Patent ID: 12228759

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following describes implementations of this application with reference to the accompanying drawings in the implementations of this application.

Referring toFIG.1, an implementation of this application provides a mobile terminal100. The mobile terminal100may be any device with communication and storage functions, for example, a network-enabled smart device such as a tablet computer, a mobile phone, an e-reader, a remote control, a personal computer (Personal Computer, PC), a notebook computer, an in-vehicle device, a network television, or a wearable device.

Referring toFIG.1toFIG.3, the mobile terminal100includes an enclosure200. The enclosure200includes a substrate1and a composite film layer2coated onto the substrate1, and the composite film layer2includes a plurality of film layers. A thickness of the composite film layer2gradually decreases or increases along a first direction X, and a difference between film thicknesses of any two regions arranged along the first direction X on the composite film layer2is less than or equal to 350 nanometers (nm), so that the enclosure200presents a gradient color of a wavelength ranging from 400 nanometers to 760 nanometers. The enclosure200may be a rear cover of the mobile terminal100. The enclosure200may further include a middle frame of the mobile terminal100.

In this implementation, because the thickness of the composite film layer2of the enclosure200gradually decreases or increases along the first direction X, the enclosure200can present the gradient color, thereby enriching and diversifying an appearance tone of the enclosure200. In addition, because the difference between the film thicknesses of any two regions arranged along the first direction X on the composite film layer2is less than or equal to 350 nanometers, the enclosure200can present a color of a wavelength ranging from 400 nanometers to 760 nanometers, that is, the enclosure200can present rainbow colors such as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and purple. Further, the presented rainbow colors are gradient, and therefore the appearance tone of the enclosure200has more sensory appeal and can meet a color experience requirement of a customer.

It can be understood that on the composite film layer2, a multi-layer nano-film optical interference principle is used to display a plurality of colors. In this application, the direction X in the figure is an example of the first direction in this application, and does not constitute any limitation on the first direction. In another implementation, the first direction may alternatively be another direction, for example, a direction opposite to the direction X. Gradual increase or decrease in this application includes but is not limited to gradual increase or decrease along a curve.

The thickness of the composite film layer2is greater than or equal to 50 nanometers but less than or equal to 400 nanometers. The thickness of the composite film layer2in the first direction X changes along a flat curve, so that an appearance change of the enclosure200is more natural and slower. The difference between the film thicknesses of the any two regions is a difference between film thicknesses at center points of the any two regions.

A wavelength of the red color ranges from 770 nanometers to 622 nanometers. A wavelength of the orange color ranges from 622 nanometers to 597 nanometers. A wavelength of the yellow color ranges from 597 nanometers to 577 nanometers. A wavelength of the green color ranges from 577 nanometers to 492 nanometers. A wavelength of the cyan (indigo) color ranges from 492 nanometers to 480 nanometers. A wavelength of the blue color ranges from 480 nanometers to 455 nanometers. A wavelength of the purple color ranges from 455 nanometers to 350 nanometers.

In an implementation, the thickness of the composite film layer2gradually decreases or increases along a second direction Y, and the second direction Y intersects with the first direction X. In other words, the thickness of the composite film layer2gradually decreases or increases along a plurality of directions at the same time. Therefore, the enclosure200can present a more flexible gradient color. In another implementation, the thickness of the composite film layer2may alternatively gradually decrease or increase along a direction other than the first direction X and the second direction Y.

An angle between the first direction X and the second direction Y is less than or equal to 90°, and change trends of the thicknesses of the composite film layer2in the first direction X and the second direction Y are the same. That the change trends are the same means that both the thicknesses gradually increase or gradually decrease. When the substrate1is approximately rectangular, the second direction Y is perpendicular to the first direction X, the first direction X is a long side direction of the substrate1, and the second direction Y is a short side direction of the substrate1.

In this application, the direction Y in the figure is an example of the second direction in this application, and does not constitute any limitation on the second direction. In another implementation, the second direction may alternatively be another direction, for example, a direction opposite to the direction Y.

