Electronic devices with textured zirconium oxide-based components

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to electronic devices having textured zirconia-based components. Specifically disclosed are textured housing components formed from zirconia-based ceramics. The texture of the housing component can impart a matte appearance to the outer surface of the electronic device. The texture of the housing component can also be configured so that it has one or more tactile properties suitable for use as a wearable device and can be easily cleaned.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application is a non-provisional application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 147,149, filed on February 8, 2021, and entitled “Electronic Devices With Textured Zirconia-Based Components,” and claims the benefit of that U.S. Provisional Patent Application and U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 553,488, filed on December 16, 2021, and entitled “Electronic Devices With Textured Zirconia-Based Components,” the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0003] Embodiments described herein generally relate to textured zirconia-based components for electronic devices. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to textured zirconia-based components that impart a matte appearance to an exterior surface of an electronic device. Background Art

[0004] Electronic devices often include a housing or casing that protects internal components and defines an outer surface of the device. Traditionally, device casings are formed of metal and / or polymer materials. While these materials may be suitable for some applications, the techniques and articles described herein relate to device components (including casing components) that may be formed of ceramic materials. The techniques and articles described herein relate to ceramic casing components that present a matte, outward-facing surface that resists scratching and abrasion. Summary of the invention

[0005] Disclosed herein is a textured zirconia-based component for an electronic device. The textured zirconia-based component is typically included in a housing of the electronic device. In some cases, the electronic device is a wearable electronic device (such as an electronic watch).

[0006] In some cases, the textured outer surface of the zirconia-based component imparts a matte appearance to the outer surface of the housing. The textured outer surface of the zirconia-based component can be configured to provide one or more properties in addition to optical properties. For example, the textured outer surface can be configured to limit scratching or wear by softer objects (such as metal objects). In additional examples, the textured outer surface can be configured to provide a particular "feel" to the electronic device, to be configured to be easy to clean, or both. In further examples, the textured outer surface can be configured so that the zirconia-based component substantially retains its strength and impact resistance. The zirconia-based component can be formed of a ceramic, such as a partially stabilized zirconia ceramic or an alumina-toughened zirconia ceramic.

[0007] In some cases, the textured zirconia-based component is a housing component that defines a side surface of the electronic device. In additional cases, the textured zirconia-based component is a housing component that at least partially defines a rear surface of the electronic device, such as a rear cover member. In some examples, one or more textured zirconia-based components impart a matte appearance to areas of the side and rear surfaces of the electronic device.

[0008] The present disclosure provides an electronic watch, which includes: a touch-sensitive display; and a shell, which at least partially surrounds the touch-sensitive display, the shell including: a front covering assembly, which is positioned above the touch-sensitive display; and a shell component, which is formed of a zirconium oxide-based ceramic, and the outer surface of the shell component has a gloss value of 8 gloss units to 12 gloss units when measured at 60 degrees and defines a texture with a root mean square slope of 0.2 to 0.6.

[0009] The present disclosure also provides an electronic watch, the electronic watch comprising: a display; and a housing, the housing comprising: a housing part, the housing defining a side surface of the electronic watch; a front cover assembly, the front cover assembly coupled to the housing part and positioned above the display; and a rear cover assembly, the rear cover assembly coupled to the housing part. The rear cover assembly comprises a rear cover member, the rear cover member is formed of a zirconium oxide-based ceramic and has an outer surface, the outer surface of the rear cover member defines a surface feature portion, the surface feature portion having: an arithmetic mean height of 0.3 microns to 0.8 microns; and 1750 mm -1 Up to 3250mm -1 The peak sharpness.

[0010] The present disclosure also provides an electronic device, the electronic device including a housing and a wireless charging unit positioned in the housing. The housing includes a rear cover assembly, the rear cover assembly including a zirconia-based rear cover member defining a textured outer surface, the textured outer surface having: a gloss value of 9 gloss units to 12 gloss units when measured at 60 degrees; and a texture having a root mean square slope of 0.3 to 0.7 and an arithmetic mean height of 0.2 microns to 1 micron. The housing also includes: a housing part, the housing part is coupled to the zirconia-based rear cover member; and a front cover assembly, the front cover assembly is coupled to the housing part. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The present disclosure will be more readily understood through the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements.

[0012] Figure 1A A front view of an electronic device including a textured zirconia-based component is shown.

[0013] Figure 1B Shows Figure 1A Rear view of an electronic device.

[0014] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of an electronic device is shown.

[0015] Figure 3 Another cross-sectional view of an electronic device is shown.

[0016] Figure 4 A rear view of another electronic device including a textured zirconia-based component is shown.

[0017] Figure 5 A rear view of a textured zirconium oxide based housing component is shown.

[0018] Figure 6 A detailed cross-sectional view of a textured zirconia-based shell component is shown.

[0019] Figure 7 A flow chart illustrating an exemplary process for forming a textured zirconia-based shell component is shown.

[0020] Figure 8 , Fig. 9 and Fig.10 Detailed views of a zirconium oxide based housing component at different stages in a process for forming the component are schematically shown.

[0021] Fig.11A and Fig. 11B An enlarged image of a zirconia-based component after forming a base texture is shown.

[0022] Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B A magnified image of a zirconia based component after modification of the base texture is shown.

[0023] Fig.13 A block diagram of a sample electronic device that may include a textured zirconia-based component is shown.

[0024] The use of cross-hatching or shading in the drawings is generally provided to clarify boundaries between adjacent elements and also to facilitate legibility of the drawings. Thus, the presence or absence of cross-hatching or shading does not express or indicate any preference or requirement for particular materials, material properties, element proportions, element sizes, commonality of similar illustrated elements, or any other feature, attribute, or characteristic of any element shown in the drawings.

[0025] Additionally, it should be understood that the proportions and sizes (relative or absolute) of the various features and elements (and collections and groupings thereof) and the boundaries, spacings, and positional relationships presented therebetween are provided in the accompanying drawings solely to facilitate understanding of the various embodiments described herein, and therefore may not necessarily be presented or illustrated to scale and are not intended to indicate any preference or requirement for the embodiments illustrated to exclude the embodiments described in conjunction therewith. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Reference will now be made specifically to the representative embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following description is not intended to limit the embodiments to a preferred specific implementation. On the contrary, the embodiments are intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents that may be included in the present disclosure and within the spirit and scope defined by the appended claims.

[0027] The following disclosure relates to a textured zirconia-based component for an electronic device. The textured zirconia-based component is typically included in a housing of the electronic device. In some cases, the textured outer surface of the zirconia-based component imparts a matte appearance to the housing and the outer surface of the electronic device. In some cases, the texture may be applied to less than the entirety of the outer surface of the housing, such as in conjunction with a Figure 1A and Figure 1B Described in more detail.

[0028] In some implementations, the textured zirconia-based component is a housing component that defines a side surface of an electronic device. In some implementations, the textured zirconia-based component is a housing component that at least partially defines a rear surface of an electronic device, such as a rear cover member. As described herein, in some examples, one or more textured zirconia-based components impart a matte appearance to areas of the side and rear surfaces of the electronic device. The electronic device may be a wearable electronic device, such as a watch.

[0029] The textured outer surface of the zirconia-based component can be configured to provide one or more optical properties to the electronic device. In some embodiments, the textured outer surface of the zirconia-based component includes surface features that are not visually perceptible alone, but provide a specific gloss value to the textured outer surface. For example, the textured outer surface may have a low gloss, such as a gloss of less than or equal to 15 gloss units when measured at 60 degrees. As additional examples, the gloss value may be 7 gloss units to 15 gloss units, 8 gloss units to 12 gloss units, or 9 gloss units to 12 gloss units when measured at 60 degrees. The zirconia-based component may also be described by one or more additional optical properties, such as its light transmittance (e.g., translucency or opacity) or color.

[0030] The textured outer surface of the zirconia-based component can be configured to produce one or more other properties in addition to the optical properties. In addition to the one or more optical properties, one or more other properties can be produced so that the zirconia-based component has a combination of optical properties and other properties. In some cases, the textured outer surface can be configured to limit the amount of debris accumulated from normal handling of the device. For example, the textured outer surface can be configured to limit the debris accumulated from scratches or abrasions from softer objects (such as metal coins or keys). In additional cases, the textured outer surface can be configured so that any dirt or debris accumulated from normal handling of the device can be easily removed by cleaning.

[0031] The surface features of the textured outer surface may be described by one or more texture parameters, such as the slope of the surface features, the sharpness of the peaks of the surface features (curvature), the density of the peaks of the surface features, the height of the surface features, or the spacing (e.g., pitch) of the surface features. In some cases, the surface features are described by at least one of the slope of the surface features, the sharpness of the peaks of the surface features, or the density of the peaks, alone or in combination with another texture parameter. For example, the surface features may be described by the slope of the surface features, alone or in combination with one or more texture parameters (such as the density of the peaks of the surface features, the sharpness of the peaks, or the height). In some embodiments, the textured outer surface may be configured such that the texture parameter describing the slope of the surface features is not excessive. As an additional example, the surface features may be described by the sharpness of the peaks, alone or in combination with one or more texture parameters (such as the density of the peaks, the slope of the surface features, or the height of the surface features). In additional embodiments, the textured outer surface may be configured such that the texture parameter describing the sharpness of the peaks of the surface features is not excessive. The combination of exemplary ranges for these surface texture parameters and measurements of these surface texture parameters is at least Figure 1A , Figure 1B and Figure 6The description provided is generally applicable to this article and is not repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0032] Zirconia-based ceramics are generally resistant to acid etching, so in some cases, the textured outer surface can be formed primarily by mechanical texturing. Some conventional mechanical texturing techniques can produce surface features on zirconia-based ceramics that have sharp edges and peaks characteristic of brittle fracture. However, the combination of mechanical texturing operations described herein can produce surface features with excessive slope, peak sharpness, and / or peak density. In embodiments, the combination of mechanical texturing operations described herein can produce a hard, strong, and impact-resistant textured zirconia-based component that also exhibits a desired surface finish.

[0033] The zirconia-based component may be formed from a zirconia-based ceramic. For example, the zirconia-based ceramic may be a partially stabilized zirconia that primarily includes zirconia (zirconium oxide) crystals stabilized by an oxide such as yttria. As another example, the zirconia-based ceramic may be an alumina-toughened zirconia ceramic that primarily includes zirconia but also includes fine particles of alumina (aluminum oxide). The zirconia-based ceramic material may also include other components such as colorants and / or treatment agents, such as in combination with Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 discussed in further detail.

