阅读说明：本技术 用于移动设备外壳的表面增强 (Surface enhancements for mobile device housings ) 是由 顾重华 张吉昊 吴冠霆 于 2017-07-17 设计创作，主要内容包括：在示例实施方式中，提供一种移动设备外壳。该移动设备外壳包括壳体和拉出式支架，所述壳体用于封装计算设备，所述拉出式支架经由可移动铰链耦合到壳体。拉出式支架的外周界包括表面增强，以增加拉出式支架的外周界上的摩擦量。(In an example embodiment, a mobile device case is provided. The mobile device case includes a case to enclose a computing device and a pull-out stand coupled to the case via a moveable hinge. The outer perimeter of the pull-out bracket includes surface enhancements to increase the amount of friction on the outer perimeter of the pull-out bracket.)

1. A mobile device case, comprising:

a housing for enclosing a computing device; and

a pull-out bracket coupled to the housing via a moveable hinge, wherein an outer perimeter of the pull-out bracket includes a surface enhancement to increase an amount of friction on the outer perimeter of the pull-out bracket.

2. The mobile device case of claim 1 wherein the case includes a cutout area, wherein in the closed position the pull-out bracket is located in the cutout area to provide a uniform back surface of the case and a uniform perimeter of the case.

3. The mobile device case of claim 2, wherein the cut-out region is located around a portion of a perimeter of the case.

4. A mobile device case as recited in claim 3, wherein an exterior surface of the pull-out bracket with the surface enhancements is level with the non-cut out region of the case when the pull-out bracket is in the closed position.

5. The mobile device case of claim 1, wherein the surface enhancements comprise nanostructures formed into a surface of the pull-out bracket.

6. The mobile device case of claim 1, wherein the surface enhancements comprise nanostructures added to a surface of the pull-out bracket.

7. A mobile device case, comprising:

a first housing for enclosing a display and associated display components, wherein the first housing comprises a front side, a left side, a right side, and a back side, wherein the front side comprises a surface enhancement to increase an amount of friction on the front side of the first housing; and

a second housing for enclosing a computing device and associated computing device components, wherein the second housing comprises a front side, a left side, a right side, and a back side, wherein the back side of the second housing is movably coupled to the back side of the first housing.

8. The mobile device case of claim 7, wherein a front side of the first case including the surface enhancement is level with a front side of the second case in the closed position.

9. The mobile device case of claim 7, wherein the surface enhancement comprises nanostructures formed into a surface of a front side of the first casing.

10. The mobile device case of claim 7, wherein the surface enhancement comprises nanostructures added to a surface of a front side of the first casing.

11. The mobile device case of claim 7, comprising a finger grip recess on a front side of the second housing.

12. A method, comprising:

providing a metal substrate;

applying an alkaline cleaning to the metal substrate;

performing surface enhancement on a surface of a metal substrate to increase an amount of friction on the surface of the metal substrate; and

cutting a metal substrate to form a surface enhanced mobile device case having an outer perimeter forming the mobile device case.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the performing surface enhancement comprises:

performing acid activation on the metal substrate to create a cavity on a surface of the metal substrate;

filling the cavity on the surface of the metal substrate with plastic; and

curing the plastic to bond the plastic to the cavity on the surface of the metal substrate.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the performing surface enhancement comprises:

etching the surface of the metal substrate.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

applying a friction enhancing coating on top of said surface enhancement; and

curing the friction enhancing coating.

Background

The mobile device has a housing that may be clamshell-shaped for some laptop computers, or have a pull-out stand for a two-in-one tablet. The user can pull the clamshell case apart with two hands to open the laptop. Similarly, the user may hold the two-in-one tablet with one hand and pull the stand out with the second hand. Thus, current housing designs use two hands to open.

