Patent Description:
In a communication device including a cellular phone terminal, a technology of welding a plated sheet metal to a housing of the communication device in order to control an influence of unnecessary radiation has been known. The prior art includes <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

Welding a plated sheet metal to a housing increases a cost and complicates a manufacturing process. It is desired to control an influence of unnecessary radiation by an easy method at a low cost.

Thus, the present disclosure proposes a communication device and a manufacturing method of the communication device, with which the influence of the unnecessary radiation can be controlled at the low cost and by the easy method.

The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims.

In the following, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail on the basis of the drawings. Note that in each of the following embodiments, overlapped description is omitted by assignment of the same reference sign to the same parts.

Note that the description will be made in the following order.

A configuration of a communication device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG> is a view schematically illustrating a configuration of the communication device according to the embodiment.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a communication device <NUM> includes a metal housing <NUM>, metal foil <NUM>, a conductive member <NUM>, and a display unit <NUM>. Note that a component that is not much related to the present disclosure is omitted in <FIG>. The communication device <NUM> is a cellular phone, a smartphone, or the like. The communication device <NUM> is a communication device that performs communication using mmw, sub-<NUM>, Long Term Evolution (LTE), the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) (registered trademark), or the like. The communication device <NUM> may be a communication device equipped with a wireless local area network (WLAN), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like.

The metal housing <NUM> is arranged in such a manner as to cover various parts including a circuit board. The metal housing <NUM> is electrically connected to the various parts including the circuit board. Chemical conversion treatment is performed on a whole region of a surface of the metal housing <NUM>. Thus, a film for preventing corrosion is formed on the surface of the metal housing <NUM>. The metal housing <NUM> has an exposed region in which etching treatment is performed on at least a part of the film formed on the surface and the metal housing <NUM> is exposed from the film. Specifically, the exposed region is formed at a contact at which the metal housing <NUM> and the display unit <NUM> are electrically connected. The metal housing <NUM> is formed of magnesium, for example. In this case, a film is formed over a whole region of magnesium, and magnesium is exposed in the exposed region. The metal housing <NUM> is formed of aluminum, for example. The metal housing <NUM> is formed of other metal, for example. In the present disclosure, the metal housing <NUM> may be referred to as a first metal member.

The metal foil <NUM> is arranged on the metal housing <NUM>. The metal foil <NUM> is partially arranged on the metal housing <NUM>. The metal foil <NUM> is arranged in such a manner as to cover at least the exposed region on the metal housing <NUM>. The metal foil <NUM> may be arranged in a region that includes the exposed region and that is wider than the exposed region on the metal housing <NUM>. The metal foil <NUM> is arranged in such a manner as to cover the whole surface of the metal housing <NUM>. The metal foil <NUM> is pasted on the metal housing <NUM> with a conductive adhesive (not illustrated), for example. The metal foil <NUM> is, for example, copper foil. The metal foil <NUM> may be, for example, gold foil and silver foil. The metal foil <NUM> may be, for example, other metal foil capable of reducing a resistance value. The metal foil <NUM> prevents oxidation of the exposed region by covering the exposed region. In other words, the metal foil <NUM> prevents electric resistance of the metal housing <NUM> from being improved by the oxidation.

The conductive member <NUM> is arranged on the metal foil <NUM>. The conductive member <NUM> electrically connects the metal foil <NUM> and the display unit <NUM>. That is, the conductive member <NUM> electrically connects the metal housing <NUM> and the display unit <NUM>. More specifically, the conductive member <NUM> electrically connects the display unit <NUM> and reference potential. The reference potential is, for example, ground, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The conductive member <NUM> is pasted on the metal foil <NUM> with a conductive double-sided tape, for example. The conductive member <NUM> may be pasted on the metal foil <NUM> with a conductive adhesive, for example. An area of the metal foil <NUM> is larger than a contact area between the conductive member <NUM> and the metal foil <NUM>. The conductive member <NUM> can be realized by, for example, a known gasket in which a periphery of an elastic member (such as urethane) is covered with a nickel-plated member. Thus, the conductive member <NUM> improves conductivity between the metal foil <NUM> and the display unit <NUM>.

The display unit <NUM> displays various images. The display unit <NUM> can be configured integrally with a touch panel, for example. The display unit <NUM> is, for example, a display such as an organic electro-luminescence (EL) display. A surface of the display unit <NUM> is a display that displays an image, and metal foil (such as copper foil) is provided on a back surface thereof. That is, the conductive member <NUM> electrically connects the metal foil <NUM> and the metal foil provided on the back surface of the display unit <NUM>.

