Multi-part electronic device housing having contiguous filled surface

• US 10,264,685 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2018
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Shi, Ming Kun, Corbet, Lindsay D., Bruni, Christopher, Chan, Collin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lea-Edmonds, Lisa
• Application Number:
  US15/888,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20180160551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/062 sealed by a material injected between a non-removable cover and a body, e.g. hardening in situ

Abstract

A housing for an electronic device that allows electromagnetic waves to pass through the housing is disclosed. The housing may include a first portion having an opening, a second portion positioned within the opening, and an insert including a protrusion extending into at least a portion of a gap formed between the first portion and the second portion. The housing also may include a first ink layer disposed within the gap and substantially surrounding the protrusion, and a second ink layer disposed within the gap and over the first ink. The first portion, second ink layer, and second portion may cooperate to form a substantially contiguous surface, and the second ink layer may be positioned approximately 5 microns (μm) or less below an exposed surface of the first portion and an exposed surface of the second portion.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing defining an internal volume, the housing comprising;

a first portion formed from a first metallic material;

a second portion formed from a second metallic material and separated from the first portion by a gap; and

an insert formed from a non-metallic material and positioned within the gap; and

an antenna positioned within the internal volume and configured to receive electromagnetic signals through the gap.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the insert comprises:

a shoulder positioned within the internal volume; and

a protrusion extending from the shoulder and into the gap.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, further comprising:

an adhesive bonding the shoulder to an interior surface of one or both of the first portion or the second portion.

4. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the protrusion is configured to maintain the gap between the first portion and the second portion along one or more of a height dimension, a length dimension, or a width dimension of the housing.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a decorative ink positioned on the insert and within the gap.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the decorative ink form a continuous external surface of the housing.

7. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the decorative ink comprises:

a first ink layer; and

a second, distinct ink layer.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein:

the first ink layer is formed from a colored ink and is positioned on the insert within the gap; and

the second, distinct ink layer is formed from a translucent ink and is positioned on the second, distinct ink layer.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing defining an internal volume, the housing comprising;

a first portion formed from a first metallic material and at least partially defining an opening;

a second portion formed from a second metallic material and positioned at least partially within the opening; and

an insert formed from a non-metallic material and positioned at least partially within the opening, the insert separating the first portion and the second portion; and

an antenna positioned within the internal volume and at least partially overlapping the second portion or the insert.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first portion, the insert, and the second portion form a continuous external surface of the housing.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first portion or the second portion defines an electromagnetic shield.

12. The electronic device of claim 9, further comprising:

a decorative ink positioned on the insert and between the first portion and the second portion.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the decorative ink includes a textured surface that matches a finish of an external surface of one or both of the first portion or the second portion.

14. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the decorative ink substantially seals a gap between the first portion and the second portion that is maintained by the insert.

15. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing, comprising;

a first metallic component defining an internal volume of the electronic device and defining an opening;

an antenna window positioned within the opening and that, with the first metallic component, defines a continuous exterior surface of the housing, the antenna window comprising;

a non-metallic component positioned along the first metallic component; and

a second metallic component positioned along the non-metallic component, opposite the first metallic component; and

an antenna positioned below the antenna window.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the antenna window further comprises:

a first ink layer positioned on the non-metallic component; and

a second ink layer positioned on the first ink layer and defining a segment of the continuous exterior surface of the housing.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the first ink layer and the second ink layer cooperate to minimize an optical contrast between the first metallic component and the antenna window.

18. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the first ink layer has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the second ink layer.

19. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the non-metallic component electrically isolates the second metallic component from the first metallic component.