TWI459885B - Electronic device and method for manufacturing housing thereof - Google Patents

Description

Electronic device and method of manufacturing the same

The present invention relates to an electronic device and a method of manufacturing the same.

The housing of the electronic device generally includes a bottom case and a fixed connection upper shell to the bottom case. The bottom case and the upper case are generally fixedly connected by welding, adhesive or mechanical clamping. However, since the electronic device is inevitably subjected to external force impact or accidental fall during use, its anti-drop performance is particularly important. The assembled housing has poor structural strength and poor drop resistance, which affects the durability of the electronic device. When the electronic device accidentally falls, the corner of the electronic device is a vulnerable area. In order to protect the corners of the electronic device, a general electronic device usually uses an impact buffer device to protect the corners. The impact buffer device includes a foam material and a connecting member. The foam material is fixed to the corresponding corner portion outside the outer casing of the electronic device through the connecting member. When the electronic device is hit, the foam material absorbs the impact energy, thereby protecting the corners. However, the use of an external impact buffer device increases the size of the electronic device and affects the aesthetics.

In view of the above situation, it is necessary to provide an electronic device with better anti-drop performance, small size and beautiful appearance.

It is also necessary to provide a method of manufacturing a housing for an electronic device.

An electronic device includes a housing. The housing includes a bottom wall, a peripheral wall extending from an edge of the bottom wall toward one side thereof, a support wall extending from the end wall of the peripheral wall away from an end edge of the bottom wall toward a center of the bottom wall, and a protection portion. The peripheral wall includes a plurality of side walls connected in sequence, and the protection portion is integrally formed at an intersection of the adjacent two side walls, and the protection portion is fixedly connected to the bottom wall and the support wall.

A method of manufacturing an electronic device housing, comprising the steps of:

Providing a mold and a metal blank; die-casting or forging a metal blank in the mold to form a preform, the preform comprising a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending from the edge of the bottom wall to one side thereof, the peripheral wall including a plurality of successively connected a sidewall; the inner side surface of the sidewall of the pre-formed body is formed with a groove structure to form a support wall parallel to the bottom wall, and a protection portion is formed at the intersection of the two adjacent sidewalls to form the preform into a casing.

Since the electronic device housing is an integrally formed structure, the structural strength is better than other assembled housings, and the drop resistance is enhanced. Because the preform is formed by die casting or forging, the stress in the shell is less than that of stamping, and it is more beneficial to increase the structural strength and improve its anti-drop performance. In addition, when the electronic device is accidentally dropped or impacted by an external force, the protection portion at the intersection of the side walls of the casing can withstand the impact force, and the corner portion of the casing is better protected. The protection part has a simple structure, a small volume, and is disposed inside the casing, and does not affect the appearance of the electronic device.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , the electronic device 100 of the embodiment of the present invention may be a touch tablet computer, a mobile phone, an MP3, a digital photo frame, a liquid crystal display, or the like. In the present embodiment, a touch panel computer will be described as an example. The electronic device 100 includes a housing 10 and a display screen 30 fixedly mounted on the housing 10. The electronic device 100 further includes various functional modules for implementing various corresponding functions. However, in order to save space, the housing 10 of the electronic device 100 and the display screen 30 fixed to the housing 10 are mainly introduced in the present embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3 at the same time, the housing 10 is substantially square and includes an integrally formed bottom wall 11, a peripheral wall 12, a support wall 13 and a protection portion 14. The peripheral wall 12 extends from the edge of the bottom wall 11 toward one side thereof, and includes four side walls 121 which are sequentially connected. The bottom wall 11 and the peripheral wall 12 together form a receiving space 101 for accommodating various functional modules. The support wall 13 is formed to extend from the one end edge of the peripheral wall 12 away from the bottom wall 11 toward the center of the bottom wall 11. The support wall 13 is substantially parallel to the bottom wall 11. A mounting groove 133 is formed on the top surface of the support wall 13 away from the bottom wall 11 for receiving and supporting the display screen 30. The protection portion 14 is fixedly disposed at the intersection of the adjacent two side walls 121. Each of the protection portions 14 has a substantially fan shape in a cross section in a direction parallel to the top surface of the support wall 13. The upper and lower ends of each of the protection portions 14 are respectively connected to the bottom wall 11 and the support wall 13. The two sides of each protection portion 14 are respectively connected to the adjacent two side walls 121. Each of the two adjacent protection portions 14 and the side wall 121, the support wall 13 and the bottom wall 11 define a cavity 141 having an opening, and the cavity 141 communicates with the receiving space 101. In the present embodiment, the cavity 141 is a U-shaped groove.

