Apple Invents Material That Looks Like Metal and Could Rid iPhone of Unsightly Antenna Bands

Apple has filed a patent application for a non-capacitive or radio frequency-transparent material with an anodized metal appearance. Most notably if used for the casing of the iPhone, this type of material would let Apple get rid of the 'unsightly' antenna bands.

Apple says that "one design challenge associated with computing devices is maintaining a sleek and consistent appearance of a metallic outer enclosure for housing the various complex internal components."

Since metal is not radio frequency transparent, portions of the housings that cover antennas and touch sensors are made out of non-metallic materials such as plastic or glass. "Unfortunately, plastic surfaces and glass surfaces have different visual qualities than metallic surfaces, which result in a visible break in the metallic surface of the housing. This visible break can detract from the smooth and continuous look of the metallic housing."


Fortunately, Apple has found a method of forming a composite structure that is substantially non-electrically capacitive and having an anodized metal appearance.

The method includes converting a portion of a metal layer to a metal oxide layer that overlays an unconverted portion of the metal layer at a first surface of the metal oxide layer. The unconverted portion of the metal layer is viewable through the metal oxide layer. The method also involves exposing the first surface of the metal oxide layer by removing the unconverted portion of the metal layer. The method further involves forming the composite structure by applying an optically reflective layer that is substantially non-electrically capacitive on the exposed first surface of the metal oxide layer. The composite structure has the appearance of the anodized metal when viewed from a second surface of the metal oxide layer opposite the first surface.

Check out a mockup of what the iPhone 6 would look like without antenna bands below. Let us know which look you prefer in the comments.

You can hit the link below for more details on the material.


Read More [via BI]