Patent Description:
Typically, an electronic device means a device that performs a specific function according to a program incorporated therein, such as an electronic scheduler, a portable multimedia reproducer, a mobile communication terminal, a tablet PC, an image/sound device, a desktop/laptop PC, a vehicular navigation system, or the like, including a home appliance. For example, the above-mentioned electronic devices may output information stored therein as sound or an image. As the integration degree of such electronic devices has increased, and super-high speed and large-capacity wireless communication has become popular, various functions have recently been provided in a single mobile communication terminal. For example, various functions, such as an entertainment function (e.g., a game function), a multimedia function (e.g., a music/video reproducing function), a communication and security function for mobile banking or the like, a schedule management function, and an e-wallet function, are integrated in a single electronic device, in addition to a communication function.

By using a metallic material in manufacturing the case and/or the housing that forms the appearance of the electronic device, various circuit devices, or the like can be protected from the external environment and the appearance can be made beautiful.

Herewith, reference is made to <CIT>, which relates to an electronic apparatus comprising an antenna radiator. The present application may be distinguished from the device(s) disclosed by <CIT> by at least features specified in characterizing features in the appended independent claims, by means of which at least part of a case and/or a housing of an electronic device may be manufactured with improved efficiency.

Further documents that are considered to pertain to the same technical field are <CIT> and <CIT>.

There may be a limitation on a forming method and a processing method depending on a metallic material. For example, molding various types of cases and/or housings using a die-casting process is easy, but silicon (Si) may be added such that a molten metal has sufficient fluidity, and the silicon-added metal may suffer from a limitation in surface treatment. The surface treatment of the metallic material may enhance a color or luster inherent to the metal or may form a variety of patterns or colors through an anodizing treatment or the like. However, as mentioned above, since it is difficult to perform surface treatment on a silicon-added metallic material, it may be difficult to impart a pattern, a color, and the like.

In processing a metallic material, processing using computerized numerical control (CNC) lathe may be usefully utilized. In manufacturing a case and/or a housing of a miniaturized electronic device such as a mobile communication terminal, it is possible to cut and process a hexahedral block-shaped metal into a desired shape using a CNC lathe, although this process may vary somewhat depending on the shape or size of the case and/or the housing to be manufactured. CNC lathe processing is relatively less restricted in terms of a material, but may increase the manufacturing time and material consumption because material is cut from a metal block larger than the case and/or the housing to be manufactured.

Various embodiments may provide an electronic device having a beautiful appearance by utilizing a metallic material and a method of manufacturing a housing of the electronic device.

Various embodiments may provide an electronic device a housing including a housing made of a metallic material and easily processed and surface-treated.

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may include features specified in the appended independent apparatus claim.

Preferred embodiments of the electronic device according to the present disclosure are subject of the appended dependent apparatus claims.

In an electronic device and a method of manufacturing a housing thereof, a metal sheet and/or a metal plate are pressed to roughly form the shape of a case and/or a housing, and then the case and/or the housing is cut through CNC processing so as to obtain a designed shape. Thus, it is possible to reduce a manufacturing time and material consumption in comparison with the case of machining a metallic block. Since the case and/or the housing are manufactured through a combination of pressing and CNC processing, it is possible to impart a variety of patterns or colors to the external appearance by manufacturing a case and/or a housing using a metal easily subjected to surface treatment, such as aluminum. For example, it is possible to make the external appearance of the electronic device beautiful.

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:.

For example, the electronic device may include at least one of a smartphone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a mobile phone, a video phone, an electronic book (e-book) reader, a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a netbook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), an MP3 player, a mobile medical appliance, a camera, and a wearable device (e.g., a head-mounted-device (HMD) such as electronic glasses, electronic clothes, an electronic bracelet, an electronic necklace, an electronic appcessory, electronic tattoos, or a smart watch).

