Patent ID: 8879266

Claim:
A portable electronic device, comprising: an outer housing; an internal support structure provided within the outer housing, the internal support structure being a multi-layered structure having at least (i) a first layer formed of a first material that primarily provides rigidity to the multi-layered structure, and (ii) a second layer formed of a second material that provides for enhanced conductivity as compared to conductivity of the first material, the second material being different than the first material; and at least one electrical component provided within the outer housing, the at least one electrical component being thermally and/or electrically coupled to the second layer of the internal support structure, wherein the first material comprises metal, and the second material comprises metal, wherein the second layer has greater conductivity than the first layer, and wherein the first layer has greater rigidity than the second layer, and wherein the first layer of the multi-layer structure has at least one opening proximate to the at least one electrical component provided within the housing, the at least one opening exposing the second layer of the multi-layer structure.