ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND HOUSING THEREOF

Abstract

 Disclosed are an electronic device and a housing thereof. The housing comprises a back plate (110) and a side wall, the side wall being arranged surrounding the edge of the back plate (110), characterized in that the housing further comprises at least one external antenna (130) and at least one feed point (140); at least one feed point hole (140a) is formed in the side wall, with one opening of the feed point hole (140a) being located on the outer surface of the side wall, and the other opening of the feed point hole (140a) being formed in the inner surface of the side wall; the at least one feed point hole (140a) corresponds to the at least one feed point (140) on a one-to-one basis, and the feed point (140) is arranged in the corresponding feed point hole (140a); and the external antenna (130) is arranged on the outer surface of the side wall, and the external antenna (130) is electrically connected to the feed point (140).

Description

Cross Reference to Related Application

[0001] This application is submitted based on a Chinese patent application with the application number No.202010220451.1, filed on March 25, 2020, and claims the priority of the Chinese patent application, which is incorporated herein by way of reference in its entirety.

Field of the Invention

[0002] The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of communication device, and in particular to a housing and an electronic device including the housing.

Background of the Invention

[0003] An antenna in a communication device is in various forms of a metal dome antenna, an FPC adhesive antenna, an LDS antenna, etc. The antenna can only be arranged inside a housing of the communication device regardless of which kind of antenna it is. The internal space of the housing of the communication device is limited, which restricts the size of the antenna. The size of the housing is increased when the size of the antenna is large, which also results in the increase of the volume of the communication device.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a housing and an electronic device including the housing.

[0005] In a first aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, provided is a housing. The housing includes a back plate and a side wall, the side wall being arranged surrounding an edge of the back plate. The housing further includes at least one external antenna and at least one feed point. At least one feed point hole is formed in the side wall, with one opening of the feed point hole being located on an outer surface of the side wall, and another opening of the feed point hole being formed in an inner surface of the side wall. The at least one feed point hole corresponds to the at least one feed point on a one-to-one basis, and the feed point is arranged in the corresponding feed point hole. The external antenna is arranged on the outer surface of the side wall, and the external antenna is electrically connected to the feed point.

[0006] In a second aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, provided is an electronic device. The electronic device includes a main board and a housing, the main board being arranged inside the housing. The electronic device further includes at least one built-in antenna connector. The built-in antenna connector is arranged inside the housing, and is electrically connected to the main board. The housing is configured provided in the present disclosure. The built-in antenna connector corresponds to the at least one feed point, and the built-in antenna connector is electrically connected to one end of the corresponding feed point that is located inside the housing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] The accompanying drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure and constitute a part of the description, and are used together with the embodiments of the present disclosure to explain the disclosure, but do not constitute a limitation to the disclosure. The detailed exemplary embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the above and other features and advantages will become more obvious to those skilled in the art. In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic partial sectional view of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the disclosure;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic partial sectional view of a housing provided in an embodiment of the disclosure;

Fig. 3 shows a perspective schematic partial sectional view of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the disclosure; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an external antenna of the electronic device provided in the embodiment of the disclosure.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

[0008] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of the present disclosure, the housing and the electronic device provided in the disclosure will be described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0009] The exemplary embodiments will be described below more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the exemplary embodiments can be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Otherwise, these embodiments are provided so that the disclosure is thorough and complete, and those skilled in the art are enabled to fully understand the scope of the disclosure.

[0010] The various embodiments in the disclosure and the various features in the embodiments can be combined with each other as long as there is no conflict.

[0011] The term "and/or", as used herein, includes any and all combinations of one or more associated items that are listed.

[0012] The terms used herein are merely to describe the particular embodiments rather than limiting the disclosure. The singular forms "a" and "the", as used herein, are also intended to include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that when the term "including" and/or "composed of' is used in this description, it indicates the presence of features, entities, steps, operations, elements and/or assemblies, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, entities, steps, operations, elements, assemblies and/or groups thereof.

[0013] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meanings as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. It should also be understood that terms such as those defined in a common dictionary should be interpreted as having the meaning consistent with the meaning thereof in the background of the related art and the disclosure, and not be interpreted as having an idealized or excessively formal meaning, unless explicitly defined as herein.

