Curved Glass Rear Plate Thermoforming Pattern Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in manufacturing electronic device rear plates is the need for additional processes to create patterns, which increases material and time costs and limits design aesthetics, particularly in curved surfaces where thermoforming is followed by separate patterning steps.
Innovation Solution
A method where a glass plate with a pattern is formed during the thermoforming process, incorporating a printed layer, a shielding layer, and a coating layer on the glass plate, allowing for the creation of a patterned, curved surface in a single step, eliminating the need for additional patterning processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If additional patterning processes are performed after thermoforming, then design aesthetics and visual differentiation are improved, but material costs and production time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the patterning process with the thermoforming process into a single integrated operation. The pattern is formed on the glass plate during thermoforming itself, eliminating the need for separate post-thermoforming patterning steps. This merging of processes reduces production time and material costs while maintaining design aesthetics.
Solution Approach 2:
The pattern is prepared and formed on the glass plate before the thermoforming process completes. By performing the patterning action preliminarily during thermoforming, the patent avoids subsequent additional processing steps, thereby reducing production time and material consumption.
2Shape
If additional patterning processes are performed after thermoforming, then visual and sensory design differentiations are improved, but material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the patterning operation with the thermoforming process, so that the pattern is created during the same manufacturing step as the curved surface formation. This eliminates the need for additional materials that would be required for separate patterning processes, thereby reducing material costs while achieving the desired visual and sensory design differentiations.
3Shape
If patterns are printed or laminated on curved portions after thermoforming, then aesthetic value is enhanced, but production complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (curved surface formation and pattern creation) into a single thermoforming process. By integrating these operations, the patent simplifies the production process and reduces the number of separate manufacturing steps required, thereby reducing production complexity while maintaining enhanced aesthetic value.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermoforming process is made multi-functional by enabling it to perform both curved surface formation and pattern creation simultaneously. This universal approach eliminates the need for dedicated separate patterning equipment and processes, thereby reducing production process complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces material and time costs while enhancing design aesthetics by integrating pattern formation into the thermoforming process, resulting in a cost-effective and visually appealing rear plate for electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
the glass plate is pre-heated at a high temperature
Implementation Method 2
shape processing portions of the upper core structure and the lower core structure press the glass plate to form a curved surface
Implementation Method 3
a cooling step
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device including a rear plate, and the rear plate itself are disclosed. The rear plate covers a rear surface of the electronic device, and includes: a glass plate including a pattern area, the pattern area including a pattern having a designated shape, in at least a partial area of the glass plate, a printed layer disposed on a first surface of the glass plate, a shielding layer stacked with the printed layer, and a coating layer disposed on a second surface of the glass plate opposite to the first surface, wherein the pattern area of the glass plate includes a plurality of processing lines spaced apart from each other.