PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11231814-B1
Application Number: US-202017013057-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Electronic devices with curved display surfaces

Abstract:
An electronic device may have light-emitting devices. A light-emitting device may include light-emitting diodes, a display, or other components that emit visual output. One or more image transport layers may be included in the electronic device. An image transport layer may have an input surface that receives an image and an output surface to which the image transport layer transports the image for viewing by a user. The image transport layers may have areas with compound curvature and other shapes. Deformed image transport layer structures such as deformed fibers in a coherent fiber bundle may be configured to hide gaps in displays and other structures. Displays may include light detectors that serve as a two-dimensional touch sensor. The touch sensor may detect touch input on an output surface of an image transport layer. Image transport layer material may be incorporated into buttons, elongated housings, wearable devices, and other equipment.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device, comprising:
 a display having an optical touch sensor, wherein the display is configured to produce an image; and 
 an image transport layer configured to receive the image at an input surface and to transport the received image to an output surface, wherein the optical touch sensor comprises a light-emitting diode that is configured to emit light through the image transport layer and a photodetector that is configured to receive a reflected version of the light through the image transport layer to gather touch input on the output surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the optical touch sensor comprises an array of photodetectors that include the photodetector. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device defined in  claim 2  wherein the photodetectors comprise infrared photodetectors, wherein the optical touch sensor comprises an array of light-emitting diodes that include the light-emitting diode, and wherein the light-emitting diodes comprise infrared light-emitting diodes configured to emit infrared light. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the display comprises a flexible display with a curved cross-sectional profile. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device defined in  claim 4  wherein the image transport layer comprises deformed portions that hide a gap between a first edge of the display and a second edge of the display. 
     
     
       6. An electronic device, comprising:
 an elongated housing that extends between a tip and an opposing end; 
 a display that is configured to produce an image; and 
 an image transport layer configured to receive the image at an input surface and to transport the received image to an output surface at the tip. 
 
     
     
       7. The electronic device defined in  claim 6  wherein the elongated housing has a transparent window at the tip that overlaps the image transport layer and wherein the image transport layer has a tapered shape. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device defined in  claim 7  further comprising an additional image transport layer, wherein the additional image transport layer has a ring shape with a cylindrical surface that is overlapped by a cylindrical transparent portion of the housing at a location between the tip and the opposing end. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device defined in  claim 8  wherein the additional image transport layer has an opening and wherein the electronic device further comprises structures that pass through the opening. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device defined in  claim 9  wherein the elongated housing extends along a longitudinal axis and wherein the structures comprise signal paths that extend along the longitudinal axis through the opening in the image transport layer. 
     
     
       11. An electronic device, comprising:
 a component in an interior region; 
 an image transport layer having an input surface facing the interior region and an output surface facing an exterior region; 
 a coating on the input surface, wherein a portion of the coating is configured to form a window aligned with the component. 
 
     
     
       12. The electronic device defined in  claim 11  wherein the component comprises an optical component. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device defined in  claim 12  wherein the optical component comprises an ambient light sensor. 
     
     
       14. The electronic device defined in  claim 13  wherein the optical component is configured to emit light that passes through the window and wherein the optical component is configured to detect light that passes through the window. 
     
     
       15. An electronic device comprising:
 a housing having an opening; 
 a button having a shaft formed from a coherent fiber bundle that extends through the opening; and 
 a light-emitting device coupled to an input surface of the coherent fiber bundle, wherein the coherent fiber bundle is configured to supply light received from the light-emitting device at the input surface to an output surface of the coherent fiber bundle, and wherein the output surface of the coherent fiber bundle is curved. 
 
     
     
       16. The electronic device defined in  claim 15  wherein the shaft is configured to rotate within the opening. 
     
     
       17. The electronic device defined in  claim 16  wherein the light-emitting device comprises a display configured to provide an image to the input surface. 
     
     
       18. An electronic device, comprising:
 a first image transport layer having a circular outline, having an input surface, and having an output surface with compound curvature; 
 a light-emitting device configured to provide light to the input surface of the first image transport layer; and 
 a second image transport layer having a cylindrical shape, wherein the first image transport layer and the second image transport layer have portions that join along a seam. 
 
     
     
       19. The electronic device defined in  claim 18  wherein the light-emitting device comprises a first display that is configured to present a first image to the input surface, the electronic device further comprising a second display that is configured to present a second image to the second image transport layer. 
     