[0034] The following references Figures 1A to 13 These and other embodiments are discussed. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

[0035] Figure 1A A front view of an example of an electronic device 100 having a housing 105 including a textured zirconia-based component is shown. The electronic device 100 can be a wearable electronic device, such as an electronic watch (e.g., a smart watch) and / or an electronic health monitoring device. In additional embodiments, the electronic device can be a mobile phone (also known as a cell phone), a notebook computing device (e.g., a laptop or laptop computer), a tablet computing device (e.g., a tablet computer), a portable media player, a smart speaker device, or another type of portable electronic device. The electronic device can also be a desktop computer system, a computer component, an input device, an appliance, or virtually any other type of electronic product or device component.

[0036] like Figure 1A As shown, the electronic device may include a housing 105. The housing 105 includes a cover component 122 (front cover component), a cover component 124 (rear cover component, Figure 1B ) and housing member 110. The internal components of electronic device 100 may be at least partially surrounded by cover assembly 122, lid assembly 124, and housing member 110. In some cases, these internal components may be positioned within an internal cavity defined by housing 105, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 as shown in a cross-sectional view.

[0037] Figure 1A and Figure 1B The housing 105 includes one or more textured zirconia-based components. In some cases, the textured zirconia-based component is a rear cover member included in the rear cover assembly 124. Alternatively or in addition, the textured zirconia-based component is the housing component 110 or a component of the housing component 110.

[0038] Textured zirconia-based components may be formed from zirconia-based ceramic materials (also referred to herein as zirconia-based ceramics). In some cases, the zirconia-based ceramic material may primarily include zirconia (zirconium oxide, e.g., ZrO2) stabilized at least in part by an oxide, such as yttria, and may be referred to as partially or fully stabilized zirconia (e.g., YSZ). In additional cases, the zirconia-based ceramic material may primarily include partially stabilized zirconia (or fully stabilized zirconia) and up to about 20 weight percent alumina particles, and may be referred to as an alumina-toughened zirconia material (also referred to as ATZ). The alumina particles may also affect the optical properties, such as translucency and color, and the mechanical properties of the ceramic material. In some cases, the zirconia-based ceramic transmits little, if any, visible light and appears substantially opaque, such as in combination with Figure 5 Describe in more detail. Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 The description of zirconia-based ceramic materials provided is generally applicable herein and, for the sake of brevity, will not be repeated here.

[0039] exist Figure 1A and Figure 1B In some examples, the textured zirconia-based component defines a textured outer surface or a textured outer surface region. In some examples, the entire outer (outward-facing) surface of the zirconia-based component is textured. In other examples, a smaller region of the outer surface is textured.

[0040] In an embodiment, the textured outer surface or surface area of ​​the textured zirconia-based component imparts a matte appearance to at least the outer surface area of ​​the housing 105 and the electronic device 100. An outer surface or surface area having a matte appearance may also be referred to herein as a matte outer surface or surface area. The housing 105 may have a textured side surface or surface area, a textured rear surface or surface area, or both.

[0041] In some embodiments, the textured outer surface or surface region of the zirconia-based component includes surface features that are not individually visually perceptible, but provide a particular gloss value to the textured outer surface or surface region. The textured outer surface or surface region (such as a matte outer surface or surface region) can have a low gloss, such as a gloss of less than or equal to 15 gloss units when measured at 60 degrees. For example, the gloss value can be 7 gloss units to 15 gloss units, 8 gloss units to 12 gloss units, or 9 gloss units to 12 gloss units when measured at 60 degrees.

[0042] The textured outer surface or surface area may also be configured to limit the amount of debris that accumulates from normal handling of the device. For example, the textured outer surface or surface area of ​​a textured zirconia-based component may be configured to limit the debris that accumulates from scratching or abrasion of a softer object. In additional examples, the textured outer surface may be configured so that any dirt or debris that accumulates from normal handling of the device can be easily removed by cleaning. In some cases, the textured outer surface or surface area may be configured so that the texture parameter describing the sharpness (curvature) at the top (peak) of the surface feature is not too large. In additional cases, the textured outer surface or surface area may be configured so that the texture parameter describing the slope of the surface feature is not too large.

[0043] The surface features of a textured outer surface or surface region may be described by one or more of the slope of the surface features, the sharpness of the peaks of the surface features, the density of the peaks of the surface features, the height of the features, or the spacing (e.g., pitch) of the features. Combinations of these surface texture parameters Figure 6 The description provided is generally applicable to this article and is not repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0044] In some cases, the surface features are described by at least one of the slope of the surface features or the sharpness of the peaks of the surface features, alone or in combination with another texture parameter. In some embodiments, the root mean square slope can be 0.2 to 0.75, 0.2 to 0.6, 0.2 to 0.5, 0.2 to 0.4, 0.25 to 0.6, 0.25 to 0.5, 0.25 to 0.4, 0.25 to 0.35, 0.35 to 0.6, 0.4 to 0.6, or 0.40 to 0.70. As an example, when measured using a laser scanning confocal microscope, the root mean square slope can be 0.3 to 0.7 or 0.4 to 0.6. In some embodiments, the arithmetic mean peak curvature is 800 mm -1 Up to 3000mm -1 、850mm -1 Up to 3500mm -1 , or 900mm -1 Up to 3000m -1 As an example, when measured at high magnification using a laser scanning confocal microscope, the arithmetic mean peak curvature may be 1500 mm -1 Up to 3500mm -1 、1750mm -1 Up to 3250mm -1 , or 2000mm -1 Up to 3000mm -1 .

[0045] In some embodiments, the inner surface of the zirconia-based component may have a texture that is different from the texture of the textured outer surface. In some embodiments, the inner surface of the zirconia-based component may have a smoother texture than the textured outer surface. The inner surface having a smoother texture than the textured outer surface may also have a higher gloss value than the textured outer surface. For example, the inner surface of the zirconia-based surface may have a ground or polished surface. In some cases, the surface features along the inner surface may have a height (such as an arithmetic mean height or a root mean square height) that is different from the height of the textured outer surface area.

[0046] In some cases, the zirconia-based components are configured to have electrical and / or magnetic properties suitable for use on internal components of electronic devices. For example, the zirconia-based components can be configured to have dielectric properties suitable for use on components of wireless communication systems. In some cases, the dielectric constant of the zirconia-based components can be less than 30. As an additional example, the zirconia-based components can be configured for use on components of a wireless charging system that is configured to receive wireless power from an external device or charger.

[0047] The front cover assembly 122 may at least partially define the front surface 102 of the electronic device. Figure 1A In the example of , the front cover assembly 122 defines substantially the entire front surface 102 of the electronic device. Figure 1A In the example of the embodiment of the present invention, the front cover assembly 122 includes a front cover member 132, also referred to herein as the front member. The front cover assembly 122 may also include an outer coating (such as an oleophobic coating and / or an anti-reflective coating), an inner coating (such as a coating that provides a visual effect (e.g., a decorative or masking coating)), or a combination thereof.

[0048] The front covering member 132 may be substantially transparent, or include one or more substantially transparent portions above the display assembly 142, the optical sensor, etc. The front covering member 132 may be substantially transparent to light in the visible spectrum, and in some cases may also be transparent to at least some ranges of infrared light. In some cases, the front covering member 132 may be formed of a glass material, a glass ceramic material, or a combination thereof. In additional cases, the front covering member 132 may include at least one or more of a glass layer, a glass ceramic layer, or a polymer layer. In some cases, the thickness of the front covering member 132 may be 2 mm or less or 1 m or less.

[0049] The housing member 110 may at least partially define the side surface 106 of the electronic device 100. In some cases, the side surface 106 may be curved, wherein the curve extends from the front cover component 122 to the rear cover component 124. The housing member 110 may define an opening to the cavity defined by the housing 105. The housing member 110 may also be referred to herein as a housing. The housing member 110 may be coupled to each of the front cover component 122 and the rear cover component 124 by an adhesive, a fastener, or a combination thereof.

[0050] like Figure 1B As shown, the housing component is an integral component formed from a single piece of material (such as metal, metal alloy, or zirconium oxide-based ceramic). In some specific implementations, the housing component may include Figure 4 The multiple components shown in the example.

[0051] In some cases, case member 110 can be a textured zirconia-based case member. As described above, the textured zirconia-based case member (or its components) can impart a matte appearance to the outer surface of case member 110 and the side surface 106 of the electronic device. Case member 110 can also include a coating such as an outer oleophobic (anti-smudge) coating. When an oleophobic coating is applied over a zirconia-based component (such as case member 110 and / or rear cover member 134), a thin silica coating can be interposed between the zirconia-based component and the oleophobic coating.

[0052] like Figure 1A and Figure 1BAs shown, band 190 may be attached to case member 110 and configured to secure the wearable electronic device to a user. Electronic device 100 may also include a crown module that is at least partially positioned within an opening formed in the case member. The crown module may include an input member 103 (e.g., a dial) having an outer surface configured to receive rotational user input. The crown module may be offset relative to a centerline of case member 110 (between the top and bottom of the case member). The offset may be toward the top of case member 110. Dial 103 may have a portion that is higher than the interface between front cover assembly 122 and case member 110. As shown in FIG. Figure 1A and Figure 1B As shown, the electronic device 100 further includes an input member 107 (eg, a button).

[0053] like Figure 1B As shown, the electronic device 100 also includes a rear covering component 124 that at least partially defines the rear surface 104 of the electronic device. In some cases, the rear surface 104 of the electronic device 100 can be substantially flat, while in other cases, the rear surface 104 can define a convex outer profile that protrudes outward or toward the user's wrist when the electronic device 100 is worn. The rear covering component 124 may include one or more electrodes 154 positioned along the rear surface 104. In this example, the electrode 154 is positioned at the surface of the rear crystal 136, which can be a sapphire crystal. In some embodiments, the electrode 154 may be additionally or alternatively positioned along the surface of the rear covering member 134. The electrode 154 may contact the skin of the user of the wearable device and may be operably coupled to the processor and / or sensing circuit of the electronic device 100. The electrodes 154 may be configured to measure or detect a voltage or other electrical property of the user's skin when the user wears the electronic device 100, and the electronic device 100 may be configured to determine one or more physiological parameters of the user, including but not limited to heart rate, electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), atrial fibrillation (afib) detection, skin electrical activity (EDA sensor), and other similar skin-based or tissue-based biometrics. The rear cover assembly 124 may also include an external coating, such as an oleophobic coating. The oleophobic coating may be applied to the rear cover member 134 in a manner similar to that previously described for the housing component 110.

