Electronic Apparatus Coating Thickness for Unified Light Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
The combination of materials with different optical characteristics in an electronic apparatus exterior body results in noticeable separation of components, impairing the sense of unity and exterior characteristics.
Innovation Solution
An electronic apparatus design featuring a first member with a transmission portion and a second member with lower light transmittance, where the thickness of the coating film at the contact portion between these members is greater than in the transmission portion, using a translucent substrate and non-transparent materials to maintain light transmission while minimizing external light entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two types of members having different optical characteristics are combined to manufacture the exterior body, then light transmission from the light-emitting unit is ensured and external light entry is suppressed, but the members are noticeable as separate components and the exterior body lacks a sense of unity
Solution Approach 1:
The coating film is applied with varying thickness across different regions of the exterior body. Specifically, the coating film has a first thickness in the light transmission region and a second thickness (greater than the first) in the contact portion between members. This local variation in coating quality allows the translucent first member to appear visually continuous with the non-transparent second member, creating a unified exterior appearance while maintaining the functional differences in light transmission and shielding.
2Ease of manufacture
If a coating film with uniform thickness is applied on the first member, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the contact portion between members remains noticeable and exterior unity is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The coating film thickness is locally adjusted to be greater in the contact portion between members compared to the light transmission region. This creates a visual transition that masks the boundary between the translucent first member and the non-transparent second member, achieving exterior unity while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through controlled coating processes.
3Shape
If the coating film thickness in the contact portion is increased, then the sense of unity and exterior characteristics are improved, but the manufacturing precision requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention specifies that the coating film thickness in the contact portion should be greater than in the light transmission region, but does not require extreme precision. The coating film simply needs to be thick enough in the contact portion to mask the boundary between members, while maintaining appropriate thickness in the light transmission region for optical functionality. This parameter change approach balances exterior unity with manufacturing feasibility.
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 configuration enhances the exterior appearance and unity of the apparatus by reducing visibility differences between components, while ensuring effective light transmission and shielding, thus improving user experience and preventing unintended light entry.
Implementation Method 1
a first member that is a member having a transmission portion that allows transmission of the light emitted from the light-emitting unit and having a coating film on a surface
Implementation Method 2
a thickness of the coating film in a contact portion between the first member and the second member is greater than a thickness of the coating film in the transmission portion
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are an electronic apparatus and a method of manufacturing an electronic apparatus, which are capable of suppressing a deterioration in exterior characteristics while ensuring transmission of light from a light-emitting unit. An electronic apparatus includes: a light-emitting unit configured to emit light to an outside; and an exterior body including a first member that is a member having a transmission portion that allows transmission of the light emitted from the light-emitting unit and having a coating film on a surface, and a second member that is a member disposed adjacent to the first member and formed of a material having lower light transmittance than the first member, in which a thickness of the coating film in a contact portion between the first member and the second member is greater than a thickness of the coating film in the transmission portion.