A manufacturing method of the communication device according to the embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an example of the manufacturing method of the communication device according to the embodiment.

First, the chemical conversion treatment is performed on the surface of the metal housing <NUM> (Step S10). Specifically, in a case where the metal housing <NUM> is formed of magnesium, the chemical conversion treatment is performed by a known method using a chromic acid or a phosphoric acid.

<FIG> is a view for describing the chemical conversion treatment according to the embodiment. As illustrated in <FIG>, a film <NUM> is formed on the surface of the metal housing <NUM> by performance of the chemical conversion treatment on the surface of the metal housing <NUM>. The film <NUM> improves corrosion resistance of the metal housing <NUM>. That is, the film <NUM> prevents the oxidation of the metal housing <NUM>.

Next, the etching treatment is performed on the film <NUM> formed on the surface of the metal housing <NUM> (Step S12). Specifically, laser etching treatment is performed on the surface of the metal housing <NUM> and the film <NUM> is partially removed.

<FIG> is a view for describing the etching treatment according to the embodiment. As illustrated in <FIG>, the exposed region <NUM> where the surface of the metal housing <NUM> is exposed is formed by performance of the laser etching treatment on the film <NUM>. A known method is used for the laser etching. Specifically, the exposed region <NUM> is formed at a portion where the metal housing <NUM> and the display unit <NUM> are electrically connected via the conductive member <NUM>.

Next, the metal foil <NUM> is arranged on the surface of metal housing <NUM> (Step S14). Specifically, the metal foil <NUM> is arranged in such a manner as to cover the exposed region <NUM> formed by the laser etching treatment.

<FIG> is a view for describing a method of arranging the metal foil <NUM> according to the embodiment. As illustrated in <FIG>, the metal foil <NUM> is arranged in such a manner as to cover at least the metal housing <NUM> the surface of which is exposed in the exposed region <NUM>. For example, the metal foil <NUM> is pasted with a conductive adhesive in such a manner as to cover at least the metal housing <NUM> the surface of which is exposed in the exposed region <NUM>. For example, the metal foil <NUM> may be pasted with the conductive adhesive in such a manner as to cover the metal housing <NUM>, the surface of which is exposed in the exposed region <NUM>, and the film <NUM>. When the exposed metal housing <NUM> is covered with the metal foil <NUM>, progress of the oxidation of the metal housing <NUM> can be controlled, and the electric resistance can be maintained in a low state.

Next, the conductive member <NUM> is arranged on the surface of the metal foil <NUM> (Step S16). Specifically, the conductive member <NUM> is arranged on the surface of the metal foil <NUM> in such a manner that the metal foil <NUM> and the conductive member <NUM> are electrically connected.

<FIG> is a view for describing a method of arranging the conductive member <NUM> according to the embodiment. As illustrated in <FIG>, the conductive member <NUM> is arranged on the metal foil <NUM> with a conductive adhesive material, for example. The method of arranging the conductive member <NUM> on the metal foil <NUM> is not specifically limited as long as conduction between the metal foil <NUM> and the conductive member <NUM> can be secured.

Then, the display unit <NUM> is arranged (Step S18). Specifically, the display unit <NUM> is arranged in such a manner that the metal housing <NUM> and the display unit <NUM> are electrically connected.

<FIG> is a view for describing a method of arranging the display unit <NUM> according to the embodiment. As illustrated in <FIG>, metal foil <NUM> is provided on a surface on a side of the conductive member <NUM> (back surface) of the display unit <NUM>. The metal foil <NUM> is, for example, copper foil. However, this is not a limitation. In the present disclosure, the metal foil <NUM> is a kind of a second metal member. The display unit <NUM> is arranged in such a manner that the metal foil <NUM> provided on the back surface is in contact with the surface of the conductive member <NUM>. That is, the display unit <NUM> is connected to the metal housing <NUM> via the metal foil <NUM>, the conductive member <NUM>, and the metal foil <NUM>. The metal housing <NUM> functions as ground. That is, with such a structure, the ground can be commonalized.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the metal foil <NUM> covers a connection portion where the metal housing <NUM> and the display unit <NUM> are electrically connected. As a result, oxidation of the connection portion between the metal housing <NUM> and the display unit <NUM> is controlled, and the electric resistance can be maintained in the low state. Thus, it is possible to prevent an influence of unnecessary radiation on other systems when the communication device <NUM> transmits radio waves.

Although an example of a case where the metal housing <NUM> and the display unit <NUM> are electrically connected has been described in the above-described embodiment, this is an example and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, by electrically connecting an antenna (not illustrated) and a circuit board (not illustrated) with a similar configuration using the metal foil <NUM> and the conductive member <NUM> of the present disclosure, it is possible to secure ground of the antenna.

