Apple's Patent Background

Components of electronic devices may include a variety of three-dimensional structures tailored to the specific purpose for which they are employed. In this regard, components may be configured to provide support to the electronic device, provide protection of internal components from the elements; provide for thermal or acoustic transmission therethrough, or serve one or more various other purposes. The components may also be designed to provide a pleasing look and feel.

While existing components may function sufficiently for the purpose for which they are intended, further advances in components defining three-dimensional shapes and advances in the manufacture thereof may be desirable.

In this regard, further tailoring of shapes to provide additional functionality and/or simplified manufacture thereof may be desirable. Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide improved structures and improved methods of manufacturing structures.

Apple Invents New Methods of Forming 3D Structures

Apple's invention generally relates to three-dimensional structures and related methods for forming the three-dimensional structures. The three-dimensional structures may be formed by removing material from first and second surfaces on opposing sides of a body in some embodiments.

Example methods of removing material include chemical and laser etching and machining. For example, a first portion of the material may be removed from the first side of the body to define a first pattern of positive and negative space. Similarly, a second portion of the material may be removed from the second side of the body to define a second pattern of positive and negative space. The first pattern and the second pattern may combine to form a three-dimensional structure. In other embodiments material may be combined (e.g., via casting or injection molding) or compressed (e.g., via forging) to form the three-dimensional structures.

The negative space of the first pattern may intersect the negative space of the second pattern to define apertures (e.g., through holes) that extend through the body. The patterns may be configured to define apertures having desired properties. For example, when a first portion of the aperture formed by the negative space of the first pattern and a second portion of the aperture formed by the negative space of the second pattern extend along parallel axes, linear paths may be defined through the three-dimensional structures. In other embodiments the first portion and the second portion may extend along non-parallel axes. Depending on the configuration thereof, linear or non-linear paths may be defined through the apertures, which define various optical, thermal, and acoustical properties.

Accordingly, the properties of the three-dimensional structures may be tailored to define a desired configuration. For example, when it is not desirable to allow a user to view through the three-dimensional structure, the apertures may be configured to define a non-linear path there through, while still allowing for airflow and/or sound to travel through the apertures.

Additionally, a desired ratio and configuration of negative space and positive space may be selected to define a structure having a desired level of lightness, stiffness, flexibility, and/or other characteristics, depending on the application thereof. Thus, for example, the three-dimensional structures may be employed as housings for electronic devices and speaker or vent covers therefore. The three-dimensional structures may also be employed as springs or heat sinks, in various other embodiments thereof.

3D Speaker Cover

In Apple's patent FIG. 19 we see a single example of a 3D speaker cover in which the body of the three-dimensional structure defines a housing for a portable electronic device. In this regard, the negative space 1302B of the second pattern may be configured to define relatively small apertures 1306 through the housing 1300 which allow sound to travel therethrough, but which are configured to prevent dust and other debris from traveling therethrough to protect the internal components of the portable electronic device.

While Apple doesn't inform us of what device that this new cover speaker array is for, in general it appears to be the side structure of a future iPad or iPad mini. Although it resembles Apple's original speaker grill design, the design appears to be side view of a future iPad. The date of patent filing dictates that this is a new structure.

Liquid Metal Application

Buried deep in the patent is a reference to liquid metal. Apple states that "the structures may be formed by molding or casting, in which a mold or cast is employed to form the three-dimensional structure from a fluid substance, such as a liquid metal or plastic. In another embodiment, material defining a body may be compressed to form a desired three-dimensional shape by forging.

Apple's last detailed liquid metal related patent was discovered by Patently Apple in a European filing this past April. In that patent application, Apple revealed a full range of possible future applications for liquid metal as follows:

"For example, it can be a telephone, such as a cell phone, and a land-line phone, or any communication device, such as a smart phone, including, for example an iPhone™, and an electronic email sending receiving device. It can be a part of a display, such as a digital display, a TV monitor, an electronic-book reader, a portable web-browser (e.g., iPad™), and a computer monitor. It can also be an entertainment device, including a portable DVD player, conventional DVD player, Blue-Ray disk player, video game console, music player, such as a portable music player (e.g., iPod™), etc. It can also be a part of a device that provides control, such as controlling the streaming of images, videos, sounds (e.g., Apple TV™), or it can be a remote control for an electronic device. It can be a part of a computer or its accessories, such as the hard drive tower housing or casing, laptop housing, laptop keyboard, laptop track pad, desktop keyboard, mouse, and speaker. The article can also be applied to a device such as a watch or a clock."

Additionally, the April patent noted above presented us with an overview of possibly using liquid metal to encase the internal components of a future iDevice so that it could be waterproofed. Using that example, Apple could place a speaker wherever there was sufficient space within an iDevice and literally create a channel to funnel the music through to a side speaker such as the example patent FIG. 19 above. In patent FIG. 23 above, we see that a tunnel can be created from a 3D space/structure to support such a design.

Patent Credits

Apple credits Bartley Andre, Matthew Rohrbach and Peter Russell Clarke as the inventors of patent application 20130189458 which was originally filed in Q1 2012.

Patently Apple presents a detailed summary of patent applications with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent application should be read in its entirety for full and accurate details. Revelations found in patent applications shouldn't be interpreted as rumor or fast-tracked according to rumor timetables. About Comments: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit comments.

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