In some embodiments, an electronic device may be a smart home appliance. The home appliance may include at least one of, for example, a television, a Digital Video Disk (DVD) player, an audio, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a vacuum cleaner, an oven, a microwave oven, a washing machine, an air cleaner, a set-top box, a home automation control panel, a security control panel, a TV box (e.g., Samsung HomeSync™, Apple TV™, or Google TV™), a game console (e.g., Xbox™ and PlayStation™), an electronic dictionary, an electronic key, a camcorder, and an electronic photo frame.

According to another embodiment, the electronic device may include at least one of various medical devices (e.g., various portable medical measuring devices (a blood glucose monitoring device, a heart rate monitoring device, a blood pressure measuring device, a body temperature measuring device, etc.), a Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), a Computed Tomography (CT) machine, and an ultrasonic machine), a navigation device, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, an Event Data Recorder (EDR) , a Flight Data Recorder (FDR) , a Vehicle Infotainment Devices, an electronic devices for a ship (e.g., a navigation device for a ship, and a gyro-compass), avionics, security devices, an automotive head unit, a robot for home or industry, an Automatic Teller's Machine (ATM) in banks, Point Of Sales (POS) in a shop, or internet device of things (e.g., a light bulb, various sensors, electric or gas meter, a sprinkler device, a fire alarm, a thermostat, a streetlamp, a toaster, a sporting goods, a hot water tank, a heater, a boiler, etc.).

According to some embodiments, the electronic device may include at least one of a part of furniture or a building/structure, an electronic board, an electronic signature receiving device, a projector, and various kinds of measuring instruments (e.g., a water meter, an electric meter, a gas meter, and a radio wave meter). In various embodiments, the electronic device may be a combination of one or more of the aforementioned various devices. According to some embodiments, the electronic device may also be a flexible device. Further, the electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to the aforementioned devices, and may include a new electronic device according to the development of technology.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective illustrating an electronic device <NUM> according to various embodiments of the present disclosure in a disassembled state.

Referring to <FIG>, an electronic device <NUM> includes a housing including a first plate 101a, a second plate 101b, a side member <NUM>, a display <NUM> accommodated in the housing, and a printed circuit board <NUM>.

The first plate 101a may be disposed to face in a first (Z) direction, for example, toward the front side of the electronic device <NUM>, and may include a window member made of a transparent glass material. The second plate 101b may be disposed to face in a second (-Z) direction opposite the first (Z) direction. In one embodiment, the second plate 101b may be disposed substantially parallel to the first plate 101a with a predetermined distance therebetween. The side member <NUM> is provided as a portion of the housing member 101c and is disposed to at least partially surround the space between the first plate 101a and the second plate 101b. According to one embodiment, the side member <NUM> may have a first thickness in a third direction (e.g., the X direction and/or the Z direction) perpendicular to the first (Z) direction.

In another embodiment, the side member <NUM> may have a closed loop shape or a frame shape and may include at least one pair of curved portions. For example, the side member <NUM> may include four straight or flat plate-shaped side walls and curved portions connecting two adjacent side walls. In one embodiment, at least one pair of curved portions may be arranged symmetrical to each other. For example, based on the center of the electronic device <NUM> in the longitudinal direction (e.g., the Y direction in <FIG>) and/or the width direction (e.g., the X direction in <FIG>), at least one pair of the curved portions may be arranged symmetrical to each other. In another embodiment, at least one pair of curved portions may have shapes that are symmetrical to each other.

According to various embodiments, the first plate 101a and the second plate 101b may be mounted on the front face and the second face of the housing member 101c, respectively. The side member <NUM> may be positioned at an edge portion of each of the first plate 101a and the second plate 101b. The electronic device <NUM> includes a housing including the first plate 101a, the second plate 101b, and the side member <NUM>, and the display <NUM>, a circuit board <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, and the like may be disposed within the housing. In one embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may include an antenna member <NUM> disposed between the first plate 101a and the second plate 101b, for example, on the inner face of the second plate <NUM>. The antenna member <NUM> may include a radiation conductor in which conductors are arranged in a flat coil shape and/or a loop shape, and the electronic device <NUM> may perform wireless power transmission/reception, near-field communication (NFC), or the like through the antenna member.

