Apple has filed for a patent for an “electronic device with glass enclosure” that hints at future iPhones encased in glass bodies.
In the patent filing, Apple says that one design challenge associated with portable electronic devices is in techniques for mounting structures within the portable computing devices.
Some assembly processes are both time consuming and cumbersome. Another design challenge is to provide an aesthetically pleasing enclosure that’s functional for the intended purpose of the device. Apple says that, with more devices being capable of wireless communications, a radio transparent enclosure would be beneficial, as it would allow components, such as antennas, to be positioned inside the enclosure. The company’s invention would provide a water-resistant and scratch-resistant enclosure.
According to the patent filing, the enclosure can be formed from a hollow glass tube or two glass members bonded together. A laser frit bonding process may be used to hermetically seal the two glass members together to create a water resistant electronic device.
