IP Library Granted Patent US 9,445,517
Granted Patent B2
US 9,445,517 · App. 13/841,839 · Granted Sep 13, 2016

Etched multi-layer sheets

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,445,517
App. No.
13/841,839
Granted
Sep 13, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method includes creating an opening in a first outer layer of a multilayer sheet of material, the sheet of material having three or more layers of material, including the first outer layer and a second outer layer. A selective etchant is introduced through the opening, where the etchant selectively etches an interior metal layer of the multilayer sheet of material compared with the first and second outer layers. The selective etchant is permitted to etch material of the interior metal layer under the first outer layer.

Claims (23)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first multilayer sheet having three or more layers of material, including a first outermost layer, an interior metal layer, and a second outermost layer, at least two adjacent layers of the first multilayer sheet being bonded together by a metallurgical bond between dissimilar metals in the adjacent layers, wherein a section of the first outermost layer of the first multilayer sheet includes flanges that extend, in a direction parallel to the plane of the first outermost layer and extend from a portion of the first outermost layer that overlies a post of the interior metal layer of the first multilayer sheet;

a second multilayer sheet having three or more layers of material, including a first outermost layer, an interior metal layer, and a second outermost layer, wherein the first outermost layer of the second multilayer sheet includes a first section and a second section, each section having a flange that extends in a direction parallel to the plane of the first outermost layer of the second multilayer sheet, extends from a portion of the first outermost layer of the second multilayer sheet that overlies a post of the interior metal layer of the second multilayer sheet, and extends toward the respective flange of the other section of the second multilayer sheet;

wherein at least a portion of each of the flanges of the first multilayer sheet are located between the flanges of the second multilayer sheet and the second outermost layer of the second multilayer sheet;

and the first multilayer sheet being prepared by the process of:

creating an opening in the first outermost layer of the first multilayer sheet;

introducing a selective etchant through the opening, wherein the etchant selectively etches the interior metal layer of the first multilayer sheet compared with the first outermost layer; and

etching a material of the interior metal layer under the first outermost layer of the first multilayer sheet using the selective etchant; and

the second multilayer sheet being prepared by the process of:

creating an opening in the first outermost layer of the second multilayer sheet;

introducing a selective etchant through the opening, wherein the etchant selectively etches the interior metal layer of the second multilayer sheet compared with the first outermost layer; and

etching a material of the interior metal layer under the first outermost layer of the second multilayer sheet using the selective etchant.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first outermost layer of the first multilayer sheet includes stainless steel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first outermost layer of the first multilayer sheet includes a glass-reinforced epoxy laminate.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the interior layer of the first multilayer sheet includes aluminum.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the selective etchant etches the interior metal layer of the first multilayer sheet at a rate more than 100 times faster than the selective etchant etches the first outermost layer of the first multilayer sheet.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein etching the material of the interior metal layer of the first multilayer sheet using the selective etchant forms a cavity in the interior metal layer; and wherein the process further includes:

placing an electrical component of a computing device within the cavity.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the process further includes:

creating a pattern of openings in the first outermost layer of the first multilayer sheet;

introducing the selective etchant through the pattern of openings; and

etching the material of the interior metal layer in a plurality of locations under the first outermost layer of the first multilayer sheet using the selective etchant.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the process further includes adding a phase change material to the first multilayer sheet to replace at least some of the material from the interior metal layer that was removed by the selective etchant.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 2, 2017
From: GOOGLE INC.
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 044566/0657 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 7, 2015
From: HAMBURGEN, WILLIAM; LAM, LAWRENCE; TANNER, JAMES
To: GOOGLE INC.
Reel/Frame 035344/0202 →