Textured Glass Enclosure for Electronic Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in texturing and shaping glass components for electronic device enclosures, as glass is a brittle material that is difficult to texture or shape effectively.
Innovation Solution
The development of textured glass components for electronic devices, which include a textured glass cover member with specific surface features to provide a desired appearance, feel, and cleanability, while also accommodating optical modules like cameras.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional molding or machining techniques are used to texture glass components, then the manufacturing process becomes complex and difficult, but the glass surface can be textured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical molding or machining techniques with chemical etching processes to texture the glass surface. This substitution allows for easier manufacturing of textured glass components while maintaining high surface texture quality, as chemical etching can create precise textures without the complexity of mechanical tooling for brittle glass materials.
2Strength
If the glass component is made thicker to provide structural support, then strength improves, but the appearance and light transmission are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different thicknesses to different regions of the glass component. The peripheral portion is made thicker to provide structural strength and support, while the central portion is kept thinner to maintain good light transmission and appearance properties. This local variation in thickness allows the glass to satisfy both structural and optical requirements simultaneously.
3Illumination intensity
If a smooth glass surface is used, then light transmission is maximized, but cleanability and tactile feel are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates different surface textures in different regions of the glass component. The peripheral portion has a textured surface that provides enhanced cleanability and tactile feel, while the central portion maintains a smoother surface for optimal light transmission. This localized differentiation allows each region to optimize for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a mold or template to create the textured pattern on the glass surface through chemical etching. This copying process allows for precise replication of the desired texture pattern, ensuring consistent cleanability and tactile properties across the peripheral region while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.
4Adaptability or versatility
If openings are added to accommodate camera modules, then camera integration is enabled, but the glass structure is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the glass component into distinct functional regions: a thicker peripheral portion that provides structural support and a thinner central portion that accommodates openings for camera modules. This segmentation allows the glass to maintain overall structural integrity while enabling camera integration in the less critical central area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates the camera module openings into the glass component during the manufacturing process, before final assembly. The openings are precisely formed in the thinner central portion of the glass, allowing camera modules to be integrated seamlessly while the thicker peripheral portion maintains structural strength to compensate for the openings.
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 textured glass components achieve a desired gloss level, translucence, and tactile feel, while ensuring easy cleanability and enhancing the resistance to impact and bending through chemical strengthening.
Implementation Method 1
a glass cover member may have a texture configured to provide a particular gloss level and/or translucence level
Implementation Method 2
enhancing the resistance to impact and bending through chemical strengthening
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides textured glass components as well as electronic device cover assemblies and enclosures which include the textured glass components. In some cases, a protruding portion of the glass component includes a textured region provided over a camera assembly of the electronic device. One or more openings may be provided in the textured region. The textured region may be configured to provide a translucent or hazy appearance to the electronic device while providing a desirable “feel” to the electronic device and level of cleanability.