In addition, although the metal foil <NUM> and the conductive member <NUM> are used to connect the display unit <NUM> to the ground in the embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, arbitrary parts including a circuit board of a communication device <NUM> may be connected by utilization of metal foil <NUM> and a conductive member <NUM> as necessary.

Furthermore, although the communication device <NUM> has been described as an example in the embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In the present disclosure, arbitrary parts may be electrically connected with a configuration using metal foil <NUM> and a conductive member <NUM> in other electronic equipment. A tablet terminal, a notebook personal computer (PC), a portable game machine, and the like are examples of the other electronic equipment, but are not limitations.

The communication device <NUM> according to the present disclosure includes: the first metal member <NUM> on which surface treatment is performed and in which the exposed region <NUM> is at least partially formed; the metal foil <NUM> arranged on the first metal member <NUM> in such a manner as to cover the exposed region <NUM>; and the conductive member <NUM> that is arranged on the metal foil <NUM> and that electrically connects the first metal member <NUM> to the second metal member <NUM> via the metal foil <NUM>.

As a result, the oxidation of the connection portion where the metal housing <NUM> and the display unit <NUM> are electrically connected is controlled, and the electric resistance can be maintained in the low state. Thus, generation of the unnecessary radiation can be controlled.

The surface treatment is chemical conversion treatment. Thus, the film <NUM> can be formed on the surface of the first metal member <NUM>, and corrosion resistance of the first metal member <NUM> can be improved.

The first metal member <NUM> is a housing formed of magnesium. Thus, since the metal housing of the communication device <NUM> can be realized by magnesium, weight reduction of the communication device <NUM> can be realized.

The metal foil <NUM> is formed of metal having a lower resistance value than the first metal member <NUM>. Thus, the electric resistance of the surface of the first metal member <NUM> can be reduced, and the unnecessary radiation can be controlled.

The metal foil <NUM> is copper foil. Thus, since the copper foil can be used to reduce the electric resistance of the surface of the first metal member <NUM>, the unnecessary radiation can be easily controlled.

The metal foil <NUM> is provided in such a manner as to cover a whole region of the surface of the first metal member <NUM> including the exposed region <NUM>. Thus, corrosion resistance of the whole region of the surface of the first metal member <NUM> can be improved.

The metal foil <NUM> is pasted on the first metal member <NUM> with a conductive adhesive. Thus, the metal foil <NUM> on the first metal member <NUM> can be easily arranged.

The area of the metal foil <NUM> is larger than the contact area between the metal foil <NUM> and the conductive member <NUM>. Thus, it is possible to prevent oxidation of the first metal member <NUM> and to secure conductivity between the metal foil <NUM> and the conductive member <NUM>.

The conductive member <NUM> is connected to the ground. Thus, a device or the like arranged on the conductive member <NUM> can be connected to the ground, and deterioration in performance of the device can be controlled.

The second metal member is a metal member provided on the display unit <NUM>. Thus, since the first metal member <NUM> and the display unit <NUM> can be electrically connected by utilization of the metal foil <NUM> and the conductive member <NUM>, it is possible to realize the communication device <NUM> in which control of generation of the unnecessary radiation is controlled.

The conductive member <NUM> is a gasket in which a surface of an elastic member is covered with metal. Thus, since a well-known member can be used as the conductive member <NUM>, the unnecessary radiation can be easily controlled.

In the manufacturing method of the communication device <NUM> according to the present disclosure, the chemical conversion treatment is performed on the surface of the first metal member <NUM>, the exposed region <NUM> is formed by performance of the etching treatment on a partial region of the first metal member <NUM>, the metal foil <NUM> is arranged on the exposed region <NUM>, and the conductive member <NUM> is arranged on the metal foil <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A communication device (<NUM>) comprising:
a first metal member (<NUM>) on which surface treatment is performed and in which an exposed region (<NUM>) is at least partially formed;
metal foil (<NUM>) arranged on the first metal member (<NUM>) in such a manner as to cover at least the exposed region (<NUM>); and
a conductive member (<NUM>) that is arranged on the metal foil (<NUM>) and that electrically connects the first metal member (<NUM>) to a second metal member (<NUM>) via the metal foil (<NUM>); and
wherein the surface treatment is chemical conversion treatment; and
wherein the metal foil (<NUM>) is provided in such a manner as to cover a whole region of a surface of the first metal member (<NUM>) including the exposed region (<NUM>).