The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jan. 16, 2018

Filed:

Sep. 08, 2014
Applicant:

Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);

Inventors:

Benjamin B. Lyon, Cupertino, CA (US);

Patrick E. O'Brien, Cupertino, CA (US);

Scott A. Myers, Cupertino, CA (US);

Assignee:

APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 21/00 (2006.01); H04M 1/02 (2006.01); G06F 1/16 (2006.01); B32B 38/00 (2006.01); B32B 37/24 (2006.01); B32B 37/12 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04M 1/0202 (2013.01); B32B 37/1207 (2013.01); B32B 37/24 (2013.01); B32B 38/0012 (2013.01); G06F 1/1626 (2013.01); G06F 1/1684 (2013.01); B32B 2037/246 (2013.01); B32B 2307/20 (2013.01); B32B 2457/16 (2013.01);
Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for creating a sensor stack or element for use in an electronic device. In one example, a method may include providing a substrate made of sapphire; affixing, by physical vapor deposition, a decorative feature on the substrate; providing a silicon layer including a capacitive sensor; and bonding the sensor to the substrate. In one example, the affixing operation may include an icon, logo, symbol or other graphic as the decorative feature. The method may also include reducing the substrate or silicon layer from an initial thickness to a second thickness, the second thickness being thinner that the initiation thickness. The sensor stack may be used or configured as an input button for the electronic device such as a mobile phone, tablet computer, or other computing device.


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