Patents by Inventor Daniel T. McDonald

Daniel T. McDonald 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: 11887775
    Abstract: Electronic devices according to embodiments of the present technology may include a battery. The devices may include a nanocrystalline foil. The devices may include a wireless charging coil seated on the nanocrystalline foil. The devices may also include an integrated circuit configured to operate the wireless charging coil in a wireless charging transmission mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Pinciuc, Daniel T. McDonald, Tao Pan
  • Publication number: 20230232560
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing sidewall defining an opening and a display component, such as a display cover, disposed in the opening to form a gap between the housing sidewall and the display component. In at least one example, the cavity is defined by the sidewall and the display cover with the cavity in fluid communication with an external environment through the gap. In at least one example, an epoxy component at least partially defines the cavity and can be in direct contact with the housing sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Michael R. Parker, Daniel T. McDonald, Devon K. Copeland, Tyler S. Atura Bushnell, Christopher M. Werner, Michael A. Fisher, Natalie Y. Homsi, Alexandros J. Petrakis, Trent J. Canales
  • Patent number: 11647324
    Abstract: An audio speaker having an adsorptive insert in a speaker back volume, is disclosed. More particularly, an embodiment includes an adsorptive insert having a rigid open-pore body formed by bonded adsorptive particles. The rigid open-pore body includes interconnected macropores that transport air from the speaker back volume to adsorptive micropores in the bonded adsorptive particles during sound generation. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Wilk, Ruchir M. Dave, Scott P. Porter, Daniel T. McDonald
  • Publication number: 20230075207
    Abstract: Electronic devices according to embodiments of the present technology may include a battery. The devices may include a nanocrystalline foil. The devices may include a wireless charging coil seated on the nanocrystalline foil. The devices may also include an integrated circuit configured to operate the wireless charging coil in a wireless charging transmission mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Pinciuc, Daniel T. McDonald, Tao Pan
  • Patent number: 11515083
    Abstract: Electronic devices according to embodiments of the present technology may include a battery. The devices may include a nanocrystalline foil. The devices may include a wireless charging coil seated on the nanocrystalline foil. The devices may also include an integrated circuit configured to operate the wireless charging coil in a wireless charging transmission mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Pinciuc, Daniel T. McDonald, Tao Pan
  • Publication number: 20210195317
    Abstract: An audio speaker having an adsorptive insert in a speaker back volume, is disclosed. More particularly, an embodiment includes an adsorptive insert having a rigid open-pore body formed by bonded adsorptive particles. The rigid open-pore body includes interconnected macropores that transport air from the speaker back volume to adsorptive micropores in the bonded adsorptive particles during sound generation. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Wilk, Ruchir M. Dave, Scott P. Porter, Daniel T. McDonald
  • Patent number: 11032930
    Abstract: This application relates to a method for forming an enclosure for a portable electronic device. The enclosure includes a metal substrate having a first b* value. The method includes forming an anodized layer that overlays and is formed from the metal substrate, wherein the anodized layer has a second b* value that is no greater than 0.3 of the first b* value and no less than 0.3 less than the first *b value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: James A. Curran, Todd S. Mintz, Daniel T. McDonald
  • Patent number: 11028468
    Abstract: A component for an electronic device can include a metal alloy formed by a metal injection molding process. The metal alloy can have a composition of about 32 wt % to about 38 wt % cobalt and about 62 wt % to about 68 wt % iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: John C. DiFonzo, Abhijeet Misra, Charles J. Kuehmann, Daniel T. McDonald
  • Patent number: 10941503
    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: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    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
  • Patent number: 10920333
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: James A. Curran, Daniel T. McDonald, Sean R. Novak
  • Patent number: 10917713
    Abstract: An audio speaker having an adsorptive insert in a speaker back volume, is disclosed. More particularly, an embodiment includes an adsorptive insert having a rigid open-pore body formed by bonded adsorptive particles. The rigid open-pore body includes interconnected macropores that transport air from the speaker back volume to adsorptive micropores in the bonded adsorptive particles during sound generation. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Wilk, Ruchir M. Dave, Scott P. Porter, Daniel T. McDonald
  • Publication number: 20200383223
    Abstract: This application relates to a method for forming an enclosure for a portable electronic device. The enclosure includes a metal substrate having a first b* value. The method includes forming an anodized layer that overlays and is formed from the metal substrate, wherein the anodized layer has a second b* value that is no greater than 0.3 of the first b* value and no less than 0.3 less than the first *b value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: James A. CURRAN, Todd S. MINTZ, Daniel T. MCDONALD
  • Publication number: 20200107098
    Abstract: A component for an electronic device can include a metal alloy formed by a metal injection molding process. The metal alloy can have a composition of about 32 wt % to about 38 wt % cobalt and about 62 wt % to about 68 wt % iron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: John C. DiFonzo, Abhijeet Misra, Charles J. Kuehmann, Daniel T. McDonald
  • Publication number: 20200105465
    Abstract: Electronic devices according to embodiments of the present technology may include a battery. The devices may include a nanocrystalline foil. The devices may include a wireless charging coil seated on the nanocrystalline foil. The devices may also include an integrated circuit configured to operate the wireless charging coil in a wireless charging transmission mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Pinciuc, Daniel T. McDonald, Tao Pan
  • Patent number: 10587074
    Abstract: An electronic receptacle connector includes a hybrid contact assembly that includes a contact plate that has multiple fingers, a contact positioned at a distal end of each finger and a conductor that runs along each finger and electrically couples each contact to an interconnect region positioned outside of the housing. The fingers are made from a first material and the contacts are made from a second material such that each of the first and the second materials can be independently optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Appple Inc.
    Inventors: Hani Esmaeili, Daniel T. McDonald, Aaron A. Oro, Eric S. Jol
  • Patent number: 10472709
    Abstract: An electroformed binary copper alloy comprising copper and X, where X is selected from the group consisting of Cr, Fe, W, Mo, B, Co, Ag, and P, having a yield strength of at least 600 MPa and an electrical conductivity of at least 20% IACS is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel T. McDonald, James A. Wright, Wai Man Raymund Kwok
  • Patent number: 10461452
    Abstract: Techniques for forming a metal oxide from a metal substrate are disclosed. In some embodiments, the metal oxide can have an optical path difference between about 300 nm to about 1000 nm. The variations in optical path difference can impart the metal oxide to correspond to a range of pre-defined colors. In some embodiments, the optical path difference can impart the metal oxide to have an oxide color that is substantially similar to a color of a housing of a portable electronic device. In some embodiments, the metal oxide can be electrically conductive and the metal oxide can be utilized as an electrical contact of an electronic device to transmit and receive power and data from another electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Curran, Daniel T. McDonald
  • Patent number: 10434602
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel T. McDonald, Michael S. Nashner, Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Masashige Tatebe
  • 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: 20190174223
    Abstract: An audio speaker having an adsorptive insert in a speaker back volume, is disclosed. More particularly, an embodiment includes an adsorptive insert having a rigid open-pore body formed by bonded adsorptive particles. The rigid open-pore body includes interconnected macropores that transport air from the speaker back volume to adsorptive micropores in the bonded adsorptive particles during sound generation. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher Wilk, Ruchir M. Dave, Scott P. Porter, Daniel T. McDonald