[0054] exist Figure 1BIn the example of , the rear covering assembly 124 includes a rear covering member 134 coupled to the housing component 110. The rear covering member 134 may also be referred to as a rear member. The rear covering member 134 may partially define the rear surface 104 of the electronic device. In some cases, the rear covering member 134 may be translucent or opaque to light in the visible spectrum. In an embodiment, the rear covering member 134 is a zirconia-based component. As previously discussed, the zirconia-based component may be textured to give a matte appearance to the outer surface of the rear covering member 134 and the corresponding portion of the rear surface 104. As previously described, the textured zirconia-based component may also provide the rear covering member 134 with properties other than optical properties. The rear covering member 134 may be coupled to the housing component 110 by an adhesive, a fastener, or a combination thereof.

[0055] The rear cover assembly also includes a rear crystal 136 coupled to the rear cover member 134. The rear crystal 136 may also be referred to as the rear cover member 136 in this article. The rear crystal 136 may be positioned above at least a portion of the sensing array 170 of the electronic device 100. The rear crystal 136 may be substantially transparent to light in the visible and infrared spectrums. In some cases, the rear crystal 136 may be formed of a ceramic material (e.g., sapphire or transparent zirconium oxide), a glass ceramic material, a glass material, a polymer material, and / or a composite material. The rear crystal 136 may be coupled to the rear cover member 134 by an adhesive, a fastener, or a combination thereof.

[0056] exist Figure 1B In the example of , the sensing array 170 includes four optical modules 182 and four optical modules 183. The optical modules (182, 183) may include at least one visible light optical module and at least one infrared light optical module. As described herein, the optical modules (182, 183) may be configured to allow the device 100 to measure one or more physiological characteristics or other biometric values ​​of the user, including but not limited to a photoplethysmogram (PPG), oxygen saturation (via a pulse oximeter sensor), or heart rate.

[0057] In some examples, optical module 182 is configured to emit a first optical signal, and optical module 183 is configured to detect a second optical signal transmitted back to the device. For example, the second optical signal may include light from the first optical signal that is reflected from the user's skin or dermis and reflected back to the device 100, also referred to as a reflection of the first optical signal. Figure 1B The example is not limiting, and the electronic device may include a greater or lesser number of optical modules. In addition, the arrangement of the transmitter module and the receiver module is not limited to Figure 1B Arrangement shown.

[0058] The optical module 182 may also be referred to herein as an emitter module. The emitter module may emit light within at least a portion of the visible spectrum (e.g., green light and / or red light), in which case the optical signal may be a visible (light) signal. Alternatively or in addition, the emitter module may emit light within a near-infrared wavelength range, in which case the optical signal may be a near-infrared (light) signal. The emitter module may include a light emitting element, which may be a light emitting diode (LED) or a laser, such as a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL).

[0059] The optical module 183 may also be referred to herein as a receiver module. The receiver module may include a light receiving element, which may be a photodetector. The photodetector may include one or more photodiodes, phototransistors, or other optically sensitive elements.

[0060] The sensing array 170 may include one or more sensor components. For example, the one or more sensor components may be one or more health monitoring sensor components or biosensor components, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) sensor, a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor, a heart rate sensor, atrial fibrillation (afib) detection, an electrical skin activity (EDA) sensor, a pulse oximeter or other oxygen sensor, or other biosensors configured to obtain biological measurements (e.g., physiological parameters). In some cases, the sensor component is configured to illuminate the tissue of the user of the wearable device and then measure the light transmitted back to the device.

[0061] In some embodiments, the sensing array 170 includes a biosensor assembly that includes one or more transmitter modules and one or more receiver modules. For example, a heart rate biosensor may include a transmitter module that generates a visible light signal (e.g., green light) and a transmitter module that generates an infrared light signal. As another example, a pulse oximetry biosensor (e.g., SpO2 sensor) may include an optical signal generated within a wavelength range (e.g., red light) in which oxygenated hemoglobin and deoxygenated hemoglobin have different absorptions, and an optical signal generated within a wavelength range (e.g., green light or infrared light) in which oxygenated hemoglobin and deoxygenated hemoglobin have similar absorptions. The biosensor assembly may include a base positioned below the rear cover assembly 124, and the transmitter module and the receiver module may be attached to the base.

[0062] In addition to the display assembly 142 and the sensing array 170, the electronic device 100 may also include additional components. These additional components may include one or more of a processing unit, a control circuit, a memory, an input / output device, a power source (e.g., a battery), a charging component (e.g., a wireless charging component), a network communication interface, accessories, and a sensor. For example, the electronic device 100 may include one or more wireless charging coils that are at least partially surrounded by one or more of the ceramic-based components. The wireless charging coil can be part of a wireless charging component that is configured to receive wireless power from an external device or charger as part of an inductive charging operation. Fig.13 The components of the sample electronic device are discussed in more detail and combined with Fig.13 The description provided generally applies to this article.

[0063] Figure 2 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an electronic device. The electronic device 200 may be used with Figure 1A and Figure 1B The cross section may be similar to the electronic device 100. Figure 1A The housing 205 of the electronic device 200 defines an inner cavity 201 and includes a housing component 210 , a front cover component 222 and a rear cover component 224 .

[0064] The front cover assembly 222 includes a front cover member 232. The display assembly 242 is disposed below the front cover assembly 222 and can be coupled to the front cover member 232. The display assembly 242 (also referred to as a display) includes a display layer. The display assembly 242 may also include a touch sensor layer and is referred to as a touch-sensitive display. The display layer may include a liquid crystal display layer (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display layer, an LED backlight LCD display layer, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display layer, an active layer organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) display layer, etc. The touch sensor layer may be configured to detect or measure a touch position along the outer surface of the front cover assembly 222.

[0065] exist Figure 2 In the example of , the front cover member 232 defines a substantially flat central portion 233, and a curved peripheral portion 235 surrounding the flat central portion and coinciding with the curved side surface 206 of the electronic device 200. As previously described with respect to the front cover member 132, the front cover member 232 can be substantially transparent or include one or more substantially transparent portions. The front cover member 232 can be formed of any material previously described for the front cover member 132, and the front cover assembly 222 can include any of the outer coatings and / or inner coatings previously described for the front cover assembly 122.

[0066] The rear cover assembly 224 includes a rear cover member 234 and a rear crystal 236, which may also be referred to herein as the rear cover member 236. The rear cover member 234 is coupled to the housing component 210 and may form a frame for supporting the rear crystal 236. The rear cover member 234 defines an opening and at least partially defines the rear surface 204 of the electronic device. Figure 5 An example of an opening 544 defined by the rear cover member 534 is shown.

[0067] The rear crystal 236 is coupled to the rear cover member 234 and is positioned in the opening defined by the rear cover member 234. The rear crystal 236 is also positioned above at least a portion of the sensing array 270 of the electronic device 200. The rear crystal 236 can be at least partially transparent. For example, the rear crystal 236 can be substantially transparent to light in the visible spectrum and the infrared spectrum. In some cases, the rear crystal 236 can be formed of a ceramic material (e.g., sapphire or transparent zirconium oxide), a glass ceramic material, or a glass material.

[0068] As previously described with respect to rear cover member 134, in some cases, rear cover member 234 can be a textured zirconia-based component. Alternatively or in addition, housing component 210 can be a textured zirconia-based component. The textured zirconia-based component can be translucent or substantially opaque.

[0069] When both the rear cover member 234 and the housing component 210 are textured zirconia-based components, they can be formed of the same zirconia-based ceramic or different zirconia-based ceramics. In additional cases, both the rear cover member 234 and the housing component 210 can be formed of zirconia-based ceramics, but they can be textured differently. For example, one of these components can have a texture that produces a higher gloss. Figure 2 The textured zirconia-based components may have a bonded Figure 1A to Figure 1B and Figure 3 The textured zirconia-based component described to FIG. 11 has similar composition, texture, and properties, and for the sake of brevity, will not be repeated here.

[0070] As previously described with respect to sensing array 170, sensing array 270 may include one or more sensor assemblies. For example, one or more sensor assemblies may be one or more health monitoring sensor assemblies or biosensor assemblies, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) sensor, a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor, a heart rate sensor, atrial fibrillation (afib) detection, an electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor, a pulse oximeter or other oxygen sensor, or other biosensors configured to obtain biological measurements (e.g., physiological parameters). In some cases, the sensor assembly is configured to illuminate the tissue of a user wearing the device and then measure the light transmitted back to the device. The additional description of the sensing array provided with respect to sensing array 170 is generally applicable herein and is not repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0071] like Figure 2 As shown, the electronic device 200 also includes a wireless charging component 282, which includes one or more wireless charging coils 283 at least partially surrounded by the housing portion 210 and / or the rear cover member 224. The wireless charging coil 283 may be adapted to receive wireless power (via inductive coupling) from an external device or charger, which may be used to power the electronic device 200 and / or charge the battery. In some specific implementations, the wireless charging coil 283 is configured to be inductively coupled to the external device or charger through one or more of the zirconium oxide-based components of either or both of the housing portion 210 or the rear cover member 224. In some specific implementations, the wireless charging coil 283 is configured to be inductively coupled to the external device or charger through the rear cover member 234.

[0072] The electronic device 200 may include one or more internal antenna elements configured to transmit and / or receive wireless communication signals or other wireless signals from an external device or wireless device network. In some implementations, the front cover assembly is configured to pass wireless signals between the antenna element and the external device or element to facilitate reliable wireless communication and other operation of the antenna. In additional implementations, various zirconia-based components may be configured to pass wireless signals between the antenna element and the external device or element to facilitate reliable wireless communication and other operation of the antenna. The one or more internal antenna elements may include Figure 2 Additional component 299 is shown.

[0073] In addition to the display component 242, the sensing array 270, and the wireless charging component 282, the electronic device may also include additional components 299 located within the cavity 201. These additional components may include one or more of a processing unit, a control circuit, a memory, an input / output device, a power source (e.g., a battery), a charging component (e.g., a wireless charging component), a network communication interface, accessories, and a sensor. Fig.13 The components of the sample electronic device are discussed in more detail and combined with Fig.13 The description provided generally applies to this article.

[0074] Figure 3 Another cross-sectional view of an electronic device is shown. The electronic device 300 may be similar in many respects to Figure 1A , Figure 1B and Figure 2 The electronic devices 100 and 200 are shown in FIG. Figure 1A AA interception.

[0075] The housing 305 of the electronic device 300 defines an inner cavity 301. Figure 2 Compared to electronic device 200 , housing member 310 defines a portion of side surface 306 and rear surface 304 of electronic device 300 . Rear crystal 336 is positioned within an opening defined by housing member 310 . Figure 5 An example of an opening 544 is shown.

