Smartphone Middle Frame Assembly for Faster Production and Strength

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for producing stainless steel middle frames for smartphones are time-consuming due to the complexity of processing stainless steel plates into integrally formed components.

Innovation Solution

A middle frame design featuring a middle plate made of aluminum alloy connected to a stainless steel or titanium alloy outer frame through welding platforms, allowing for simpler production and enhanced strength, with embedded middle elements and welding platforms that can be easily connected, and a die casting process that embeds middle elements into the molten middle plate for better fastening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a CNC machine is used to process a stainless steel plate into an integrally formed middle frame, then the structural strength and integrity of the middle frame are improved, but the production time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidproduction time
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The middle frame is divided into multiple components: a middle plate, middle elements, and an outer frame with welding platforms. These components are manufactured separately through simpler processes and then assembled together, eliminating the need for time-consuming integral CNC processing while maintaining structural strength through the welding connection of segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If the middle plate and outer frame are fully connected through welding platforms, then the structural strength is enhanced, but the heat insulation effect is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidheat conduction
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between the middle plate and outer frame is made local rather than complete. Welding platforms are positioned at specific locations to provide structural strength where needed, while leaving gaps in other areas to maintain heat insulation properties. This selective connection approach optimizes both structural integrity and thermal performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 design reduces production time, enhances the structural strength and support performance of the middle frame, and provides a heat insulation effect due to a partial connection with a gap between the outer frame and middle plate, while maintaining good buffer performance when the frame falls.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one welding platform on the outer frame is in welded connection with the at least one middle element on the middle plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Implementation Method 2

a die casting process that embeds middle elements into the molten middle plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change (molten to solid): Phase Change

Data Source

PatentEP3751826B1Intermediate frame and terminal device
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3751826B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3751826B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3751826B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Embodiments of this application disclose a middle frame and a terminal device, where the middle frame includes a middle plate, at least one middle element, at least one welding platform, and an outer frame; the at least one middle element is fixedly connected to an edge of the middle plate; the at least one welding platform is fixedly connected to an inner side of the outer frame; and the at least one welding platform on the outer frame is in welded connection with the at least one middle element on the middle plate. The middle plate, the at least one middle element, the at least one welding platform, and the outer frame are simple in structural form, and each may be produced alone; and connection manners between the middle plate, the at least one middle element, the at least one welding platform, and the outer frame are simple. Therefore, compared with production of an integrally formed middle frame, a processing process of the middle frame provided in the embodiments of this application is simpler, and therefore less time is consumed in producing the middle frame. In addition, by welding the at least one welding platform to the at least one middle element, it can be ensured that the middle frame has relatively high strength to make the middle frame have relatively good support performance.