Apple seems to be quite happy to talk about the possibility of an iPhone in its patent applications.

This patent application covers what appears to be the latest generation aluminum iPod- though it says the manufacturing system could be used for mobile phones, handheld computers as well as iPods.

The interesting feature of the application is the suggestion that instead of aluminum a radio-transparent material could be used for the enclosure- Apple suggests- Zirconia- yep, a fake diamond iPhone! now that’s bling!!! Zirconia may be embodied in a variety of colors including white, black, navy blue, ivory, brown, dark blue, light blue, platinum, gold (among others).

From the patent:
A portable computing device capable of wireless communications, the portable computing device comprising: an enclosure that surrounds and protects the internal operational components of the portable computing device, the enclosure including a structural wall formed from a ceramic material that permits wireless communications through.

The extrusion process allows for a variety of materials. In one embodiment, the continuous tube is formed from a metal material and more particularly from aluminum (or some other metal material that has similar properties to aluminum). In another embodiment, the continuous tube is formed from a ceramic material and more particularly from zirconia (or some other ceramic material that has similar properties to zirconia).

In one embodiment, the device is or includes functionality for supporting cellular or mobile phone usage. In this embodiment, the device includes processors, transmitters, receivers, and antennas for supporting RF, and more particularly GSM, DCS and/or PCS wireless communications in the range of about 850 to about 1900 MHz.

[0112] The device may for example include one or more antennas tuned to operate over the GSM, PCS and/or DCS frequency bands. By way of example, monopole, dipole and tri band and quad band antennas may be used. In one example, a PCS+DCS dipole antenna is used. The antenna may protrude out of the enclosure or it may be fully enclosed by the enclosure. If the later, some portion of the enclosure is configured to be radio transparent (e.g., capable of transmitting and receiving RF signals therethrough). For example, the end caps and/or the main body of the enclosure may be radio-transparent.

The top and bottom member 552 and 554 can be formed from the same or different materials as mentioned above. In one embodiment, the top member 552 is formed from metal such as aluminum, the bottom member 554 is formed from ceramic such as zirconia (or vice versa). In another embodiment, the top member 552 is formed from plastic such as polycarbonate, and the bottom member 554 is formed from ceramic such as zirconia (or vice versa) or a metal such as aluminum (or vice versa). In yet another embodiment, the top member 552 is formed from ceramic such as zirconia or alumina, and the bottom member 554 is formed from ceramic such as zirconia or alumina. As should be appreciated, any combination can be used. Furthermore, this design can be made with or without using end caps. For example, the top and bottom members may include a closed end.

Inventors: Zadesky; Stephen Paul; (Portola Valley, CA) ; Lynch; Stephen Brian; (Alamo, CA)
Handheld computing device

Abstract
A handheld computing device is disclosed. The handheld computing device includes an enclosure having structural walls formed from a ceramic material that is radio-transparent.
In one implementation, the main body is formed from a ceramic material that is radio-transparent. By utilizing a ceramic enclosure that is radio-transparent, an internal antenna may be used, which is typically more robust and durable than an external antenna. Furthermore, many advantages regarding the use of an internal antenna may be achieved. For example, a smaller and cheaper antenna may be used. Furthermore, the antenna can be integrated with other components and placed at almost any location within the enclosure, which helps make a smaller and more compact device in addition to reducing the cost of manufacture.
The method 400 begins at block 402 where a ceramic material is provided. The ceramic material may be in a form ready for forming or it may be in a raw state. If in a raw state, raw material processing is typically performed to ready it for forming. For example, a co-precipitation method may be performed in order to produce Y2O3 stabilized zirconia. Zirconia may be embodied in a variety of colors including white, black, navy blue, ivory, brown, dark blue, light blue, platinum, gold (among others). The colors may for example be created by adding doping materials to the ceramic material. Other materials may also be added including Yttrium, which helps keep the crystalline structure intact across all temperatures especially for maintaining strength as the part cools down.