Patents by Inventor Sean R. Novak
Sean R. Novak 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).
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Publication number: 20240147996Abstract: This invention relates in part to soybean event pDAB8264.44.06.1 and includes a novel expression cassettes and transgenic inserts comprising multiple traits conferring resistance to glyphosate, aryloxyalkanoate, and glufosinate herbicides. This invention also relates in part to methods of controlling resistant weeds, plant breeding and herbicide tolerant plants. In some embodiments, the event sequence can be “stacked” with other traits, including, for example, other herbicide tolerance gene(s) and/or insect-inhibitory proteins. This invention further relates in part to endpoint TaqMan PCR assays for the detection of Event pDAB8264.44.06.1 in soybeans and related plant material. Some embodiments can perform high throughput zygosity analysis of plant material and other embodiments can be used to uniquely identify the zygosity of and breed soybean lines comprising the event of the subject invention. Kits and conditions useful in conducting these assays are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2023Publication date: May 9, 2024Inventors: Yunxing C. CUI, Thomas HOFFMAN, Ning ZHOU, Stephen N. NOVAK, Julissa COLON, Dawn M. PARKHURST, Sandra G. TOLEDO, Terry R. WRIGHT, Sean M. RUSSELL, Bruce HELD, Vaithilingam SEKAR
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Patent number: 11201426Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 13, 2019Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Raymund W. M. Kwok, Hani Esmaeili, Robert Scritzky, Michael W. Barnstead, Xiaoqiang Huang, Ida Y. Lo, Sean R. Novak, Christoph Werner
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Patent number: 10920333Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to treatments for anodic layers. The methods described can be used to impart a white appearance for an anodized substrate. The anodized substrate can include a metal substrate and a porous anodic layer derived from the metal substrate. The porous anodic layer can include pores defined by pore walls and fissures formed within the pore walls. The fissures can act as a light scattering medium to diffusely reflect visible light. In some embodiments, the method can include forming fissures within the pore walls of the porous anodic layer. In some embodiments, exposing the porous anodic layer to an etching solution can form fissures. The method further includes removing a top portion of the porous anodic layer while retaining a portion of the porous anodic layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2017Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: James A. Curran, Daniel T. McDonald, Sean R. Novak
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Patent number: 10760176Abstract: Sealed anodic coatings that are resistant to leaching of nickel and nickel-containing products and methods for forming the same are described. Methods involve post-sealing thermal processes to remove at least some of the leachable nickel from the sealed anodic coatings. In some embodiments, the post-sealing thermal processes involve immersing the sealed anodic coating within a heated solution so as to promote diffusion of the leachable nickel out of the sealed anodic coatings and into the heated solution. The resultant sealed anodic coating is pre-leached of nickel and is therefore well suited for many consumer product applications. In some embodiments, a post-sealing thermal process is used to further hydrate and seal the sealed anodic coating, thereby repairing structural defects within the sealed anodic coating.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2015Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: James A. Curran, Eric W. Hamann, Sean R. Novak
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Patent number: 10590559Abstract: Substrates having laser textured surfaces and methods for forming the same are described. The methods involve using a laser to form three-dimensional features on a surface of the substrate. The laser three-dimensional features can be designed to interact with incident light to create unique visual effects. In some embodiments, the substrate is further treated with a pre-anodizing process and an anodizing process to form a protective metal oxide coating. In some cases, the type of pre-anodizing and anodizing process are chosen based on the geometry of the three-dimensional features and to enhance the visual effects.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2015Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Max A. Maloney, Michael S. Nashner, Sean R. Novak
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Publication number: 20200052425Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2019Publication date: February 13, 2020Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Raymund W. M. Kwok, Hani Esmaeili, Robert Scritzky, Michael W. Barnstead, Xiaoqiang Huang, Ida Y. Lo, Sean R. Novak, Christoph Werner
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Patent number: 9869030Abstract: Anodic oxide coatings and methods for forming anodic oxide coatings are disclosed. In some embodiments, the anodic oxide coatings are multilayered coatings that include at least two anodic oxide layers formed using two separate anodizing processes. The anodic oxide coating includes at least an adhesion-promoting or color-controlling anodic oxide layer adjacent the substrate. The adhesion-promoting anodic oxide layer is formed using an anodizing process that involves using an electrolyte that prevents formation of delaminating compounds at an interface between the adhesion-promoting anodic oxide layer and the substrate, thereby securing the anodic oxide coating to the substrate. In some cases, the electrolyte includes an organic acid, such as oxalic acid. The anodic oxide coating can also include a cosmetic anodic oxide layer having an exposed surface corresponding to an external surface of the anodic oxide coating. Cosmetic anodic oxide layers can be designed to have a desired appearance or tactile quality.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2014Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: James A. Curran, Sean R. Novak
