Apple Inc.

Nec Corporation

Takahiro Oshima

Masashige Tatebe

Jody R Akana

Kenji Hara

Peter N Russell-Clarke

Ayumi Hongou

Carlo Catalano

Derrick T Jue

Brian K Miehm

Masayuki Sakoguchi

Yutaka Nakagishi

Junichi Katayama

Yasuhiro Ito

Takashi Kato

Lucy Elizabeth Browning

Duy P Le

James A Curran

Palaniappan Chinnakaruppan

Thomas Johannessen

Shi Hua Zhang

Andrew J Meschke

Kenichi Nakajima

Fei Gao

Michael W Barnstead

Shigehiro Sanichi

Tushar S Deshpande

Richard M Bretherton

Sean A Backs

Koji Takano

A glass member for a housing of an electronic device may include an aluminosilicate glass substrate defining a first surface of the glass member, the first surface having a first surface roughness, a fused composite coating bonded to a portion of the aluminosilicate glass substrate and defining a second surface of the glass member, the second surface having a second surface roughness greater than the first surface roughness, a first ion-exchanged layer extending into the glass member and through the fused composite coating, and a second ion-exchanged layer extending into the glass member from the first surface. The fused composite coating may include an amorphous glass matrix and a crystalline material dispersed in the amorphous glass matrix.

Chemically strengthened and textured glass housing member

The embodiments described herein relate to anodizing and anodized films. The methods described can be used to form opaque and white anodized films on a substrate. In some embodiments, the methods involve forming anodized films having branched pore structures. The branched pore structure provides a light scattering medium for incident visible light, imparting an opaque and white appearance to the anodized film. In some embodiments, the methods involve infusing metal complex ions within pores of an anodized. Once within the pores, the metal complex ions undergo a chemical change forming metal oxide particles. The metal oxide particles provide a light scattering medium for incident visible light, imparting an opaque and white appearance to the anodized film. In some embodiments, aspects of the methods for creating irregular or branched pores and methods for infusing metal complex ions within pores are combined.

Cosmetic anodic oxide coatings

Anodizing techniques for providing highly opaque colorized anodic films are described. According to some embodiments, the methods involve depositing a pigment having a particle diameter of about 20 nanometers or greater into an anodic film. Additionally or alternatively, a barrier layer smoothing operation is used to flatten an interface between the anodic film and underlying metal substrate so as to maximize light reflection off the interface, thereby maximizing light reflected off the pigment that is deposited within pores of the anodic film. The resulting anodic films have an opaque or saturated colored appearance. In some embodiments, the methods involve increasing a thickness of a non-porous barrier layer of the anodic film so as to create thin film interference effects that can add a particular hue to the anodic film. The methods can be used form cosmetically appealing coatings for consumer products, such as housings for electronic products.

Anodized films with pigment coloring

Anodic films that have a white color, and methods for forming the same, are described. According to some embodiments, the anodic films have multiple metal oxide layers. A first layer can provide scratch and chemical resistance and a second layer can provide a light diffusing pore structure that diffusely reflects incoming light and provides a white appearance to the anodic film. According to some embodiments, the anodic films also include a smoothed barrier layer that specularly reflects incoming light so as to brighten the appearance and enhance the white color of the anodic film. The resulting anodic films have an opaque white appearance not achievable using conventional techniques. The anodic films are well suited for providing cosmetically appealing coatings for consumer products, such as housings for electronic products.

White anodic films with multiple layers

An article having a metal surface is treated to have one or more desired optical effects. The surface is anodized to create an anodic film having pores therein. In some embodiments, an electrodeposition process is performed to deposit one or more metals within the pores of the anodic film. In some embodiments, a pre-dip procedure is performed prior to electrodeposition to create a more uniformly colored anodic film. In some embodiments, one or more dyes are deposited within the pores of the anodic film. In some embodiments, the substrate is exposed to a chemical etching process prior to anodizing to create a micro-textured surface that enhances the richness of the color of the anodic film.

Cosmetic and protective metal surface treatments

The controller sets control information in a switch over a control channel to control the switch. The switch includes a packet processing unit that processes a packet received based on control information as set from the controller, and a Layer-2 forwarding unit that learns an input port of a control packet between the controller and a neighboring switch or switches and that forwards the control packet on the basis of learned results. The switch also includes an alternative control channel construction unit that, on detecting a disconnection of the control channel, sends a packet requesting a resolution of a Layer-2 address of the controller to the neighboring switch or switches. The alternative control channel construction unit acquires the Layer-2 address from the controller via the neighboring switch or switches and transmits the control packet to the controller using the Layer-2 address acquired to construct a second control channel between the switch and the controller.

Communication system, switch, controller, method for constructing a control channel and program

Methods for forming white anodized films by metal complex infusion

Anodized films with branched pore structures

A visually seamless method of joining a first piece of metal and a second piece of metal is described. The first piece of metal is placed in contact with an edge of the second piece of metal. In some embodiments, the edge includes a sacrificial lip. The first piece of metal forming a junction area with the edge of the second piece of metal, applying a forging force to the first piece of metal, the forging force having an effect of creating an extremely tight fit up between the first and the second pieces of metal, welding the first and the second pieces to form an assembly and forming a cosmetically enhancing protective layer on the surface of the assembly, the protective layer obscuring any visible artifacts on the surface of the assembly, the obscured visible artifacts including any discoloration or discontinuity created by the laser welding.

Welding methods

Manufacturing methods related to anodizing of metal parts are described. In particular, pre-anodizing and post-anodizing methods for forming a consistent and defect-free interface between metal and non-metal sections of a part are described. Methods involve preventing residues from various manufacturing processes from entering a gap or space at the interface between the metal and non-metal section of the part and that can disrupt subsequent anodizing and anodic film dyeing processes. In particular embodiments, methods involve forming a barrier layer or filler layer between the metal and non-metal sections. Portions of the barrier layer or filler layer can be removed prior to anodizing. The resultant part has a well-defined and uniform space between the metal and non-metal sections that is free from visual defects.

Methods for forming defect-free anodized parts

Methods for forming white anodized films by forming branched pore structures

Laser welding apparatus

Computer housing

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Takahiro Oshima