[0014] In the first aspect of the embodiments of the disclosure, provided is a housing. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the housing includes a back plate 110 and a side wall 120, the side wall 120 being arranged surrounding the edge of the back plate 110. The housing further includes at least one external antenna 130 and at least one feed point 140. As shown in Fig. 2, at least one feed point hole 140a is formed in the side wall 120, with one opening of the feed point hole 140a being formed in the outer surface of the side wall 120, and the other opening of the feed point hole 140a being formed in the inner surface of the side wall 120. With further reference to Fig. 1, the at least one feed point hole corresponds to the at least one feed point 140 on a one-to-one basis. The feed point 140 is arranged in the corresponding feed point hole. The external antenna 130 is arranged on the outer surface of the side wall 120, and the external antenna 130 is electrically connected to the feed point 140.

[0015] The housing provided in the embodiments of the disclosure is applied to an electronic device. As shown in Fig. 1, when the housing is applied to the electronic device, a built-in antenna connector 200 is arranged inside the housing, and the built-in antenna connector 200 is electrically connected to the feed point 140. Therefore, the built-in antenna connector 200 can be electrically connected to the external antenna 130 via the feed point 140. In other words, the built-in antenna connector 200, the external antenna 130 and the feed point 140 together form an antenna of the electronic device, and effectively expand the antenna from a limited internal space of the electronic device to the outer surface of the electronic device, increasing the area of the antenna, and also reducing the limitations to the wiring shape of the antenna, thereby better implementing the transmitting and receiving of a signal. In addition, in the electronic device, only the built-in antenna connector 200 is arranged inside the housing, such that there is no need to increase the internal space of the housing, thereby ensuring the structural compactness of the electronic device.

[0016] In the embodiments of the disclosure, the specific structure of the external antenna 130 is not particularly limited. When the material of the side wall 120 of the housing is plastic (in some examples, the plastic is engineering plastic), the external antenna 130 can be a metal layer formed by cold spraying.

[0017] In the embodiments of the disclosure, the side wall 120 made of plastic can reduce the weight of the electronic device, and can also reduce the cost of the electronic device.

[0018] The so-called "cold spraying" refers to gasifying solid metal at a high temperature and then rapidly spray-coating the surface of a base material by using compressed gas. Molecular bonding can be formed between the metal layer formed by spray-coating and the base material. In the embodiments of the disclosure, the "side wall" is the "base material" mentioned above. The cold spraying technique does not need to be performed in a vacuum state, and also does not need the assistance of inert gas. The spraying speed of the compressed metal gas is approximately 1.5 to 2 times the speed of sound (in some examples, the spraying speed is 1.57 times the speed of sound), and there is a certain distance between a nozzle and the base material (in some examples, the distance is between 40 cm and 50 cm). When the compressed metal gas is sprayed on the surface of the base material, the temperature has already basically decreased to room temperature, and would not adversely affect the base material.

[0019] Furthermore, by using the cold spraying technique, molecular bonding between a metal material and a plastic material can be realized, thereby reducing the requirement for the shape of the outer surface of the side wall. The outer surface of the side wall 120 may be of various shapes such as planar, cambered, etc.

[0020] Correspondingly, in the embodiments of the disclosure, the external antenna 130 is arranged on the outer surface of the side wall 120 by using the cold spraying technique, which would not damage the side wall 120, such that the side wall 120 having higher strength can be ensured.

[0021] In order to reduce the excess wearing of the external antenna 130 during the use of the electronic device, in some examples, an antenna slot 130a is formed in the outer surface of the side wall 120, and the external antenna 130 is accommodated in the antenna slot 130a, as shown in Fig. 2.

[0022] In the embodiments of the disclosure, how to precisely apply the metal material into the antenna slot 130a is not particularly limited. For example, the size of the nozzle and the movement trajectory of the nozzle can be precisely controlled in order to ensure that the metal material is precisely deposited in the antenna slot 130a.

[0023] In order to simplify the cold spraying process and improve the manufacturing precision, in some examples, a prefabricated film can be adhered onto the side wall. A through hole having the shape consistent with that of the antenna slot 130a is formed in the prefabricated film, and after the prefabricated film is adhered onto the side wall, the through hole in the prefabricated film is aligned with the antenna slot 130a. When the metal material is formed by cold spraying, the metal material is directly sprayed. After the sprayed, the external antenna 130 having a precise shape can be obtained after the prefabricated film is peeled off, and there being no metal material in a part other than the antenna slot 130a can be ensured.

[0024] The external antenna 130 is accommodated in the antenna slot, and therefore, the outer surface of the external antenna 130 relatively slightly protrudes, or even does not protrude, from the side wall 120. During the use, the external antenna 130 is not excessively worn, such that the integrity of the external antenna 1300 can be ensured.

