Patents by Inventor Peter N. Russell-Clarke

Peter N. Russell-Clarke 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: 9125298
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a glass housing structures. The glass housing structures may be used to cover a display and other internal electronic device components. The glass housing structure may have multiple glass pieces that are joined using a glass fusing process. A peripheral glass member may be fused along the edge of a planar glass member to enhance the thickness of the edge. A rounded edge feature may be formed by machining the thickened edge. Raised fused glass features may surround openings in the planar glass member. Multiple planar glass members may be fused together to form a five-sided box in which electronic components may be mounted. Raised support structure ribs may be formed by fusing glass structures to a planar glass member. Opaque masking material and colored glass may be used to create portions of the glass housing structures that hide internal device components from view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Michael K. Pilliod, Jonathan P. Ive
  • Publication number: 20150240374
    Abstract: Electroformed housings for electronic devices and methods for making the same are provided. An electronic device is provided having at least one electronic part and an electroformed housing constructed from a metal that encloses the at least one electronic part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventor: Peter N. Russell-Clarke
  • Publication number: 20150225867
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Masashige TATEBE, Jody R. Akana, Takahiro Oshima, Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Masayuki Sakoguchi, Kenji Hara
  • Publication number: 20150176146
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to forming anodized films that have a white appearance. In some embodiments, an anodized film having pores with light diffusing pore walls created by varying the current density during an anodizing process is described. In some embodiments, an anodized film having light diffusing micro-cracks created by a laser cracking procedure is described. In some embodiments, a sputtered layer of light diffusing aluminum is provided below an anodized film. In some embodiments, light diffusing particles are infused within openings of an anodized layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Lucy E. Browning, Stephen B. Lynch, Christopher D. Prest, Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Masashige Tatebe, Michael S. Nashner, Daniel T. McDonald, Brian S. Tryon, Jody R. Akana
  • Patent number: 9051658
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Masashige Tatebe, Jody R. Akana, Takahiro Oshima, Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Masayuki Sakoguchi, Kenji Hara
  • Publication number: 20150132541
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to forming white appearing metal oxide films by forming cracks within the metal oxide films. In some embodiments, the methods involve directing a laser beam at a metal oxide film causing portions of the metal oxide film to melt, cool, contract, and crack. The cracks have irregular surfaces that can diffusely reflect visible light incident a top surface of the metal oxide film, thereby imparting a white appearance to the metal oxide film. In some embodiments, the cracks are formed beneath a top surface of a metal oxide film, thereby leaving a continuous and uninterrupted metal oxide film top surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel T. McDonald, Michael S. Nashner, Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Masashige Tatebe
  • Patent number: 9031276
    Abstract: Electroformed housings for electronic devices and methods for making the same are provided. An electronic device is provided having at least one electronic part and an electroformed housing constructed from a metal that encloses the at least one electronic part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Peter N. Russell-Clarke
  • Patent number: 9011623
    Abstract: A composite enclosure for housing electronic devices, and methods related thereto, are provided. In particular, in some embodiments, a method of manufacturing a composite enclosure for housing electronic devices includes winding composite material about a mandrel and curing the composite material to create a composite hoop. A panel is formed in a separate process that includes stacking a plurality of composite layers in a mold and curing the composite layers to create a composite panel. The composite hoop and the composite panel are bonded together to form the composite enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Kenney, Peter N. Russell-Clarke
  • Publication number: 20150090598
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Masashige TATEBE, Jody R. AKANA, Takahiro OSHIMA, Peter N. RUSSELL-CLARKE, Ayumi HONGOU, Kenji HARA
  • Publication number: 20150090597
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Masashige TATEBE, Jody R. AKANA, Takahiro OSHIMA, Peter N. RUSSELL-CLARKE, Masayuki SAKOGUCHI, Kenji HARA
  • Patent number: 8994608
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a compound part comprises preparing a cavity in a receiving part, selecting a resin for application in the receiving part, applying the resin into the cavity, curing the applied resin, and simultaneously finishing the receiving part and the cured resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Michael K. Pilliod
  • Patent number: 8993921