[0076] As previously described with respect to shell component 110 , shell component 310 may be a textured zirconia-based component. Figure 3 The textured zirconia-based component 310 may have a bonded Figures 1A to 2 and Figure 4 The textured zirconia-based component described to FIG. 11 has similar composition, texture, and properties, and for the sake of brevity, will not be repeated here.

[0077] The electronic device 300 also includes a wireless charging assembly 382 that includes one or more wireless charging coils 383 at least partially surrounded by the housing component 310 .

[0078] Front covering assembly 322, front covering member 332, front surface 302, display assembly 342, rear crystal 336, sensing array 370, wireless charging assembly 382, ​​wireless charging coil 383 and additional components 399 may be similar to front covering assembly 222, front covering member 232, front surface 202, display assembly 242, rear crystal 236, sensing array 270, wireless charging assembly 282, wireless charging coil 283 and additional components 299, and for the sake of brevity, these details are not repeated here.

[0079] Figure 4 A rear view of another electronic device including a textured zirconia-based component is shown. Electronic device 400 may be a mobile phone or other electronic device as described herein. Figure 4 The view of FIG. 4 shows a portion of a rear surface 404 and a side surface 406 of the electronic device.

[0080] exist Figure 4 In the example of the embodiment of the present invention, the housing 405 includes a rear cover assembly 424 coupled to the housing component 410. The rear cover assembly 424 includes a rear cover member 434. In some cases, the rear cover member 434 is a zirconia-based component. Alternatively or in addition, the housing component 410 may include one or more zirconia-based components. The housing 405 also typically includes a front cover assembly coupled to the housing component 410. The front cover assembly may be similar to the combination of Figure 1A The front cover assembly 122 is described.

[0081] The rear cover assembly 424 may at least partially define the rear surface 404 of the electronic device 400. Figure 4 In the example of, the front covering assembly 424 defines substantially the entire rear surface 404 of the electronic device. The rear covering assembly 424 includes a rear covering member 434 and also includes a rear covering member 436. The rear covering member 436 may be positioned within or above an opening in the rear covering member 434. A coupling ring 485 may couple the covering member 436 to the covering member 434. The rear covering member 436 may be formed of transparent glass, glass ceramic, or a ceramic material (e.g., sapphire). The coupling ring 485 may be formed of a metal material or another suitable material. In additional examples, the covering member 436 may be melted, adhesively coupled or otherwise joined to the rear covering member 434. In additional specific implementations, the rear covering assembly 424 may include a single rear covering member formed of a single piece of material.

[0082] The rear cover assembly 424 may also include one or more coatings. For example, the rear cover assembly 424 may include an outer coating, such as an oleophobic coating. Alternatively or in addition, the rear cover assembly 424 may include an inner coating that provides a visual effect, such as an ink layer or a metal layer. In additional examples, the rear cover assembly 424 may include a mounting frame that is coupled to the inner surface of the cover member 434 and coupled to the housing component 410.

[0083] exist Figure 4In the example of , the rear covering member 434 is positioned above the device component 482, which may be a wireless charging component, and the device component 483, which may be a wireless communication component. The rear covering member 434 can be configured to have a sufficiently low dielectric constant and dissipation factor to allow RF signals to be transmitted from the wireless communication component. In an alternative embodiment, the device component 483 and / or the rear covering member 434 can be configured so that the device component 483 is not transmitted through the rear covering member 434. The rear covering member 436 is positioned above the sensing array 470.

[0084] As previously described, rear cover member 434 can be a zirconia-based component. Rear cover member 434 can be textured to give a matte appearance to the outer surface of rear cover member 434 and the corresponding portion of rear surface 404 of electronic device 400. In some cases, as previously described with respect to rear cover member 134, an oleophobic coating can be applied over rear cover member 434. Rear cover member 434 can be coupled to housing component 410 by adhesive, fasteners, or a combination thereof.

[0085] exist Figure 4 In the example of , the rear cover assembly 424 defines a portion 425 and a portion 427. The portion 427 may be at least partially defined by the rear cover member 436, and the portion 425 may be defined by the rear cover member 434. Figure 4 As shown, portion 427 of cover component 424 is raised or offset relative to portion 425 of cover component 424. The area of ​​portion 427 that is raised relative to portion 425 may also be referred to as a raised area. Portion 427 may define a raised surface 428 (also referred to as a top surface), while portion 425 may define a surface 426. In some cases, portion 427 may be thicker than portion 425.

[0086] Portion 427 may house one or more components of sensing array 470. For example, sensing array 470 may include a plurality of camera assemblies. Each of the camera assemblies may include an optical component, such as optical component 477 or optical component 478. In some cases, rear cover member 436 defines a through hole, and optical component 477 is at least partially positioned within the through hole. Optical component 477 may be a camera module, and optical component 478 may be a lighting module. Sensing array 470 may also include microphone 480.

[0087] In additional examples, the sensing array 470 may include one or more sensor components, such as sensor component 479. In some cases, the sensor component 479 may measure the distance to the target, such as a laser radar sensor component that is configured to illuminate the object with light and then detect the reflected light to determine or estimate the distance between the electronic device and the object (e.g., a time of flight (TOF) sensor). In some examples, the sensor component 479 may be positioned below the cover member 436 (and the cover member 436 may act as a window of the sensor component 479). In these examples, the optical properties of the cover member 436 may be suitable for use above one or more optical components of the sensor component 479. For example, one or more optical components of the sensor component 479 may operate within one or more specified wavelength ranges, and the cover member 436 may be configured to have a suitable transmittance / light transmittance within these wavelength ranges. In other examples, the cover member 436 may define an opening above the sensor component, and an additional cover member (which may also be referred to as a window) may be placed in or above the opening.

[0088] exist Figure 4 In the example of , the housing component 410 includes a plurality of components. Figure 4 In the example of , the housing component includes at least three components (shown as components 412b, 412c, and 412d) formed by a first material and at least two components (shown as components 414a and 414c) formed by a second material. In some cases, each of components 412b, 412c, and 412d is formed by a metal, a metal alloy, or another conductive material. In additional cases, each of components 412b, 412c, and 412d may be formed by a zirconia-based ceramic and may be a textured zirconia-based component. Each of components 414a and 414c may be formed by a dielectric material (such as a polymer or a composite material including a polymer and a glass or ceramic material). In other embodiments, housing component 410 may be an integral component formed by a single piece of material (such as a zirconia-based ceramic). As described above, the textured zirconia-based housing component or component of the housing component may give a matte appearance to the outer surface of housing component 410 and the side surface 406 of the electronic device.

[0089] The electronic device 400 also includes a plurality of openings formed in the housing member 410. Figure 4 In the example of FIG. 4 , housing member 410 defines openings 416 and 417 . In addition, housing member 410 defines an opening for input device 454 .

[0090] Figure 5 A rear view of a textured zirconium oxide based housing component is shown. Figure 5The textured zirconia-based shell component may be the rear cover member 534. The rear cover member 534 may be Figure 1B The rear cover member 134 or Figure 2 An example of a rear covering member 234.

[0091] like Figure 5 As shown, the rear cover member 534 defines a flange 535 and an opening 544, also referred to herein as a rear opening. As previously described with respect to the rear lens 236, the rear lens can be positioned within the central opening 544 and coupled to the flange 535. Figure 5 As shown, rear cover member 534 can define additional openings 546 (also referred to as through holes). In some cases, opening 546 can accommodate a change in strap (e.g., Figure 1A and Figure 1B The button with 190). Figure 5 In the example shown, the rear covering member 534 defines less than the entire rear surface 504.

[0092] The rear cover member 534 defines a textured outer surface 554. In some examples, the textured outer surface 554 extends over the entire outer surface of the rear cover member 534. In other examples, the textured outer surface extends over a smaller area of ​​the outer surface. The discussion herein of the textured outer surface and optical properties of the rear cover member 534 is not intended to be limited to the rear cover member and is generally applicable to other textured zirconia-based components as described herein.

[0093] The textured outer surface 554 can be configured to provide one or more optical properties to the rear cover member 534. In some examples, the textured outer surface 554 imparts a matte appearance to the rear surface 504 of the electronic device. In some embodiments, the textured outer surface 554 includes surface features that are not individually visually perceptible but provide a particular gloss value to the textured outer surface 554. For example, the textured outer surface 554 can have a low gloss, such as a gloss of less than or equal to 15 gloss units when measured at 60 degrees. Figure 6 Additional descriptions of suitable gloss ranges and gloss measurements are provided and are not repeated here for the sake of brevity.Additional examples of optical properties of the rear cover member 534 (such as color, transmittance, translucency, etc.) are described in more detail below.

[0094] The textured outer surface 554 may be configured to produce one or more other properties in addition to optical properties. These other properties may be produced in addition to one or more optical properties. In some cases, the textured outer surface 554 may be configured to provide specific tactile properties to the rear surface. For example, the textured outer surface 554 may be configured so that it does not provide an overly rough "feel". In additional cases, the textured outer surface 554 may be configured to limit the amount of debris that accumulates from normal handling of the electronic device. For example, the textured outer surface 554 may be configured to limit the amount of debris that accumulates from scratches or abrasions from softer objects (such as metal objects). In addition, the textured outer surface 554 may be configured so that dirt or debris that accumulates from normal handling of the device can be easily removed by cleaning. In combination Figure 6 Examples of suitable surface texture parameters are discussed in more detail. For the sake of brevity, those descriptions are not repeated here.

[0095] The rear covering member 534 may also be configured to have specific optical properties, such as color or transmittance. In some cases, the color of the textured zirconia-based component may be characterized by coordinates in a CIEL*a*b* (CIELAB) color space, where L* represents brightness, a* represents a position between red / magenta and green, and b* represents a position between yellow and blue. In some cases, the color of the textured zirconia-based component may be due to a pigment included in the zirconia-based ceramic, such as a pigment that imparts a black or dark gray color. In other cases, the color of the textured zirconia-based component (such as white) may be due at least in part to the inclusion of aluminum oxide particles in the zirconia-based ceramic. In addition, the color of the zirconia-based ceramic may be due to the inclusion of one or more pigments and aluminum oxide particles (e.g., light colors, such as light colors) in the zirconia-based ceramic.

