Patents by Inventor Ralf Horstkemper

Ralf Horstkemper 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: 8875652
    Abstract: A system for controlling a boundary of spreading liquid adhesive on a surface is disclosed. The system includes one or more ultra-violet (UV) sources configurable to emit UV light onto the liquid adhesive; and a control circuit coupled to the one or more UV sources and configured to control the one or more UV sources to selectively apply the UV light at selected locations on the liquid adhesive to cure the adhesive and prevent its further spread at those locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Casey J. Feinstein, Kuo-Hua Sung, Ralf Horstkemper
  • Publication number: 20140071392
    Abstract: One embodiment of method and apparatus for laminating a first substrate to a second substrate can use a liquid optically clear adhesive to form an initial contact area in addition to bonding the first substrate to the second substrate. When either the first substrate or the second substrate is relatively clear, the initial contact area can help reduce the introduction of bubbles or voids into a lamination region between the two substrates. In another embodiment, selected regions of a substrate can be treated to enhance the flow of the liquid optically clear adhesive, which can also reduce the introduction of bubbles and voids into the lamination region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Der-Song Lin, Ralf Horstkemper, Kuo-Hua Sung
  • Patent number: 8657992
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the bonding of one or more material layers to a display panel which yields a resulting bonded assembly which is transparent and substantially free of optical defects such as entrapped dirt and air bubbles. During the bonding process of the present disclosure, a moving dispensing probe, or needle, dispenses a liquid bonding material into an air gap between the surfaces to be bonded in a manner which continuously touches (wets) each surface simultaneously. By simultaneously wetting each surface, and by dispensing the liquid bonding material in a predetermined pattern between the surfaces, the introduction of entrapped dirt and the formation of air bubbles is prevented as the two mating surfaces are subsequently pressed together and the adhesive is cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: ODBond, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Schaper, Ralf Horstkemper, Julio Rodriguez-Ramos
  • Patent number: 8608896
    Abstract: Methods for liquid adhesive lamination for precision adhesive control are provided. Precision liquid adhesive control can be obtained by first patterning liquid adhesive in a thin pre-coat layer on a substrate. A second adhesive layer can then be patterned on top of the pre-coat layer. When the second substrate is pressed onto the first substrate, the second substrate first comes into contact with the second adhesive layer. The adhesive can then be spread uniformly across the two substrates without forming voids. Alternatively, a single liquid adhesive layer can be formed in a three dimensional gradient pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ralf Horstkemper, Casey J. Feinstein, Kuo-Hua Sung
  • Publication number: 20130064967
    Abstract: A system for controlling a boundary of spreading liquid adhesive on a surface is disclosed. The system includes one or more ultra-violet (UV) sources configurable to emit UV light onto the liquid adhesive; and a control circuit coupled to the one or more UV sources and configured to control the one or more UV sources to selectively apply the UV light at selected locations on the liquid adhesive to cure the adhesive and prevent its further spread at those locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: CASEY J. FEINSTEIN, Kuo-Hua Sung, Ralf Horstkemper
  • Publication number: 20130062011
    Abstract: Methods for liquid adhesive lamination for precision adhesive control are provided. Precision liquid adhesive control can be obtained by first patterning liquid adhesive in a thin pre-coat layer on a substrate. A second adhesive layer can then be patterned on top of the pre-coat layer. When the second substrate is pressed onto the first substrate, the second substrate first comes into contact with the second adhesive layer. The adhesive can then be spread uniformly across the two substrates without forming voids. Alternatively, a single liquid adhesive layer can be formed in a three dimensional gradient pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Ralf Horstkemper, Casey J. Feinstein, Kuo-Hua Sung
  • Publication number: 20110168328
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the bonding of one or more material layers (106) to a display panel (102) which yields a resulting bonded assembly (100) which is transparent and substantially free of optical defects such as entrapped dirt and air bubbles. During the bonding process of the present disclosure, a moving dispensing probe, or needle (200), dispenses a liquid bonding material (110) into an air gap (300) between the surfaces to be bonded in a manner which continuously touches (wets) each surface simultaneously. By simultaneously wetting each surface, and by dispensing the liquid bonding material (110) in a predetermined pattern between the surfaces, the introduction of entrapped dirt and the formation of air bubbles is prevented as the two mating surfaces are subsequently pressed together and the adhesive is cured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: ARVATO DIGITAL SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Schaper, Ralf Horstkemper, Julio Rodriguez-Ramos