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to forming anodized films that have a white appearance. In some embodiments, an anodized film having pores with light diffusing pore walls created by varying the current density during an anodizing process is described. In some embodiments, an anodized film having light diffusing micro-cracks created by a laser cracking procedure is described. In some embodiments, a sputtered layer of light diffusing aluminum is provided below an anodized film. In some embodiments, light diffusing particles are infused within openings of an anodized layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lucy E. Browning, Stephen B. Lynch, Christopher D. Prest, Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Masashige Tatebe, Michael S. Nashner, Daniel T. McDonald, Brian S. Tryon, Jody R. Akana
  • Publication number: 20150021091
    Abstract: Molded splitter structures and systems and methods for manufacturing molded splitter structures are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Aase, Cameron P. Frazier, Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Paul Choiniere, Gregory D. Dunham, Kurt R. Stiehl
  • Publication number: 20140367369
    Abstract: Techniques or processes for providing markings on products are disclosed. In one embodiment, the products have housings and the markings are to be provided on the housings. For example, a housing for a particular product can include an outer housing surface and the markings can be provided on the outer housing surface so as to be visible from the outside of the housing. The markings may be precisely formed using a laser. Processing may be used to increase reflectivity of the markings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Michael S. Nashner, Peter N. Russell-Clarke
  • Publication number: 20140370325
    Abstract: Markings on products are disclosed. In one embodiment, the products have housings and the markings are to be provided on the housings. For example, a housing for a particular product can include an outer housing surface and the markings can be provided on the outer housing surface so as to be visible from the outside of the housing. The markings may be precisely formed using a laser. Processing may be used to increase reflectivity of the markings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Michael S. Nashner, Peter N. Russell-Clarke
  • Publication number: 20140363608
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to laser-based processes for forming features on the surface of a part. The feature may include a geometric element, a color element, and/or a surface finish element. In some cases, the laser-formed features are formed as a pattern of textured features that produce an aesthetic and/or tactile effect on the surface of the part. In some cases, the texture features may be sufficiently small that they may not be discerned by the unaided human eye. Also, in some cases, a multiple laser-based processes are combined to form a single feature or a finished part having a specific aesthetic and/or tactile effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Michael S. Nashner, Houtan R. Farahani
  • Publication number: 20140285956
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a glass housing structures. The glass housing structures may be used to cover a display and other internal electronic device components. The glass housing structure may have multiple glass pieces that are joined using a glass fusing process. A peripheral glass member may be fused along the edge of a planar glass member to enhance the thickness of the edge. A rounded edge feature may be formed by machining the thickened edge. Raised fused glass features may surround openings in the planar glass member. Multiple planar glass members may be fused together to form a five-sided box in which electronic components may be mounted. Raised support structure ribs may be formed by fusing glass structures to a planar glass member. Opaque masking material and colored glass may be used to create portions of the glass housing structures that hide internal device components from view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Michael K. Pilliod, Jonathan P. Ive
  • Publication number: 20140193607
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to forming anodized films that have a white appearance. In some embodiments, an anodized film having pores with light diffusing pore walls created by varying the current density during an anodizing process is described. In some embodiments, an anodized film having light diffusing micro-cracks created by a laser cracking procedure is described. In some embodiments, a sputtered layer of light diffusing aluminum is provided below an anodized film. In some embodiments, light diffusing particles are infused within openings of an anodized layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lucy E. Browning, Stephen B. Lynch, Christopher D. Prest, Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Masashige Tatebe, Michael S. Nashner, Daniel T. McDonald, Brian S. Tryon, Jody R. Akana
  • Publication number: 20140159927
    Abstract: Electroformed housings for electronic devices and methods for making the same are provided. An electronic device is provided having circuitry with interface circuitry for processing a user input event, and an electroformed housing that is an enclosure for the circuitry, the electroformed housing having a user interface region positioned adjacent to the interface circuitry such that when a user initiates a user input event on the user interface region, the interface circuitry processes the user input event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Peter N. Russell-Clarke
  • Publication number: 20140161298
    Abstract: Electroformed housings for electronic devices and methods for making the same are provided. An electronic device is provided having at least one electronic part and an electroformed housing constructed from a metal that encloses the at least one electronic part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Peter N. Russell-Clarke