[0025] In the embodiments of the disclosure, the prefabricated film can be bonded on the outer surface of the side wall via a binder. Therefore, after the prefabricated film is peeled off, it is also possible to clean the housing in order to remove the residual binder.

[0026] In the embodiments of the disclosure, how to form the antenna slot is not particularly limited. In some examples, the antenna slot can be formed in the outer surface of the side wall 120 by way of laser engraving.

[0027] In some examples, the surface of the external antenna 130 is aligned with the outer surface of the side wall, thereby further reducing the wearing of the external antenna 130 during the use of the electronic device that includes the housing.

[0028] In order to make the surface of the external antenna 130 aligned with the surface of the side wall, the outer surface of the housing can be polished after the metal layer is formed by cold spraying.

[0029] In the embodiments of the disclosure, the depth of the antenna slot 130a is not particularly limited. In some examples, the antenna slot 130a has a depth between 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm.

[0030] In the embodiments of the disclosure, the width of the antenna slot 130a is also not particularly limited. In some examples, the antenna slot has a width130a between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm.

[0031] In the embodiments of the disclosure, the specific shape of the external antenna 130 is not particularly limited. The specific shape of the external antenna 130 can be determined according to the communication capability required by the electronic device and the specific size of the side wall 120.

[0032] When the shape of the external antenna 130 is complex, it is necessary to arrange a plurality of feed points 140 on the side wall 120. As shown in Fig. 4, the housing includes a plurality of feed points 140, and each external antenna 130 corresponds to one or more of the feed points 140. As shown in Fig. 4, when one external antenna 130 corresponds to a plurality of feed points 140, the external antenna 130 electrically connects the plurality of corresponding feed points 140.

[0033] A lengthwise direction of the external antenna 130 is consistent with a lengthwise direction of a part of the side wall, on which the external antenna 130 is arranged on.

[0034] In general, the electronic device is cuboid-shaped, and correspondingly, the back plate 110 may be a rectangular plate, and the side wall includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a fourth side wall, which are respectively arranged on four edges of the back plate 110. The feed point 140 and the external antenna 130 can be arranged on each of the first side wall, the second side wall, the third side wall and the fourth side wall.

[0035] In the embodiments of the disclosure, the material of the feed point 140, and how to embed the feed point 140 into the side wall 120 are not particularly limited, and in some examples, the feed point 140 can be made of a titanium-aluminum alloy material. As stated above, the side wall 120 can be made of plastic. Therefore, it is possible to prepare the feed point 140 in advance, and place the feed point 140 that is prepared in advance into an injection mold before the side wall 120 is formed by injection molding. After injection molding ends, the feed point 140 is naturally embedded into the side wall 110.

[0036] In the embodiments of the disclosure, the specific structure of the side wall 120 is also not particularly limited. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the side wall 120 can include a middle bezel 121 and a connection bezel 122. The middle bezel 121 and the connection bezel 122 are both arranged surrounding an edge portion of the back plate, the connection bezel 122 connects the back plate 110 to the middle bezel 121, and the feed point hole is formed in the middle bezel 121.

[0037] In the second aspect of the embodiments of the disclosure, provided is an electronic device. The electronic device includes a main board and a housing, the main board being arranged inside the housing. As shown in Fig. 1, the electronic device further includes at least one built-in antenna connector 200. The built-in antenna connector 200 is arranged inside the housing, and is electrically connected to the main board. The housing is the housing provided in the embodiments of the disclosure. The built-in antenna connector 200 corresponds to the at least one feed point 140, and the built-in antenna connector 200 is electrically connected to one end of the corresponding feed point 140 that is located inside the housing.

[0038] As stated above, the built-in antenna connector 200 can be electrically connected to the external antenna 130 via the feed point 140. In other words, the built-in antenna connector 200, the external antenna 130 and the feed point 140 together form an antenna of the electronic device, and effectively expand the antenna from a limited internal space of the electronic device to the outer surface of the electronic device, increasing the area of the antenna, and also reducing the limitations to the wiring shape of the antenna, thereby better implementing the transmitting and receiving of a signal. In addition, in the electronic device, only the built-in antenna connector 200 is arranged inside the housing, such that there is no need to increase the internal space of the housing, thereby ensuring the structural compactness of the electronic device.

