TABLE OF CONTENTS The mechanical design of a portable electronic product is an interesting and challenging job for the product designer and for the mechanical engineers that support the product design. From a mechanical perspective portable electronics require the simultaneous consideration of the product housing aesthetic and structural attributes; the system s electromagnetic shielding requirements; the thermal management of the electronic components; the three-dimensional integration of mechanical, electronic, and optical parts; and the manufacturability of the entire product assembly.
The housing design of a portable electronic device impacts all aspects of the product. First and foremost, the housing provides mechanical support for the key system components. Internal components such as PCAs, disk drives, batteries, and displays must be mounted to a stable chassis. The chassis must be rigid enough to maintain the relative position of these various components. The housing must protect the components from being damaged by contact with outside objects and from shock due to impact. The housing must also protect the product from undesirable electromagnetic radiation, incidental moisture, and, in some cases, from pressurized immersion in water.
At the same time, the product housing must stay within the size and weight limits specified for the product form-factor and must meet the cost objectives of the overall product concept. In some products the housing must also provide a thermal path for heat to be removed from the system.
While providing all these functions, the housing must also have an aesthetic, or even stylish, appearance and be ergonomically formed to ...