In an implementation, referring toFIG.4andFIG.5, the composite film layer2includes first film layers (211/221) and second film layers (212/222) that are disposed in stacks, a refractive index of a coating material used for the first film layer (211/221) is different from a refractive index of a coating material used for the second film layer (212/222), and change trends of thicknesses of the first film layer (211/221) and the second film layer (212/222) in a same direction are the same. In other words, the thicknesses of both the first film layer (211/221) and the second film layer (212/222) in the same direction gradually increase or gradually decrease.

A gradual increase or decrease degree of the thicknesses of both the first film layer (211/221) and the second film layer (212/222) in the same direction are roughly the same.

The coating material used for the first film layer (211/221) and the coating material used for the second film layer (212/222) may be a high-refractive-index coating material and a low-refractive-index coating material, so that a coating system formed by the two materials has better coating effects on a surface of the substrate1, for example, reflecting light with a relatively long wavelength while keeping the composite film layer2thin. Therefore, the enclosure200meets a higher experience requirement (such as lighter and thinner, brighter and more colorful).

There are a plurality of first film layers (211/221), and there are a plurality of second film layers (212/222). The plurality of the first film layers (211/221) and the plurality of the second film layers (212/222) are alternately stacked one by one.

In an implementation, as shown inFIG.4, the first film layer211is made of a titanium oxide material, the second film layer212is made of a silicon oxide material, the composite film layer2is located on an inner surface11of the substrate1, and the inner surface11faces an inside of the mobile terminal100. In this implementation, because the composite film layer2is located on the inner surface11of the substrate1, an outer surface12opposite to the inner surface11of the substrate1is highly flat, so that a user feels good when holding the mobile terminal100in hand.

A film layer, of the composite film layer2, that is closest to the substrate1is the first film layer211. The composite film layer2includes two first film layers211and two second film layers212. The two first film layers211and the two second film layers212are alternately stacked one by one. Certainly, in another implementation, quantities of the first film layers211and the second film layers212may be another value.

In an implementation, as shown inFIG.5, the first film layer221is made of a silicon nitride material, the second film layer222is made of a silicon oxide material, the composite film layer2is located on an outer surface12of the substrate1, and the outer surface12faces an outside of the mobile terminal100. In this implementation, because the first film layer221is made of the silicon nitride material, abrasion resistance of the first film layer221is relatively high, and abrasion resistance of the composite film layer2is relatively high. Therefore, the composite film layer2can be disposed on the outer surface12of the substrate1and has a relatively long life span.

A film layer, of the composite film layer2, that is closest to the substrate1is the first film layer221. The composite film layer2includes four first film layers221and three second film layers222. The four first film layers221and the three second film layers222are alternately stacked one by one. Certainly, in another implementation, quantities of the first film layers221and the second film layers222may be another value.

Certainly, in another implementation, other high-refractive-index target material and low-refractive-index target material may be alternatively used to implement coating effects. For example, the high-refractive-index target material may be titanium oxide (TiO2), silicon nitride (Si3N4), zirconia, zinc oxide, or the like. The low-refractive-index target material may be silicon oxide (SiO2), silicon fluoride, or the like.

In an implementation, the composite film layer2includes three to 10 film layers.

In an implementation, as shown inFIG.2, the composite film layer2includes a first region23, a second region24, and a third region25that are of a same area, the first region23, the second region24, and the third region25are sequentially arranged at equal intervals in the first direction X, a difference between an average film thickness of the first region23and an average film thickness of the second region24is a first value, a difference between the average film thickness of the second region24and an average film thickness of the third region25is a second value, and a ratio of the first value to the second value is within a range of 0.5 to 2.0.

In this implementation, the first region23, the second region24, and the third region25are sequentially arranged in the first direction X, and therefore the first region23, the second region24, and the third region25can present the gradient color. The ratio of the first value to the second value is within the range of 0.5 to 2.0, that is, the first value is close to or the same as the second value, and the first region23, the second region24, and the third region25have a same area. Therefore, the equally spaced first region23, the second region24, and the third region25can present a gradient color of adjacent colors, and each adjacent color has a relatively large presentation area, that is, each adjacent color can be relatively fully presented on the enclosure200. This can avoid sensory discomfort caused by a sudden color change in adjacent regions when a presentation area of a color is too small, thereby improving an appearance texture of the enclosure200and improving user experience.

