Patents by Inventor William A. Counts

William A. Counts 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: 20250115511
    Abstract: Techniques for making glass components for electronic devices are disclosed. The techniques disclosed herein can be used to modify a glass workpiece to form a three-dimensional glass component, such as a glass cover member. The techniques may involve reshaping the glass workpiece, fusing glass layers of the workpiece, or combinations of these. Glass components and electronic devices including these components are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2024
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: Andrew J. Meschke, Thomas Johannessen, William A. Counts
  • Patent number: 12195379
    Abstract: Techniques for making glass components for electronic devices are disclosed. The techniques disclosed herein can be used to modify a glass workpiece to form a three-dimensional glass component, such as a glass cover member. The techniques may involve reshaping the glass workpiece, fusing glass layers of the workpiece, or combinations of these. Glass components and electronic devices including these components are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Meschke, Thomas Johannessen, William A. Counts
  • Publication number: 20250013274
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure formed of a plurality of layers cooperating to define an interior volume. The enclosure includes a first layer formed of a first material and defining a user input surface of the enclosure and a first portion of a side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a second layer, formed of a second material different from the first material, positioned below the first layer and defining a second portion of the side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a third layer, formed of a third material different from the first and second materials, positioned below the second layer and defining a bottom surface of the enclosure and a third portion of the side surface of the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: Mikael M. Silvanto, Simon J. Trivett, Matthew S. Theobald, Dinesh C. Mathew, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Robert Y. Cao, Ari P. Miller, Kevin M. Robinson, Houtan R. Farahani, Francesco Ferretti, John Raff, Robert J. Lockwood, Genie Kim, Karan Bir, Keith J. Hendren, Gurshan Deol, Antonio Clarke, Prabhu Sathyamurthy, William A. Counts
  • Patent number: 12189439
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure formed of a plurality of layers cooperating to define an interior volume. The enclosure includes a first layer formed of a first material and defining a user input surface of the enclosure and a first portion of a side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a second layer, formed of a second material different from the first material, positioned below the first layer and defining a second portion of the side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a third layer, formed of a third material different from the first and second materials, positioned below the second layer and defining a bottom surface of the enclosure and a third portion of the side surface of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Mikael M. Silvanto, Simon J. Trivett, Matthew S. Theobald, Dinesh C. Mathew, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Robert Y. Cao, Ari P. Miller, Kevin M. Robinson, Houtan R. Farahani, Francesco Ferretti, John Raff, Robert J. Lockwood, Genie Kim, Karan Bir, Keith J. Hendren, Gurshan Deol, Antonio Clarke, Prabhu Sathyamurthy, William A. Counts
  • Patent number: 12114453
    Abstract: A composite housing of an electronic device can include a metal shell including a first material having a first set of material properties and a surface at least partially defining an exterior surface of the electronic device. The composite housing can also include an interior portion including a second material having a second set of material properties independent of the first set of material properties and at least partially defining a feature. The interior portion can be bonded to the shell and disposed interior to the surface of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: William A. Counts, Andrew W. Meschke, Lei Gao, Abhijeet Misra, Alexander W. Williams, Hoishun Li, Lee E. Hooton, Michael B. Wittenberg, James A. Yurko
  • Publication number: 20240284624
    Abstract: A composite housing of an electronic device can include a metal shell including a first material having a first set of material properties and a surface at least partially defining an exterior surface of the electronic device. The composite housing can also include an interior portion including a second material having a second set of material properties independent of the first set of material properties and at least partially defining a feature. The interior portion can be bonded to the shell and disposed interior to the surface of the shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2024
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: William A. Counts, Andrew W. Meschke, Lei Gao, Abhijeet Misra, Alexander W. Williams, Hoishun Li, Lee E. Hooton, Michael B. Wittenberg, James A. Yurko
  • Patent number: 11898808
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing and a support component joined to the housing. The support component can include a thermal conduction layer defining a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The support component can also include a first support layer overlying the first surface and a second support layer overlying the second surface. A ratio of the thickness of the thermal conduction layer to the combined thickness of the first support layer and the second support layer can be at least 1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Robert F. Meyer, William A. Counts, Michael D. Quinones, Jason P. Shannon, David A. Pakula