Furthermore, current design preferences are to make the housing appear metallic and smooth. Mobile devices are also becoming smaller and thinner in size. As a result, there is less surface area to open the housing even when using two hands.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an isometric view of an example mobile device case with surface enhancements;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a side view of an example mobile device case with surface enhancements;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a rear view of an example mobile device case with surface enhancements;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an isometric view of another example mobile device case with surface enhancements;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a side view of another example mobile device case with surface enhancements;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a front view of another example mobile device case with surface enhancements in a closed position; and

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of an example method for applying surface enhancements on a mobile device case.

Detailed Description

Examples described herein provide surface enhancements for mobile device housings and methods for applying surface enhancements on mobile device housings. As discussed above, the user uses two hands to open the current mobile device case. Furthermore, as mobile device housings become smoother, smaller, and thinner, there is less surface area for a user to open the mobile device housing.

Further, allowing a user to open the mobile device case with a single hand would provide additional benefits. For example, opening the mobile device case using a single hand may release the user's other hand to perform other functions. Furthermore, a single-handed open solution would provide an overall better and simpler user experience.

Examples described herein provide a surface enhancement that creates a surface with sufficient friction to allow a user to open a mobile device case with a single hand. In some examples, the surface enhancement may be an application of nano-molding technology (NMT). The process can be an additive process (e.g., surface enhancements are grown on the surface of the mobile device case) or a subtractive process (e.g., surface enhancements are etched or cut out of the mobile device case). The surface enhancements may allow a variety of different mobile device housings to be opened with a single hand of a user (e.g., clamshell designs, pull-out stands, etc.).

Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a mobile device case 100. The mobile device case 100 may be a case for a mobile computing device, such as a tablet computer.

In one example, the mobile device case 100 may include a housing 102. The housing 102 may have dimensions (e.g., width, length, and thickness) equivalent to the desired dimensions of the mobile computing device.

The housing 102 may include a pull-out bracket 104 coupled to the housing 102 via a moveable hinge 106. The pull-out bracket 104 may be coupled to a back side of the housing 102 that is opposite the side having the opening for the display of the mobile computing device. The moveable hinge 106 may rotate to allow the pull-out bracket 104 to move within an angular range toward the housing 102 or away from the housing 102. The moveable hinge 106 may have a sufficient amount of friction to allow the moveable hinge 106 to maintain a desired position to support the mobile device case 100 at a desired viewing angle on a surface such as a table top or desktop.

In one example, the pull-out stand 104 may be of a size sufficient to support the weight of the mobile computing device when assembled with the mobile device case 100. In one example, the pull-out bracket 104 may have the same length as the housing 102 and approximately half the width of the housing 102.

In one example, the pull-out bracket 104 may be several millimeters (mm) (e.g., 2-5mm) thick. As a result, it may be difficult for a user to open the pull-out bracket 104. The pull-out bracket 104 may be designed to have a width and length slightly larger than the housing 102, which provides an area for the user to pull. However, such designs may not provide a symmetrical design that may be more desirable.

In one example, to allow for a symmetrical design, where the outer perimeter of the pull-out bracket 104 is flush with the perimeter of the housing 102, surface enhancements may be added to each side 108 of the outer perimeter of the pull-out bracket 104. The surface enhancements may increase the amount of friction on the sides 108 of the outer perimeter of the pull-out bracket 104.

The surface enhancements may enable a user to open the pull-out bracket 104 with a single hand. For example, the surface enhancements may allow a user's fingers to press against the sides 108 of the pull-out bracket 104 and move the pull-out bracket 104 with a single hand rather than using two hands (e.g., one hand holding the housing 102 and a second hand pulling out the pull-out bracket 104). In another example, a user may position the mobile device case 100 on a surface. The surface enhancements may contact or grip the surface and allow a user to pull the housing 102 away from the pull-out bracket 104 with a single hand to open the pull-out bracket 104.

In one example, the surface enhancements may be nanostructures formed or added to the surface of the side 108 of the outer perimeter of the pull-out bracket 104. Further details of the process of forming or adding nanostructures are discussed in further detail below.