It can be understood that the “average film thickness” is an average value of film thicknesses of points (which include at least five points used as sample points) of a corresponding region. Therefore, the average film thickness of the region can basically reflect a color of the corresponding region. In another implementation, the first region23, the second region24, and the third region25may be alternatively arranged along the second direction Y or another direction.

When the ratio of the first value to the second value is within a range of 0.8 to 1.2, the color of the enclosure changes more slowly, and user experience is better.

Certainly, in another implementation, the enclosure200may alternatively present a color with a relatively large transition fluctuation, so that appearance of the enclosure200has strong visual impact.

In an implementation, the substrate1is made of one or more of a glass material, polycarbonate (Polycarbonate, PC), polyethylene terephthalate (polyethylene terephthalate, PET), metal, and a ceramic material.

In an implementation, the gradient color includes adjacent colors: purple, blue, and cyan. A wavelength of the cyan color ranges from 492 nanometers to 480 nanometers. A wavelength of the blue color ranges from 480 nanometers to 455 nanometers. A wavelength of the purple color ranges from 455 nanometers to 350 nanometers.

Referring toFIG.6toFIG.8, an implementation of this application further provides a sputter coating apparatus300. The sputter coating apparatus300may be configured to manufacture the enclosure200according to any one of the foregoing implementations. The sputter coating apparatus300includes a coating chamber3, a base4, a plurality of target materials (51/52), and a plurality of baffle plates6. The base4is disposed inside the coating chamber3. A bearing surface41configured to fasten a substrate1is provided on an outside of the base4, and the bearing surface41is disposed opposite to and spaced from an inner wall31of the coating chamber3, so that a coating space30is formed between the bearing surface41and the inner wall31. The plurality of target materials (51/52) are accommodated in the coating space30and fastened to the inner wall31at intervals. The plurality of baffle plates6are accommodated in the coating space30and disposed facing the plurality of target materials (51/52) in a one-to-one correspondence. The plurality of baffle plates6also face the bearing surface41.

Each of the baffle plates6includes at least one block unit60. The block unit60includes at least two bar-shaped flaps61arranged in a third direction X′, the at least two bar-shaped flaps61extend along a fourth direction Y′ perpendicular to the third direction X′, and lengths of the at least two bar-shaped flaps61in the fourth direction Y′ gradually increase or decrease along the third direction X′, to unevenly block the plurality of target materials (51/52), so that the composite film layer2whose thickness gradually decreases or increases is formed on the substrate1.

As shown by a dashed-line arrow inFIG.8, the sputter coating apparatus300hits surfaces of the plurality of target materials (51/52) by using charged particles in a vacuum, so that target material atoms on the surfaces of the plurality of target materials (51/52) escape from original crystal lattices, and then move across the baffle plate6to the surface of the substrate1to form the composite film layer2. A coating principle of the sputter coating apparatus300is one of NCVM (Non-Conductive Vacuum Metallization, non-conductive vacuum metallization) coating technologies.

In this implementation, the baffle plates6exactly face the plurality of target materials (51/52) to block the plurality of target materials (51/52), a longer bar-shaped flap61of the block unit60of the baffle plate6has a larger block area, a shorter bar-shaped flap61has a smaller block area, and the lengths of the at least two bar-shaped flaps61of the block unit60gradually increase or decrease. Therefore, the block unit60can unevenly block the plurality of target materials (51/52), so that quantities of target material atoms that escape from the plurality of target materials (51/52) and move to the substrate1are not even, the plurality of target materials (51/52) can form, on the substrate1, the composite film layer2whose thickness gradually decreases or increases, and the enclosure200can present a gradient color.

