Electrical contact appearance and protection
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsRaymund W. M. Kwok, Hani Esmaeili, Robert Scritzky, Michael W. Barnstead, Xiaoqiang Huang, Ida Y. Lo, Sean R. Novak, Christoph Werner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods of coating contacts to have a specific color. The color can be selected to match a color of a portion of a device enclosure for an electronic device housing the contacts. Examples can instead provide methods of coating contacts to have a color to contrast with a color of a portion of the device enclosure. These methods can provide electrical contacts having a low contact resistance and good corrosion and scratch resistance.
Claims20
A method of manufacturing an electrical contact comprising:
- receiving a contact substrate;
- forming a plurality of holes in a surface of the contact substrate, wherein the holes are separated by a pattern of raised portions;
- plating the surface of the contact substrate;
- applying a coating layer to the surface of the contact substrate;
- and
- curing the coating layer such that at least some of the pattern of raised portions are exposed.
A method of manufacturing an electrical contact comprising:
- receiving a contact substrate;
- laser drilling a plurality of holes in a surface of the contact substrate, wherein the holes are separated by a pattern of raised portions;
- applying a dyed gelatinous solution to the surface of the contact substrate;
- and
- curing the dyed gelatinous solution such that its thickness is reduced and at least some of the pattern of raised portions are exposed.
An electrical contact comprising:
- a contact substrate having a plurality of holes in a surface, wherein the holes are separated by a pattern of raised portions;
- a plurality of plating layers over the surface of the electrical contact;
- and
- a dyed silicon-based polymer in the holes in the surface of the electrical contact such that the pattern of raised portions is exposed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.