The display <NUM> is disposed between the first plate 101a and the second plate 101b within the housing. For example, the display <NUM> may be coupled to and/or attached to the inner face of the first plate 101a. In one embodiment, a touch panel may be incorporated in the display <NUM> and/or the first plate 101a, and an input device may be formed through a combination of the display <NUM> and the touch panel.

The printed circuit board <NUM> is disposed between the display <NUM> and the second plate 101b within the housing. In one embodiment, a processor, a communication module, a sound module, a power management module, various sensors, and the like may be mounted on the printed circuit board <NUM>. In some embodiments, each of a processor, a communication module, a sound module, a power management module, various sensors, etc., may be provided as a separate integrated circuit chip, or at least two modules (and/or a sensor) may be integrated into one module or integrated circuit chip.

In the electronic device <NUM> the housing member 101c includes an inner structure 113comprising a flat portion. The inner structure <NUM> may have a substantially flat plate shape disposed in the space extending from the inner face of the side member <NUM> and surrounded by the side member <NUM> disposed, for example, between the printed circuit board <NUM> and the second plate 101b. In one embodiment, the inner structure <NUM> may include an opening <NUM> formed by removing a portion of the flat portion. For example, the opening <NUM> may be formed to penetrate the flat portion of the internal structure <NUM> in the first (Z) direction and/or the second (-Z) direction. According to various embodiments, the opening <NUM> may accommodate at least a portion of the battery <NUM>.

The inner structure <NUM> has a second thickness in a first (Z) direction and/or the second (-Z) direction. According to one embodiment, the second thickness may be equal to or smaller than the first thickness. In some embodiments, the measured values of the first thickness or the second thickness may be different according to a measurement position on the side member <NUM> and/or a measurement position on the inner structure <NUM>. The maximum value of the first thickness is greater than the maximum value of the second thickness. The design of the first thickness and the second thickness as described above may maintain and improve the rigidity of the housing and/or the electronic device <NUM>. For example, by securing the thickness of the side member <NUM> to a certain extent, it is possible to secure sufficient rigidity to withstand external force such as torsion or the like applied to the housing and/or the electronic device <NUM>. According to various embodiments, the inner structure <NUM> extending from the side member <NUM> may also contribute to enhancing the rigidity of the housing and/or the electronic device <NUM> by supporting the side member <NUM> in the form of a frame.

According to various embodiments, the inner structure <NUM> may be made of the same metallic material as the side member <NUM>. The housing member 101c may be provided in the form in which the inner structure <NUM> is formed integrally with the side member through pressing and/or CNC processing of a metal sheet and/or a metal plate made of an aluminum material.

In one embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may further include an intermediate plate <NUM>. The intermediate plate <NUM> may be disposed between the first plate 101a and the second plate 101b, for example, between the display <NUM> and the printed circuit board <NUM>. The intermediate plate <NUM> is able to maintain and improve the rigidity of the housing and/or the electronic device <NUM>. When the intermediate plate <NUM> is made of a conductive material, the intermediate plate <NUM> can be used as a shielding member for blocking electromagnetic interference. For example, the intermediate plate <NUM> may prevent electromagnetic waves generated from an integrated circuit chip(s) disposed on the printed circuit board <NUM> from interfering with the operation of other integrated circuit chips or the display <NUM>.

<FIG> is a set of six drawings illustrating an electronic device <NUM> according to various embodiments.

In describing various embodiments below, for the components that can be easily understood through the preceding embodiment, the same reference numerals as those of the preceding embodiment may be given, or the reference numerals components may be omitted, and the detailed descriptions thereof may also be omitted.

Referring to <FIG>, an electronic device <NUM> (e.g., electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) according to various embodiments includes a first plate 101a disposed on the front face and a display <NUM> mounted on the inner face of the first plate 101a. The first plate 101a may visually expose the display <NUM> (e.g., a screen display region of the display <NUM> of <FIG>) to the outside therethrough. For example, the first plate 101a may be made of a transparent glass material in order to expose a screen, which is output through the display <NUM>, therethrough while protecting the display <NUM>. In one embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may include input/output devices such as a key <NUM>, a receiver <NUM>, and the like disposed around the display <NUM> on the front face. In another embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may include a camera module <NUM> disposed on the rear face (e.g., the second plate 101b). The electronic device <NUM> may image a subject through the camera module <NUM>, and the image of the subject detected through the camera module <NUM> may be output through the display <NUM>.