     
       20. The electronic device defined in  claim 19  further comprising a voice-controlled speaker. 
     
     
       21. An electronic device, comprising:
 a display configured to produce an image; and 
 a first image transport layer; 
 a second image transport layer; and 
 a touch sensor between the first and second image transport layers, wherein the first image transport layer is configured to receive the image at a first input surface of the first image transport layer and is configured to transport the received image from the first input surface to a first output surface of the first image transport layer and wherein the second image transport layer is configured to receive the image from the first output surface of the first image transport layer at a second input surface of the second image transport layer and is configured to transport the received image from the second input surface to a second output surface of the second image transport layer. 
 
     
     
       22. The electronic device defined in  claim 21  wherein the touch sensor comprises a two-dimensional capacitive touch sensor with transparent electrodes.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/929,017, filed Oct. 31, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This relates generally to electronic devices, and, more particularly, to electronic devices with displays. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic devices may have displays. Displays have arrays of pixels for displaying images for a user. The shape and other characteristics of many displays can pose challenges during integration of displays and other components into an electronic device, particularly in situations where space is limited. 
     SUMMARY 
     Electronic devices may have image transport layers formed from coherent fiber bundles or Anderson localization material and may have light-emitting devices that provide light to the image transport layers. A light-emitting device may include light-emitting diodes, a display, or other components that emit visual output. 
     An image transport layer may have an input surface that receives an image and an output surface to which the image transport layer transports the image for viewing by a user. The image transport layers may have areas with compound curvature and other shapes. Deformed image transport layer structures such as deformed fibers in a coherent fiber bundle may be configured to hide gaps in displays and other structures. 
     Displays may include light detectors that serve as a two-dimensional touch sensor. The touch sensor may detect touch input on an output surface of an image transport layer that overlap the display. 
     Image transport layer material may be incorporated into buttons, elongated housings, wearable devices, and other equipment. If desired, a flexible display may be covered with an image transport layer. Image transport layers may also have input surfaces covered with coatings. For example, an image transport layer may have an opaque coating on its inner surface. A window in the opaque coating may overlap an optical component. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an illustrative electronic device with an image transport layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an illustrative image transport layer formed using a coherent fiber bundle in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an illustrative image transport layer formed using Anderson localization material in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a portion of an image transport layer surface with compound curvature in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of an illustrative electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device with a rounded top and curved sides in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the illustrative electronic device of  FIG. 6  in the vicinity of a seam between an upper dome-shaped portion with an image transport layer and a sidewall that includes an additional image transport layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of a sidewall seam in the illustrative electronic device of  FIG. 6  in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of an illustrative display system that includes a structure formed from image transport layer material in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative image transport layer with a coating that has a window region aligned with an optical component in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative button with image transport layer material in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative button formed from a rotating button member with a shaft having image transport layer material such as a coherent fiber bundle in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device having a touch sensitive display overlapped by an image transport layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative device such as a computer stylus with image transport layers in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative device such as a computer stylus with an image transport layer that may be provided with light from a ring-shaped illumination source in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrative electronic device with stacked image transport layers and an interposed touch sensor in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative image transport layer that may be used to illuminate a logo or other pattern on the surface of an electronic device housing in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of a head-mounted device with image transport structures such as coherent fiber bundles that convey images from displays within temples in glasses or other head-mounted device support structures to eye boxes for viewing by a user in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a flexible display that has been bent into a cylindrical shape in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative electronic device with an image transport layer having a cylindrical input surface and a corresponding output surface in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An electronic device may have a display. The display may have an array of pixels for creating an image. The image may pass through a display cover layer that overlaps the array of pixels. To minimize display borders or to otherwise create a desired appearance for the display, the display cover layer may include an image transport layer. The image transport layer may have an input surface that receives an image from the array of pixels and a corresponding output surface to which the image is transported from the input surface. A user viewing the image transport layer will view the image from the array of pixels as being located on the output surface. 
