# US 9,438,710 B2 · Color-matched polymer materials and method for forming the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,438,710 B2 - Document ID: US9438710B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/497,857 - Filed: 2014-09-26 - Published: 2015-06-18 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-17 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Brian P. Demers; Peteris K. Augenbergs; Brandon Scott Farmer; Garrett David Poe; Joni Leighan Kay - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438710B2 ## CPC - H04M 1/18: Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment (H04M1/19 takes precedence) - G06F 1/16: Constructional details or arrangements - G06F 1/1613: {for portable computers (cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202)} - H05K 5/0243: {for decorative purposes} - H05K 5/30: Side-by-side or stacked arrangements - G06F 1/169: {the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes (G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033)} - H04M 2250/22: including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector - Y10T 428/269: including synthetic resin or polymer layer or component - Y10T 428/31935: Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Polymer materials that are color-matched with non-polymer materials are disclosed. Methods involve incorporating the same type of dyes used to colorize the non-polymer materials within the polymer materials. In some embodiments, a solvent casting process is used, which involves dissolving a polymer material and a dye with a solvent or a combination of solvents forming a dye-polymer mixture. In some embodiments, the dye-polymer mixture is dispensed onto a carrier and the solvent is removed forming a dyed polymer layer that can be applied onto a part as a color veneer. In some embodiments, the dye-polymer mixture is dispensed into mold and the solvent is removed forming a dyed polymer structure that can be used as a stand-alone structure or as part of a larger structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An enclosure for an electronic device, the enclosure comprising: an anodized metal portion with an anodic dye infused therein; and a non-electrically capacitive portion having an appearance similar to the anodized metal portion, the non-electrically capacitive portion including a laminated stack-up, the laminated stack-up comprising: an optically reflective layer, a first protective cover, a dyed polymer layer having the anodic dye infused therein such that the dyed polymer layer color-matches the anodized metal portion, and a second protective cover having an outer surface corresponding to a viewing surface of the laminated stack-up, wherein the dyed polymer layer is positioned between the first protective cover and the second protective cover, and wherein the first protective cover is positioned between the optically reflective layer and the dyed polymer layer, wherein the first protective cover, the dyed polymer layer, and the second protective cover are sufficiently optically translucent such that the optically reflective layer is observable from the viewing surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the dyed polymer layer has a thickness of about 2 micrometers to about 150 micrometers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the first protective cover and the second protective cover each have a thickness of less than about one millimeter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the optically reflective layer is composed of an encapsulated metal flake ink having metal flakes encapsulated within a non-conductive material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the viewing surface has a blasted or a chemically etched texture. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the non-electrically capacitive portion corresponds to a touch input portion of the enclosure configured to accept touch input from a user of the electronic device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The enclosure of claim 6, wherein the touch input portion is configured to be positioned over a touch pad or touch screen within the enclosure of the electronic device. ### Claim 8 An enclosure for an electronic device, the enclosure comprising: an anodized metal portion having an anodic film with an anodic dye infused therein; and a non-electrically capacitive portion having an appearance similar to the anodized metal portion, the non-electrically capacitive portion including a laminated stack-up, the laminated stack-up comprising: an optically reflective layer, a first protective cover comprised of a first material, a dyed polymer layer having the anodic dye infused therein such that the dyed polymer layer color-matches the anodized metal portion, and a second protective cover comprised of a second material, the second protective cover having an outer surface corresponding to a viewing surface of the laminated stack up, wherein the dyed polymer layer is positioned between the first protective cover and the second protective cover, and wherein the first protective cover is positioned between the optically reflective layer and the dyed polymer layer, wherein the first protective cover, the dyed polymer layer, and the second protective cover are sufficiently optically translucent such that the optically reflective layer is observable from the viewing surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The enclosure of claim 8, wherein the first protective cover and the second protective cover each have a thickness of less than about one millimeter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The enclosure of claim 8, wherein a first adhesive bonds the optically reflective layer to the first protective cover and a second adhesive bonds the dyed polymer layer to the second protective cover. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The enclosure of claim 8, wherein the optically reflective layer is composed of an encapsulated metal flake ink having metal flakes encapsulated within a non-conductive material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The enclosure of claim 8, wherein the first material is substantially the same as the second material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The enclosure of claim 8, wherein the first material and the second material are comprised of at least one of a glass and plastic. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The enclosure of claim 8, wherein the first material is different than the second material. ### Claim 15 An enclosure for an electronic device, the enclosure comprising: an anodized metal portion having an anodic film with an anodic dye infused therein; and a non-electrically capacitive touch input portion configured to accept touch input from a user of the electronic device, the non-electrically capacitive touch input portion having an appearance similar to the anodized metal portion, the non-electrically capacitive touch input portion including a laminated stack-up comprising: an optically reflective layer, a first protective layer, a dyed polymer layer having the anodic dye infused therein such that the dyed polymer layer color-matches the anodized metal portion, and a second protective layer having an outer surface corresponding to a viewing surface of the laminated stack-up, wherein the dyed polymer layer is positioned between the first protective layer and the second protective layer, and wherein the first protective layer is positioned between the optically reflective layer and the dyed polymer layer, wherein the first protective layer, the dyed polymer layer, and the second protective layer are sufficiently optically translucent such that the optically reflective layer is observable from the viewing surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The enclosure of claim 15, wherein the dyed polymer layer has a thickness of about 2 micrometers to about 150 micrometers. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The enclosure of claim 15, wherein the first protective layer and the second protective layer each have a thickness of less than about one millimeter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The enclosure of claim 15, wherein the optically reflective layer is composed of an encapsulated metal flake ink having metal flakes encapsulated within a non-conductive material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The enclosure of claim 15, wherein the viewing surface has a blasted or a chemically etched texture. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The enclosure of claim 15, wherein the first protective layer is composed of a different material than the second protective layer.