Housing features of an electronic device
An enclosure and a method for forming an enclosure are disclosed. The enclosure may be formed from metal, such as aluminum, and further include a non-metal portion allowing for transmission and receipt of electromagnetic waves. The non-metal portion may be interlocked to the enclosure and in particular, to a region within the enclosure including a first material having a relatively high strength and stiffness compared to the non-metal portion. Interlocking means may include forming dovetail cuts into the enclosure to receive the non-metal portion, a hole or cavity drilled into the enclosure which includes internal threads, and a rod inserted into the first material to provide a tension to the non-metal portion. Methods of assembling internal components using anodization are also disclosed.
1. A portable electronic device comprising:
a display;
a cover glass positioned over the display; and
an enclosure at least partially surrounding the display and coupled to the cover glass, the enclosure comprising:
a first metal material defining a first portion of a sidewall of the enclosure, the first metal material defining a blind recess that extends into the sidewall;
a non-metal material defining a second portion of the sidewall of the enclosure, a portion of the non-metal material at least partially fills the blind recess defined in the first metal material, thereby defining a mechanical interlock between the first metal material and the non-metal material; and
a second metal material defining a third portion of the sidewall, the non-metal material positioned between the first and second metal materials.
2. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first metal material and the non-metal material define an interface;
the first metal material defines a surface that is positioned along the interface; and
the blind recess extends into the surface of the first metal material.
3. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first metal material defines a reinforcing member that is at least partially encapsulated by the non-metal material.
4. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the blind recess is a first blind recess;
the enclosure includes a second blind recess; and
the non-metal material at least partially fills the second blind recess.
5. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first metal material and the second metal material are formed from an aluminum material;
the cover glass is attached to a ridge feature defined at least in part by the first metal material and the non-metal material; and
the cover glass defines a front surface of the portable electronic device.
6. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the portable electronic device further comprises an antenna positioned within the enclosure; and
the antenna is configured to transmit electromagnetic signals through the second portion of the sidewall defined by the non-metal material.
7. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the blind recess includes threaded features formed along an inner surface of the blind recess; and
the non-metal material is engaged with the threaded features.
8. An electronic device comprising:
a cover defining a front surface of the electronic device;
a display panel attached to the cover; and
an enclosure defining a set of sidewalls that surrounds the front surface defined by the cover, the enclosure comprising:
a first component formed from a metal material and defining:
a first portion of a sidewall of the set of sidewalls;
a blind cavity defined within the first portion of the sidewall; and
a reinforcing member; and
a second component formed from a non-metal material and defining a second portion of the sidewall, the second component extending into the blind cavity of the first component and at least partially encapsulating the reinforcing member to form a mechanical interlock between the first component and the second component.
9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein:
the first component defines an exterior surface along an exterior of the enclosure and an internal surface along an interior of the enclosure; and
the blind cavity extends into a portion of the first component located between the exterior surface and the internal surface.
10. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein:
the blind cavity is a first blind cavity;
the enclosure includes a second blind cavity; and
the second component extends at least partially into the second blind cavity.
11. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein:
the first component defines a first portion of a ridge feature;
the second component defines a second portion of the ridge feature that is continuous with the first portion; and
the cover is attached to the enclosure along the first and second portions of the ridge feature.
12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the enclosure defines a recess that extends below the ridge feature.
13. An electronic device comprising:
a display panel;
a cover glass positioned over the display panel; and
an enclosure coupled to the cover glass and enclosing the display panel, the enclosure comprising:
a first component formed from a metal material and defining a first portion of an exterior surface of the enclosure and defining a blind recess that extends into a sidewall of the enclosure; and
a second component formed from a non-metal material and defining a second portion of the exterior surface of the enclosure, the second component extending at least partially into the blind recess of the first component thereby defining a mechanical interlock between the first and second components.
14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the mechanical interlock prevents the second component from deflecting outward in response to a force applied to the enclosure.
15. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein:
the electronic device further comprises an antenna; and
the second component is configured to allow a transmission of radio signals for an operation of the antenna.
16. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the first portion of the exterior surface is flush with the second portion of the exterior surface.
17. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein:
the second component is formed from a polymer material that is molded into a void defined by the enclosure and thereby at least partially filling the blind recess; and
the polymer material includes one or more of a polyarylether keytone or a polysulfone.
18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the second component includes glass fibers that are dispersed within the polymer material.
19. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first metal material defines an extension member that extends into a region between the first metal material and the second metal material; and
the non-metal material at least partially encapsulates the extension member, thereby defining an additional mechanical interlock between the first metal material and the second metal material.
20. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein:
the first component further defines an extension member that extends from the first component; and
the second component at least partially encapsulates the extension member, thereby defining an additional mechanical interlock between the first component and the second component.