At least a portion of the housing member 101c of the electronic device <NUM> (e.g., the side member <NUM> described above) may be exposed to a side face of the electronic device <NUM>. A volume control key <NUM>, a power key <NUM>, a slot cover <NUM>, and the like may be disposed on a side face of the electronic device <NUM>. The volume control key <NUM> or the power key <NUM> may provide various functions according to the operation mode of the electronic device <NUM>. For example, the volume control key <NUM> is generally used for volume control but may also be used for activating the camera mode in a sleep mode or moving/selecting icons among the icons output through the display <NUM>. The slot cover <NUM> may conceal a slot exposed to a side face of the electronic device <NUM>, and may be provided as a tray for mounting a subscriber identification module (SIM) card, an external memory, or the like according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

For example, at least one of the upper face and the lower face of the housing member 101c of the electronic device <NUM> may be provided with various connectors. For example, an interface connector <NUM> for connecting a charging or data cable, an earphone jack, or the like may be disposed on the upper face or the lower face of the electronic device. It is noted that the arrangement of the volume control key <NUM>, the power key <NUM>, and various connectors does not limit the present disclosure. For example, the arrangement of the key, the connector, and the like may vary depending on the external appearance and the utilization form of the electronic device <NUM>.

According to one embodiment, the housing member 101c, for example, the side member <NUM> of <FIG>, may be made of an electrically conductive material and a portion thereof may be insulated from the other portions. For example, at least one of the upper face and the lower face of the electronic device <NUM> may have split portions <NUM> and <NUM> extending across the housing member 101c. Here, the "slit portion" may mean a portion that interrupts the continuity of the material constituting the housing member 101c. For example, although the side member <NUM> described above has a frame shape made of a generally conductive material, some portions of the conductive material portion are cut off so as to form the split portions <NUM> and <NUM>, and another material, for example, an electrically non-conductive synthetic resin material may be disposed in the split portions <NUM> and <NUM>. Portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the housing member 101c can be electrically insulated from the other portions by the split portions <NUM> and <NUM>. According to one embodiment, the portion <NUM> and <NUM> of the housing member 101c (e.g., the portions electrically insulated from the other portions by the split portions <NUM> and <NUM>) may form an antenna of the electronic device <NUM>.

The construction for forming the antenna using the housing member 101c is disclosed in <CIT>) and US Laid-Open Patent No. <CIT>), etc., and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the structure in which the split portions <NUM> and <NUM> or the like are formed will be described in more detail with reference to the following embodiments.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a portion of a housing member 301c of the electronic device according to various embodiments. <FIG> is a plan view illustrating a portion of the housing member 301c of the electronic device according to various embodiments.

The housing member 301c of the electronic device according to various embodiments may be formed of a combination of a metallic material and a synthetic resin material. For example, an injection-molded structure may be formed in a metallic material portion through a process such as insert injection molding after partially processing the metallic material. It is noted that the structure illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> is illustrated in the state in which an injection-molded structure is removed from the housing member 301c of the electronic device according to various embodiments. A housing member in which an injection-molded structure is molded and coupled to a metallic material portion will be described in more detail with reference to <FIG> and the like.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the housing member 301c of the electronic device includes a side member <NUM> and an inner structure <NUM> extending integrally from the side member <NUM>. The side member <NUM> may have, for example, a frame shape, and the inner structure <NUM> may include a flat portion extending from the inside of the side member <NUM>. In one embodiment, the inner structure <NUM> may include openings 315a, 315b, 315c, and 315d formed through the flat portion.

