Patent Abstract:
A mobile terminal housing includes a rear plate made of transparent material and a front plate coupled with the rear plate. The mobile terminal housing further includes a plastic member fitting closely to the rear plate and positioned between the rear plate and the front plate and a mirror coating. The rear plate includes an outer surface and an inner surface opposite to each other. The plastic member forms a light transmission hole. The mirror coating is positioned on the outer surface of the rear plate and overlaps the light transmission hole, and a size of the mirror coating is larger than that of the light transmission hole. The mobile terminal housing is able to give visual indications of activity even when resting on its face.

Full Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to a mobile terminal housing. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When a conventional mobile terminal receives a new text message or a call, it may warn or remind the user of a particular state by emitting a light from a light emitting diode (LED). For example, a display screen can be lit up when a call is received. However, the user may not see the display screen when the display screen is flat against a desk. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a mobile terminal housing which can transmit more conspicuous light. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       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 embodiment of a mobile terminal housing. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded isometric view of the mobile terminal housing of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the mobile terminal housing of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a circled portion IV of  FIG. 3  of a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the circled portion IV of  FIG. 3  of a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the circled portion IV of  FIG. 3  of a third embodiment. 
     
    
    
     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 have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
     Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
     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 “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape, or other feature that is modified by the word “substantially”, such that the feature of 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. 
     The present disclosure describes a mobile terminal housing which can emit light. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a mobile terminal housing  100  including a rear plate  10 , a mirror coating  20 , a plastic member  30 , and a front plate  40 . The rear plate  10  can be coupled with the front plate  40  to form a receiving space  70  (see  FIG. 3 ). The mirror coating  20  can be positioned on the rear plate  10 , and the plastic member  30  can be interposed between the rear plate  10  and the front plate  40 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates that the rear plate  10  can include an outer surface  110  away from the front plate  40 . The rear plate  10  can be made of glass. In other embodiments, the rear plate  10  can be made of other transparent materials. 
     The mirror coating  20  can be positioned on the outer surface  110 . In at least one embodiment, the mirror coating  20  can be positioned in a central portion of the outer surface  110 . In other embodiments, the mirror coating  20  can be positioned at one side of the outer surface  110 . The mirror coating  20  can have a high reflectivity, and can be positioned on the rear plate  10  by coating or screen printing. The reflectivity of the mirror coating  20  can be greater than 80% of total reflectivity. The mirror coating  20  can be shaped as a commercial trademark of the mobile terminal or other decorative pattern. 
     The plastic member  30  can be made of plastic, including a main body  310  and four sidewalls  320  substantially vertically connected to the main body  310 . The main body  310  can be a substantially rectangular plate matching with the rear plate  10 . The main body  310  can include a light transmission hole  311  configured to transmit light to the rear plate  10 . The mirror coating  20  can overlap the light transmission hole  31 , and a size of the mirror coating  20  can be larger than a size of the light transmission hole  31 . The mirror coating  20  with high reflectance can prevent the interior of the mobile terminal from being exposed to the view of the user. In at least one embodiment, the light transmission hole  311  can be circular. In other embodiments, the light transmission hole  311  can be other shapes. A shape of the light transmission hole  311  can be the same as that of the mirror coating  20 . 
     The front plate  40  can be substantially box-shaped and include a base plate  410  and a side frame  420  vertically connected to the base plate  410 . The base plate  410  can include a display screen (not shown). The side frame  420  can be connected to the plastic member  30 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates that the plastic member  30  can connect the rear plate  10  and the front plate  40 . The plastic member  30  can be closely fit with the rear plate  10 , and the edges of the rear plate  10  can be surrounded by the sidewalls  320  of the plastic member  30 . As the plastic member  30  has a buffer function, the rear plate  10  can be protected. In at least one embodiment, the plastic member  30  can be integrated with the rear plate  10  by insert molding. The rear plate  10  can further include an inner surface  120  opposite to the outer surface  110 , and the main body  310  of the plastic member  30  can fit against the inner surface  120 . In at least one embodiment, the inner surface  120  can be coated by a decorative film  121  for aesthetic purposes. 
     The mobile terminal housing  100  can further include a light source  50  configured to supply light to the rear plate  10 . The light source  50  can be a light emitting diode (LED) in the receiving space  70  of the mobile terminal. The light source  50  can be positioned below the light transmission hole  311 . In at least one embodiment, the light source  50  can be positioned right below the central portion of the light transmission hole  311  and the mirror coating  20 . 
     As most of the light emitted from the light source  50  can be reflected by the mirror coating  20 , only a small portion of the light can be transmitted to the rear plate  10 . In order to improve the light utilization rate, a light diffusion mechanism  60  can be positioned on the inner surface  120  of the rear plate  10  to correspond to the light transmission hole  311 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a light diffusion mechanism  61  according to a first embodiment. The light diffusion mechanism  61  can be positioned on the inner surface  120  corresponding to the light transmission hole  311 . The light diffusion mechanism  61  can be a light diffusing ink layer coated on the inner surface  120  whereby the light transmitted to light diffusion mechanism  61  can be scattered. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a light diffusion mechanism  62  according to a second embodiment. The light diffusion mechanism  62  can be a non-smooth surface and can correspond in shape to the light transmission hole  311 . In at least one embodiment, the inner surface  120  of the rear plate  10  can be ground by a grinding tool to increase the surface roughness whereby the light transmitted to light diffusion mechanism  62  can be scattered. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates that a light diffusion mechanism  63  according to a third embodiment can include a plurality of micro prisms  631 . 
     In other embodiments, the light diffusion mechanism  60  can be other structure, as long as the light transmitted to the inner surface  120  can be diffused by the light diffusion mechanism  60 . 
     In use, the light source  50  can be illuminated when the mobile terminal receives a call, a new text message, or the mobile terminal needs to alert the user as to some other state. The light emitted from the light source  50  can be transmitted to the light diffusion mechanism  60  through the light transmission hole  311 , and diffused by the light diffusion mechanism  60 . The light then can be transmitted to the mirror coating  20 . As the mirror coating  20  can have a high reflectivity, the light can undergo multiple reflections. Then the light can be transmitted to the periphery of the mirror coating  20  and the first surface  110 , and be conspicuously visible to human eyes. 
     The mobile terminal housing can transmit light to warn users of a particular state without using a light guiding member, such as a light guide plate. The mobile terminal housing can be simple and the thickness and the weight of the mobile terminal are not increased. 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of a waterproof housing. 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 detail, especially 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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7