Patent Publication Number: US-2022221825-A1

Title: Watch with decorative display layer

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present patent application claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/135,415, filed Jan. 8, 2021, and titled “Watch with Decorative Display Layer,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Smart watches, fitness watches, and other wrist-worn electronic devices typically include a display which displays the time of day, the date, and information such as a number of steps taken by the wearer, a heart rate of the wearer, calories burned by the wearer, text messages, emails, phone call notices, and the like. In order to see the display clearly and avoid obstruction of any information shown on the display, the electronic device includes only transparent layers or films above or on top of the display. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present technology provide a wrist-worn electronic device that includes a display assembly comprising a layer which is bonded to an upper surface of the display and presents a decorative pattern or image. The layer is at least partially reflective to present the decorative pattern, but is also transmissive so as avoid obstruction of any information shown on the display and permit the display to be seen clearly. In addition to the display and the transmissive and reflective layer, the display assembly broadly comprises a texture layer and a cover layer. The texture layer is also positioned above the display and is configured to be transparent to light received from sources above and below the texture layer. The texture layer includes a lower surface having a first texture with structural components and a second texture with structural components that are different from structural components of the first texture. The transmissive and reflective layer includes an upper surface in contact with the lower surface of the texture layer and a lower surface on which a first texture and a second texture are each positioned. The first texture of the transmissive and reflective layer includes structural components that are complementary to the structural components of the first texture of the texture layer. The second texture of the transmissive and reflective layer includes structural components that are complementary to the structural components of the second texture of the texture layer. The cover layer is positioned above the texture layer and forms an upper surface of the display assembly. The cover layer is configured to be transparent to light received from sources above and below the cover layer. 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the present technology will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       Embodiments of the present technology are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a wrist-worn electronic device including a display assembly constructed in accordance with various embodiments of the current technology, the display assembly including a display; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the wrist worn electronic device and the display assembly with the display turned off; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the wrist worn electronic device and the display assembly cut along the line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic diagram of a plurality of layers that form a first embodiment of the display assembly; 
         FIG. 4B  is a schematic diagram of a plurality of layers that form a second embodiment of the display assembly; 
         FIG. 5A  is a schematic side view of a texture layer and a transmissive and reflective layer from the display assembly; 
         FIG. 5B  is a schematic side view of the texture layer and the transmissive and reflective layer spaced apart from one another; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the wrist worn electronic device and the display assembly from a first perspective; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the wrist worn electronic device and the display assembly from a second perspective; 
         FIG. 8  is a combination top view, enlarged view, and side sectional view of the wrist worn electronic device and the display assembly and the transmissive and reflective layer illustrating the reflection of light from the transmissive and reflective layer; and 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged side sectional view of the transmissive and reflective layer illustrating the reflection of light from the transmissive and reflective layer. 
     
    
    
     The drawing figures do not limit the present technology to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. While the drawings do not necessarily provide exact dimensions or tolerances for the illustrated components or structures, the drawings are to scale as examples of certain embodiments with respect to the relationships between the components of the structures illustrated in the drawings. 
     DESCRIPTION 
     The following description of the technology references the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which the technology can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the technology in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the technology. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present technology. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present technology is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
     In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the present technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein. 
     Relational terms, such as “above”, “below”, “over”, “beneath”, “upper”, “upward”, “lower”, “downward”, “top”, “bottom”, “outer”, “inner”, etc., may be used throughout this description. These terms are used with reference to embodiments of the technology and the orientations and relative positionings of the components thereof shown in the accompanying figures. Embodiments of the technology may be oriented in ways other than those shown in the figures. Therefore, the terms do not limit the scope of the present technology. 
     Embodiments of the present technology relate to a wrist-worn electronic device that includes a display assembly. The wrist-worn electronic device may be embodied by an electronic watch, a fitness watch, a sports watch, a step counter, a smart watch, or any other wrist worn electronic device that includes a display, as part of the display assembly, which displays information, visual data, and/or the time of day. Typically, wrist-worn electronic devices that do not include the display assembly of the present technology include only transparent layers or films over the display so as not to obscure the display. However, this setup precludes the inclusion of decorative aspects on the face of the device that would enhance the appearance of the device and make the device look more fashionable and less technical. The display assembly includes a transmissive and reflective layer that is bonded to an upper surface of the display and formed from material that is both reflective to at least a portion of the light that is received from external sources and transmissive to light generated by the display. The transmissive and reflective layer includes a first texture and a contrasting second texture that, in combination, present a decorative pattern or image that is seen on the face of the device. 
