Electronic device case and method for manufacturing the same

• US 8,294,055 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2009
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Cheul Gon, Song, Jun Gyu, Lee, Kyoung Min, Park, Jun Ho, Jung, Jin Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): FRIEDHOFER, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US12/585,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20100085692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5.R, 200/5.A, 200/600, 200310-317, 200/296, 200/333, 341/22, 341/33, 345/173
• US Class Current: 200/600
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14811 Multilayered articles B29C45/14827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0087 Wear resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3431 Telephones, Earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3437 Cellular phones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203

Abstract

Disclosed are an electronic device case provided with a touch sensor unit having an improved adherence structure and a method for manufacturing the same. The electronic device case includes a cover, and a touch sensor unit arranged on a front surface of the cover.

Claims

1. An electronic device case comprising:

a cover including at least one groove on a rear surface; and

a touch sensor unit arranged on a front surface of the cover.

2. The electronic device case according to claim 1, wherein the cover and the touch sensor unit are integrally in-mold formed.

3. The electronic device case according to claim 2, further comprising:

a printing layer on the touch sensor unit, the printing layer including a transmission region and a non-transmission region,

wherein the touch sensor unit surrounds the transmission region to sense touch applied to the transmission region.

4. The electronic device case according to claim 3, wherein the touch sensor unit includes at least one touch sensor.

5. The electronic device case according to claim 3, wherein the touch sensor unit and the printing layer are transcribed from a base film to the cover.

6. The electronic device case according to claim 3, further comprising:

a UV coating layer on the printing layer.

7. The electronic device case according to claim 3, further comprising:

a protective layer under the touch sensor unit.

8. The electronic device case according to claim 7, further comprising:

an adhesive layer between the protective layer and the front surface of the cover.

9. The electronic device case according to claim 3, further comprising:

a cover film on the printing layer.

10. The electronic device case according to claim 9, further comprising:

a UV coating layer on the cover film.

11. The electronic device case according to claim 1, wherein the at least one groove is arranged under to the touch sensor unit.

12. The electronic device case according to claim 1, wherein the at least one groove forms a lattice shape.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a cover including at least one groove formed on a rear surface;

a display member on a rear surface of the cover; and

a touch sensor unit provided on a front surface of the cover, the touch sensor unit surrounding the display member and forming a frame shape.

14. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the cover and the touch sensor unit are integrally in-mold formed.

15. A method for manufacturing an electronic device case including a cover and a touch sensor unit arranged on a front surface of the cover, comprising:

preparing a base film;

forming a printing layer on the base film;

forming a touch sensor unit on the printing layer;

inserting the base film into a mold and in-mold injecting the mold, to form the cover, including at least one groove on a rear surface, wherein the touch sensor unit is arranged on the front surface of the cover.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the printing layer includes a transmission region and a non-transmission region,

the touch sensor unit forms a frame along at least one edge of the transmission region of the printing layer.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

forming a UV coating layer between the base film and the printing layer.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

removing the base film.