DEVICE HOUSING AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME

• US 20110120901A1
• Filed: 07/29/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industrial Company Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industrial Company Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: SU, Hsiang-Jung, LIU, Yue-Ping, LAI, Wen-Te, XIONG, Liang
• Granted Patent: US 8,273,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/524.6
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 3/10 Producing and filling perforations, e.g. tarsia plates
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49982 Coating

Abstract

A device housing for an electronic device is provided. The device housing includes a main body and a decorative member. The main body and the decorative each has a metallic coating with a different color. The decorative member is positioned within the main body to form a desired symbol, logo, or pattern thereon.

Claims

1. A device housing, comprising:

a main body, the main body including a metal substrate, a receiving portion, and a first metallic coating, the substrate having an outer surface and an opposite inner surface, the receiving portion having a recess through the inner surface and a plurality of holes communicating with the recess and through the outer surface, the first metallic coating formed on the outer surface; and

a decorative member, the decorative member including a base, a plurality of protrusion blocks protruding from the base, and a second metallic coating formed at least on the protrusion blocks, the base received in the recess, the protrusion blocks received in the holes and exposed out of the outer surface.

2. The device housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first metallic coating and the second metallic coating have different colors.

3. The device housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first metallic coating and the second metallic coating both are vacuum deposited coating or electroplated coating.

4. The device housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protrusion blocks with the second metallic coating are coplanar with the substrate with the first metallic coating.

5. The device housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protrusion blocks form a symbol, logo, or pattern on the device housing.

6. The device housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base is wider than the protrusion blocks.

7. The device housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate is selected from one of the stainless steel, magnesium, magnesium alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, titanium, and titanium alloy.

8. The device housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base and the protrusion blocks are integrally formed and made of a metal powder selected from one of the stainless steel, magnesium, magnesium alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, titanium, and titanium alloy.

9. The device housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the substrate forms a brushed texture of very fine lines.

10. A method for making a device housing, comprising:

providing a metal substrate, the substrate having an outer surface and an opposite inner surface;

defining a receiving portion in the substrate, the receiving portion including a recess through the inner surface and a plurality of holes communicating with the recess and through the outer surface;

forming a first metallic coating on the outer surface;

forming a rough decorative member including a base and a plurality of protrusion blocks protruding from the base by metal powder injection molding, the rough decorative member having a shape corresponding to the receiving portion;

abrading and polishing the rough decorative member;

forming a second metallic coating at least on the protrusion blocks to achieve a decorative member; and

securing the decorative member in the receiving portion by welding, with the base received in the recess and the protrusion blocks received in the holes.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first metallic coating and the second metallic coating have different colors.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the recess is formed by computer numerically controlled machining, the holes are formed by stamping.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein before the abrading step, the size of the rough decorative member is larger than the size of the receiving portion.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the method further comprising before the abrading, chemical etching the rough decorative member for diminishing the size of the rough decorative member to be substantially corresponding to the receiving portion.

15. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the method further comprising using a shield tool to shield and protect the first metallic coating in the welding step.

16. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a carbon dioxide laser is used for welding.

17. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the method further comprising before forming the first metallic coating, brushing the outer surface of the substrate to form a pattern of very fine lines on the outer surface.

18. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first metallic coating and the second metallic coating both are formed by vacuum deposition or electroplating.

19. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the substrate and the rough decorative member are selected from one of the stainless steel, magnesium, magnesium alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, titanium, and titanium alloy.