Fig. 2 illustrates a side view of the mobile device case 100 with surface enhancements. In one example, the housing 102 can include a cut-out region 110 located around a portion of the perimeter of the housing 102. The cut out region 110 may be about the same size as the pull out bracket 104. As a result, when the pull-out bracket 104 is placed in the closed position and fully seated against the housing 102, the pull-out bracket 104 may be seated inside the cut-out area 110 and appear flush with the side of the housing 102.

In one example, the cut-out region 110 may be a complete cut-out of a lower portion on the back side of the housing 102. For example, the pull-out bracket 104 may be a complete sheet of material. In another example, the cut-out region 110 may be placed around the outer perimeter of the housing 102. For example, the pull-out bracket 104 may include a U-shape with a hollow center portion.

Fig. 3 illustrates a rear view of the mobile device case 100 with surface enhancements. The rear view shows the pull-out bracket 104 in the closed position and seated in the cut-out region 110. As a result, the outer surface of the pull-out bracket 104 may be level with the non-cut out region of the housing 102 in the closed position. For example, the outer surface may include a side 108 with surface enhancements and a rear side of the pull-out bracket 104. Being level may be defined to mean lying on the same plane. In other words, if a person were to feel the sides of the housing 102 when the pull-out bracket 104 is in the closed position, the sides and back would feel one continuous surface.

Fig. 4 illustrates an isometric view of another example mobile device case 400 with surface enhancements. The mobile device housing 400 may be a case for a mobile computing device, such as a laptop computer or any other computing device having a clamshell design.

In one example, the mobile device case 400 may include a first housing 402 and a second housing 404. The first housing 402 may enclose a display 406 and associated display components 408 (e.g., a display substrate, a touch screen device, a light array, a video graphics processor, etc.). The housing 402 may include a left side 410, a front side 412, a right side 414, and a back side 416 located around the perimeter of the first housing 402. The front side 412 may include surface enhancements to increase the amount of friction on the front side 412 of the first housing 402.

The surface enhancement may be nanostructures formed or added on the front side 412 of the first housing 402. The process of forming or adding nanostructures is discussed in further detail below.

The second housing 404 may enclose a computing device and associated computing device components 418 (e.g., processor, memory, communication bus, motherboard, interface cards, network cards, etc.). The second housing 404 may include a left side 420, a front side 422, a right side 424, and a rear side 426.

Fig. 5 illustrates a side view of the mobile device housing 400 in a closed position. The mobile device housing 400 can include a moveable hinge 502 that couples the back side 426 of the second body 404 to the back side 416 of the first body 402. In a clamshell design, the moveable hinge 502 may rotate to allow the first housing 402 to move away from the second housing 404 to open or vice versa to close.

In one example, the front side 412 of the first shell 402 with surface enhancements may be level with the front side 422 of the second shell 404 in the closed position. In other words, fig. 5 illustrates how the surface enhancements do not add any significant thickness to the front side 412 of the first housing 402 so that a symmetrical design may be maintained.

Fig. 6 illustrates a front view of the mobile device housing 400 in a closed position. In one example, as shown in fig. 6, the surface enhancement may cover the entire front side 412 of the first housing 402. In one example, the surface enhancement may cover a portion or less than all of the front side 412 of the first housing 402.

In one example, the finger grip recess 602 may be included in the front side 422 of the second housing 404. The finger grip recess 602 may be a cut-out such that a portion of the front side 422 of the second housing 404 does not contact the front side 412 of the first housing 402. In other words, a portion of the surface of the second housing 404 facing the surface of the first housing 402 does not touch or contact the surface of the first housing 402. In addition to the surface enhancements on the front side 412 of the first housing, the finger grip recess 602 may also assist the user in opening the mobile device case 400.

As a result, the surface enhancements may allow a user to open the mobile device case 400 with a single hand. For example, a user may not have to hold the second housing 404 when attempting to pull the first housing 402 apart. Rather, the second housing 404 may be positioned on a surface and the user may use the surface enhancements on the first side 412 of the first housing 402 to pull the first housing 402 apart with a single hand.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of an example method 700 for applying surface enhancements on a mobile device case. In one example, the method 400 may be performed by a processor or controller that controls the operation of equipment or tools that are part of an assembly line or production facility. In one example, each block may be performed by different equipment or tools controlled by a processor in a production line.