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Publication number: 20170226651Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to treatments for anodic layers. The methods described can be used to impart a white appearance for an anodized substrate. The anodized substrate can include a metal substrate and a porous anodic layer derived from the metal substrate. The porous anodic layer can include pores defined by pore walls and fissures formed within the pore walls. The fissures can act as a light scattering medium to diffusely reflect visible light. In some embodiments, the method can include forming fissures within the pore walls of the porous anodic layer. In some embodiments, exposing the porous anodic layer to an etching solution can form fissures. The method further includes removing a top portion of the porous anodic layer while retaining a portion of the porous anodic layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2017Publication date: August 10, 2017Inventors: James A. Curran, Daniel T. McDonald, Sean R. Novak
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Publication number: 20170009364Abstract: Sealed anodic coatings that are resistant to leaching of nickel and nickel-containing products and methods for forming the same are described. Methods involve post-sealing thermal processes to remove at least some of the leachable nickel from the sealed anodic coatings. In some embodiments, the post-sealing thermal processes involve immersing the sealed anodic coating within a heated solution so as to promote diffusion of the leachable nickel out of the sealed anodic coatings and into the heated solution. The resultant sealed anodic coating is pre-leached of nickel and is therefore well suited for many consumer product applications. In some embodiments, a post-sealing thermal process is used to further hydrate and seal the sealed anodic coating, thereby repairing structural defects within the sealed anodic coating.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2015Publication date: January 12, 2017Inventors: James A. Curran, Eric W. Hamann, Sean R. Novak
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Patent number: 9512537Abstract: Porous metal oxide layers having a color due to visible light interference effects are disclosed. In particular embodiments the porous metal oxide layers are formed using an anodizing processes, which includes a porous metal oxide layer forming process and a barrier layer thickening process. The barrier layer thickening process increases a thickness of a barrier layer within the porous metal oxide layer to a thickness sufficient to and cause incident visible light waves to be reflected in the form of a new visible light waves, thereby imparting a color to the porous metal oxide layer. Methods for tuning the color of the porous metal oxide layer and for color matching surfaces of different types of metal substrates are described.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2014Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: James A. Curran, Sean R. Novak
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Publication number: 20160289858Abstract: Anodizing processes for providing durable and defect-free anodic oxide films, well suited for anodizing highly reflective surfaces, are described. In some embodiments, the anodizing electrolyte has a sulfuric acid concentration substantially less than conventional type II anodizing. In some embodiments, the electrolyte includes a mixture of sulfuric acid and one or more organic acids. In further embodiments, sulfuric acid is a relatively minor additive to an organic acid, primarily serving to minimize discoloration. The processes enables porous, optically clear, and colorless anodic films to be grown in a manner similar to conventional Type II sulfuric acid anodizing, but at lower current densities and/or higher temperatures, without compromising film surface hardness. The thickness uniformity of the resulting anodic oxide films can be within 5% between grains of {111}, {110} and {100} surface orientations.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2015Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: James A. Curran, William A. Counts, Sean R. Novak
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Publication number: 20160265117Abstract: Substrates having laser textured surfaces and methods for forming the same are described. The methods involve using a laser to form three-dimensional features on a surface of the substrate. The laser three-dimensional features can be designed to interact with incident light to create unique visual effects. In some embodiments, the substrate is further treated with a pre-anodizing process and an anodizing process to form a protective metal oxide coating. In some cases, the type of pre-anodizing and anodizing process are chosen based on the geometry of the three-dimensional features and to enhance the visual effects.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2015Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventors: Max A. Maloney, Michael S. Nashner, Sean R. Novak
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Publication number: 20160060783Abstract: Anodic oxide coatings and methods for forming anodic oxide coatings are disclosed. In some embodiments, the anodic oxide coatings are multilayered coatings that include at least two anodic oxide layers formed using two separate anodizing processes. The anodic oxide coating includes at least an adhesion-promoting or color-controlling anodic oxide layer adjacent the substrate. The adhesion-promoting anodic oxide layer is formed using an anodizing process that involves using an electrolyte that prevents formation of delaminating compounds at an interface between the adhesion-promoting anodic oxide layer and the substrate, thereby securing the anodic oxide coating to the substrate. In some cases, the electrolyte includes an organic acid, such as oxalic acid. The anodic oxide coating can also include a cosmetic anodic oxide layer having an exposed surface corresponding to an external surface of the anodic oxide coating. Cosmetic anodic oxide layers can be designed to have a desired appearance or tactile quality.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2014Publication date: March 3, 2016Inventors: James A. Curran, Sean R. Novak
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Publication number: 20150368823Abstract: Porous metal oxide layers having a color due to visible light interference effects are disclosed. In particular embodiments the porous metal oxide layers are formed using an anodizing processes, which includes a porous metal oxide layer forming process and a barrier layer thickening process. The barrier layer thickening process increases a thickness of a barrier layer within the porous metal oxide layer to a thickness sufficient to and cause incident visible light waves to be reflected in the form of a new visible light waves, thereby imparting a color to the porous metal oxide layer. Methods for tuning the color of the porous metal oxide layer and for color matching surfaces of different types of metal substrates are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2014Publication date: December 24, 2015Inventors: James A. Curran, Sean R. Novak