The lengths of the at least two bar-shaped flaps61in the fourth direction Y′ (which is a direction to which the bar-shaped flaps61extend) gradually increase or decrease along the third direction X′ (which is a direction in which the at least two bar-shaped flaps61are arranged). Therefore, the thickness of the composite film layer2formed on the substrate1gradually decreases or increases in the third direction X′. For example, when the lengths of the at least two bar-shaped flaps61in the fourth direction Y′ gradually increase along the third direction X′, the thickness of the composite film layer2formed on the substrate1gradually decreases along the third direction X′. When the substrate1is fastened to the bearing surface41, a direction on the substrate1that is the same as the third direction X′ is the first direction X. It can be understood that in a coating process, a gradual length increase or decrease of the at least two bar-shaped flaps61also affects a thickness change of the composite film layer2in another direction, for example, the second direction Y. The thickness of the composite film layer2in the second direction Y gradually decreases or increases, where an angle between the second direction Y and the first direction X is less than or equal to 90°.

The baffle plate6may be made of a stainless steel, tin foil, or aluminum material. For example, the baffle plate6may be a thin stainless steel sheet, a foil, or an aluminum sheet. In this case, the baffle plate6is easy to cut and modify, so that a shape of the baffle plate6can better meet a requirement of uneven blockage. In other words, the at least two bar-shaped flaps61are integrally formed. The at least two bar-shaped flaps61may be obtained by cutting a same sheet of material. Certainly, in another implementation, the baffle plate6may alternatively be of an integral structure obtained through combination.

Certainly, in another implementation, a direction on the substrate1that is the same as the third direction X′ may alternatively be the second direction Y.

In an implementation, as shown inFIG.6andFIG.7, the bearing surface41is a cylindrical surface, and the bearing surface41has at least one fastening region410arranged in a circumferential direction (this direction is perpendicular to an axis411of the bearing surface41) of the bearing surface41. The sputter coating apparatus300further includes a driving piece7, and the driving piece7is configured to drive the base4to rotate at a preset rotation speed, so that the bearing surface41carries the substrate1to rotate around the axis411of the bearing surface41.

In this implementation, more fastening regions410may be arranged, so that the bearing surface41can bear more substrates1. When the driving piece7drives the base4to rotate, target material atoms sputtered by the plurality of target materials (51/52) are sequentially coated onto substrates1in different fastening regions410, thereby implementing batch coating. When the driving piece7controls the base4to rotate at the preset rotation speed, both coating time and coating thicknesses of a plurality of substrates1fastened onto the bearing surface41can be reliably controlled, thereby increasing a yield rate of the enclosure200.

The preset rotation speed may include a uniform speed section and a variable speed section. In the uniform speed section, thicknesses of films coated by using the target material atoms of the plurality of target materials (51/52) onto the plurality of the substrates1are relatively even. In the variable speed section, the target material atoms of the plurality of target materials (51/52) may be unevenly coated onto the substrates1, so that the thickness of the composite film layer2on the substrate1changes gradually. For example, when the substrate1is fastened to the bearing surface41, the second direction Y on the substrate1is the same as the circumferential direction of the bearing surface41. When the rotation speed of the bearing surface41increases, the thickness of the composite film layer2in the second direction Y can significantly decrease.

A quantity of the fastening regions410may be greater than or equal to 2. A shape of the bearing surface41on a plane perpendicular to the axis411of the bearing surface41is a polygon. The fastening regions410are on a same side of the polygon.

In an implementation, referring toFIG.6toFIG.8, all the fastening regions410include a plurality of fastening areas412arranged in the axial direction (this direction is parallel to the axis411of the bearing surface41) of the bearing surface41. One fastening area412is configured to fasten one substrate1. The block units60of the baffle plates6are arranged in the axial direction of the bearing surface41. A quantity of block units60of one baffle plate6is the same as a quantity of fastening areas412of one fastening region410.

