UV Molding Liquid Surface Treatment for Electronic Device Cases
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic device case manufacturing methods struggle to effectively express metallic textures and secure pattern visibility, especially when using non-conductive materials, and are limited in reducing material thickness while maintaining design quality.
Innovation Solution
A surface treatment method involving UV molding liquid and electroformed molds to form patterns on both sides of a raw sheet material, allowing for the expression of metallic textures and enhanced pattern visibility, with the use of UV molding liquid curing and multi-deposition techniques to achieve a three-dimensional effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional coating or deposition is used for surface treatment, then a single design element can be expressed, but complex design elements including metallic texture and pattern visibility cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple design elements (metallic texture, patterns, colors) into a single integrated UV molding liquid coating process. The UV molding liquid contains both metallic particles for texture and pattern-forming components, allowing simultaneous expression of multiple design elements in one application step rather than requiring separate coating and deposition processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The UV molding liquid is formulated as a composite material containing organic resins, metallic particles, and pattern-forming additives. This composite structure enables the coating to simultaneously provide metallic texture through metallic particles, pattern definition through additives, and color properties, resolving the limitation of conventional single-function coatings.
2Shape
If front surface UV molding method is used, then texture can be expressed on the front surface, but pattern visibility and depth feeling are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from single-surface treatment to dual-surface treatment by applying UV molding liquid to both front and rear surfaces of the sheet material. The rear surface pattern formation adds a dimensional layer of design complexity, where patterns on the rear surface can show through the translucent front surface, enhancing overall pattern visibility and creating depth effects that single-surface methods cannot achieve.
3Manufacturing precision
If rear surface UV molding method is used, then pattern depth feeling can be implemented, but texture expression on the front surface becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges front surface and rear surface treatment into a unified process where both surfaces receive UV molding liquid coating simultaneously or sequentially. This allows the front surface to develop texture from metallic particles while the rear surface creates pattern depth, with both effects working together rather than competing, thus achieving both texture expression and pattern depth feeling.
4Length of moving object
If injection molding is used to reduce material thickness, then device thinning is achieved, but metallic texture expression and pattern visibility are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical injection molding methods with a chemical/surface-based UV molding liquid coating process. Instead of relying on thick material to achieve metallic texture through bulk properties, the texture is created superficially through metallic particles embedded in the UV-cured coating layer, allowing thin substrate materials to exhibit strong metallic texture and pattern visibility.
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 method enables the production of electronic device cases with improved aesthetic appeal and three-dimensional effects, ensuring uniform patterns on both surfaces and reducing material thickness while maintaining design complexity and visibility.
Implementation Method 1
curing the UV molding liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A surface treatment method of an electronic device is provided. The surface treatment method includes processing a first pattern on a surface of a top mold and a second pattern on a surface of a bottom mold, coating a Ultra-Violet (UV) molding liquid on each of a front surface of a raw sheet material and the bottom mold facing a rear surface of the raw sheet material raw, positioning the raw sheet material between the top mold and the bottom mold, pressing the top mold and the bottom mold to each other, curing the UV molding liquid, and separating the raw sheet material from the top mold and the bottom mold and forming a print layer on the front surface and the rear surface of the raw sheet material.