公开(公告)号：US20210084784A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-18

申请号：US16869061

申请日：2020-05-07

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Hoishun LI ,  Zechariah D. FEINBERG ,  Theodore A. WANIUK

IPC: H05K5/04 ,  C23C14/08

Abstract: This application relates to a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device includes an enclosure having a metal oxide coating, the metal oxide coating including a metal alloy substrate that is doped with a dopant, and a metal oxide layer overlaying and formed from the metal alloy substrate so that the metal oxide layer includes the dopant.

公开(公告)号：US20190078192A1

公开(公告)日：2019-03-14

申请号：US16182473

申请日：2018-11-06

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： James A. CURRAN ,  Zechariah D. FEINBERG

IPC: C23C8/20 ,  C23C8/80 ,  C25D11/26 ,  C25D11/02 ,  C23C8/08 ,  C23C8/24 ,  C23C8/28 ,  C23C8/30

Abstract: A method for providing a surface finish to a metal part includes both diffusion hardening a metal surface to form a diffusion-hardened layer, and oxidizing the diffusion-hardened layer to create an oxide coating thereon. The diffusion-hardened layer can be harder than an internal region of the metal part and might be ceramic, and the oxide coating can have a color that is different from the metal or ceramic, the color being unachievable only by diffusion hardening or only by oxidizing. The metal can be titanium or titanium alloy, the diffusion hardening can include carburizing or nitriding, and the oxidizing can include electrochemical oxidization. The oxide layer thickness can be controlled via the amount of voltage applied during oxidation, with the oxide coating color being a function of thickness. An enhanced hardness profile can extend to a depth of at least 20 microns below the top of the oxide coating.

公开(公告)号：US20180084658A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-22

申请号：US15487300

申请日：2017-04-13

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： James A. CURRAN ,  Zechariah D. FEINBERG ,  Christopher D. PREST ,  Joseph C. POOLE

IPC: H05K5/02 ,  H05K5/04

CPC classification number: C25D11/26 ,  C23C14/08 ,  C23C14/5886 ,  C23C16/40 ,  C23C16/56 ,  C25D11/08 ,  C25D11/16 ,  C25D11/18 ,  C25D11/243 ,  C25D11/246

Abstract: Oxide coatings that reduce or eliminate the appearance of thin film interference coloring are described. In some embodiments, the oxide coatings are configured to reduce the appearance of fingerprints. In some cases, the oxide coatings are sufficiently thick to increase the optical path difference of incident light, thereby reducing any inference coloring by the fingerprint to a non-visible level. In some embodiments, the oxide coatings have a non-uniform thickness that changes the way light reflects off of interfaces of the oxide coating, thereby reducing or eliminating any thin film interference coloring caused by the oxide coatings themselves or by a fingerprint.

公开(公告)号：US20180049337A1

公开(公告)日：2018-02-15

申请号：US15233728

申请日：2016-08-10

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： James A. CURRAN ,  Karin H. RASMUSSEN ,  Zechariah D. FEINBERG

IPC: H05K5/02 ,  H05K5/04 ,  C23C14/10 ,  C25D11/24

CPC classification number: C25D11/243 ,  C25D11/04 ,  C25D11/08 ,  C25D11/14 ,  C25D11/22 ,  C25D11/24 ,  C25D11/246 ,  C25D11/26 ,  C25D11/30

Abstract: Colored oxide coatings having multiple oxide layers are described. Processes for forming the multilayer oxide coating can include converting a portion of a metal substrate to a primary oxide layer, coloring the primary oxide layer, and depositing a secondary oxide layer on the primary oxide layer. The primary oxide layer and the secondary oxide layer can be at least partially transparent such that a texture of an underlying metal substrate surface is visible through the multilayer oxide coating. A top surface of the secondary oxide layer can be polished to a high gloss to give the multilayer oxide coating an appearance of depth.

公开(公告)号：US20170088931A1

公开(公告)日：2017-03-30

申请号：US14965716

申请日：2015-12-10

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： James A. CURRAN ,  Zechariah D. FEINBERG

IPC: C23C8/20 ,  C23C8/08 ,  C25D11/02 ,  C23C8/28 ,  C25D11/26 ,  C23C8/24 ,  C23C8/30

CPC classification number: C23C8/20 ,  C23C8/08 ,  C23C8/24 ,  C23C8/28 ,  C23C8/30 ,  C23C8/80 ,  C25D11/026 ,  C25D11/26

Abstract: A method for providing a surface finish to a metal part includes both diffusion hardening a metal surface to form a diffusion-hardened layer, and oxidizing the diffusion-hardened layer to create an oxide coating thereon. The diffusion-hardened layer can be harder than an internal region of the metal part and might be ceramic, and the oxide coating can have a color that is different from the metal or ceramic, the color being unachievable only by diffusion hardening or only by oxidizing. The metal can be titanium or titanium alloy, the diffusion hardening can include carburizing or nitriding, and the oxidizing can include electrochemical oxidization. The oxide layer thickness can be controlled via the amount of voltage applied during oxidation, with the oxide coating color being a function of thickness. An enhanced hardness profile can extend to a depth of at least 20 microns below the top of the oxide coating.

公开(公告)号：US20210348294A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-11

申请号：US16952206

申请日：2020-11-19

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Zechariah D. FEINBERG ,  James A. CURRAN ,  Todd S. MINTZ ,  Justin MEMAR-MAKHSOUS

IPC: C25D11/26

Abstract: An enclosure for a portable electronic device can include a titanium substrate defining a textured surface and a nominal surface. The titanium substrate can include a first region that extends above the nominal surface and a second region adjacent to the first region and extending below the nominal surface. A separation distance between an apex of the first region and a bottom of a trough defined by the second region can be at least 1 micrometer. A metal oxide layer can overlay the trough defined by the second region.

公开(公告)号：US20200080219A1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-12

申请号：US16277072

申请日：2019-02-15

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： James A. CURRAN ,  Zechariah D. FEINBERG ,  Sonja R. POSTAK

IPC: C25D11/02 ,  C25D11/12 ,  C25D11/16 ,  C25D11/18 ,  C25D11/08

Abstract: Anodic oxide coatings that provide corrosion resistance to parts having protruding features, such as edges, corners and convex-shaped features, are described. According to some embodiments, the anodic oxide coatings include an inner porous layer and an outer porous layer. The inner layer is adjacent to an underlying metal substrate and is formed under compressive stress anodizing conditions that allow the inner porous layer to be formed generally crack-free. In this way, the inner porous layer acts as a barrier that prevents water or other corrosion-inducing agents from reaching the underlying metal substrate. The outer porous layer can be thicker and harder than the inner porous layer, thereby increasing the overall hardness of the anodic oxide coating.

公开(公告)号：US20180263130A1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-13

申请号：US15454880

申请日：2017-03-09

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： James A. CURRAN ,  Zechariah D. FEINBERG ,  Brian S. TRYON

IPC: H05K5/04 ,  G06F1/16 ,  H05K5/00

CPC classification number: G06F1/1656

Abstract: Composite coatings having improved abrasion and dent resistance are described. According to some embodiments, the composite coatings include an outer hard layer and an intermediate layer between the outer hard layer and a metal substrate. The intermediate layer can have a hardness that is less than the hard outer layer but greater than the metal substrate. In this arrangement, the intermediate layer can act as a structural support that resists plastic deformation when an impact force is applied to the coating. In some embodiments, the intermediate layer is composed of a porous anodic oxide material. In some embodiments, the outer hard layer is composed of a ceramic material or a hard carbon-based material, such as diamond-like carbon.