  • Publication number: 20230122975
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a portable wearable device having a housing that includes a shell formed from a sheet metal material and defining an outer surface of the portable wearable device and a frame formed from a polymer material molded to an inner surface of the shell. The housing also includes a cover glass coupled to a ledge of the frame, where the frame and the cover glass define at least a portion of a sealed cavity. The portable wearable device may include a display assembly coupled to an inner surface of the cover glass such that the display assembly is positioned within the sealed cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Jagbir S. Dhillon, Christopher D. Prest, Tyler S. Atura Bushnell, William A. Counts
  • Patent number: 11550369
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure formed of a plurality of layers cooperating to define an interior volume. The enclosure includes a first layer formed of a first material and defining a user input surface of the enclosure and a first portion of a side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a second layer, formed of a second material different from the first material, positioned below the first layer and defining a second portion of the side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a third layer, formed of a third material different from the first and second materials, positioned below the second layer and defining a bottom surface of the enclosure and a third portion of the side surface of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Mikael M. Silvanto, Simon J. Trivett, Matthew S. Theobald, Dinesh C. Mathew, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Robert Y. Cao, Ari P. Miller, Kevin M. Robinson, Houtan R. Farahani, Francesco Ferretti, John Raff, Robert J. Lockwood, Genie Kim, Karan Bir, Keith J. Hendren, Gurshan Deol, Antonio Clarke, Prabhu Sathyamurthy, William A. Counts
  • Patent number: 11418638
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to an enclosure for an electronic device. In one aspect, an embodiment includes an enclosure having an enclosure component and an internal component that may be affixed along a bonding region. The enclosure component may be formed from an enclosure material and defines an exterior surface of the enclosure and an opening configured to receive a display. The internal component may be formed from a metal material different than the enclosure material. The bonding region may include an interstitial material that has a melting temperature that is less than a melting temperature of either one of the enclosure material or the metal material. The bonding region may also include one or more of the enclosure material or the metal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Abhijeet Misra, Steven J. Osborne, Ian A. Spraggs, Marwan Rammah, William A. Counts
  • Publication number: 20220194840
    Abstract: Techniques for making glass components for electronic devices are disclosed. The techniques disclosed herein can be used to modify a glass workpiece to form a three-dimensional glass component, such as a glass cover member. The techniques may involve reshaping the glass workpiece, fusing glass layers of the workpiece, or combinations of these. Glass components and electronic devices including these components are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew J. Meschke, Thomas Johannessen, William A. Counts
  • Patent number: 11345121
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an aluminized composite including a base material. The aluminized composite may also include a diffusion layer disposed over the base material. The aluminized composite may further include an aluminum material disposed over the diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Yokoyama, Naoto Matsuyuki, James A. Wright, Brian M. Gable, William A. Counts, Eric W. Hamann
  • Patent number: 11345980
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an aluminum alloy may include iron (Fe) of at least 0.10 wt %, silicon (Si) of at least 0.35 wt %, and magnesium (Mg) of at least 0.45 wt %, manganese (Mn) in amount of at least 0.005 wt %, and additional elements, the remaining wt % being Al and incidental impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Gable, Herng-Jeng Jou, Weiming Huang, Graeme W. Paul, William A. Counts, Eric W. Hamann, Katie L. Sassaman, Abhijeet Misra, Zechariah D. Feinberg, James A. Yurko, Brian P. Demers, Rafael Yu, Anuj Datta Roy, Susannah P. Calvin
  • Patent number: 11207795
    Abstract: A mold apparatus to form a ceramic (or glass) includes a first mold portion having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a second mold portion having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. In some embodiments, the first mold portion and/or the second mold portion are substantially immiscible with the ceramic material, such as silicon oxide, at a temperature greater than 600° C. In some embodiments, the first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second coefficient of thermal expansion are substantially similar to that of the glass or ceramic material. In some embodiments, the first coefficient of thermal expansion is different from the second coefficient of thermal expansion. In some embodiments, the first mold portion and the second mold portion contain a surface coating and a passivation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Mattlin, Abhijeet Misra, Herng-Jeng Jou, James A. Wright, James A. Yurko, Lei Gao, Weiming Huang, William A. Counts
