Patents by Inventor Michael W. Barnstead

Michael W. Barnstead has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11201426
    Abstract: Methods of coating contacts to have a specific color. The color can be selected to match a color of a portion of a device enclosure for an electronic device housing the contacts. Examples can instead provide methods of coating contacts to have a color to contrast with a color of a portion of the device enclosure. These methods can provide electrical contacts having a low contact resistance and good corrosion and scratch resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Raymund W. M. Kwok, Hani Esmaeili, Robert Scritzky, Michael W. Barnstead, Xiaoqiang Huang, Ida Y. Lo, Sean R. Novak, Christoph Werner
  • Patent number: 10998657
    Abstract: Contacts that can be highly corrosion resistant, can be readily manufactured, and can conserve precious materials. One example can provide contacts having a layer of a precious-metal alloy to improve corrosion resistance. The precious-metal-alloy layer can be plated with a hard, durable, wear and corrosion resistant plating stack for further corrosion resistance and wear improvement. The resources consumed by a contact can be reduced by forming a bulk or substrate region of the contact using a more readily available material, such as copper or a material that is primarily copper based.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hani Esmaeili, Kenneth Michael Bagwell, Holly Ubellacker, Judy Hsien-Chih Liu, Eric S. Jol, Christoph Bitterlich, Michael W. Barnstead, Christoph Werner
  • Publication number: 20200052425
    Abstract: Methods of coating contacts to have a specific color. The color can be selected to match a color of a portion of a device enclosure for an electronic device housing the contacts. Examples can instead provide methods of coating contacts to have a color to contrast with a color of a portion of the device enclosure. These methods can provide electrical contacts having a low contact resistance and good corrosion and scratch resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Raymund W. M. Kwok, Hani Esmaeili, Robert Scritzky, Michael W. Barnstead, Xiaoqiang Huang, Ida Y. Lo, Sean R. Novak, Christoph Werner
  • Publication number: 20200006880
    Abstract: Contacts that can be highly corrosion resistant, can be readily manufactured, and can conserve precious materials . One example can provide contacts having a layer of a precious-metal alloy to improve corrosion resistance. The precious-metal-alloy layer can be plated with a hard, durable, wear and corrosion resistant plating stack for further corrosion resistance and wear improvement. The resources consumed by a contact can be reduced by forming a bulk or substrate region of the contact using a more readily available material, such as copper or a material that is primarily copper based.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hani Esmaeili, Kenneth Michael Bagwell, Holly Ubellacker, Judy Hsien-Chih Liu, Eric S. Jol, Christoph Bitterlich, Michael W. Barnstead, Christoph Werner
  • Patent number: 10411379
    Abstract: Contacts that may be highly corrosion resistant, may be readily manufactured, and may conserve precious materials. One example may provide contacts having a layer of a precious-metal alloy to improve corrosion resistance. The precious-metal-alloy layer may be plated with a hard, durable, wear and corrosion resistant plating stack for further corrosion resistance and wear improvement. The resources consumed by a contact may be reduced by forming a bulk or substrate region of the contact using a more readily available material, such as copper or a material that is primarily copper based.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel C. Wagman, Benjamin J. Kallman, Hani Esmaeili, Stefan A. Kowalski, Daniel T. McDonald, Eric S. Jol, Raymund W. M. Kwok, Michael W. Barnstead
  • Publication number: 20190103693
    Abstract: Electrical contacts having good corrosion resistance. These contacts may include a set of three layers. The three layers may include a first or top layer and two layers below the top layer. The second or middle layer may be more electrochemically active than either the first layer or the third layer. The first layer may include cracks, pores, or other discontinuities. Corrosive substances may pass through these cracks, pores, and other discontinuities and corrode the second, more electrochemically active layer below the first layer. The cracks, pores, and other discontinuities may spread the corrosion homogenously and laterally across the surface of the contact, thereby protecting the remainder of the contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Barnstead, Christoph Werner, Christoph Bitterlich, Kenneth Michael Bagwell, Benjamin J. Kallman
  • Patent number: 9279189
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lucy Elizabeth Browning, Masashige Tatebe, Shi Hua Zhang, Michael W. Barnstead, Richard M. Bretherton, Takahiro Oshima, Sean A. Backs, Duy P. Le, Andrew J. Meschke, Thomas Johannessen
  • Publication number: 20150315715
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Lucy Elizabeth Browning, Masashige Tatebe, Shi Hua Zhang, Michael W. Barnstead, Richard M. Bretherton, Takahiro Oshima, Sean A. Backs, Duy P. Le, Andrew J. Meschke, Thomas Johannessen