At block 702, the method 700 begins. At block 704, the method 700 provides a metal base. For example, the metal substrate may be aluminum, magnesium, metal alloys, etc., which may be used to fabricate a case or housing for a mobile computing device.

At block 706, the method 700 applies an alkaline clean to the metal substrate. In one example, the alkaline cleaning may include an agent comprising sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide to remove grease (e.g., grease), oil, protein-based substances, etc. from the metal substrate. The alkaline cleaner may be applied with the hot water using an ultrasonic process (e.g., applying ultrasound to the alkaline cleaner and/or the hot water).

At block 708, the method 700 performs surface enhancement on the surface of the metal substrate to increase the amount of friction on the surface of the metal substrate, or to increase the coefficient of friction of such surface of the metal substrate. In one example, the surface enhancement may be an additive process (e.g., nanostructures formed by growth on the surface) or a reductive or subtractive process (e.g., nanostructures formed by etching or cutting away from the surface).

In one example, an additive process for surface enhancement may include performing acid activation on a metal substrate to create cavities on a surface of the metal substrate. The activation process may use acids such as nitric acid, acetic acid, sulfuric acid, and the like. Acid activation can remove any oxide layer that may form on the surface of the metal substrate.

The acid activation may also remove any alkaline fatty acid salts that may remain on the surface of the metal substrate after the alkaline cleaning process in block 706. The oxides and any residual alkaline fatty acid salts remaining on the surface of the metal substrate may cause staining, wash-out, delamination, blistering or other defects in the process.

Acid activation may also include NMT chemical baths comprising weak acids. The weak acid may include an acid such as, for example, phosphoric acid, carbonic acid, acetic acid, polyacrylic acid, formic acid, or any combination thereof, in a chemical bath. The NMT chemical bath may form a three-dimensional coral reef structure having cavities or nanopores in or on the surface of the metal substrate. The nanopores may have a size in the range of 15-600 nanometers (nm).

After acid activation, the cavities on the surface of the metal substrate may be filled with plastic. For example, polyurethane, silicone and/or elastomeric resins that include 0.5% to 5% fluoropolymer material selected from fluoroolefin-based polymers, fluoroacrylates, fluorosilicacrylates, fluorourethanes, perfluoropolyether/perfluoropolybutylene oxides, fluorotelomer (fluorotelomeromers) (e.g., carbon-6 or less), Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorosilicones, fluoroultraviolet (UV) polymers, hydrophobic polymers (e.g., carbon-7 or longer), and the like, in the formulation may be used to fill the cavity.

The plastic may then be cured to bond the plastic to the cavity on the surface of the metal substrate. For example, the plastic may be cured at 60 degrees Celsius (. degree. C.) to 120 ℃ for 20-40 minutes.

In one example, the reduction process for surface enhancement may include etching the surface of the metal substrate. For example, any etching process using an acid bath may be used.

In some examples, a friction enhancing coating may be applied on top of the surface enhancement. The friction enhancing coating may be a thermoplastic or rubber material, which may be sprayed or applied via a dip coating process. The friction enhancement may then be cured at 60 ℃ to 120 ℃ for 20-40 minutes.

At block 710, the method 700 cuts a metal base to form a surface enhanced mobile device case having at least a portion forming an outer perimeter of the mobile device case. For example, the metal substrate may be sent to a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) process to machine the metal substrate into the form of the mobile device case 100 or 400. The metal base may be cut so that the surface enhancements are on the sides around the perimeter of the pull-out bracket (e.g., pull-out bracket 104 illustrated in fig. 1-3) or on the front side of the first housing (e.g., first housing 402 illustrated in fig. 4-6). At block 712, the method 700 ends.

It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.