The openings 315a, 315b, 315c, and 315d may be formed to accommodate at least a portion of a battery (e.g., the battery <NUM> of <FIG>) (e.g., the opening indicated by reference numeral "315a"), or to cause a portion of the conductive material portion of the side member <NUM> (e.g., the opening indicated by reference numeral "315b") to be disconnected from the other portion of the conductive material portion. In one embodiment, some of the openings 315a, 315b, 315c, and 315d, for example, the opening indicated by reference numeral 315c may provide a path or means for fastening and fixing the housing member 301c to another structure (e.g., the intermediate plate <NUM> of <FIG>). In another embodiment, some other openings of the openings 315a, 315b, 315c, and 315d, or another opening (e.g., the opening indicated by reference numeral "315d") may provide an imaging path of a camera module (e.g., camera module <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>).

The number, position, shape, etc. of the openings 315a, 315b, 315c, and 315d may vary in some embodiments. For example, when the electronic device (e.g., the electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) is a mobile communication terminal requiring portability, ten openings for fastening and fixing may be formed. In another embodiment, when the electronic device has a larger size than the mobile communication terminal, such as a vehicle navigation system or a tablet PC, more than ten openings for fastening and fixing may be formed.

<FIG> is an (outer) plan view illustrating a part of the housing member 401c of the electronic device according to various embodiments. <FIG> is a (inner) plan view illustrating a part of the housing member 401c of the electronic device according to various embodiments.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the housing member 401c may include a synthetic resin material integrally formed on a metallic material portion (e.g., a portion of the housing member 301c illustrated in <FIG>). For example, the internal structure <NUM> of the housing member 401c may include a synthetic resin material molded on or bonded to the flat portion <NUM> through insert injection molding. The synthetic resin material has considerable fluidity at a high temperature and may be useful for forming structures of various shapes (e.g., injection-molded structures 415a and 415b) by being cured to a predetermined shape when cooled. In one embodiment, after the synthetic resin material is molded to, e.g., the injection-molded structures 415a and 415b, some of the openings formed through the flat portion <NUM> (e.g., the openings indicated by reference numerals 315b' and 315c' in <FIG>) may be filled with the injection-molded structures 415a and 415b and the other openings (e.g., openings indicated by reference numerals 315a and 315d in <FIG>) may remain in an open state. In one embodiment, no injection-molded structure is formed in at least a portion of the opening indicated by reference numeral 315a in <FIG>, and the above-mentioned battery (e.g., the battery <NUM> of <FIG>) may be least partially accommodated in a region or space remaining in the open state.

The injection-molded structures 415a and 415b may be formed in the above-described split portions (e.g., the split portions <NUM> and <NUM> in <FIG>) or openings for fastening and fixing (e.g., openings indicated by reference numeral 315c in <FIG>). For example, the injection-molded structure 415a formed in an opening (e.g., an opening indicated by reference numeral 315b in <FIG>) for forming the split portions <NUM> and <NUM> may electrically insulate the portions (the portions indicated by reference numerals <NUM> and <NUM> in <FIG>) disconnected from the other portions in the metallic material portion while mechanically connecting the disconnected portions and the other portions to each other. In another embodiment, the injection-molded structures 415b formed in the openings for fastening and fixing (e.g., the openings indicated by reference numeral 315c in <FIG>) may include screw holes 415c extending in the first (Z) direction and/or the second (-Z) direction (e.g., the thickness direction of the internal structure <NUM> or the flat portion <NUM>) therethrough. For example, a portion of the synthetic resin material molded on or coupled to the flat portion <NUM> may include fixing bosses.

Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing a housing (e.g., the above-mentioned housing member) of an electronic device according to various embodiments will be described with reference to <FIG>. In the following detailed description, in some embodiments, for components that can be easily understood through the preceding embodiments, reference numerals of the drawings may be identically given or omitted, and detailed descriptions thereof may also be omitted.

<FIG> is a flowchart for describing a method of manufacturing a housing of an electronic device (<NUM>) according to various embodiments.

Referring to <FIG>, a method of manufacturing a housing of an electronic device (<NUM>) according to various embodiments may include a pressing operation (<NUM>), a first computerized numerical control (CNC) processing operation (<NUM>), an injection molding operation (<NUM>), and a second CNC processing operation (<NUM>), and some embodiments may further include at least one of a forging operation (<NUM>), a first finishing operation (<NUM>), and a second finishing operation (<NUM>).

