the housing  30 , configured for receiving electronic elements such as a battery. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates that the housing  30  includes a frame  31  and a cover  33 . The frame  31  is sandwiched between the cover  33  and the window portion  10 . The frame  31  can be made of metal, plastic, glass, or ceramic material. 
     The cover  33  covers one side of the frame  31  opposite to the window portion  10 . The cover  31  includes a base  331  and an antenna coating layer  333  formed on the base  331 . The base  331  includes a first surface  3311  facing the window portion  10  and a second surface  3313  opposite to the first surface  3311 . 
     The antenna coating layer  333  is formed on the first surface  3311 . The antenna coating layer  333  is made of metal power by low pressure cold spraying. The metal power can be selected from one of copper power, copper alloy power, copper and nickel mixed power. The antenna coating layer  333  includes a certain pattern which can be adjusted according to requirements. A thickness of the antenna coating layer is about 20 um-50 um. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates that, the cover  33  further includes a decorative layer  335 . The decorative layer  335  is formed on the second surface  3313  so that the base  331  can obtain a better appearance. The decorative layer  335  can be formed by painting, printing, spraying, sticking film and so on. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates that, in other exemplary embodiment, the cover  33  can further include a protective layer  336  coated on the antenna coating layer  333  to protect the antenna coating layer  333  during using. The protective layer  336  can be made of non-conductive material so that the protective layer  336  can have little or no effect on performance of the antenna coating layer  333 . The protective layer  336  can be also formed on other surface of the first surface  3311  not covered by the antenna coating layer  333 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates that, in other exemplary embodiment, the cover  33  can further include a shielding layer  337  formed on the first surface  3311 . In this exemplary embodiment the shielding film  337  is pasted on the first surface  3311 . The shielding layer  337  includes a hollowed-out area. A shape of the hollowed-out area is corresponding to a pattern of the antenna coating layer  333 . The shielding layer  337  is made of polyimide. 
     An exemplary method for making the housing  10  of the electronic device  100  can include the following steps. 
     A base  331  is provided. The base  331  has a shape of the electronic device  100 . The base  331  can be made of glass or ceramic material. The base  31  includes a first surface  3311  and a second surface  3313  opposite to the first surface  3311 . 
     A shielding layer  337  is formed on the first surface  3311 . In this exemplary embodiment, the shielding film  337  is pasted on the first surface  3311 . The shielding layer  337  includes a hollowed-out area. A shape of the hollowed-out area is corresponding to a pattern of the antenna coating layer  333 . The shielding layer is made of polyimide. 
     An antenna coating layer  333  is formed on the first surface  3311 . In this exemplary embodiment, metal power is placed in a cold spraying device (not shown). The metal power can be selected from one of copper power, copper alloy power, copper and nickel mixed power. A grain diameter of the metal power is about 10 um-50 um. Low pressure air is supplied to the cold spraying device. The air is no oil and no pollution air. Air pressure is about 0.5-0.8 Mpa. In this exemplary embodiment, the air pressure is about 0.6 Mpa. An value of air flowing over the cold spraying device is about 300-600 L/min. In this exemplary embodiment, the value of air flowing over the cold spraying device is about 400 L/min. The base  331  and the cold spraying device are fixed. The first surface  3311  of the base  331  is sprayed by cold spraying so that the antenna coating layer  333  is formed in the hollowed-out area by the metal power. A thickness of the antenna coating layer  333  is about 20 um-50 um. 
     The shielding layer  337  is removed so that the antenna coating layer  333  is exposed from the first surface  3311 . In this exemplary embodiment, the shielding layer  337  can be directly and manually removed. 
     A decorative layer  335  can be formed on the second surface  3313  so that the housing  30  is made. The decorative layer  335  can be formed by painting, printing, spraying, sticking film and so on. 
     In other exemplary embodiment, a protective layer  336  is formed on the first surface  3311 . The protective layer  336  can be formed by painting or sticking film. The protective layer  336  covers at least a surface of the antenna coating layer  333  to protect the antenna coating layer  333 . 
     In other exemplary embodiment, the base  331  formed with the antenna coating layer  333  can be assembled to a housing as an embedding member or a decorative member. 
     The antenna coating layer  333  is formed on the base  30  made of glass or ceramic by cold spraying. Thus, a better conduction of the antenna coating layer  333  can be ensured and a carrier of the antenna coating layer  333  (i.e. the base  30 ) can directly serve as an appearance member and has a glass or ceramic appearance. In addition, the antenna coating layer  333  is formed in the low pressure condition (e.g. 0.5-0.8 Mpa as descried in this exemplary embodiment) so that a thickness of the housing  30  can be thinner. Furthermore, the process of manufacturing the housing  30  is simpler and the cost of the housing  30  is relative lower. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of assembly and function, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.