The display screen 30 is fixedly mounted in the mounting groove 133 of the support wall 13 of the housing 10 and flush with the top surface of the support wall 13 to make the electronic device 100 beautiful.

A method of manufacturing the housing 10 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 through 5, including the following steps:

Providing a set of molds and a metal blank;

The metal blank is formed into a preform 50 by die casting or forging in the mold. The preform 50 includes a bottom wall 51 and a peripheral wall 52 extending from an edge of the bottom wall 51 to one side thereof. The peripheral wall 52 includes four connected in sequence. Side wall 521;

Milling the inner side of the side wall 521 to open a U-shaped groove, forming a support wall 13 parallel to the bottom wall 11, and forming a protection portion 14 at the intersection of the two side walls 521;

The milling support wall 13 is away from the top surface of the bottom wall 11 to open the mounting groove 133, thereby forming the preform 50 into the housing 10.

It will be appreciated that other steps, such as polishing, coating, etc., may be added after the milling process to make the housing 10 more aesthetically pleasing.

The housing 10 of the embodiment of the present invention forms the preform 50 by die casting or forging, and then forms a U-shaped groove on the side wall 521 by milling to form a support wall 13 parallel to the bottom wall 11 to obtain the housing 10. Not only is the housing 10 thinner and lighter, but the housing 10 is an integrally formed structure with respect to other assembled housings, and its structural strength is better, and the drop resistance is enhanced. At the same time, since the preform 50 is formed by a die casting or forging method, the internal stress of the casing 10 is smaller than that of the press forming, and it is more advantageous to increase the structural strength. In addition, when the electronic device 100 is accidentally dropped or impacted by an external force, the protection portion 14 located at the intersection of the side walls 121 of the casing 10 increases the thickness and structural strength of the corner portion, thereby enhancing its ability to withstand impact, thereby It is good to protect the corners of the casing 10. The protection portion 14 has a simple structure and a small size, and is disposed inside the casing 10 without affecting the appearance of the electronic device 100.

In summary, the present invention has indeed met the requirements of the invention patent, and has filed a patent application according to law. However, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and it is not possible to limit the scope of the patent application of the present invention. Equivalent modifications or variations made by persons skilled in the art in light of the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

100. . . Electronic device

10. . . case

101. . . Containing space

11,51. . . Bottom wall

12,52. . . Zhou wall

121,521. . . Side wall

13. . . Support wall

133. . . Mounting slot

14. . . Protection department

141. . . Cavity

30. . . Display

50. . . Preform

1 is an assembled, isometric view of an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the electronic device including a housing and a display screen.

2 is an exploded perspective view of the housing and display screen of the electronic device shown in FIG. 1.

3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 taken along line III-III.

4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 taken along line IV-IV.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a preform of the housing of the electronic device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

11. . . Bottom wall

121. . . Side wall

14. . . Protection department

30. . . Display

Claims (8)

An electronic device includes a housing including a bottom wall, a peripheral wall extending from an edge of the bottom wall toward one side thereof, and a peripheral wall from the peripheral wall away from an end edge of the bottom wall toward a center of the bottom wall The extending support wall is improved in that the housing further includes a protection portion, the peripheral wall includes a plurality of sequentially connected side walls, the protection portion is integrally formed at an intersection of the adjacent two of the side walls, and the protection portion and the bottom portion Both the wall and the support wall are fixedly connected. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the protection portion includes two end faces and two side faces connected to the two end faces, the two end faces being fixedly connected to the bottom wall and the support wall, respectively. Adjacent to the adjacent two of the side walls. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the support wall is provided with a mounting slot away from a top surface of the bottom wall, the electronic device further comprising a display screen, wherein the display screen is fixed in the mounting slot, and The top surface of the support wall is flush. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein each of the two adjacent protection portions and the side wall, the support wall and the bottom wall together define a cavity. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the cavity is a U-shaped groove. A method of manufacturing an electronic device housing, comprising the steps of:
Providing a set of molds and a metal blank;
Pressing or forging the metal blank in the mold to form a preform, the preform comprising a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending from the edge of the bottom wall to one side thereof, the peripheral wall comprising a plurality of sequentially connected side walls;
The inner side surface of the side wall of the preform is milled to define a groove structure to form a support wall parallel to the bottom wall, and a protective portion is formed at an intersection of two adjacent side walls to form the preform into a casing. The manufacturing method of the electronic device casing according to claim 6, wherein each of the two adjacent protective portions and the side wall, the supporting wall and the bottom wall together form a cavity. The method of manufacturing the electronic device housing of claim 6, wherein the manufacturing method of the electronic device housing further comprises milling the support wall away from a top surface of the bottom wall to open and support the display screen. Steps to install the slot.