<FIG> is a view for describing an operation in which a first workpiece <NUM> is formed through pressing in a method according to various embodiments. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the first workpiece <NUM> formed through pressing in the method according to various embodiments. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating the first workpiece <NUM> formed through pressing in the method according to various embodiments.

Further referring to <FIG>, in the pressing operation (<NUM>), the first workpiece <NUM> may be formed by working a metal sheet or metal plate <NUM> using a press. The first workpiece <NUM> has a hexahedron shape with one face is opened, and may include, for example, a bottom plate <NUM> and a side wall member <NUM> formed along the edges of the bottom plate <NUM> so as to form four side walls. First curved portions <NUM> and <NUM> may be formed on the outer face and/or inner face of the first workpiece <NUM> while the edge portions of the metal sheet or the metal plate <NUM> are bent in the pressing process. For example, the first curved portions <NUM> and <NUM> may be formed along the boundary between the bottom plate <NUM> and the side wall member <NUM> and may have a closed loop shape surrounding the bottom plate <NUM>. The side wall member <NUM> may include four straight or flat plate-shaped side walls, and two adjacent side walls may be connected via a second curved portion <NUM>. By connecting the two adjacent side walls of the side wall member <NUM> via the second curved portion <NUM>, cracking and the like of the side wall member <NUM> can be prevented, for example, in the operation in which the metal sheet or the metal plate <NUM> is bent in the pressing operation (<NUM>). In one embodiment, at least one pair, e.g., two pairs, of the second curved portions <NUM> may be disposed, and at least one pair of the second curved portions <NUM> may be disposed symmetrically with respect to each other.

According to one embodiment, the method (<NUM>) may further include the forging operation (<NUM>). In the first workpiece <NUM> formed through the pressing operation, the thicknesses of the bottom plate <NUM> and the side wall member <NUM> may be the same as each other. The forging operation <NUM> may increase the thickness of the side wall member <NUM> by pressing or impacting the side wall member <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, when the upper end of the side wall member <NUM> is pressed or impacted, the thickness of the side wall member <NUM> can be increased while the height of the side wall member <NUM> is decreased. As will be described later, in the first CNC processing operation (<NUM>), an opening or the like is formed at least in the bottom plate <NUM> of the first workpiece <NUM>, and the forging operation performed after forming the opening or the like, may cause deformation of the previously formed opening or the like. According to one embodiment, the forging operation (<NUM>) is performed before the first CNC processing operation (<NUM>) or the injection molding operation (<NUM>), thereby preventing deformation or damage of an opening, an injection-molded structure, or the like.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a second workpiece <NUM> formed through first CNC processing in the method according to various embodiments.

Further referring to <FIG>, the first CNC processing operation (<NUM>) may include forming at least one opening <NUM> in the first workpiece <NUM>, for example, at least the bottom plate <NUM>, or forming the second workpiece <NUM> by cutting at least a part of the bottom plate <NUM> so as to partially reduce the thickness of the bottom plate <NUM>. According to one embodiment, when the housing member (e.g., the housing member 101c in <FIG>) of the electronic device includes split portions (e.g., split portions <NUM> and <NUM> in <FIG>), a portion of the second workpiece <NUM> may be disconnected from the other portions by the first CNC processing operation (<NUM>). A disconnected portion and another portion of the second workpiece <NUM> may be mechanically connected through the injection molding operation (<NUM>), but may be electrically insulated.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a third workpiece <NUM> formed through injection molding in the method according to various embodiments. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating the third workpiece <NUM> formed through injection molding in the method according to various embodiments.

Further referring to <FIG>, the injection molding operation (<NUM>) may include an insert injection molding process. For example, the injection molding operation (<NUM>) may be performed by performing injection molding in the state in which the second workpiece <NUM> is disposed in a mold, so that it is possible to form the third workpiece <NUM> including injection-molded structures <NUM> coupled to at least the bottom plate <NUM>. In one embodiment, some of the injection-molded structures <NUM> may be formed on the bottom plate <NUM>, some of the injection-molded structures <NUM> may be formed on the side wall member <NUM>, and the remaining injection-molded structures may be formed over the bottom plate <NUM> and the side wall member.

