Controlled ablation and surface modification for marking an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11772402-B2
Application number	US-202117168084-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2021
Priority date	Jul 3, 2018
Publication date	Oct 3, 2023
Grant date	Oct 3, 2023

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a device component comprising:
a metal material;
a multilayer coating formed over a surface of the metal material and comprising:
a first layer disposed over the surface of the metal material and comprising a polymer binder and pigment particles dispersed within the polymer binder; and
a transparent second layer disposed over the first layer and comprising a transparent polymer; and

a marking comprising a relief feature having:
a recess wall partially defining a recess formed into the multilayer coating; and
a groove formed into the metal material and defining a bottom surface of the relief feature.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the groove surrounds a region of the multilayer coating.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein a profile of the groove has a V-shape.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein an angle defined between a first groove wall and a second groove wall is from about 60 degrees to about 120 degrees.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises:
a first sub layer comprising a primer; and
a second sub layer disposed over the first sub layer and comprising the polymer binder and the pigment particles dispersed within the polymer binder.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the transparent second layer comprises a transparent acrylic polymer and at least one filler material.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the metal material is a titanium-based alloy.

8. An electronic device, comprising:
a device component comprising:
a metal substrate;
a multi-layer coating formed along a surface of the metal substrate and comprising:
a first layer disposed over the surface of the metal substrate and comprising a polymer binder and inorganic pigment particles dispersed within the polymer binder; and
a transparent second layer disposed over the first layer, defining at least a portion of an exterior surface of the electronic device, and comprising a transparent polymer; and

a marking formed along the portion of the exterior surface of the electronic device and including a relief feature comprising:
a recessed marking feature at least partially formed in the metal substrate; and
at least one recess sidewall partially defining a side of a recess extending through the first layer and the transparent second layer.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the recessed marking feature partially defines an outline of the marking.

10. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the recessed marking feature defines a channel formed in the metal substrate.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the recessed marking feature further includes a metal oxide layer positioned within the channel and configured to impart a color to the recessed marking feature.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein:
the metal substrate is formed from an alloy; and
the metal oxide layer comprises an oxide formed from a metal component of the alloy.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the metal substrate is formed of a titanium-based alloy and the metal oxide layer comprises a titanium oxide.

14. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the recessed marking feature at least partially defines an interior and an outline of the marking.

15. An electronic device, comprising:
a device component comprising:
a metal substrate;
a multilayer coating formed along a surface of the metal substrate and comprising:
a first layer disposed over the surface of the metal substrate and comprising a polymer binder and inorganic pigment particles dispersed within the polymer binder; and
a transparent second layer disposed over the first layer, defining at least a portion of an exterior surface of the electronic device, and comprising a transparent polymer; and

a marking formed along the portion of the exterior surface of the electronic device and including a relief feature, the relief feature comprising:
a first recessed marking feature formed along the surface of the metal substrate; and
a second recessed marking feature formed in the metal substrate and at least partially surrounding the first recessed marking feature, the second recessed marking feature defining a side of a recess extending through the first layer and the transparent second layer.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the first recessed marking feature comprises recesses formed into the metal substrate.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the recesses define a pattern of parallel lines.

18. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein:
the first recessed marking feature includes an oxide layer formed along the surface of the metal substrate; and
a color of the first recessed marking feature is due, at least in part, to a thickness of the oxide layer.

19. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the first recessed marking feature has a first metallic color different from a second metallic color of another portion of the metal substrate.

20. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the second recessed marking feature defines a groove formed into the metal substrate and defining a rounded cross-sectional shape.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Nashner Michael S
• Russell-Clarke Peter N

Classifications

• B41M5/24 Primary

  Ablative recording, e.g. by burning marks; Spark recording {(marking by high energetic means, e.g. by laser otherwise than burning or ablative removal B41M5/26; materials or methods for recording or reproduction by optical means G11B7/00)} · CPC title

• B32B3/02

  characterised by features of form at particular places, e.g. in edge regions {(non-uniform thickness B32B3/263)} · CPC title

• B32B3/30

  characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. {hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs (apertured layer B32B3/266; layer with cavities or internal voids B32B3/26)} · CPC title

• B32B9/041

  of metal · CPC title

• B32B38/06

  Embossing · CPC title