Patent Publication Number: US-2009233013-A1

Title: Viewing window and electronic device employing the same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to viewing windows and electronic devices employing the same, particularly to a viewing window having a three-dimensional visual effect and an electronic device employing the same. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Nowadays, portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops and personal digital assistants (PDA) are widely used. Generally, a portable electronic device includes at least one display, which is protected by a viewing window. 
     In use, an ink layer is often printed on a periphery of the viewing window to decorate the electronic device or form a logo. However, the printed ink layer is a planar design and not a three-dimensional effect that would make the electronic device more attractive. 
     Therefore, a new viewing window and a new electronic device employing the same are desired in order to overcome the above-described shortcomings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present viewing window and electronic device employing the same can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the various drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present viewing window and electronic device employing the same. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the diagrams. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an electronic device, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a viewing window, according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along the line III-III shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a viewing window, according to a second exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment, such as a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop, etc. The electronic device  100  includes a housing  30 , a display  20  and a viewing window  10 . The display  20  is received in the housing  30 , and the viewing window  10  is assembled on the housing  30  to cover and protect the display  20 . 
     Also referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the viewing window  10  includes a substrate  11 , an ink layer  12  formed on the substrate  11 , and a metal layer  14  formed on the substrate  11  and the ink layer  12 . 
     The substrate  11  is made of transparent materials, such as polycarbonate (PC) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The substrate  11  includes a first surface  111  and an opposite second surface  113 . When the viewing window  10  is mounted on the housing  30 , the first surface  111  is positioned outward and the second surface  113  is positioned towards the display  20 . 
     The second surface  113  includes a central transparent portion  115  and a peripheral decorating portion  117 . The transparent portion  115  has a shape and size corresponding to that of the display  20 , thus the display  20  can be displayed via the transparent portion  115 . The ink layer  12  and the metal layer  14  are both formed on the decorating portion  117 . 
     The ink layer  12  can be made of semitransparent ink or transparent matte ink. A color of the ink can be changed by means of mixing dye therein. Resin powders, such as acrylic urethane resin powders, and nonmetal powders, such as silica powders, are mixed into the ink to improve a roughness of the ink layer  12 . The size of each of these powders is about 30-150 micrometers. The ink layer  12  is formed on the decorating portion  117  via painting or spraying and partially covers the decorating layer  117  to form predetermined designs and/or characters. 
     The metal layer  14  can be made of aluminum, chrome, nickel, silver, etc. The metal layer  14  is formed on the decorating portion  117  with the ink layer  12  attached thereon by means of depositing, plating, etc., thus covers both the decorating portion  117  and the ink layer  12 . A thickness of the metal layer  14  is about 0.5-0.8 micrometer. 
     In use of the present electronic device  100 , a part of the metal layer  14  directly formed on the decorating layer  117  shows a visual effect of a metal mirror, and another part of the metal layer  14  formed on the ink layer  12  having a high roughness shows a visual effect of an etched metal. In this way, when viewed from the first surface  111 , the decorating layer  117  has a three-dimensional effect and gets more attraction. 
     Also referring to  FIG. 4 , a viewing window  40  according to a second exemplary embodiment is shown. Similarly to the viewing window  10 , the viewing window  40  includes a substrate  41 , an ink layer  42  formed on the substrate  41  and a metal layer  44  formed on the ink layer  42 . The substrate  41 , the ink layer  42  and the metal layer  43  are respectively made of materials similar to that of the substrate  11 , the ink layer  12  and the metal layer  14 . 
     Similarly to the substrate  11 , the substrate  41  includes a first surface  411  and an opposite second surface  413  which includes a central transparent portion (not labeled) and a peripheral decorating portion (not labeled). The ink layer  42  is formed on the decorating portion. Unlike with the viewing window  10 , in the viewing window  40 , the ink layer  42  covers the whole decorating portion, and the metal layer  44  is formed on the ink layer  42  and covers the whole ink layer  42 . In use, the viewing window  40  is assembled on the housing  30 , the second surface  413  is positioned towards the display  20  received in the housing  30  and the first surface  411  is positioned towards outside. Viewed from the first surface  411 , the decorating layer of the viewing window  40  has a visual effect of an etched metal and gets more attraction. 
     It is to be further understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of structures 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.