     Embodiments of the technology will now be described with reference to the drawing figures. Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-4B , a display assembly  10  for use with a wrist-worn electronic device  12  is illustrated. The electronic device  12  may include a housing with a generally circular, oval, or multi-sided shape and a user interface including pushbuttons or other components along a housing side wall. The electronic device  12  may further include a strap not shown in the figures. 
     The display assembly  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , is formed by a stack of layers and broadly comprises a display  14 , a texture layer  16 , a transmissive and reflective layer  18 , a clear film layer  20 , a cover layer  22 , a first optically clear adhesive layer  24 , and a second optically clear adhesive layer  26 . The display assembly  10  may also include mask and cushion components  28 . 
     The display  14  generally includes video devices that emit light: light-emitting diode (LED), organic LED (OLED), passive matrix OLED (PMOLED), active matrix OLED (AMOLED), thin film transistor (TFT) LCD, or the like, or combinations thereof. The display  14  may include an upper surface with a screen on which information is presented and light is emitted. The display  14  may have any one of a variety of shapes such as square, rectangular, or any other multi-sided shape—although typically the shape corresponds to, or varies according to, the shape of the perimeter of the housing. Exemplary embodiments of the display  14  have a generally circular shape. The display  14  may be in electronic communication with memory components and processor components and may receive data or information therefrom that is to be shown on the display  14 . 
     The texture layer  16  is generally transmissive, or wholly or partially transparent, to light received from sources both above and below the texture layer  16 . In addition, the texture layer  16  provides texture and/or structure for the transmissive and reflective layer  18 . The texture layer  16  may be formed from materials that are transmissive, or wholly or partially transparent, to visible spectrum light. In addition, the texture layer  16  may have antiglare properties. The texture layer  16  includes an upper surface and a spaced apart lower surface. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the lower surface of the texture layer  16  includes at least a first texture  30  and a second texture  34 . Additional textures are also possible. The first texture  30  occupies a first region  32  or a first portion of the area of the lower surface of the texture layer  16 . The second texture  34  occupies a second region  36  or a second portion of the area of the lower surface of the texture layer  16 . Additional textures may occupy additional regions. One region  32 ,  36  may have one or more openings, gaps, or spaces which the other region  32 ,  36  occupies. One region  32 ,  36  may include or present a first pattern, and the other region  32 ,  36  may include or present a second pattern which is complementary to, the inverse of, or the negative of, the first pattern. Additionally, or alternatively, one region may include or present an image, and the other region  32 ,  36  may include or present a negative of the image. 
     The first texture  30  generally has structural components or features that are different from structural components or features of the second texture  34 . In some instances, the first texture  30  may have a roughness or a smoothness that is different from the roughness or smoothness of the second texture  34 . Also, the first texture  30  may include structures, substructures, or microstructures that have a first average size, and the second texture  34  may include structures, substructures, or microstructures that have a second average size—different from the first average size. Furthermore, the first texture  30  may include structures, substructures, or microstructures that have a first shape, and the second texture  34  may include structures, substructures, or microstructures that have a second shape—different from the first shape. In some embodiments, the first texture  30  may include structures, substructures, or microstructures that extend outward from the lower surface of the texture layer  16 , and the second texture  34  may include impressions or indentations that extend inward into the lower surface of the texture layer  16 . In other embodiments, the first texture  30  and the second texture  34  may each include structures, substructures, or microstructures that extend both outward from and inward into the lower surface of the texture layer  16 . The features of each of the first texture  30  and the second texture  34  may be uniform or may be non-uniform and may have random shapes and/or sizes. In addition, the features of the first texture  30  may be positioned at a first average distance from the upper surface of the texture layer  16 , and the features of the second texture  34  may be positioned at a second average distance from the upper surface of the texture layer  16 , wherein the first average distance is different from the second average distance. Thus, the first texture  30  may appear to have a height or depth that is different from the height or depth of the second texture  34 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , cross-sectional views of the texture layer  16  and the transmissive and reflective layer  18  are shown. In  FIG. 5A , the texture layer  16  and the transmissive and reflective layer  18  are in contact with one another, as is normally the case. In  FIG. 5B , the texture layer  16  and the transmissive and reflective layer  18  are separated from one another to show detail of the interface between the two layers. The figures illustrate an example of the features of the first texture  30  and the second texture  34 . In the example, the first texture  30  has a roughness, an average size of features, and an average distance from the upper surface that are different from the roughness, the average size of features, and the average distance from the upper surface, respectively, of the second texture  34 . 
     The texture layer  16  may be formed from materials, such as polymers, which can be shaped or manipulated to retain a certain structure. The first region  32  with the first texture  30  and the second region  36  with the second texture  34  may be formed using techniques such as tool pressing, scraping, machining, etching, curing, or the like, or combinations thereof. 