According to one embodiment, the injection-molded structure <NUM> may include a first curved portion (e.g., the first curved portion indicated by reference numeral "<NUM>" in <FIG>) formed on the inner face of the second workpiece <NUM>. The first curved portion <NUM> may have a different curvature depending on the force applied to the metal sheet or the metal plate <NUM> in the pressing operation (<NUM>), the time, the working temperature, and the like. The injection-molded structure <NUM> may be at least partially formed in the first curved portion <NUM> so as to eliminate such a difference in curvature and to improve the quality of the third workpiece <NUM> and/or the above-described housing member (e.g., the housing member 401c in <FIG>). In another embodiment, the curvatures of the first curved portions <NUM> and the like may be uniformly formed in the first CNC processing operation (<NUM>) and/or the second CNC processing operation (<NUM>) to be described later. For example, the structure in which the injection-molded structure <NUM> is formed on the first curved portion <NUM> does not limit the present disclosure, and various methods of making the curvature or the like of the first curved portion <NUM> uniform may exist.

The injection-molded structures <NUM> may mechanically connect, fix, or electrically insulate disconnected portions in the second workpiece <NUM>. In one embodiment, the injection-molded structures <NUM> may provide a fastening structure, such as a fastening boss. In some embodiments, a fastening boss may be formed in the injection molding operation (<NUM>), or may be formed through additional CNC processing or the like. For example, the method (<NUM>) may further include a first finishing operation (<NUM>). In the first finishing operation (<NUM>), the injection-molded structures <NUM> may be processed according to the design specification and/or the application by partially cutting the injection-molded structure <NUM> and so on.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a housing member <NUM> formed through second CNC processing in the method according to various embodiments. <FIG> are cross-sectional views each illustrating the housing member <NUM> formed through second CNC processing in the method according to various embodiments.

Further referring to <FIG>, in the second CNC processing operation (<NUM>), the housing member <NUM> (e.g., the housing member 401c in <FIG>) may be formed by partially cutting the third workpiece <NUM> to be suitable for the designation specification of the electronic device. In the second CNC processing operation (<NUM>), an openings 1415a or <NUM> for accommodating a battery may be formed by cutting the bottom plate <NUM> of the third workpiece <NUM>, or holes in which a volume control key (e.g., the volume control key <NUM> in <FIG>), a slot cover (e.g., the slot cover <NUM> in <FIG>), and the like are disposed may be formed by cutting the side wall member <NUM> of the third workpiece <NUM>. In one embodiment, in the second CNC processing operation <NUM>, a partially cut injection-molded structure <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> may be formed. When the processing of the injection-molded structure is possible in the second CNC processing operation (<NUM>), the first finishing operation (<NUM>) may be omitted. In another embodiment, the first finishing operation (<NUM>) may be a part of the second CNC processing operation (<NUM>).

According to one embodiment, the method <NUM> may further include a second finishing operation (<NUM>). The housing member <NUM> completed in the second CNC processing operation (<NUM>) may exhibit an inherent color of the metallic material in the external appearance thereof. According to one embodiment, when the metallic material is exposed to a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, it may be vulnerable to contamination, corrosion, or the like. In the second finishing operation (<NUM>), a surface treatment may be performed on the housing member <NUM> completed in the second CNC processing operation (<NUM>). For example, when the housing member <NUM> is made of an aluminum material, an anodized film may be formed on the surface of the housing member <NUM> through an anodizing process. The anodized film formed by the anodizing process can prevent the aluminum material from being exposed to the external environment and can improve the surface hardness of the housing member <NUM>. Further, the anodized film formed by the anodizing process can be more easily colored than the surface of the aluminum itself, so that the color of the housing member <NUM> can be varied.