[0039] In the embodiments of the disclosure, the number of built-in antenna connectors 200 is not particularly limited. The electronic device can include one built-in antenna connector 200, and can also include a plurality of built-in antenna connectors 200. In the case of including a plurality of built-in antenna connectors 200, different built-in antenna connectors 200 correspond to signals at different bands. Correspondingly, the housing includes a plurality of external antennas 130, and the plurality of external antennas 130 are electrically connected to the plurality of built-in antenna connectors 200 on a one-to-one basis, thereby implementing the receiving and transmitting of signals at different bands.

[0040] In the embodiments of the disclosure, the specific structure of the built-in antenna connector 200 is also not particularly limited, and in some examples, the built-in antenna connector 200 may be a metal dome.

[0041] In the embodiments of the disclosure, the housing is applied to an electronic device, a built-in antenna connector is arranged inside the housing, and the built-in antenna connector is electrically connected to the feed point. Therefore, the built-in antenna connector can be electrically connected to the external antenna via the feed point. In other words, the built-in antenna connector, the external antenna and the feed point together form an antenna of the electronic device, and effectively expand the antenna from a limited internal space of the electronic device to the outer surface of the electronic device, increasing the area of the antenna, and also reducing the limitations to the wiring shape of the antenna, thereby better implementing the transmitting and receiving of a signal. In addition, in the electronic device, only the built-in antenna connector is arranged inside the housing, such that there is no need to increase the internal space of the housing, thereby ensuring the structural compactness of the electronic device.

[0042] Certainly, the disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the built-in antenna connector 200 can also be one or more of a flexible printed circuit (FPC), a printed circuit board (PCB) and a laser-direct-structuring (LDS). Regardless of which type of built-in antenna connector 200 is used, the built-in antenna connector 200 needs to be electrically connected to a main board of an electronic device.

[0043] In the embodiments of the disclosure, the specific type of electronic device is also not particularly limited, and in some examples, the electronic device may be one of the terminal devices such as a mobile phone, a tablet, an E-book and a games console.

[0044] The exemplary embodiments are disclosed herein. Although specific terms are used, they are merely used for, and should only be interpreted as a general illustrative meaning, and are not used for the purpose of limitation. In some instances, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the features, the characteristics and/or the factors that are described in conjunction with the particular embodiments can be used alone, or be used in combination with the features, the characteristics and/or the elements that are described in conjunction with other embodiments. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure set forth by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A housing, the housing comprising a back plate and a side wall, the side wall being arranged surrounding an edge of the back plate, wherein the housing further comprises at least one external antenna and at least one feed point; wherein at least one feed point hole is formed in the side wall, with one opening of the feed point hole being located on an outer surface of the side wall, and another opening of the feed point hole being formed in an inner surface of the side wall; the at least one feed point hole corresponds to the at least one feed point on a one-to-one basis, and the feed point is arranged in the corresponding feed point hole; and wherein the external antenna is arranged on the outer surface of the side wall, and the external antenna is electrically connected to the feed point.

2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the material of the side wall is plastic, and the external antenna is a metal layer formed by cold spraying.

3. The housing according to claim 2, wherein an antenna slot is formed in the outer surface of the side wall, and the external antenna is accommodated in the antenna slot.

4. The housing according to claim 2, wherein a surface of the external antenna is aligned with the outer surface of the side wall.

5. The housing according to claim 4, wherein the antenna slot has a depth between 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm, and the antenna slot has a width between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm.

6. The housing according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of feed points, and each external antenna corresponds to one or more of the feed points.

7. The housing according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the feed point is made of a titanium-aluminum alloy material.

8. The housing according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the side wall comprises a middle bezel and a connection bezel, the middle bezel and the connection bezel are both arranged surrounding an edge portion of the back plate, the connection bezel connects the back plate to the middle bezel, and the feed point hole is formed in the middle bezel.

9. An electronic device, the electronic device comprising a main board and a housing, and the main board being arranged inside the housing, wherein the electronic device further comprises at least one built-in antenna connector, the built-in antenna connector is arranged inside the housing, and is electrically connected to the main board, the housing is configured according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the built-in antenna connector corresponds to the at least one feed point, and the built-in antenna connector is electrically connected to one end of the corresponding feed point that is located inside the housing.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the electronic device comprises a plurality of built-in antenna connectors, which respectively correspond to different bands, and the housing comprises a plurality of external antennas, which are electrically connected to the plurality of built-in antenna connectors on a one-to-one basis.

Drawing