[0096] The rear covering member 534 may also be configured to have a specific transmittance. The transmittance or degree of transmittance may be measured by measuring the percentage of light incident on the textured surface area that is transmitted through the textured zirconia-based component. In some cases, the transmittance of light over the visible spectrum is 0 to 60%, 0 to 50%, 0 to 40%, 0 to 30%, 0 to 20%, 0 to 10%, or 0 to 5%. When the transmittance of light is less than or equal to 10% or 5%, the textured zirconia-based component may be considered to be substantially opaque. In cases where relatively small surface areas are to be measured, it may be useful to determine a relative translucency value (such as a contrast ratio and / or a translucency parameter). The transmittance or degree of transmission may be affected by any additional ceramic components (e.g., aluminum oxide particles) and / or pigments present in the zirconia-based ceramic.

[0097] Figure 6A detailed cross-sectional view of a textured zirconia-based shell component is shown. The textured zirconia-based component 634 can be an example of a rear cover member 534, and the cross-sectional view can be taken along Figure 5 BB in detailed region 1-1 of . The discussion herein of the optical properties of the textured outer surface 654 and the textured zirconia-based component 634 is generally applicable to zirconia-based components as described herein.

[0098] The textured zirconia-based component 634 includes a textured outer surface 654. Figure 6 In the example of , textured outer surface 654 includes surface features 660. As discussed in more detail below, surface features 660 can be configured to provide a matte appearance that can be easily cleaned while limiting the amount of debris accumulated from normal handling of the electronic device. In some cases, the texture of outer surface 654 is a balance between a texture that creates a low gloss appearance and a texture that limits debris accumulation and can be easily cleaned.

[0099] exist Figure 6 In the example of , surface feature 660 defines a set of hills and valleys. For example, surface feature 662 may generally correspond to a hill feature, and surface feature 664 may generally correspond to a valley feature. Hill features (such as surface feature 662) may define a maximum point 663, also referred to herein as a peak. Valley features (such as surface feature 664) may define a minimum point 665. Figure 6 The examples of surface features provided in are not limiting, and in general, the surface features 660 of the surface area of ​​the covering member 634 can define any of a range of shapes or configurations. Typically, the surface features 660 define protrusions, depressions, or a combination thereof and define a set of maximum points (also referred to herein as peaks or surface peaks).

[0100] The surface feature portion 660 can be configured to provide specific optical properties to the textured surface 654 of the textured zirconia-based component, as well as to the housing and to the electronic device including the textured zirconia-based component. In some cases, the textured surface 654 can be configured to provide a specific gloss level to the textured zirconia-based component. For example, when measured at 60 degrees, the gloss value can be 7 gloss units to 15 gloss units, 8 gloss units to 12 gloss units, or 9 gloss units to 12 gloss units. In some cases, the gloss of the textured area can be measured using commercially available devices and according to ASTM or ISO standard test methods. Angle measurement can refer to the angle between the incident light and the vertical line of the surface textured area. For simplicity, the gloss level measured by illuminating the textured surface (area) can refer to the textured surface (area) in this article. However, when the component is translucent, some of the light illuminating the textured surface (area) will be transmitted through the component and can be reflected from the opposite surface of the component. In some cases, the gloss can be measured on a "dry" surface. In additional cases, gloss can be measured on a surface that has been exposed to skin oil (eg, sebum) and then wiped clean.

[0101] In an embodiment, the surface feature 660 may be configured to provide a characteristic other than an optical characteristic to the textured surface 654. As previously discussed, the surface feature 660 may be configured to provide a combination of at least one optical characteristic and at least one characteristic other than an optical characteristic. In some cases, the surface feature 660 may be configured to provide a specific tactile characteristic to the textured surface 654. For example, the height of the surface feature 660 and the sharpness of the peak of the surface feature may be small enough to provide the desired tactile characteristic. The surface feature 660 may also be configured to limit the amount of debris accumulated from the normal handling of the electronic device. In some cases, the textured outer surface 654 may be configured to limit the debris accumulated from the scratching or wear of the softer metal object. For example, the textured outer surface may be configured so that the texture parameter describing the sharpness (curvature) of the peak of the surface feature is not too large. In additional cases, the textured outer surface may be configured so that dirt or debris accumulated from the normal handling of the device can be easily removed by cleaning. For example, the textured outer surface 654 may be configured so that the texture parameter describing the slope of the surface feature is not too large. As additional examples, the size of the recessed surface features and / or the spacing between the surface features can be configured to be large enough to facilitate cleaning.

[0102] Surface texture parameters include plane surface texture parameters, such as amplitude parameters, spatial parameters, and hybrid parameters. Surface filtering can be used to exclude surface noise and / or surface waviness before determining surface texture parameters. In addition, segmentation techniques can be used to determine feature parameters, such as maximum diameter, minimum diameter, area, and perimeter. These parameters can be calculated based on the shape of the feature projected onto a reference surface (e.g., a reference plane). An average value can be determined for a given class of surface features (e.g., a hill or valley). Surface texture parameters and methods for determining these parameters (including filtering and segmentation) are described in more detail in International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standard 25178 (Product Geometric Specification (GPS)—Surface Texture: Plane), which is hereby incorporated by reference for describing these parameters and methods. For example, the surface texture parameters described in ISO 25178 include, but are not limited to, the arithmetic mean height Sa, the root mean square height Sq, the maximum height Sz, the autocorrelation length Sal, the root mean square gradient Sdq (also referred to herein as the slope), the developed interface area ratio Sdr, the peak density Spd (also referred to herein as the peak density), and the arithmetic mean peak curvature Spc (also referred to herein as the peak sharpness).

[0103] These surface texture parameters can be measured using commercially available devices, including devices using optical measurement techniques. An exemplary optical measurement technique is interferometry, and an example of a commercially available device using this technique is a coherent scanning interferometry profiler (white light), such as a Zygo coherent scanning interferometry optical profiler. An example of suitable operating conditions for a coherent scanning interferometry profiler includes a magnification of 40 (20x objective lens with 2x zoom). Another exemplary optical measurement technique is confocal microscopy, and an example of a commercially available device using this technique is a laser scanning confocal microscope, such as a Keyence laser scanning confocal microscope. According to ISO25178, an example of suitable operating conditions for a laser scanning confocal microscope includes a magnification of 1000 (20x objective lens + 50x), a low pass filter (LPF) of 0.8 microns, and a high pass filter (HPF, L filter) of 0.5m. Images can be tiled to measure larger areas. For example, an image from a coherent scanning interferometry optical profiler can be tiled (3×3) to measure an area of ​​550 microns × 500 microns. In some cases, the resolution of the device (eg, lateral (spatial) and / or vertical resolution) may affect the value of one or more texture parameters.

[0104] In some cases, the surface features are described by at least one of the slope of the surface features, the sharpness of the peaks of the surface features, or the peak density, alone or in combination with another texture parameter. For example, the surface features may be described by the slope of the surface features alone or in combination with one or more texture parameters, such as the peak density, the peak sharpness, or the height of the surface features. As previously discussed, the textured surface may be configured so that the texture parameter describing the slope of the surface features is not excessive. As an additional example, the surface features may be described by the peak sharpness alone or in combination with one or more texture parameters, such as the peak density, the slope of the surface features, or the height of the surface features. As previously discussed, the textured surface may be configured so that the texture parameter describing the sharpness of the peaks of the surface features is not excessive.

[0105] For example, the surface features (e.g., 660) of the textured surface 654 can be characterized in part by the height of the surface features. The height can be measured relative to a reference surface (e.g., Figure 6 671 in the figure schematically shows) (such as the arithmetic mean of the surface). The height of the surface feature may be uneven, so that the surface feature has a distribution of heights. In some cases, the magnitude of the height of the individual surface features of the textured surface 654 may fall within the range of zero to about 5 microns, zero to about 2.5 microns, zero to about 2 microns, zero to about 1.5 microns, or zero to about 1 micron. As mentioned herein, the term micron refers to micrometer. The surface feature 660 can be characterized by the root mean square height Sq or the arithmetic mean height Sa of the surface. In some cases, the root mean square height Sq is about 0.4 microns to about 0.8 microns or about 0.5 microns to about 0.7 microns. In some examples, these values ​​of the root mean square height can be obtained using a coherent scanning interferometry profiler. In some cases, the arithmetic mean height Sa is about 0.2 microns to about 1 micron, about 0.3 microns to about 0.8 microns, about 0.4 microns to about 0.7 microns, or about 0.4 microns to about 0.6 microns. In some examples, laser scanning confocal microscopy can be used to obtain these values ​​of arithmetic mean heights.

[0106] In addition, the surface features of the textured surface 654 can be characterized by the density of peaks (peaks per unit area, Spd, also referred to herein as peak density or pitch density). In some cases, the density of peaks of the textured surface 654 is about 175,000 / mm 2 To about 350,000 / mm 2 、About 190,000 / mm 2 To about 330,000 / mm 2 , or about 200,000 / mm 2 To about 300,000 / mm 2As an example, these peak densities can be obtained using a laser scanning confocal microscope at high magnification, such as about 1000 times magnification.

[0107] In some cases, the density of the peaks can be used to characterize the distance between the peaks. The spacing between the peaks may be uneven, so that there is a distribution of spacing between the peaks. The average distance or spacing between the peaks can be referred to as the average pitch. For example, the average spacing between the peaks can be less than 50 microns, greater than 1 micron to less than 50 microns, or greater than 5 microns to less than or equal to 50 microns. In some cases, the surface feature portion can be characterized by an autocorrelation length Sal. In some embodiments, the autocorrelation length is about 10 microns to about 20 microns or about 12 microns to about 17 microns. These values ​​of the autocorrelation length can be obtained using a coherent scanning interferometer profilometer.

[0108] The surface features of the textured surface 654 can also be characterized by a lateral dimension. For example, the surface features can be characterized by a maximum lateral (or linear) dimension and a minimum lateral (or linear) dimension. The surface features can have a sufficiently small maximum lateral dimension so that the surface features are not visually perceptible as separate features. In addition, the lateral dimensions and spacing of the surface features can be configured so that the textured outer surface 654 can be easily cleaned. For example, the spacing of the surface features can be large enough and / or the peak density can be low enough to facilitate cleaning.

[0109] The surface features of the textured surface 654 can also be characterized by the curvature or sharpness of the peaks (also referred to as peak apex), such as by the arithmetic mean peak apex curvature Ssc (also referred to herein as the arithmetic mean peak curvature) or the peak sharpness Spc. In some embodiments, the arithmetic mean peak curvature is 800 mm. -1 Up to 3000mm -1 、850mm -1 Up to 3500mm -1 , or 900mm -1 Up to 3000m -1 In additional embodiments, the arithmetic mean peak curvature is 800 mm -1 Up to 1200mm -1 or 850mm -1 Up to 1150mm -1 For example, these peak curvature values ​​may be measured using a coherent scanning interferometry profilometer. In another embodiment, the arithmetic mean peak curvature is 1500 mm -1 Up to 3500mm -1 、1750mm -1 Up to 3250mm -1 , or 2000mm -1 Up to 3000m -1For example, these peak curvature values ​​can be obtained using a laser scanning confocal microscope at high magnification (such as about 1000 times magnification).