     The transmissive and reflective layer  18  is positioned between the display  14  and the texture layer  16  such that an upper surface of the transmissive and reflective layer  18  is in contact with the lower surface of the texture layer  16 . The transmissive and reflective layer  18  generally transmits light received from sources below the transmissive and reflective layer  18  and reflects at least a portion of the light received from sources above the transmissive and reflective layer  18 . For example, the transmissive and reflective layer  18  transmits, or is wholly or partially transparent to, the light emitted from the display  14 . In addition, the transmissive and reflective layer  18  reflects at least a portion of the light that is received from above the transmissive and reflective layer  18 , such as from external sources including ambient light or sunlight. 
     The transmissive and reflective layer  18  may be formed from materials with both transmissive and reflective properties, such as metallic powders or dust. The transmissive and reflective layer  18  may be applied, deposited, or coated onto the lower surface of the texture layer  16  using vapor deposition techniques or the like. As a result, the structural components of the upper surface of the transmissive and reflective layer  18  are complementary to the structural components of the lower surface of the texture layer  16 . Accordingly, as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the upper surface of the transmissive and reflective layer  18  includes at least a first texture  38  and a second texture  42 . As with the texture layer  16 , additional textures are also possible. The first texture  38  occupies a first region  40  or a first portion of the area of the upper surface of the transmissive and reflective layer  18 . The second texture  42  occupies a second region  44  or a second portion of the area of the upper surface of the transmissive and reflective layer  18 . Additional textures may occupy additional regions. In shape and size, the structural components or features of the first texture  38  of the transmissive and reflective layer  18  generally are complementary to, the inverse of, or the negative of, the structural components or features of the first texture  30  of the texture layer  16 . In shape and size, the structural components or features of second texture  42  of the transmissive and reflective layer  18  generally are complementary to, the inverse of, or the negative of, the structural components or features of the second texture  34  of the texture layer  16 . Furthermore, the first region  40  of the transmissive and reflective layer  18  generally is the same size as, occupies the same area as, and is aligned with, the first region  32  of the texture layer  16 . The second region  44  of the transmissive and reflective layer  18  generally is the same size as, occupies the same area as, and is aligned with, the second region  36  of the texture layer  16 . 
     Given that the structural components or features of the first texture  38  are different from the structural components or features of the second texture  42 , light reflects differently from the first texture  38  than it does from the second texture  42 . The difference in reflection between the two textures  38 ,  42  may result in a visual contrast between the two textures  38 ,  42 . The level of contrast may depend on, or vary according to, the relative angle, or range of relative angles, between the transmissive and reflective layer  18  and the source of the light that is incident on the transmissive and reflective layer  18 . For example, at a first relative angle, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the first texture  38 , occupying the first region  40  which has a shape of spaced-apart diamonds, appears lighter than the second texture  42 , occupying the second region  44  which has a shape of crossing stripes surrounding the diamonds. At a second relative angle, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the first texture  38  appears darker than the second texture  42 . In both  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the level of contrast between the first texture  38  and the second texture  42  is high. Furthermore, the properties of the first texture  38  and the second texture  42  just described may be present through various ranges of relative angles. By comparison, the level of contrast between the first texture  38  and the second texture  42  on the transmissive and reflective layer  18  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is lower resulting from a third relative angle, or range of relative angles, between the transmissive and reflective layer  18  and the source of the light that is incident on the transmissive and reflective layer  18 . 
     In addition, depending on, or varying according to, the relative angle, light may be more diffuse and reflect more chaotically from one texture and may be less diffuse and reflect more directly from the other texture. For example, at one relative angle or range of relative angles, light may be more diffuse and reflect more chaotically from the first texture  38 , resulting in a darker appearance, while light may be less diffuse and reflect more directly from the second texture  42 , resulting in a lighter appearance. This exemplary situation is illustrated in  FIG. 8 , in which a portion of the total area of the transmissive and reflective layer  18  is enlarged to show incident light impinging the upper surface of the transmissive and reflective layer  18  at the third relative angle. Light is more diffuse and reflected more chaotically from the first texture  38  resulting in a darker appearance as shown in detail in  FIG. 9 , while light is less diffuse and reflected more directly from the second texture  42 , resulting in a lighter appearance. At another relative angle or range of relative angles, light may be less diffuse and reflect more directly from the first texture  38 , resulting in a darker appearance, while light may be more diffuse and reflect more chaotically from the second texture  42 , resulting in a lighter appearance. 
