Portable device having a display unit

Abstract

A metal structure that holds a display unit, as the main structure, and a casing structure that is integrally molded from resin onto the metal structure. The metal structure is resilient against flexural loads, torsional loads, and other deformations from the exterior upon the display unit composed of thin plate glass, because the member that protects the display unit is in a box shape. The display unit itself can be protected from damage even if rigidity is reduced because of a thinner profile. The metal structure is manufactured by thin plate pressing and sufficient strength can be maintained even if the thickness is low. Furthermore, the metal structure is configured as a frame part of the entire casing, the rigidity of the entire device can therefore be maintained by using this structure, and the mounting board and functional components other than the display unit can also be protected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable device, comprising:
 a metal structure comprising a top plate having opposed upper and lower surfaces, a recessed area formed in the top plate, the recessed area being defined by a bottom plate and recess walls extending downwardly from the top plate to the bottom plate, the metal structure further comprising at least two opposing outer walls extending downwardly from the top plate at locations outside of the recessed area, each of the outer walls have respective opposed inner and outer surfaces; and   a display unit located in the recessed area.   
     
     
         2 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one coupling hole is fainted in at least one of the outer walls for causing a casing to extend into the coupling hole to integrate with the metal structure. 
     
     
         3 . The portable device according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the coupling holes is sized such that a material of the casing enters into the at least one aperture of the coupling holes during a molding process. 
     
     
         4 . The portable device according to  claim 1 , wherein an aperture is provided through at least one of the bottom plate and at least one of the recess walls. 
     
     
         5 . The portable device according to  claim 4 , wherein the display unit and a wiring board are connected by a wire that passes through the aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The portable device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the display unit is a backlit liquid crystal unit; and   the bottom plate of the metal structure includes a mirror finish section.   
     
     
         7 . The portable device according to  claim 6 , wherein the mirror finish section acts as a reflecting plate of the backlit liquid crystal unit. 
     
     
         8 . The portable device according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom plate includes notches. 
     
     
         9 . The portable device according to  claim 8 , wherein holding pawls that hold a rear surface display unit are provided in the notches. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom plate includes an aperture configured to hold a rear surface display unit. 
     
     
         11 . The portable device according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the display unit and the rear surface display unit are backlit liquid crystal units; and   a backlight is shared through the aperture by the display unit and the rear surface display unit.   
     
     
         12 . The portable device according to  claim 1 , wherein there are at least two contiguous outer walls. 
     
     
         13 . The portable device according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal structure is a drawn metal plate. 
     
     
         14 . The portable device according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal structure is one of a sintered and precision carted metal structure. 
     
     
         15 . A portable device, comprising:
 a metal structure comprising a top plate having a recessed area formed therein, the recessed area being defined by a bottom plate and recess walls extending downwardly from the top plate to the bottom plate, the metal structure further comprising at least one outer wall extending downwardly from the top plate at locations outside of the recessed area; and   a display unit located in the recessed area.   
     
     
         16 . The portable device of  claim 15 , wherein each of the at least one outer wall is formed along an outer periphery of the top plate. 
     
     
         17 . The portable device of  claim 15 , wherein at least one coupling hole is formed in at least one of the outer walls for causing a casing to extend into the coupling hole to integrate with the metal structure. 
     
     
         18 . The portable device according to  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the coupling holes is sized such that a material of the casing enters into the at least one aperture of the coupling holes during a molding process. 
     
     
         19 . The portable device according to  claim 15 , wherein an aperture is provided through at least one of the bottom plate and at least one of the recess walls. 
     
     
         20 . The portable device according to  claim 19 , wherein the display unit and a wiring board are connected by a wire that passes through the aperture. 
     
     
         21 . The portable device according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the display unit is a backlit liquid crystal unit; and   the bottom plate of the metal structure includes a mirror finish section.   
     
     
         22 . The portable device according to  claim 21 , wherein the mirror finish section acts as a reflecting plate of the backlit liquid crystal unit. 
     
     
         23 . The portable device according to  claim 15 , wherein the bottom plate includes notches. 
     
     
         24 . The portable device according to  claim 23 , wherein holding pawls that hold a rear surface display unit are provided in the notches. 
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the bottom plate includes an aperture configured to hold a rear surface display unit. 
     
     
         26 . The portable device according to  claim 25 , wherein:
 the display unit and the rear surface display unit are backlit liquid crystal units; and   a backlight is shared through the aperture by the display unit and the rear surface display unit.   
     
     
         27 . The portable device according to  claim 15 , wherein there are at least two contiguous outer walls. 
     
     
         28 . The portable device according to  claim 15 , wherein the metal structure is a drawn metal plate. 
     
     
         29 . The portable device according to  claim 15 , wherein the metal structure is one of a sintered and precision casted metal structure.