Abstract: A screen having a hydrophobic portion to resist the entry of liquid into an acoustic module and a hydrophilic portion to aid in the removal of liquid from an acoustic chamber is described. The screen is placed in an orifice in the acoustic module between the external environment and the internal acoustic chamber.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to methods and apparatuses for casting of BMG-containing parts. The surfaces of the mold that come into contact with the molten amorphous alloy comprise an amorphous material. In accordance with the disclosure, the mold may be coated with an amorphous material, e.g., to reduce, minimize, or eliminate crystallization of the molded BMG-containing part. The surfaces of the mold are coated, in certain aspects, so as to reduce or eliminate potential grain-boundary nucleation sites for BMG crystallization. The amorphous material may be selected based on the particular molten amorphous alloy to be cast, e.g., based on the wetting properties, the melting and cooling properties, etc.

Abstract: Systems and methods for strengthening a sapphire part are described herein. One embodiment may take the form of a method including orienting a first surface of a sapphire member relative to an ion implantation device and performing a first implantation step. The implanting step may include directing ions at the first surface of the sapphire member to embed them under the first surface. The systems and methods may also include one or more of heating the sapphire member to diffuse the implanted ions into deeper layers of sapphire member, cooling the sapphire member, and performing at least a second implantation step directing ions at the first surface of the sapphire member to embed the ions under the first surface.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to freefall methods and apparatuses for preparation of amorphous BMG feedstock and sheet material. In certain aspects, the disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for contactless formation of BMG feedstock and sheet material via a drop-tower. In certain embodiments, the methods comprise releasing droplets of molten amorphous alloy into a cooled, pressurized chamber of a drop-tower, wherein the droplets traverse the chamber through freefall to thereby form BMG feedstock or sheet material.

Abstract: Techniques for fabricating a laminated ceramic housing that can be used for a handheld computing device that includes an enclosure having structural walls formed from a multi-layered ceramic material that can be radio-transparent. The multi-layered ceramic housing can be formed of a plurality of ceramic materials such as zirconia and alumina in any combination. The multi-layer ceramic substrate includes an inner layer and surface layers that sandwich the inner layer. The multi-layer ceramic substrate has an increased transverse strength due to the surface layers having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is less than that of the inner layer.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a display. The display may be an organic light-emitting diode display. The organic light-emitting diode display may have a substrate layer, a layer of organic light-emitting diode structures, and a layer of sealant. Vias may be formed in the substrate layer. The vias may be formed before completion of the display or after completion of the display. The vias may be filled with metal using electroplating or other metal deposition techniques. The vias may be connected to contacts on the rear surface of the display. The vias may be located in active regions of the display or inactive regions of the display. The display may include a top surface emission portion and a bottom surface emission portion.

Abstract: An article is disclosed. The article is an open connector that includes a base and first and second sides. The base and the first and second sides together define a receptacle channel. The receptacle channel is sized and shaped to receive a connector insert. The open connector includes one or several electrical contacts that can be located proximate to the base of the open connector. The electrical contact electrically connects with the connector insert. The open connector includes a retainer that can interact with a portion of the connector insert to retain the connector insert within the receptacle channel.

Abstract: A woven fabric includes light transmissive fibers woven into the fabric to provide a visual display. The fabric may be used as a tether to releasably connect a portable electronic device to a user. The light transmissive fibers may transmit light to convey information to the user. The fabric may also be used as part of the housing of an electronic device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for providing haptic output for an electronic device. In certain embodiments, a type of haptic output is provided based on a determined orientation, position, and/or operating environment of the electronic device. Specifically, the electronic device may receive input from one or more sensors associated with electronic device. Once the input from the one or more sensors is received, an orientation, position and/or operating environment of the electronic device is determined. Based on the determined orientation of the electronic device, a type of haptic output is selected and provided.

Abstract: Techniques for fabricating a laminated ceramic housing that can be used for a handheld computing device that includes an enclosure having structural walls formed from a multi-layered ceramic material that can be radio-transparent. The multi-layered ceramic housing can be formed of a plurality of ceramic materials such as zirconia and alumina in any combination. The multi-layer ceramic substrate includes an inner layer and surface layers that sandwich the inner layer. The multi-layer ceramic substrate has an increased transverse strength due to the surface layers having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is less than that of the inner layer.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed are directed to a woven fabric band that is capable of being secured to another object using threads or the band itself. The woven fabric band may include an inner layer having a first temperature melting point and an outer layer having a second temperature melting point that is higher than the first temperature melting point. When heat having the first temperature is applied to the woven fabric band, the inner layer of the woven fabric band melts while the outer layer remains in its original state. When the inner layer melts, the inner layer conforms to a first shape. As a result of the inner layer conforming to the first shape, the outer layer also conforms to the same shape.

Abstract: An improved retention mechanism having corresponding retention features is provided herein. The mechanism may include a pair of spring arm retention features in a connector receptacle engageable with a corresponding pair of recessed retention features in a connector tab and backup spring members for reducing stress within the spring arms during insertion of the tab and/or lubricating members for lubricating the retention mechanism. The backup spring is positioned adjacent an outer-facing surface or extends laterally outward from the spring arms so that deflection of the spring arms displaces the backup spring reducing stresses within each arm and/or increasing the retention force on the connector tab. The backup spring may include any or all of a bent portion of an bracket or arm, a wire, a loop, a complementary spring arm, dual backup springs, elastomeric members, compression springs and lubricating members. Methods of use and assembly such retention mechanisms are also provided.

Abstract: A retention latch mechanism having corresponding retention features and stress reducing members is provided herein. In an example embodiment, the retention latch mechanism comprises a pair of spring arm retention features of a receptacle engageable with a corresponding pair of recessed retention features of an insertable tab and one or more backup spring members for reducing stress within the spring arms during insertion of the tab into the receptacle. The backup spring is positioned adjacent an outward facing surface such that outward lateral deflection of the spring arms deflects the backup spring thereby reducing force within the spring arm. In some embodiments, the backup spring includes any or all of a bent portion of an associated bracket or arm member, a wire, a loop, a complementary spring arm, dual backup springs, elastomeric members and self-lubricating members. Methods of providing retention of a tab within a receptacle are also provided herein.

Abstract: Techniques for fabricating a laminated ceramic housing that can be used for a handheld computing device that includes an enclosure having structural walls formed from a multi-layered ceramic material that can be radio-transparent. The multi-layered ceramic housing can be formed of a plurality of ceramic materials such as zirconia and alumina in any combination. The multi-layer ceramic substrate includes an inner layer and surface layers that sandwich the inner layer. The multi-layer ceramic substrate has an increased transverse strength due to the surface layers having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is less than that of the inner layer.

Abstract: An improved outer layer of plating comprising a binary metal alloy of gold and palladium is employed on connector contacts. The binary metal alloy is plated on at least the contact surface of the contacts. Intermediate plating layers can be applied between the outer layer of gold and palladium and the conductive base of the contacts. The binary metal alloy of gold and palladium may be configured to have a mostly gold or a mostly silver appearance, depending upon the relative concentration of gold and palladium in the binary metal alloy.

Abstract: An opaque cover is provided for a capacitive sensor. The cover includes a transparent substrate, and at least one white coating layer including white pigments disposed over at least one portion of the transparent substrate. The cover also includes a non-conductive minor structure disposed over the at least one white coating layer. The non-conductive minor structure includes a number of first dielectric layers having a first refractive index interleaved with second dielectric layers having a second refractive index. The first and second dielectric layers have dielectric constants below a threshold.

Abstract: An opaque cover for a capacitive sensor is provided. The cover includes a transparent substrate and a black color stack disposed adjacent the transparent substrate. The black color stack includes a pigment stack having a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer, and a first light absorbing layer positioned between the first and second dielectric layers. The first dielectric layer has a first refractive index. The second dielectric layer has a second refractive index different from the first refractive index. The black color stack also includes a plurality of second light absorption layers interleaved with a plurality of third dielectric layers.

Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display. The display may be a liquid crystal display having a thin-film transistor layer and a color filter layer. The thin-film transistor layer may have diagonally opposed recesses in its edges that form diagonally opposed display driver ledges that protrude outwardly from under the color filter layer. Display driver circuitry may be mounted on the display driver ledges. Gate driver circuitry may be formed on the thin-film transistor layer. Recesses may be formed along the left and right edges of the display to form left and right display driver ledges to support the gate driver circuitry. A single display drive integrated circuit or multiple display driver integrated circuits may be mounted on each display driver ledge. The recesses may accommodate components in the electronic device such as a camera and audio jack or other components.

Abstract: An electrical device such as a headset may have a cable. Wires in the cable may be used to connect speakers in the headset to a connector such as an audio jack. The cable may have a tubular intertwined cable cover that covers the wires. Computer-controlled servo motors in fiber intertwining equipment may be adjusted in real time so that intertwined attributes such as intertwining density and intertwining tension are varied as a function of length along the intertwined cable cover. The fiber intertwining equipment may make these variations to locally increase the strength of the intertwined cable cover and the cable in the vicinity of a bifurcation in the cable and in the vicinity of the portion of the cable that terminates at the audio jack.

Abstract: A retention latch mechanism having a retention spring of a first connector engageable with a retention feature of a second connector. The retention spring may include a spring arm having a distal, curved retaining portion that is resiliently received within the retention feature and a reinforced portion that is proximal of the distal retaining portion. The reinforced portion includes a layer having residual compressive stress to inhibit fatigue failure during repeated cycling of the latch mechanism. The reinforced portion may be formed by a cold working method, such as shot peening a select region of the spring arm. The reinforced portion is formed to inhibit fatigue failure during repeated cycling of the latch mechanism. Methods of forming a retention mechanism having a retention spring with a reinforced portion are provided herein.