Apple Inc.

Glenn Aune

Paul Choiniere

Kevin M Kenney

Daniel Hong

Aidan N Zimmerman

John C Difonzo

John C DiFonzo

Ryan P Brooks

Bruce E Berg

Kevin C Armendariz

An electronic device may have printed circuits to which electrical components are mounted. Plastic may be molded over a printed circuit. Vias may be formed in the printed circuit that connect metal traces on the surface of the molded plastic to metal traces on the printed circuit. The vias may be formed by drilling or by covering the metal traces on the printed circuit with mold pins in a molding tool during plastic molding operations. Plated metal traces or other metal traces may extend onto the interior surface of via holes. Vias may also be filled with conductive material such as solder or conductive adhesive. Metal members that are soldered or otherwise connected to printed circuit traces may be used in coupling surface metal traces to printed circuit traces. Antenna structure, shielding structures, and electrodes for a stylus may be formed using the metal traces on the molded plastic.

Electronic devices with molded insulator and via structures

A mold assembly or system includes a moldbase that holds mold inserts and has embedded fluid lines to facilitate cooling during part formation. Mold inserts combine to form mold cavities that receive carbon fiber and resin components to form a carbon composite based part. A permanent release coating along a mold component surface that contacts the carbon fiber and resin components facilitates the release of the finished part from the mold component. Guide pins and guide pin receiving holes facilitate accurate alignment of mold components. Ejector pins within respective ejector pin shafts help eject a finished part from a respective mold component. An ejector pin shaft cover transfers force from an ejector pin to eject a finished part and also prevents substantial passage of resin into the ejector pin shaft. A fluid actuated ejection system provides fluid based mechanical forces to the ejector pins to facilitate finished part ejection.

Carbon composite mold design

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Bellingham, WA, United States of America

Glenn Aune