  • Patent number: 11111594
    Abstract: Anodic oxide coatings and methods for forming anodic oxide coatings on metal alloy substrates are disclosed. Methods involve post-anodizing processes that improve the appearance of the anodic oxide coating or increase the strength of the underlying metal alloy substrates. In some embodiments, a diffusion promoting process is used to promote diffusion of one or more types of alloying elements enriched at an interface between the anodic oxide coating and the metal alloy substrate away from the interface. The diffusion promoting process can increase an adhesion strength of the anodic oxide film to the metal alloy substrate and reduce an amount of discoloration due to the enriched alloying elements. In some embodiments, a post-anodizing age hardening process is used to increase the strength of the metal alloy substrate and to improve cosmetics of the anodic oxide coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: James A. Curran, William A. Counts, Eric W. Hamann
  • Publication number: 20210149458
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure formed of a plurality of layers cooperating to define an interior volume. The enclosure includes a first layer formed of a first material and defining a user input surface of the enclosure and a first portion of a side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a second layer, formed of a second material different from the first material, positioned below the first layer and defining a second portion of the side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a third layer, formed of a third material different from the first and second materials, positioned below the second layer and defining a bottom surface of the enclosure and a third portion of the side surface of the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Mikael M. Silvanto, Simon J. Trivett, Matthew S. Theobald, Dinesh C. Mathew, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Robert Y. Cao, Ari P. Miller, Kevin M. Robinson, Houtan R. Farahani, Francesco Ferretti, John Raff, Robert J. Lockwood, Genie Kim, Karan Bir, Keith J. Hendren, Gurshan Deol, Antonio Clarke, Prabhu Sathyamurthy, William A. Counts
  • Publication number: 20210087664
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy that may include 0.45 to 0.85 wt % Si, 0.15 to 0.25 wt % Cu, 0.40 to 0.80 wt % Fe, 1.20 to 1.65 wt % Mg, and 0.80 to 1.10 wt % Mn, where the balance is aluminum and incidental impurities. The alloy can include used beverage can (UBC) scrap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Eric W. Hamann, Weiming Huang, Brian M. Gable, Herng-Jeng Jou, William A. Counts
  • Patent number: 10915151
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure formed of a plurality of layers cooperating to define an interior volume. The enclosure includes a first layer formed of a first material and defining a user input surface of the enclosure and a first portion of a side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a second layer, formed of a second material different from the first material, positioned below the first layer and defining a second portion of the side surface of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a third layer, formed of a third material different from the first and second materials, positioned below the second layer and defining a bottom surface of the enclosure and a third portion of the side surface of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Mikael M. Silvanto, Simon J. Trivett, Matthew S. Theobald, Dinesh C. Mathew, Simon R. Lancaster-Larocque, Robert Y. Cao, Ari P. Miller, Kevin M. Robinson, Houtan R. Farahani, Francesco Ferretti, John Raff, Robert J. Lockwood, Genie Kim, Karan Bir, Keith J. Hendren, Gurshan Deol, Antonio Clarke, Prabhu Sathyamurthy, William A. Counts
  • Patent number: 10856443
    Abstract: This application relates to an enclosure for a portable electronic device is described. The enclosure can include metal bands included along the enclosure and a support structure. The support structure can include a thermally conductive core that is capable of conducting thermal energy generated by the operational components and rails that are bound between the metal bands and the thermally conductive core, where the rails are characterized as having a rate of thermal conductivity that is less than a rate of thermal conductivity of the thermally conductive core so that the thermal energy generated by the operational component is directed away from the operational component and away from the metal bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: William A. Counts, Abhijeet Misra, Nagarajan Kalyanasundaram, James A. Yurko
  • Publication number: 20200337184
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing and a support component joined to the housing. The support component can include a thermal conduction layer defining a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The support component can also include a first support layer overlying the first surface and a second support layer overlying the second surface. A ratio of the thickness of the thermal conduction layer to the combined thickness of the first support layer and the second support layer can be at least 1.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Robert F. Meyer, William A. Counts, Michael D. Quinones, Jason P. Shannon, David A. Pakula