In this implementation, each fastening region410includes the plurality of fastening areas412to simultaneously fasten the plurality of substrates1. The baffle plates6include a plurality of block units60corresponding to a plurality of substrates1, and therefore the plurality of substrates1can be simultaneously coated, so that the sputter coating apparatus300can manufacture the enclosure200in larger scale.

In an implementation, as shown inFIG.6andFIG.7, the plurality of target materials (51/52) are fastened to the inner wall31in the circumferential direction of the bearing surface41at equal intervals. In this case, the plurality of target materials (51/52) can simultaneously sputter target material atoms, and the target material atoms move to different substrates1to form a corresponding film layer. This improves processing efficiency of the substrates1. In addition, the plurality of target materials (51/52) are disposed at intervals. This can also avoid mutual interference, so that the yield rate of the enclosure200is relatively high. Because the plurality of baffle plates6are of the same structure, gradual change trends of different film layers formed by the plurality of target materials (51/52) on the substrates1are approximately the same. This further ensures quality of the composite film layer2.

In an implementation, the plurality of target materials (51/52) include a first target material51and a second target material52, and a refractive index of the first target material51is different from that of the second target material52. Because the plurality of baffle plates6are of the same structure, a thickness change trend of the first film layer (211/221) formed by the first target material51on the substrate1is the same as a thickness change trend of the different second film layer (212/222) formed by the second target material52on the substrate1.

Materials used for the first target material51and the second target material52may be a high-refractive-index coating material and a low-refractive-index coating material, so that a coating system formed by the two materials has better coating effects on a surface of the substrate1, for example, reflecting light with a relatively long wavelength while keeping the composite film layer2thin. Therefore, the enclosure200meets a higher experience requirement. For example, the first target material51is made of a titanium oxide material, and the second target material52is made of a silicon oxide material. Alternatively, the first target material51is made of a silicon nitride material, and the second target material52is made of a silicon oxide material. Certainly, in another implementation, other high-refractive-index target material and low-refractive-index target material may be alternatively used to implement coating effects. For example, the high-refractive-index target material may be titanium oxide (TiO2), silicon nitride (Si3N4), zirconia, zinc oxide, or the like. The low-refractive-index target material may be silicon oxide (SiO2), silicon fluoride, or the like.

A quantity of first film layers (211/221) formed by the first target material51and a quantity of second film layers (212/222) formed by the second target material52may be controlled by revolutions of the bearing surface41.

In an implementation, as shown inFIG.8, same ends of at least two bar-shaped flaps61of a same block unit60are aligned with each other. In this case, the other ends of the at least two bar-shaped flaps61protrude in sequence, and block effects of the baffle plate6is relatively controllable. The baffle plate6further includes a bracing piece62, the aligned ends of the at least two bar-shaped flaps61of the baffle plate6are fastened to the bracing piece62. The bracing piece62is fastened to the coating chamber3.

In an implementation, referring toFIG.8andFIG.9, the at least two bar-shaped flaps61include a first flap611, a second flap612, and a third flap613that are arranged in sequence, a difference between lengths of the third flap613and the second flap612in the fourth direction Y′ is a first difference, a difference between lengths of the second flap612and the first flap611in the fourth direction Y′ is a second difference, and a ratio of the second difference to the first difference is within a range of 0.5 to 2.0.

In this implementation, the ratio of the second difference to the first difference is within the range of 0.5 to 2.0, that is, the second difference is close to or the same as the first difference. Therefore, change trends of lengths of the at least two bar-shaped flaps61are flat, and film thicknesses of the composite film layer2in different regions change slowly, so that each of adjacent colors can be relatively fully presented. This can avoid sensory discomfort caused by a sudden color change in adjacent regions when a presentation area of a color is too small, thereby improving an appearance texture of the enclosure200and improving user experience.

When the ratio of the second difference to the first difference is within a range of 0.8 to 1.2, the film thicknesses of the composite film layer2in the different regions change more slowly, the color of the enclosure200changes more slowly, and user experience is better.

The foregoing descriptions are merely specific implementations of this application, but are not intended to limit the protection scope of this application. Any variation or replacement readily figured out by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application shall fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.