Abstract:
A cold worked stainless steel bezel for a portable elctronic device is provided. the bezel is secured flush to a housing to form part of the case of the portable electronic device. A brace that includes a slot for receiving a wall extending from the bezel is fixed to the housing. When the bezel engages the housing, the wall of the bezel is inserted in the slot of the brace and releasably held by a spring that engages both the brace and the wall. The bezel can be released by disengaging the spring, (e.g., using a special tool or a magnetic field). Because the bezel is manufactured from cold worked stainless steel, it is hard and resistant to impacts. Cold worked steel also facilitates manufacturing within design constraints and tolerances, and requires very little machining after manufacturing to comply with those constraints. The portable electronic device may include a personal media device, a mobile telephone, or any other suitable device or combination thereof.
Abstract:
A method comprising: constructing a master curve plot comprising a plurality of reference curves, each reference curve representing a relationship between volume and temperature for one of a plurality of reference alloy samples having a chemical composition and various predetermined degrees of crystallinity; for an alloy specimen having the chemical composition and an unknown degree of crystallinity, obtaining a curve representing a relationship between volume and temperature thereof; and determining the unknown degree of crystallinity by comparing the curve to the master curve plot.
Abstract:
Various embodiments provide materials, parts, and methods useful for electronic devices. One embodiment includes providing a coating on at least one surface of a substrate, increasing an amorphicity of the coating, and incorporating the substrate including the coating having increased amorphicity into an electronic device. Another embodiment relates to frictionally transforming a coating from crystalline into amorphous to form a metamorphically transformed coating for an electronic device. Another embodiment relates to an electronic device part having a metamorphically transformed coating disposed on at least one surface thereof.
Abstract:
One embodiment provides a method comprising: providing a sample comprising a bulk amorphous alloy; scanning ultrasonically at least a portion of the sample to determine a parameter of the sample in the portion; and comparing the parameter to a predetermined standard to derive a property related to the sample.
Abstract:
A bezel (310) configured to engage a housing (110) to form the case (100) of a portable electronic device, the bezel (310) comprising: a base structure (312) comprising an externally exposed surface (314), wherein the entirety of the externally exposed surface has a substantially smooth outer surface; and an attachment portion (330) extending from the base structure (312), wherein the base structure (312) and the attachment portion (330) are constructed from a single piece of material, the attachment portion (330) comprising: a plurality of walls (332) configured to extend into the housing (110), the plurality of walls (332) comprising at least one engaging member (336) configured to engage the housing (110); and at least one feature (334), wherein the at least one feature (334) is configured to align with at least one corresponding feature (224) in the housing (110).
Abstract:
Circuits, methods, and apparatus for adapters and docking stations that include one or more of the following: reradiating antennas to enhance wireless signal integrity, inductive charging circuits, and wireless or optical data links. The adapters may be inserts for use in a docking station, adapters for a cable connection, or other type of device. One example provides an adapter that includes a reradiating antenna. In other examples, passive coupling is used to charge a rechargeable battery in the handheld device. Other examples include wireless or optical circuits for faster data transmission.
Abstract:
Circuits, methods, and apparatus for adapters and docking stations that include one or more of the following: reradiating antennas to enhance wireless signal integrity, inductive charging circuits, and wireless or optical data links. The adapters may be inserts for use in a docking station, adapters for a cable connection, or other type of device. One example provides an adapter that includes a reradiating antenna. In other examples, passive coupling is used to charge a rechargeable battery in the handheld device. Other examples include wireless or optical circuits for faster data transmission.
Abstract:
A metal enclosure has a surface region which is coated with cladding material using a laser cladding process. The metal enclosure can form at least a portion of an electronic device housing. All or part of one or more surfaces of the enclosure can be coated with cladding material. The coating of cladding material can be varied at selective regions of the enclosure to provide different structural properties at these regions. The coating of cladding material can be varied at selective regions to provide contrast in cosmetic appearance.
Abstract:
Provided in one embodiment is a method of joining one or more articles together using pressurized fluid to deform a bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy material and form a mechanical interlock between the respective surfaces joined together.
Abstract:
One embodiment provides a method of determining an unknown degree of crystallinity, the method comprising: constructing a master curve plot comprising a plurality of reference curves, each reference curve representing a relationship between electrical resistivity and temperature for one of a plurality of reference alloy samples having a chemical composition and various predetermined degrees of crystallinity; for an alloy specimen having the chemical composition and the unknown degree of crystallinity, obtaining a curve representing the electrical resistivity and temperature thereof; and determining the unknown degree of crystallinity by comparing the curve to the master curve plot.