     Furthermore, the transmissive and reflective layer  18  may reflect some wavelengths of light in the visible spectrum, while other wavelengths of light in the visible spectrum are transmitted through, or pass through, the transmissive and reflective layer  18 . This property makes the display assembly  10 , as seen from above, appear to have a certain color, hue, or tint. As an example, one or more blue wavelengths of light received from above the transmissive and reflective layer  18  may be reflected, while other wavelengths, perhaps all remaining visible spectrum wavelengths, of light received from above the transmissive and reflective layer  18  may be transmitted from, or passed through, the transmissive and reflective layer  18 . This may make the display assembly  10  appear to be a shade of blue. The light that is transmitted from, or passed through, the transmissive and reflective layer  18  may be absorbed by, or reflected by, one or more layers or components beneath the transmissive and reflective layer  18 . The transmissive and reflective layer  18  may form, or constitute, a wavelength spectrum filter layer. The transmissive and reflective layer  18  may be formed from materials with both transmissive and reflective properties, such as powders or dust that include one or more metals and/or metallic alloys. The content or composition of the materials, such as the type and/or amount of one or more metals and/or metallic alloys, may determine the wavelength or wavelengths of light that are reflected by the transmissive and reflective layer  18 . 
     The clear film layer  20  is generally transmissive, or transparent, to light received from sources both above and below the clear film layer  20 . In addition, the clear film layer  20  may provide a rigid or firm barrier or structural support between the texture layer  16  and the cover layer  22 . In exemplary embodiments, the clear film layer  20  is formed from polymers, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic substrate. In various embodiments, the clear film layer  20  may be omitted from the display assembly  10  if the texture layer  16  is formed from rigid or firm materials. 
     The cover layer  22  is generally transmissive, or transparent, to light received from sources both above and below the cover layer  22 . In addition, the cover layer  22  may provide an upper, protective surface for the display assembly  10 . In exemplary embodiments, the cover layer  22  is formed from glass or similar materials. 
     Each optically clear adhesive layer  24 ,  26  generally adheres or bonds two adjacent layers of the display assembly  10  to one another. The optically clear adhesive layers  24 ,  26  may be formed from adhesives including resins and/or polymers, etc. The first optically clear adhesive layer  24  bonds the display  14  to the transmissive and reflective layer  18 , and the second optically clear adhesive layer  26  bonds the clear film layer  20  or the texture layer  16  to the cover layer  22 . 
     The mask and cushion components  28  may provide structural support, cushioning, and/or suspension between the display  14  and the transmissive and reflective layer  18 . A first mask and cushion component  28  is positioned adjacent to a first edge of the display assembly  10  between the display  14  and the transmissive and reflective layer  18  and a second mask and cushion component  28  is positioned adjacent to a second edge of the display assembly  10  between the display  14  and the transmissive and reflective layer  18 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1 , the display  14  is displaying the time of day, day of week, and date—all of which are visible through the other layers of the display assembly  10 . The display  14  may also display other information either simultaneously or sequentially, wherein the information includes number of steps taken, heart rate, activity time, calories burned, text messages, emails, phone call notices, and the like. In various embodiments, the display  14  may automatically shut off, or may optionally be turned off such that the display  14  displays no information or images and does not transmit light, as shown in  FIGS. 2, 6, and 7 . In both operational modes of the display  14  (on and off), the transmissive and reflective layer  18  reflects of the light from external sources that impinges its upper surface, as described above. This behavior of the transmissive and reflective layer  18  gives the display assembly  10  visual properties or characteristics that vary according to, or depend on, a relative angle, or range of relative angles, between the external light sources and the display assembly  10 . The visual properties or characteristics that vary or change when the external light sources move or when the electronic device  12 , and in turn the display assembly  10 , move, rotate, or change orientation. For example, at a first relative angle, or range of relative angles, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the first texture  38  appears in high contrast lighter than the second texture  42  creating a first pattern on the display assembly  10 . At a second relative angle, or range of relative angles, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the first texture  38  appears in high contrast darker than the second texture  42  creating a second pattern on the display assembly  10 , which is the inverse, or negative, of the first pattern. At a third relative angle, or range of relative angles, which is in between the first relative angle and the second relative angle, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 8 , the first texture  38  appears darker than the second texture  42 , but at a much lower contrast than the appearance of the first texture  38  and the second texture  42  in  FIG. 7 —thus presenting a third pattern, different from the first pattern and the second pattern. Furthermore, as the relative angle changes, so does the contrast between the first texture  38  and the second texture  42  which presents additional patterns on the display assembly  10 . 
     Although the technology has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the technology as recited in the claims. 
     Having thus described various embodiments of the technology, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: