Patents by Inventor Michael S. Nashner

Michael S. Nashner 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).

  • Publication number: 20240022842
    Abstract: A system such as a vehicle, building, vessel, aircraft, or electronic device system may have a layer of material with invisible laser-drilled openings. The layer of material may include an outer layer of fabric overlapping an inner layer such as an inner foam layer. Laser-drilled openings may include outer openings in the fabric layer and inner openings in the foam layer. Each of the inner openings may be overlapped by multiple outer openings. The exposed surface of the fabric layer may have strands of material of different appearances and/or may otherwise be configured to help visually hide the laser-drilled openings. Laser-drilled openings may also have small sizes to help make the laser-drilled openings invisible. Laser-drilled openings may overlap components such as audio components, heating and cooling components, and/or light-emitting components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: James G. Griffin, II, Lukas Satas, Michael S. Nashner, Zuguang Chen, Jason T. Parker
  • Patent number: 11838709
    Abstract: A system such as a vehicle, building, vessel, aircraft, or electronic device system may have a layer of material with invisible laser-drilled openings. The layer of material may include an outer layer of fabric overlapping an inner layer such as an inner foam layer. Laser-drilled openings may include outer openings in the fabric layer and inner openings in the foam layer. Each of the inner openings may be overlapped by multiple outer openings. The exposed surface of the fabric layer may have strands of material of different appearances and/or may otherwise be configured to help visually hide the laser-drilled openings. Laser-drilled openings may also have small sizes to help make the laser-drilled openings invisible. Laser-drilled openings may overlap components such as audio components, heating and cooling components, and/or light-emitting components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James G. Griffin, II, Lukas Satas, Michael S. Nashner, Zuguang Chen, Jason T. Parker
  • Patent number: 11772402
    Abstract: An article having a laser-formed marking is disclosed. The article includes a coating defining an exterior surface of the article and the marking extends through the coating. The marking comprises a recessed marking feature which provides a color or other visual attribute to the marking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael S. Nashner, Peter N. Russell-Clarke
  • Publication number: 20230111348
    Abstract: A housing for an electronic device is disclosed. A surface of the housing includes a laser-formed marking. The marking comprises a plurality of laser-formed pixels and may include a grayscale image. Electronic devices including the laser-marked housings and techniques for laser-marking the housings are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Michael S. Nashner, Erica K. Block, Shota Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 11597226
    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 sub-surfaces of the housings. For example, a housing for a particular product can include an outer housing surface and the markings can be provided on a sub-surface of the outer housing surface yet still be visible from the outside of the housing. Since the markings are beneath the surface of the housing, the markings are durable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael S. Nashner, John T. Payne, Jody R. Akana
  • Patent number: 11571766
    Abstract: Markings for electronic devices are disclosed. Markings are formed through a laser-based process which transforms a colorant in a multilayer structure disposed along an interior surface of a cover. The transformed colorant defines a marking visible along an external surface of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Matthew S. Rogers, Manish Mittal, Marta M. Giachino, Michael S. Nashner
  • Patent number: 11499255
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may take the form of a textile product having one or more regions of reduced density. These reduced density volumes may form one or more features in the product. For example, the reduced density volumes may have better acoustic transmission properties, optical transmission properties, flexibility, and the like. Sound transmission may be enhanced not only in terms of clarity, but also overall range. That is, certain audio frequencies that the textile may normally block when in an unaltered state may pass through a textile having reduced density or reduced density regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Baker, Michael B. Howes, Michael S. Nashner, Yoji Hamada
  • Patent number: 11389903
    Abstract: A housing for an electronic device including a marking comprising multiple pixels is disclosed herein. The housing comprises one or more oxide layer, such as a metal oxide layer, and the marking comprises pixels formed into or within the oxide layer. In some instances, the pixels cooperate to form an image along an exterior surface of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Michael S. Nashner
  • Patent number: 11200386
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to an electronic identification card or electronic card having various features. The electronic card may include an integrated circuit and a contact plate for electrically interfacing with the integrated circuit. The contact plate may include an array of terminal electrodes that are offset with respect to the edges of the contact plate. The electronic card may be coated with a coating layer that extends at least partially over a ferromagnetic element or film. The electronic card may also include a metal substrate having exposed chamfer portions that may provide a visual contrast to the coating layer and also improve the handling and use of the electronic card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Rafael L. Dionello, John Groff, Liliya Lyandres, Mark Townsend, Matthew Saucier, Robert Reichenbach, Travis Pedley, Michael S. Nashner