[0110] The surface features of the textured surface 654 can be characterized by a root mean square slope (Sdq) (also referred to as a root mean square gradient). In some embodiments, the root mean square slope can be 0.2 to 0.75, 0.2 to 0.6, 0.2 to 0.5, 0.2 to 0.4, 0.25 to 0.6, 0.25 to 0.5, 0.25 to 0.4, 0.25 to 0.35, 0.3 to 0.7, 0.35 to 0.6, 0.4 to 0.6, or 0.4 to 0.7. For example, when measured using a coherent scanning interferometry profilometer, the root mean square slope can be 0.2 to 0.4 or 0.25 to 0.35. As an additional example, when measured using a laser scanning confocal microscope at a high magnification (e.g., a magnification of about 1000 times), the root mean square slope can be 0.3 to 0.7 or 0.4 to 0.6.

[0111] The surface features of the textured surface 654 can be characterized by a developed interface area ratio (Sdr). In some embodiments, the developed interface area ratio is 0.05 to 0.2, 0.07 to 0.15, or 0.10 to 0.15.

[0112] Figure 7 A flow chart of an exemplary process 700 for forming a textured zirconia-based component is shown. Figure 7 As shown, process 700 performs at least two texturing operations on a zirconia-based component. The zirconia-based component can be any of the zirconia-based housing components discussed herein, such as a housing component that defines a side surface, a rear surface, or both of an electronic device. As discussed in further detail below, the zirconia-based component can be formed of a ceramic material that primarily includes zirconium oxide or a partially or fully stabilized zirconium oxide ceramic material.

[0113] Process 700 Figure 7 , but may optionally include one or more additional operations, such as an operation to clean the textured component and / or an operation to obtain a zirconia-based component to be textured. Typically, the zirconia-based component includes crystals of a ceramic material that have been bonded together by a sintering process to form a sintered component. The sintering process is typically performed at an elevated temperature and in some cases at high pressure, such as in a hot isostatic pressing (HIP) process. The component may have a low porosity, such as a porosity of less than 10%, less than 5%, less than 3%, less than 2%, or less than 1%.

[0114] The mechanical properties of the component may depend on the crystal phases present in the component. Individual crystals of zirconium oxide (also known as zirconium oxide) may have a cubic phase, a tetragonal phase, or a monoclinic phase, wherein different phases are thermodynamically stable under different environmental conditions (e.g., different temperature ranges). In some cases, the sintered component comprises primarily a tetragonal phase prior to process 700. The sintered component may have a fine crystal (grain) size, such as an average grain size of less than 2 microns, less than 1.5 microns, about 100 nm to about 1 micron, about 50 nm to about 500 nm, about 50 nm to about 250 nm, or about 25 nm to about 100 nm.

[0115] In some cases, the component includes doped zirconium oxide crystals that have been modified by relatively small amounts of one or more dopants, such as yttria, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, etc. Ions from these dopants (e.g., yttrium ions) can replace zirconium ions in the crystal lattice and help stabilize the desired crystal phase in a temperature range where it is not normally the most thermodynamically stable phase. Such zirconium oxide crystals may be referred to herein as stable zirconium oxide crystals. When the ceramic material of the component includes a mixture of different zirconium oxide crystal phases, at least one of which is a stable crystal phase, the ceramic material (or its zirconium oxide component) may be referred to as a partially stabilized zirconium oxide ceramic material (or component). When the ceramic material (or its zirconium oxide component) consists essentially of a single stable zirconium oxide crystal phase, the ceramic material may be referred to herein as a (fully) stabilized zirconium oxide-based ceramic material (or component). For example, the ceramic material may be a yttria-stabilized zirconium oxide material, also referred to as YSZ, which may be partially or fully stabilized. In some cases, the zirconium oxide-based ceramic material may be referred to as a tetragonal zirconium oxide polycrystalline (TZP) material, such as a yttrium-stabilized tetragonal zirconium oxide polycrystalline (Y-TZP) material.

[0116] In addition to zirconium oxide, the zirconia-based ceramic material may include one or more other components. However, zirconium oxide is generally the main component in the ceramic material. For example, the ceramic material may include at least 60% by weight of zirconium oxide, at least 70% by weight of zirconium oxide, at least 80% by weight of zirconium oxide, or at least 90% by weight of zirconium oxide. In some cases, in addition to zirconium oxide, the zirconia-based ceramic material includes aluminum oxide, such as up to about 20% by weight of aluminum oxide. The aluminum oxide may be in the form of particles distributed in the zirconia-based ceramic material rather than in the form of a solid solution.

[0117] As previously mentioned, the zirconia-based ceramic material may include a dopant such as yttrium oxide. The amount of yttrium oxide may be 1.5 mol% to 5 mol%, 2 mol% to 4 mol%, 2.5 mol% to 3.5 mol% or about 3ol%, where mol% refers to mole percentage / mol percentage. In some cases, the mole percentage of yttrium is expressed as an approximate mole percentage followed by Y, such as 3Y, 4Y or 5Y. In terms of weight or mass percentage, the amount of yttrium oxide may be 3 wt% to about 9 wt% (5Y is about 9.3 wt%), about 4 wt% to about 7 wt% (4Y is about 6.9 wt%) or about 4.5 wt% to about 6 wt% (3Y is about 5.5 wt%). In some cases, the zirconia-based ceramic material may include a colorant, which may be present in an amount of up to about 5 wt%. For example, the colorant may be a spinel that gives a dark gray or black appearance. A small amount of other components, such as a binder and / or another processing additive, may also be included in the zirconia-based ceramic material.

[0118] Prior to operation 710, the component may have a shape substantially similar to the shape of the housing component. For example, the component may be formed by a molding process, a machining process, or a combination thereof. When the component is at least partially formed by a machining process, the machining process may include a grinding or rough polishing step to remove surface damage from an earlier machining step.

[0119] like Figure 7 As shown, process 700 includes operation 710 of forming a base texture on a component. Operation 710 may include sandblasting the surface of the component to form a base texture. In some cases, operation 710 may include directing a stream of ceramic particles at the surface of the component to form a surface feature of the base texture. The ceramic particles of operation 710 may not be zirconium oxide particles and may have a hardness greater than the hardness of a zirconium oxide-based ceramic material. In some cases, the particles may have a Vickers hardness (Hv) of about 1500 to about 2500. As an example, the ceramic particles may be aluminum oxide particles, silicon carbide particles, boron carbide particles, etc. The ceramic particles may have an angle or polygonal shape. The average particle size of the ceramic particles may be about 25 microns to about 75 microns or about 30 microns to about 60 microns. The particles may also have a specific gravity of about 3 to about 4 and an elastic modulus of about 250Pa to about 400Pa. In some cases, the ceramic particles may include a mixture of at least two different types of ceramic particles, such as a mixture of ceramic particles of two different size ranges. Operation 710 may include a wet sandblasting process or a dry sandblasting process. Operation 710 may form a base texture on one or more surfaces of a component. As an example, the base texture may be formed only on a surface of the component that will be an exterior surface when the electronic device is assembled. As another example, the base texture may be formed over multiple surfaces of the component. Figure 8A cross-sectional view of an exemplary surface texture 854 on a textured zirconia-based component 834 after operation 710 is schematically illustrated.

[0120] like Figure 7 As shown, process 700 also includes an operation 720 of modifying the base texture. Typically, operation 720 includes smoothing at least some of the surface features of the base texture, such as Figure 8 , Fig. 9 and Fig.10 Operation 720 may involve bead blasting the base texture formed during operation 710. In some cases, operation 720 may include directing a stream of ceramic particles at surface features of the base texture, such as Figure 8 Schematically shown in . The ceramic particles of operation 720 may have a hardness similar to that of a zirconium oxide-based ceramic. For example, the ceramic particles may be zirconium oxide particles, at least partially stabilized zirconium oxide particles, and / or ceramic particles having a high zirconium oxide or at least partially stabilized zirconium oxide content (e.g., at least 50% by weight). The ceramic particles may have a rounded shape, such as a generally spherical / beaded shape. The median particle size of the ceramic particles may be about 10 microns to about 50 microns or about 20 microns to about 40 microns. In some cases, the ceramic particles may include a mixture of at least two different types of ceramic particles, such as a mixture of ceramic particles of two different size ranges (e.g., two different sizes of particles each having a different median particle size in the range of 10 microns to 50 microns). The ceramic particles may have a specific gravity of about 4 to about 6 and may have a specific modulus of about 150 GPa to about 325 GPa. Operation 720 may include a dry sandblasting operation. Fig. 9 A cross-sectional view of an exemplary surface texture 954 on a textured zirconia-based component 934 after operation 720 is schematically illustrated.

[0121] Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of an exemplary surface texture 854 on a textured zirconia-based component 834 after operation 710 is schematically illustrated. Fig.11A and Fig. 11B A microscope image of an exemplary base texture is shown in .

[0122] like Figure 8 As shown, the surface texture includes a plurality of surface features 860, which can be described as a set of peaks 862 and a set of valleys 864. Figure 8 Surface features 860 , schematically shown in FIG. 8 , include some smaller scale features, such as feature 866 , which give peaks 862 and valleys 864 a slightly “jagged” appearance in cross-section. Figure 8Also schematically shown is ceramic particles 890 being directed toward a textured zirconia-based component, as may occur during operation 720 of process 700 . Figure 8 The dimensions of the ceramic particles 890 shown are exemplary and not limiting. Figure 6 The descriptions of surface texture parameters and measurement techniques provided are generally applicable herein and are not repeated here.

[0123] Fig. 9 A cross-sectional view of an exemplary surface texture 954 on a textured zirconia-based component 934 is schematically shown after an operation to modify the base texture (surface features 860 of the base texture are indicated by dashed lines and the resulting modified texture is shown by solid lines). Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B A microscope image of an exemplary modified texture is shown in .

