Non-Planar Electronic Device Housing for Grip and Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable electronic devices with flat exterior surfaces are difficult to hold stably and comfortably due to their inability to accommodate finger contours, leading to reduced mechanical strength and user satisfaction.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device features a housing with a non-planar second end surface, including canted and polygonal surface segments that form boundaries and apexes, allowing for stable and comfortable grip, improved structural integrity, and enhanced acoustic and cooling performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If flat exterior surfaces are used, then development and production cost is reduced, but user grip stability and comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by forming a non-planar second end surface with apexes and canted surface segments. This curved geometry conforms to the natural contours of human fingers, providing ergonomic grip stability and comfort while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard molding techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The second end surface is divided into multiple canted surface segments that meet at apexes. This segmentation creates a non-planar configuration that better accommodates finger contours while allowing each segment to be manufactured using conventional processes, balancing complexity and manufacturability.
2Ease of manufacture
If flat exterior surfaces are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but mechanical strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The non-planar second end surface with its apexes and canted segments distributes applied forces more effectively across the surface geometry. This curved configuration enhances mechanical strength by preventing stress concentration that occurs with flat surfaces, while remaining compatible with cost-effective manufacturing methods.
3Device complexity
If flat exterior surfaces are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but heat dissipation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The non-planar second end surface creates natural air gaps between the device and supporting surfaces. These air gaps improve heat dissipation through enhanced convection and reduced thermal conduction to supporting surfaces, while the overall design maintains simplicity by incorporating the thermal management function into the existing housing geometry without additional components.
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
The non-planar surface design enables stable and comfortable handling, reduces risk of damage, and improves heat dissipation and acoustic performance by allowing air gaps and minimizing contact with support surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
improves heat dissipation... by allowing air gaps
Implementation Method 2
improves heat dissipation... by allowing air gaps
Implementation Method 3
minimizing contact with surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
Electronic devices with surface features are disclosed. The electronic devices includes a processor and a display operatively coupled to the processor for presenting outputs to a user. The electronic devices also includes a housing having a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion to form an enclosure containing the processor and the display. The second portion includes a plurality of edges proximate to the first portion, an end surface spaced apart from the edges, and a plurality of side surfaces extending between the edges and the end surface. At least one of the side surfaces is canted relative to the end surface.