Electronic device including a composite enclosure component having metal nanoparticles
A composite enclosure component for an electronic device is disclosed. The composite enclosure component may include metallic nanoparticles, non-metallic nanoparticles, or a combination of these. The nanoparticles of the composite enclosure component may provide a hue, enhanced mechanical properties, or both.
1 . A portable electronic device comprising:
a display;
a camera assembly; and
an enclosure enclosing the display and comprising:
a housing defining a set of side surfaces of the portable electronic device;
a front cover assembly positioned over the display and defining a front surface of the portable electronic device; and
a rear cover assembly positioned over the camera assembly and defining a rear surface of the portable electronic device, the rear cover assembly comprising:
a composite cover member comprising a set of metallic nanoparticles and a set of non-metallic nanoparticles embedded within a glass-based material, the set of metallic nanoparticles configured to absorb at least one wavelength of light in the visible spectrum; and
a polymer coating disposed over an interior surface of the composite cover member, the polymer coating configured to reflect at least a portion of light transmitted through the composite cover member.
2 . The portable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless charging assembly and a radio-frequency antenna assembly, wherein:
the composite cover member is positioned over the wireless charging assembly and the radio-frequency antenna assembly; and
the composite cover member has a characteristic hue due at least in part to the set of metallic nanoparticles.
3 . The portable electronic device of claim 2 , wherein:
the set of metallic nanoparticles has an average size in a first range from 15 nm to 150 nm; and
the set of non-metallic nanoparticles has an average size in a second range from 15 nm to 150 nm.
4 . The portable electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the composite cover member has:
a concentration of a metal of the metallic nanoparticles ranging from 0.01 mol % to 2 mol %; and
a dielectric constant ranging from 5.5 to 7.5.
5 . The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the set of non-metallic nanoparticles is a set of metal oxide semiconductor nanoparticles.
6 . The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the set of non-metallic nanoparticles is a set of ceramic nanoparticles.
7 . The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the composite cover member defines a protruding feature positioned over the camera assembly and an opening extending through the protruding feature; and
a concentration of the metallic nanoparticles of the set of metallic nanoparticles in a first region of the composite cover member surrounding the opening is greater than a concentration of the metallic nanoparticles of the set of metallic nanoparticles in a second region of the composite cover member surrounding the protruding feature.
8 . An electronic device comprising:
a display; and
an enclosure at least partially surrounding the display, the enclosure comprising a cover assembly including a composite cover member comprising:
a glass-based material;
a set of metallic nanoparticles dispersed within the glass-based material; and
a set of non-metallic nanoparticles dispersed within the glass-based material.
9 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein:
the set of metallic nanoparticles has a first median size ranging from 20 nm to 100 nm; and
the set of non-metallic nanoparticles has a second median size ranging from 10 nm to 100 nm.
10 . The electronic device of claim 9 , further comprising a radio-frequency antenna assembly, wherein:
the cover assembly is a rear cover assembly;
the radio-frequency antenna assembly is positioned below the rear cover assembly;
the metallic nanoparticles of the set of metallic nanoparticles are formed of a metal; and
the composite cover member has a metal concentration up to 2 mol % within the glass-based material.
11 . The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the set of metallic nanoparticles is substantially evenly distributed throughout the composite cover member.
12 . The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the non-metallic nanoparticles of the set of non-metallic nanoparticles are semiconductor nanoparticles.
13 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein:
the set of metallic nanoparticles is positioned in a first region of the composite cover member; and
the set of non-metallic nanoparticles is positioned in a second region, different from the first region, of the composite cover member.
14 . The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein:
the first region is a peripheral region of the composite cover member; and
the second region is a central region of the composite cover member.
15 . A mobile phone comprising:
a display;
a camera assembly; and
an enclosure enclosing the display and the camera assembly, the enclosure comprising:
a housing; and
a cover assembly coupled to the housing and including a composite cover member comprising:
a matrix formed of a glass-based material having a concentration of a metal ranging from 2 mol % to 10 mol %; and
a set of nanoparticles formed from the metal and embedded within the matrix, the set of nanoparticles formed from the metal configured to provide a chromatic color to the composite cover member and to impede crack propagation within the composite cover member.
16 . The mobile phone of claim 15 wherein the set of nanoparticles formed from the metal defines a nanoparticle concentration that is uniform through a thickness of the composite cover member.
17 . The mobile phone of claim 15 , wherein:
the composite cover member defines a window positioned over the display; and
the window is substantially free of the nanoparticles formed from the metal.
18 . The mobile phone of claim 17 , wherein:
a central region of the composite cover member defines the window; and
the set of nanoparticles formed from the metal is located in a peripheral region of the composite cover member.
19 . The mobile phone of claim 18 , wherein the peripheral region of the composite cover member further comprises a set of non-metallic nanoparticles embedded in the matrix.
20 . The mobile phone of claim 15 , wherein:
the composite cover member is a first composite cover member and the cover assembly is a rear cover assembly; and
the mobile phone further comprises a front cover assembly coupled to the housing and including a second composite cover member different from the first composite cover member.