Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110051337 | Techniques for Marking a Substrate Using a Physical Vapor Deposition Material - Techniques, processes and structures are disclosed for providing markings on products, such as electronic devices. For example, the markings can be formed using physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes to deposit a layer of material. The markings or labels may be textual and/or graphic. The markings are deposited on a compliant layer that is disposed on a surface to be marked. The compliant layer is arranged to isolate the surface to be marked from the layer of material deposited using the PVD process. | 03-03-2011 |
20110186325 | COSMETIC CO-REMOVAL OF MATERIAL FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE SURFACES - This is directed to providing a cosmetic finish on a component constructed by connecting several elements. A single manufacturing process, such as machining or grinding, can be applied to the connected elements to remove material from some or all of the elements and to form a smooth and continuous surface across interfaces between the individual elements of the component. In some cases, settings of the material removal process can be adjusted based on the material of the component elements. For example, the settings can be adjusted based on the manufacturing or mechanical properties of each element material. | 08-04-2011 |
20110186345 | Offset Control for Assemblying an Electronic Device Housing - Housings for electronic devices are disclosed. According to one aspect, adjoining surfaces of electronic device housings can be mounted or arranged such that adjoining surfaces are flush to a high degree of precision. The electronic devices can be portable and in some cases handheld. | 08-04-2011 |
20110187245 | Protection and Assembly of Outer Glass Surfaces of an Electronic Device Housing - Improved housings for electronic devices are disclosed. An electronic device housing can make use of at least one outer member (e.g., cover) that can be aligned, protected and/or secured with respect to other portions of the housing for the electronic device. In one embodiment, an electronic device housing can have one or more outer members (e.g., exposed major surfaces), such as front or back surfaces, that are formed of glass. Protective sides can be provided in some embodiments to protect the edges of the one or more glass surfaces so as to dissipate impact forces and thus reduce damage to the electronic device housing. The one or more glass surfaces can be part of outer member assemblies that can be secured to other portions of the electronic device housing. The electronic device can be portable and in some cases handheld. | 08-04-2011 |
20110188179 | HANDHELD DEVICE ENCLOSURE - This is directed to an electronic device enclosure. The enclosure includes an outer periphery member forming an outer surface of a device, and to which an internal platform is connected. Electronic device components can be assembled to one or both surfaces of the internal platform. The enclosure can include front and back cover assemblies assembled to the opposite surfaces of the outer periphery member to retain electronic device components. One or both of the cover assemblies can include a window through which display circuitry can provide content to a user of the device. | 08-04-2011 |
20110188180 | Portable Electronic Device Housing with Outer Glass Surfaces - Improved housings for electronic devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, an electronic device housing can have one or more outer members (e.g., exposed major surfaces), such as front or back surfaces, that are formed of glass. The one or more glass surfaces can be part of outer member assemblies that can be secured to other portions of the electronic device housing. In other embodiments, apparatus, systems and methods for robustly attaching a cover portion of an electronic device to a bottom portion, e.g., a housing portion, of the electronic device are described. The electronic device can be portable and in some cases handheld. | 08-04-2011 |
20110253411 | Techniques for Marking Translucent Product Housings - Techniques or processes for providing markings on products are disclosed. The markings provided on products can be textual and/or graphic. The techniques or processes can provide high resolution markings on surfaces that are flat or curved. In one embodiment, the products have housings and the markings are to be provided on the housings. For example, the housing for a particular product can include a housing surface and the markings can be provided on the housing surface such that the marking are visible to users of the products. The products can be electronic devices (e.g., portable electronic devices). | 10-20-2011 |
20110255218 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COVER ASSEMBLY RETENTION OF A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - This is directed to systems and methods for cover assembly retention of a portable electronic device. In some embodiments, a cover assembly and/or housing of an electronic device can include one or more retention features such as detents, hooks, tabs, extensions, screw plates, screw holes, shuttles, latches, or any combination of the above, for retaining the cover assembly to the housing. In some embodiments, one or more retention features can be included on a internal platform of the electronic device to retain the cover assembly. In some embodiments, a hidden screw feature can be included in a SIM tray slot of the electronic device. Once a SIM tray has been inserted into the SIM tray slot, the screw feature can be hidden from sight and may become unapparent to an end user of the electronic device. | 10-20-2011 |
20120085130 | ANNEALING OF GLASS TO ALTER CHEMICAL STRENGTHENING BEHAVIOR - Apparatus, systems and methods for improving chemical strengthening behavior in glass members are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for processing a glass part formed using a fusion process or a float process includes annealing the glass part and then chemically strengthening the glass part. Annealing the glass part includes at least heating the glass part at a first temperature, maintaining the first temperature, and cooling the glass part to a second temperature using a controlled cooling process. Chemically strengthening the glass part includes facilitating an ion exchange between ions included in the glass part and ions included in a chemical strengthening bath. | 04-12-2012 |
20120118628 | Insert Molding Around Glass Members for Portable Electronic Devices - An electronic device having an enclosure formed from at least one glass cover and a peripheral structure formed adjacent the periphery of the glass cover is disclosed. The peripheral structure can be secured adjacent to the glass cover with an adhesive. The peripheral structure can be molded adjacent the glass cover so that a gapless interface is formed between the peripheral structure and the periphery of the glass cover. In one embodiment, the peripheral structure includes at least an inner peripheral structure and an outer peripheral structure. | 05-17-2012 |
20120177358 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COUPLING A COVER TO AN ENCLOSURE - An electronic device can include different components providing different functionality. Some electronic devices can include a proximity sensor for determining when a user's face is near the device. The sensor can include an emitter and a detector that are separated by a foam block to limit cross-talk between the emitter and detector. A sheet can be placed over the foam block to define openings for each of the emitter and detector. Some electronic devices can also include a camera. A glass cover secured to the device enclosure can protect the camera. To improve an adhesive bond between the glass cover and a metal enclosure, an ink layer can be placed between an adhesive and the glass. In addition, the camera or another component may need to be grounded to ensure proper operation. During assembly, however, the position of the camera can shift due to closing an enclosure. A grounding assembly that maintains contact with the camera in its initial and final positions can be provided. | 07-12-2012 |
20120275100 | Portable Electronic Device Housing with Outer Glass Surfaces - Improved housings for electronic devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, an electronic device housing can have one or more outer members (e.g., exposed major surfaces), such as front or back surfaces, that are formed of glass. The one or more glass surfaces can be part of outer member assemblies that can be secured to other portions of the electronic device housing. In other embodiments, apparatus, systems and methods for robustly attaching a cover portion of an electronic device to a bottom portion, e.g., a housing portion, of the electronic device are described. The electronic device can be portable and in some cases handheld. | 11-01-2012 |
20130063876 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COVER ASSEMBLY RETENTION OF A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - This is directed to systems and methods for cover assembly retention of a portable electronic device. In some embodiments, a cover assembly and/or housing of an electronic device can include one or more retention features such as detents, hooks, tabs, extensions, screw plates, screw holes, shuttles, latches, or any combination of the above, for retaining the cover assembly to the housing. In some embodiments, one or more retention features can be included on an internal platform of the electronic device to retain the cover assembly. In some embodiments, a hidden screw feature can be included in a SIM tray slot of the electronic device. Once a SIM tray has been inserted into the SIM tray slot, the screw feature can be hidden from sight and may become unapparent to an end user of the electronic device. | 03-14-2013 |
20130240112 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COUPLING A COVER TO AN ENCLOSURE - An electronic device may include a proximity sensor for determining when a user's face is near the device. The sensor can include an emitter and a detector that are separated by a foam block to limit cross-talk between the emitter and detector. A sheet can be placed over the foam block to define openings for each of the emitter and detector. Some electronic devices can also include a camera. A glass cover secured to the device enclosure can protect the camera. To improve an adhesive bond between the glass cover and a metal enclosure, an ink layer can be placed between an adhesive and the glass. During assembly, the position of the camera can shift due to closing an enclosure. A grounding assembly that maintains contact with the camera in its initial and final positions may be provided. | 09-19-2013 |
20130328462 | Offset Control for Assemblying an Electronic Device Housing - Improved housings for electronic devices are disclosed. An electronic device housing can make use of at least one outer member (e.g., cover) that can be aligned, protected and/or secured with respect to other portions of the housing for the electronic device. In one embodiment, an electronic device housing can have one or more outer members (e.g., exposed major surfaces), such as front or back surfaces, that are formed of glass. Protective sides can be provided in some embodiments to protect the edges of the one or more glass surfaces so as to dissipate impact forces and thus reduce damage to the electronic device housing. The one or more glass surfaces can be part of outer member assemblies that can be secured to other portions of the electronic device housing. According to one aspect, adjoining surfaces of electronic device housings can be mounted or arranged such that adjoining surfaces are flush to a high degree of precision. The electronic device can be portable and in some cases handheld. | 12-12-2013 |
20140072141 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RETAINING A MICROPHONE - Systems and methods for retaining a microphone using a microphone boot are disclosed. The microphone boot may include a sound channeling structure for receiving and delivering sound, and a microphone retaining block for retaining a microphone and passing the sound to the microphone. The sound channeling structure may be secured to a housing of an electronic device. The sound channeling structure may include a sound tube and a hooking component that may be insertable into a tunnel and a slot, respectively, of the microphone retaining block. The sound tube may deliver the sound into the tunnel for passing to the microphone. The hooking component may lock into the slot to secure the sound channeling structure to the microphone retaining block. Thus, the microphone boot may be tightly sealed to prevent leakage of the sound, and may fix the microphone within the electronic device even in the presence of external force. | 03-13-2014 |
20140134429 | Techniques for Marking a Substrate Using a Physical Vapor Deposition Material - Techniques, processes and structures are disclosed for providing markings on products, such as electronic devices. For example, the markings can be formed using physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes to deposit a layer of material. The markings or labels may be textual and/or graphic. The markings are deposited on a compliant layer that is disposed on a surface to be marked. The compliant layer is arranged to isolate the surface to be marked from the layer of material deposited using the PVD process. | 05-15-2014 |