Systems and methods for forming an image on a device
OwnerRussell Brian Taylorinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image can be formed onto a device such as a cell phone or a tablet by laser engraving the image onto a housing of the device. A coloring agent can then be applied to the engraved image to modify the color of the image. The coloring agent can darken the engraved image. The coloring agent can include multiple colors of ink (e.g., UV curing ink) that can be applied to form a multi-color image. The coloring agent can be applied without requiring the use of a masking layer, for example, by aligning the laser engraved image with a coloring agent applicator so that the coloring agent is applied to substantially only the engraved image on the device.
Claims25
A method for forming a multi-color image on a device, the method comprising:
- engraving an image onto a device;
- and
- applying ink of multiple colors to the image, a first portion of the image having a first color and a second portion of the image having a second color.
A system for forming a multi-color image on a device, the system comprising:
- a laser engraving system comprising a laser configured to engrave an image onto a device;
- and
- a printing system comprising an applicator configured to apply ink of multiple colors to the image such that a first portion of the image has a first color and a second portion of the image has a second color.
A device having a multi-color image formed thereon, the device comprising:
- a housing having an image engraved thereon;
- and
- ink of multiple colors on the image, a first portion of the image having a first color and a second portion of the image having a second color.
A method of forming an image onto a device, the method comprising:
- engraving an image onto an electronic device, the electronic device having a base material and a coating material above the base material, wherein engraving the image comprises removing the coating material to expose the base material for an image area;
- and
- applying a coloring agent to the image area, the coloring agent configured to cause a chemical reaction with the base material to change the color of the image.
A device having an image formed thereon, the device comprising:
- a housing having a base material and a coating material above the base material;
- an image engraved onto the housing, the image having an image area with the coating material removed to expose the base material;
- and
- a layer of material in the image area, the material comprising an oxide of the base material, the oxide of the base material having a different color than the base material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.