[0124] Surface texture 954 includes a plurality of surface features 960. Fig. 9 As schematically shown in Figure 8 The amplitude of at least some of the smaller scale roughness features 866 is reduced, which gives the surface features 960 a roughness ratio of Figure 8 Surface feature 860 is shown having a smoother appearance. Fig. 9 The examples are not intended to be limiting, and other configurations of surface features 960 may be given the previously described Figure 6 Discuss the performance characteristics of Figure 6 The description of surface texture parameters and measurement techniques provided is generally applicable herein and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0125] In additional embodiments, process 700 may include one or more additional texturing operations. In some cases, the additional surface texturing operations have the effect of removing material primarily from the peak regions of the surface features, such as Fig.10 Schematically shown in . This effect can be achieved by directing the particle flow at the surface feature and / or by a mechanical polishing operation. The particles can be ceramic particles or composite particles including ceramic particles and a resin component. In some cases, the ceramic particles can be zirconia particles, stabilized zirconia particles, and / or ceramic particles with a high zirconia or stabilized zirconia content (e.g., at least 50 weight %). The ceramic particles may have similar hardness and other mechanical properties as described in conjunction with the ceramic particles used in operation 720. However, the size of the particles may be smaller than the size previously described.

[0126] Fig.10A cross-sectional view of an exemplary surface texture 1054 on a textured zirconia-based component 1034 after additional texturing operations is schematically illustrated (previously textured surface features 960 are indicated by dashed lines). Fig.10 The surface texture includes a plurality of surface features 1060. Fig.10 As shown, the additional texturing operation affects the peak regions of the surface features 960 to a greater extent than the valley regions.

[0127] In another embodiment, process 700 may optionally include one or more cleaning operations. In some cases, one or more cleaning operations include directing a stream of particles at a surface feature, wherein the hardness of the particles is less than the hardness of a ceramic based on zirconium oxide. For example, a cleaning operation may be used to remove trace metals on a surface feature left from a previous texturing operation (e.g., metals from particles present in operations 710 and / or 720). The particles may be glass particles, zirconium particles, etc. The particles may have a hardness of about 500 Hv to about 800 Hv, a specific gravity of about 2.0 to about 4, and a size of about 20 microns to about 40 microns. When the particles are glass particles, the particles may have a hardness of about 500 Hv to about 600 Hv, an elastic modulus of about 50 GPa to about 100 GPa, a specific gravity of about 2 to about 3, and a size of about 20 microns to about 40 microns.

[0128] In additional embodiments, process 700 may optionally include one or more coating operations. For example, process 700 may include the operation of applying an outer coating such as an anti-smudge (oleophobic) coating to the textured zirconia-based ceramic. The anti-smudge coating may include one or more fluorinated oligomers and / or fluorinated polymers. The anti-smudge coating may be a hydrophobic coating, an oleophobic coating, or both. As an additional example, process 700 may include the operation of applying an inner coating such as a masking coating or a coating that provides another visual effect. The inner coating may be an ink layer, a metal layer, or a combination thereof.

[0129] In some cases, the textured zirconia-based components described herein have greater strength and impact resistance than the zirconia-based components before the texturing operation. Specifically, the zirconia-based components before the texturing operation may include zirconia crystals that are primarily in the tetragonal phase. One or more of the texturing operations (e.g., 710, 720) may convert tetragonal zirconia crystals into monoclinic zirconia crystals in the surface region of the zirconia-based component, thereby increasing the strength and impact resistance of the component. After the texturing operation, the overall component may primarily include tetragonal zirconia crystals, and the region of the component along the textured outer surface may include a smaller amount of tetragonal zirconia crystals and a larger amount of monoclinic zirconia crystals compared to the initial portion of the component. As an additional example, the component may include both zirconia crystals and alumina crystals, wherein the tetragonal zirconia crystals are predominant. Similar to the aforementioned example, the region of the component along the textured outer surface may include a smaller amount of tetragonal crystals and a larger amount of monoclinic zirconia crystals compared to the initial portion of the component.

[0130] In some cases, strength and / or fracture toughness are measured on textured patches of zirconia-based ceramics. When strength is evaluated by ring-to-ring testing, the 95% confidence interval for the force at fracture of a textured zirconia-based ceramic (such as partially yttria-stabilized zirconia or partially yttria-stabilized zirconia, including up to about 20 weight percent alumina) may be about 7000 N to about 9000 N, as measured by a 30 mm diameter ring and a 15 mm diameter ring on a 50 mm×50 mm×1.8 mm polished patch. The average value of the fracture force measurements may be about 7500 to about 8500 N. The ring-to-ring strength measured by stress at fracture may be about 800 MPa to about 1300 MPa or about 1000 MPa to about 1300 MPa. Fracture toughness (K Ic ) can be about 4MPa m 1 / 2 About 8MPa m 1 / 2 or about 4MPa m 1 / 2 About 6MPa m 1 / 2 .

[0131] Fig.11A and Fig. 11B is a magnified image showing an example of the base texture on a zirconia based component. Fig.11A and Fig. 11B The image is a SEM image, where Fig.11A The scale in indicates a distance of 10 microns, and Fig. 11B The scale in indicates a distance of 30 micrometers. Fig.11A and Fig. 11B In an example, the zirconia-based component is a plaque and the zirconia-based material includes a colorant.

[0132] Fig.11A A top view of the base texture on part 1154a is shown, and Fig. 11B A cross-sectional view of a similar base texture on component 1154b is shown. For example, as previously described in conjunction with Figure 7 As described, Fig.11A and Fig. 11B The basic texture shown can be obtained by sandblasting a zirconium oxide part with polygonal aluminum oxide particles. Fig.11A and Fig. 11B The base texture of parts processed similarly to those shown may have an RMS slope Sdq between about 0.85 and about 0.975, a depth of about 4000 mm. -1 To about 4525mm -1 The peak sharpness Spc is about 450,000 / mm 2 To about 500,000 / mm 2 The peak density Spd. Fig.11A and Fig. 11B The base texture of parts processed similarly to those shown may also have an arithmetic mean height Sa of about 0.575 microns to about 0.675 microns, a maximum height Sz of about 6 microns to about 9 microns, and a developed interface area ratio Sdr of about 0.325 to about 0.400. These texture values ​​can be obtained using a laser scanning confocal microscope. Figure 6 The descriptions of surface texture parameters and measurement techniques provided are generally applicable herein and are not repeated here.

[0133] Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B is an enlarged image showing an example of textured zirconia-based components 1254a and 1254b after modifying the base texture. Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B The image is a SEM image, where Fig. 12A The scale in indicates a distance of 10 microns, and Fig. 12B The scale in indicates a distance of 30 micrometers. Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B In an example, the zirconia-based component is a plaque and the zirconia-based material includes a colorant.

[0134] Fig. 12A shows a top view of a textured zirconia component, and Fig. 12B A cross-sectional view of a similarly textured zirconia component is shown. For example, as previously described in conjunction with Figure 7 As described, Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B The texture shown can be obtained by sandblasting with zirconium oxide beads. Fig.11A and Fig. 11BThe basis for textured zirconium oxide parts. Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B The surface features of produce a matte appearance and are not visually perceptible without magnification. For example, Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B The texture may have a gloss value of about 10 gloss units when measured at 60 degrees. Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B The texture of parts processed similarly to those shown may have an RMS slope Sdq in the range of 0.4 to 0.6, a 2,000 m -1 To about 3,000mm -1 Peak sharpness Spc in the range of 200,000 / mm 2 Up to 300,000 / mm 2 Each of these ranges is below and exceeds the combined Fig.11A and Fig. 11B The corresponding range of the base texture described. In addition, Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B The base texture of the parts treated similarly to those shown may have an arithmetic mean height Sa in the range of 0.475 micrometers to 0.600 micrometers, a maximum height Sz in the range of 5 micrometers to 7.5 micrometers, and a developed interface area ratio Sdr in the range of 0.10 to 0.15. These texture values ​​can be obtained using a laser scanning confocal microscope. The median value of each of the arithmetic mean height Sa and the maximum height Sz is lower than the combined Fig.11A and Fig. 11B In addition, the range of the developed interface area ratio Sdr is below and beyond the combined Fig.11A and Fig. 11B The corresponding range of the base texture described. Combined Figure 6 The descriptions of surface texture parameters and measurement techniques provided are generally applicable herein and are not repeated here.

[0135] Fig.13 A block diagram of a sample electronic device that may incorporate the zirconia-based components described herein is shown. Fig.13 The schematic diagram shown in FIG. 1 may correspond to the above Figures 1A to 4 Parts and combinations of the devices described in Figures 5 to 12B However, Fig.13 Other types of electronic devices having zirconia-based components as described herein may also be more generally represented.

[0136] In an embodiment, the electronic device 1300 may include a sensor 1320 to provide information about the configuration and / or orientation of the electronic device in order to control the output of the display. For example, when all or part of the visible area of ​​the display 1308 is blocked or substantially obscured, a portion of the display 1308 may be turned off, disabled, or placed in a low energy state. For another example, the display 1308 may be adapted to rotate the display of the graphical output based on the orientation change (e.g., 90 degrees or 180 degrees) of the device 1300 in response to the rotation of the device 1300.

[0137] The electronic device 1300 also includes a processor 1306 operatively connected to the computer-readable memory 1302. The processor 1306 may be operatively connected to the memory 1302 via an electronic bus or bridge. The processor 1306 may be implemented as one or more computer processors or microcontrollers configured to perform operations in response to computer-readable instructions. The processor 1306 may include a central processing unit (CPU) of the device 1300. In addition or alternatively, the processor 1306 may include other electronic circuits located within the device 1300, including application-specific integrated chips (ASICs) and other microcontroller devices. The processor 1306 may be configured to perform the functions described in the above examples.

[0138] The memory 1302 may include various types of non-transitory computer-readable storage media, including, for example, read access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROM and EEPROM), or flash memory. The memory 1302 is configured to store computer-readable instructions, sensor values, and other persistent software elements.

[0139] The electronic device 1300 may include a control circuit 1310. The control circuit 1310 may be implemented in a single control unit and need not be implemented as different circuit elements. As used herein, a "control unit" will be used synonymously with a "control circuit". The control circuit 1310 may receive signals from the processor 1306 or from other elements of the electronic device 1300.

[0140] like Fig.13As shown, the electronic device 1300 includes a battery 1314 configured to provide power to the components of the electronic device 1300. The battery 1314 may include one or more power storage units coupled together to provide an internal power supply. The battery 1314 may be operably coupled to a power management circuit configured to provide appropriate voltage and power levels for each component or group of components within the electronic device 1300. The battery 1314 may be configured to receive power from an external power source such as an AC power outlet via the power management circuit. The battery 1314 may also be configured to receive power from an internal power source (such as a wireless charging component). The battery 1314 may store the received power so that the electronic device 1300 can operate for an extended period of time without being connected to an external power source, which may range from several hours to several days.

[0141] In some embodiments, the electronic device 1300 includes one or more input devices 1318. The input device 1318 is a device configured to receive input from a user or the environment. For example, the input device 1318 may include, for example, a push button, a touch-activated button, a capacitive touch sensor, a touch screen (e.g., a touch-sensitive display or a force-sensitive display), a capacitive touch button, a dial, a crown, etc. In some embodiments, the input device 1318 may provide dedicated or primary functions, including, for example, a power button, a volume button, a home button, a scroll wheel, and a camera button.

[0142] The device 1300 may also include one or more sensors or sensor modules 1320, such as force sensors, capacitive sensors, accelerometers, barometers, gyroscopes, proximity sensors, light sensors, and the like. In some cases, the device 1300 includes a sensor array (also referred to as a sensing array) that includes a plurality of sensors 1320. For example, a sensor array associated with a raised feature of a cover member may include an ambient light sensor, a lidar sensor, and a microphone. As previously described with respect to Figure 1BAs discussed, one or more camera modules may also be associated with the protruding feature. Sensor 1320 is operably coupled to a processing circuit. In some embodiments, sensor 1320 may detect deformation and / or configuration changes of an electronic device and may be operably coupled to a processing circuit that controls a display based on a sensor signal. In some specific implementations, the output from sensor 1320 is used to reconfigure the display output to correspond to the orientation or folding / unfolding configuration or state of the device. Exemplary sensors 1320 for this purpose include accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, and other similar types of positioning / orientation sensing devices. In addition, sensor 1320 may include a microphone, an acoustic sensor, a light sensor (including ambient light, infrared (IR) light, ultraviolet (UV) light), an optical facial recognition sensor, a depth measurement sensor (e.g., a time-of-flight sensor), a health monitoring sensor (e.g., an electrocardiogram (erg) sensor, a heart rate sensor, a photoplethysmogram (ppg) sensor, or a pulse oximeter), a biometric sensor (e.g., a fingerprint sensor) or other types of sensing devices.

[0143] In some embodiments, the electronic device 1300 includes one or more output devices 1304 configured to provide output to a user. The output device 1304 may include a display 1308 that presents visual information generated by the processor 1306. The output device 1304 may also include one or more speakers to provide audio output. The output device 1304 may also include one or more haptic devices configured to produce tactile or tactile output along the outer surface of the device 1300.

[0144] Display 1308 may include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an LED backlit LCD display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, an active layer organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) display, an organic electroluminescent (EL) display, an electrophoretic ink display, and the like. If display 1308 is a liquid crystal display or an electrophoretic ink display, display 1308 may also include a backlight component that can be controlled to provide variable display brightness levels. If display 1308 is an organic light emitting diode or organic electroluminescent type display, the brightness of display 1308 can be controlled by modifying the electrical signals provided to the display elements. In addition, information about the configuration and / or orientation of the electronic device can be used to control the output of the display, as described with respect to input device 1318. In some cases, the display is integrated with a touch sensor and / or a force sensor to detect touch and / or force applied along the outer surface of device 1300.

[0145] The electronic device 1300 may also include a communication port 1312 that is configured to transmit and / or receive signals or electrical communications from an external device or a separate device. The communication port 1312 may be configured to be coupled to an external device via a cable, an adapter, or other type of electrical connector. In some embodiments, the communication port 1312 may be used to couple the electronic device 1300 to a host computer.

[0146] The electronic device 1300 may also include at least one accessory 1316, such as a camera, a flash for a camera, or other such device. The camera may be part of a camera array or a sensing array that may be connected to other parts of the electronic device 1300, such as the control circuit 1310.

[0147] As used herein, the terms "about," "approximately," "substantially," "similar to," and the like are used to account for relatively small variations, such as variations of + / -10%, + / -5%, + / -2%, or + / -1%. In addition, the term "about" may be used with respect to an endpoint of a range to indicate a variation of + / -10%, + / -5%, + / -2%, or + / -1% of the endpoint value. Furthermore, disclosing a range in which at least one endpoint is described as "about" a particular value includes disclosing a range in which the endpoint is equal to the particular value.

[0148] As used herein, the phrase "one or more of" or "at least one of" following a list of items, any of which is separated by the terms "and" or "or", modifies the list as a whole, rather than each member of the list. The phrase "one or more of" or "at least one of" does not require selection of at least one of each item listed; rather, the phrase allows for a meaning that includes at least one of any of the items and / or at least one of any combination of the items and / or at least one of each of the items. For example, the phrase "one or more of A, B, and C" or "one or more of A, B, or C" each refers to only A, only B, or only C; any combination of A, B, and C; and / or one or more of each of A, B, and C. Similarly, it is understood that the order in which the elements are presented for the combined or separated lists provided herein should not be construed to limit the disclosure to only the order provided.

[0149] The following discussion applies to electronic devices described herein to the extent that these devices can be used to obtain personally identifiable information data. It is understood that the use of personally identifiable information should be subject to privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized to meet or exceed industry or government requirements for maintaining user privacy. Specifically, personally identifiable information data should be managed and processed to minimize the risk of unintentional or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly stated to users.

[0150] For the purpose of illustration, the foregoing description uses specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practice the embodiments. Therefore, for the purpose of illustration and description, the foregoing description of the specific embodiments described herein is presented. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the disclosed precise forms. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that, in view of the above teachings, many modifications and variations are feasible.

Claims

1. An electronic watch, comprising: Touch-sensitive display; as well as a housing at least partially surrounding the touch-sensitive display and comprising: a front cover assembly positioned over the touch-sensitive display; as well as A shell component formed of a zirconium oxide-based ceramic, an outer surface of the shell component having a gloss value of 8 gloss units to 12 gloss units when measured at 60 degrees and defining a texture, the texture having: Texture with RMS slope of 0.2 to 0.6; Range from 175000 / mm 2 Up to 350000 / mm 2 The peak density of Range from 850mm -1 Up to 3500mm -1 The peak sharpness.

2. The electronic watch according to claim 1, wherein: The outer surface of the housing member defines a side surface of the electronic watch; The zirconia-based ceramic is a first zirconia-based ceramic; and The case also includes a rear covering member formed of a second zirconia-based ceramic and coupled to the case component, an outer surface of the rear covering member partially defining a rear surface of the electronic watch.

3. The electronic watch according to claim 2, wherein: The rear covering member defines an opening; and The electronic watch also includes a biosensor assembly positioned at least partially within the opening and configured to obtain a biometric measurement from a user wearing the electronic watch. 4 . The electronic watch according to claim 2 , wherein the electronic watch further comprises a wireless charging component, the wireless charging component being at least partially surrounded by the rear cover member and configured to receive wireless power from an external device. The electronic watch according to claim 1 , wherein the texture has an arithmetic mean height of 0.2 μm to 1 μm.

6. The electronic watch according to claim 1, wherein: The housing member defines a side surface and partially defines a rear surface of the electronic watch; The housing member defines an opening in the rear surface; and A sensor assembly is positioned within the opening.

7. The electronic watch according to claim 1, wherein: The zirconia-based ceramic is a yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramic and has a ring-to-ring strength of 800 MPa to 1300 MPa; and The texture has a range from 1750mm -1 Up to 3250mm -1 The peak sharpness.

8. An electronic watch, comprising: monitor; as well as A housing, the housing comprising: a housing component, wherein the housing defines a side surface of the electronic watch; a front cover assembly coupled to the housing member and positioned over the display; and a rear cover assembly coupled to the housing component and comprising a rear cover member formed of a zirconia-based ceramic and having an outer surface, the outer surface of the rear cover member defining a surface feature having: Arithmetic mean height of 0.3 μm to 0.8 μm; RMS slope ranging from 0.2 to 0.75; an autocorrelation length ranging from 10 microns to 20 microns; and Range from 850mm -1 Up to 3500mm -1 The peak sharpness.

9. The electronic watch according to claim 8, wherein: the rear covering member being opaque to visible light; The rear cover assembly further includes an at least partially transparent rear crystal coupled to the rear cover member; and The electronic watch also includes a sensor assembly positioned beneath the at least partially transparent rear crystal.

10. The electronic watch according to claim 9, wherein the sensor component is a biosensor component including at least one visible light optical module and at least one infrared light optical module.

11. The electronic watch according to claim 8, wherein the surface feature has a diameter of 1750 mm. -1 Up to 3250mm -1 The peak sharpness.

12. The electronic watch according to claim 8, wherein: The outer surface of the rear covering member is a first outer surface; The housing component is formed from the zirconia-based ceramic and defines a second outer surface; and Each of the first exterior surface and the second exterior surface has a gloss value of 7 gloss units to 15 gloss units when measured at 60 degrees.

13. The electronic watch according to claim 8, wherein the zirconium oxide-based ceramic includes 2 mol% to 4 mol% of yttrium oxide and up to 20 wt% of aluminum oxide.

14. The electronic watch according to claim 13, wherein the zirconium oxide-based ceramic has a strength of 4 MPa m 1 / 2 Up to 6MPa m 1 / 2 K Ic Fracture toughness.

15. An electronic device, comprising: A housing, the housing comprising: A rear cover assembly comprising a zirconia-based rear cover member defining a textured outer surface having: A gloss value of 9 gloss units to 12 gloss units when measured at 60 degrees; and A texture, the texture having: RMS slope of 0.3 to 0.7; and Arithmetic mean height of 0.3 μm to 0.8 μm; Range from 190000 / mm 2 Up to 330000 / mm 2 The peak density of Range from 1500mm -1 Up to 3500mm -1 The peak sharpness of a housing component coupled to the zirconia-based rear cover member; and a front cover assembly coupled to the housing member; and A wireless charging unit is positioned within the housing.

16. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the texture has a diameter of 1750 mm. -1 Up to 3250mm -1 The peak sharpness. 17 . The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the zirconium oxide-based rear cover member has a dielectric constant of less than 30.

18. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein: The zirconia-based rear cover member defines a rear opening; and The rear cover assembly also includes a sapphire crystal positioned in the rear opening.

19. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein: The zirconia-based rear covering member mainly includes tetragonal zirconia crystals; and A region of the zirconia-based rear covering member along the textured outer surface includes a smaller amount of the tetragonal zirconia crystals and a greater amount of monoclinic zirconia crystals than an inner portion of the zirconia-based rear covering member.

20. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein an inner surface of the zirconia-based rear cover member has a higher glossiness than the textured outer surface.

Images