As described above, in the method of manufacturing a housing (<NUM>) according to various embodiments, a housing and/or a housing member of a metallic material can be manufactured through pressing and/or CNC processing, so that it is possible to reduce the manufacturing time and material consumption. For example, it is possible to reduce the amount of material removed by cutting compared with CNC processing from a hexahedral block-shaped metallic material, and as the amount of material to be removed is reduced, it is possible to reduce the cutting time.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating the electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure in which a portion of the electronic device is cut away.

In <FIG>, it is noted that some components of the electronic device such as the above-described first plate, second plate, and display (e.g., the first plate 101a, second plate 101b, and display <NUM> in <FIG>), are omitted for the sake of conciseness of the drawings and/or detailed description.

Referring to <FIG>, an electronic device <NUM> (e.g., the electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>) may include a housing member <NUM>. The housing member <NUM> includes a side member <NUM> at least partially surrounding a space between the first and second plates (e.g., the first and second plates 101a and 101b of <FIG>) and an inner structure, for example, a flat portion <NUM>, extending from the side member <NUM>. In one embodiment, the housing member <NUM> may include a synthetic resin member, e.g., an injection-molded structure <NUM>, disposed in an opening formed through the flat portion <NUM>. The injection-molded structure <NUM> may include a screw hole <NUM> extending therethrough in a first (Z) direction. For example, the injection-molded structure <NUM> may be used as a fastening boss.

The electronic device <NUM> may include an intermediate plate <NUM> accommodated in the space surrounded by the side member <NUM> and at least partially facing the flat portion <NUM>, and a printed circuit board <NUM> may be mounted between the flat portion <NUM> and the intermediate plate <NUM>. The intermediate plate <NUM> may include a through hole <NUM> extending in the first (Z) direction, and when the intermediate plate <NUM> is disposed to face the plane portion <NUM>, the through hole <NUM> may be aligned with the screw hole <NUM>. In one embodiment, when the screw <NUM> is fastened to the through hole <NUM> through the screw hole <NUM>, the intermediate plate <NUM> can be fixed to the inner structure (e.g., the flat portion <NUM> of the housing member <NUM>). According to various embodiments, the housing member <NUM> may include a plurality of fastening bosses in a part of the injection structure <NUM>, and some fastening bosses may be utilized to fix the printed circuit board <NUM>.

In another embodiment, a dummy member <NUM> may be provided between the intermediate plate <NUM> and the side member <NUM>. The dummy member <NUM> firmly fixes the side member <NUM> and the intermediate plate <NUM> to each other, thereby improving structural stability, ease of assembly, and the like. For example, even if an external force is applied to the outer face of the side member <NUM> in a third direction (e.g., the X direction) perpendicular to the first (Z) direction, the dummy member <NUM> and the intermediate plate <NUM> are able to support the side member <NUM>, thereby preventing deformation or the like of the side member <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An electronic device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a housing comprising a first plate (101a) facing in a first direction, a second plate (101b) facing in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a side member (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) having a first thickness in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction, while at least partially enclosing a space between the first plate (101a) and the second plate (101b);
a display (<NUM>) disposed between the first plate (101a) and the second plate (101b) within the housing;
a printed circuit board (<NUM>, <NUM>) disposed between the display (<NUM>) and the second plate (101b) within the housing; and
an inner structure (<NUM>) having a second thickness in the first direction, wherein the inner structure (<NUM>) comprises a flat portion extending from the side member and made of a metallic material which is the same as the side member, and a maximum value of the first thickness is greater than a maximum value of the second thickness,
CHARACTERISED IN THAT
the inner structure (<NUM>) is disposed between the printed circuit board (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the second plate (101b) within the housing, wherein both the display (<NUM>) and printed circuit board (<NUM>, <NUM>) are disposed between the inner structure (<NUM>) and the first plate (101a); and
the side member (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is a bent edge portion of<NUM> the inner structure (<NUM>) formed through a pressing operation and CNC processing of a metal sheet and/or a metal plate<NUM>.
<NUM> par. [<NUM>] of the published application;
<NUM> Par. [<NUM>] of the published application.