  • Publication number: 20210291300
    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 9, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Michael S. Nashner, Houtan R. Farahani
  • Patent number: 11033984
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Michael S. Nashner, Houtan R. Farahani
  • Publication number: 20210155026
    Abstract: An article having a laser-formed marking is disclosed. The article includes a coating defining an exterior surface of the article and the marking extends through the coating. The marking comprises a recessed marking feature which provides a color or other visual attribute to the marking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Michael S. Nashner, Peter N. Russell-Clarke
  • 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: 10919326
    Abstract: An article having a laser-formed marking is disclosed. The article includes a coating defining an exterior surface of the article and the marking extends through the coating. The marking comprises a recessed marking feature which provides a color or other visual attribute to the marking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael S. Nashner, Peter N. Russell-Clarke
  • Publication number: 20200255996
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may take the form of a textile product having one or more regions of reduced density. These reduced density volumes may form one or more features in the product. For example, the reduced density volumes may have better acoustic transmission properties, optical transmission properties, flexibility, and the like. Sound transmission may be enhanced not only in terms of clarity, but also overall range. That is, certain audio frequencies that the textile may normally block when in an unaltered state may pass through a textile having reduced density or reduced density regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: John J. Baker, Michael B. Howes, Michael S. Nashner, Yoji Hamada
  • Publication number: 20200180076
    Abstract: Markings for electronic devices are disclosed. Markings are formed through a laser-based process which transforms a colorant in a multilayer structure disposed along an interior surface of a cover. The transformed colorant defines a marking visible along an external surface of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew S. Rogers, Manish Mittal, Marta M. Giachino, Michael S. Nashner
  • Patent number: 10639746
    Abstract: A ceramic-based component including laser-etched markings, an electronic device including a ceramic-based component, and methods of forming the same. The ceramic-based component may include an outer surface, and a laser-etched marking formed on the outer surface. The laser-etched marking may include a recess having a substantially uneven surface formed in the outer surface. The recess may have a material composition distinct from a material composition of the outer surface. The method of forming the ceramic-based component may include laser etching an outer surface of a ceramic-based component, and in response to the laser etching, forming a laser-etched marking on the outer surface of the ceramic-based component. The method may also include altering the optically reflective properties of the laser-etched marking and/or altering a material composition of the laser-etched marking relative to a distinct material composition of the outer surface of the ceramic-based component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael S. Nashner, Peter N. Russell-Clarke
  • Publication number: 20200104550
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to an electronic identification card or electronic card having various features. The electronic card may include an integrated circuit and a contact plate for electrically interfacing with the integrated circuit. The contact plate may include an array of terminal electrodes that are offset with respect to the edges of the contact plate. The electronic card may be coated with a coating layer that extends at least partially over a ferromagnetic element or film. The electronic card may also include a metal substrate having exposed chamfer portions that may provide a visual contrast to the coating layer and also improve the handling and use of the electronic card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Rafael L. Dionello, John Groff, Liliya Lyandres, Mark Townsend, Matthew Saucier, Robert Reichenbach, Travis Pedley, Michael S. Nashner
  • Patent number: 10590559
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Max A. Maloney, Michael S. Nashner, Sean R. Novak
  • Publication number: 20200039001
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing a textured pattern on a surface of a part using a laser. The part or laser may be rotated while forming the textured pattern to create a continuous textured pattern on a surface of a part. The continuous textured pattern may be substantially uniform over the entire pattern. A laser texturing system may also include an optical scanner. A first region of the surface of the part may be scanned using a first laser beam. One or more laser texturing parameters or a simulated geometric model may be created based on the scan of the first region. The textured pattern may be formed on the first region using a second laser beam. The textured pattern may be formed in accordance with the one or more laser texturing parameters or simulated geometric model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Michael S. NASHNER, Peter N. RUSSELL-CLARKE