     In configurations in which the input and output surfaces have different shapes, the image transport layer may be used to warp the image produced by the array of pixels. For example, the shape of the image can transformed and the effective size of the image can be changed as the image passes through the image transport layer. In some configurations, edge portions of the image are stretched outwardly to help minimize display borders. 
     Image transport layers can be formed from coherent fiber bundles (sometimes referred to as fiber optic plates) and/or Anderson localization material. Glass and/or polymer may be used in forming image transport layer structures. To help protect the output surface of an image transport layer, an optional transparent protective layer may be included on the outer surface of the display cover layer. This transparent protective layer may be, for example, a glass plate or a protective layer formed from other transparent material such as clear polymer or sapphire or other crystalline materials. In some arrangements, image transport layers and/or protective layers can be formed over components other than displays. 
     To accommodate a variety of form factors for enhancing device aesthetics and ergonomics, it may be desirable to use image transport layer material to present images and other visible output on curved surfaces. The curved surfaces may, as an example, be associated with three-dimensional shapes such as three-dimensional shapes with areas of compound curvature. It may also be desirable to include optical touch sensing and other features in devices with image transport layers. 
     A cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrative electronic device with a display cover layer that includes an image transport layer is shown in  FIG. 1 . In the example of  FIG. 1 , device  10  is a portable device such as a cellular telephone, wristwatch, or tablet computer. In general, any type of electronic device may have an image transport layer such as a desktop computer, a voice-control speaker, a television or other non-portable display, a head-mounted device, an embedded system such as a system built into a vehicle or home, an electronic device accessory, and/or other electronic equipment. 
     Device  10  includes a housing such as housing  12 . Housing  12  may be formed from polymer, metal, glass, crystalline material such as sapphire, ceramic, fabric, fibers, fiber composite material, natural materials such as wood and cotton, other materials, and/or combinations of such materials. Housing  12  may be configured to form housing walls. The housing walls may enclose one or more interior regions such as interior region  24  and may separate interior region  24  from exterior region  22 . In some configurations, an opening may be formed in housing  12  for a data port, a power port, to accommodate audio components, or to accommodate other devices. Clear housing regions may be used to form optical component windows. Dielectric housing structures may be used to form radio-transparent areas for antennas and wireless power components. 
     Electrical components  18  may be mounted in interior region  24 . Electrical components  18  may include integrated circuits, discrete components, light-emitting components, sensors, and/or other circuits and may, if desired, be interconnected using signal paths in one or more printed circuits such as printed circuit  20 . If desired, one or more portions of the housing walls may be transparent (e.g., so that light associated with an image on a display or other light-emitting or light-detecting component can pass between interior region  24  and exterior region  22 ). 
     Electrical components  18  may include control circuitry. The control circuitry may include storage and processing circuitry for supporting the operation of device  10 . The storage and processing circuitry may include storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Processing circuitry in the control circuitry may be used to control the operation of device  10 . For example, the processing circuitry may use sensors and other input-output circuitry to gather input and to provide output and/or to transmit signals to external equipment. The processing circuitry may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processors, power management units, audio chips, application specific integrated circuits, etc. The control circuitry may include wired and/or wireless communications circuitry (e.g., antennas and associated radio-frequency transceiver circuitry such as cellular telephone communications circuitry, wireless local area network communications circuitry, etc.). The communications circuitry of the control circuitry may allow device  10  to communicate with other electronic devices. For example, the control circuitry (e.g., communications circuitry in the control circuitry) may be used to allow wired and/or wireless control commands and other communications to be conveyed between devices such as cellular telephones, tablet computers, laptop computers, desktop computers, head-mounted devices, handheld controllers, wristwatch devices, other wearable devices, keyboards, computer mice, remote controls, speakers, accessory displays, accessory cameras, and/or other electronic devices. Wireless communications circuitry may, for example, wirelessly transmit control signals and other information to external equipment in response to receiving user input or other input from sensors or other devices in components  18 . 
     Input-output circuitry in components  18  of device  10  may be used to allow data to be supplied to device  10  and to allow data to be provided from device  10  to external devices. The input-output circuitry may include input devices that gather user input and other input and may include output devices that supply visual output, audible output, or other output. 
     Output may be provided using light-emitting diodes (e.g., crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diodes for status indicators and/or displays, organic light-emitting diodes in displays and other components), lasers, and other light-emitting devices, audio output devices (e.g., tone generators and/or speakers), haptic output devices (e.g., vibrators, electromagnetic actuators, piezoelectric actuators, and/or other equipment that supplies a user with haptic output), and other output devices. 
     The input-output circuitry of device  10  (e.g., the input-output circuitry of components  18 ) may include sensors. Sensors for device  10  may include force sensors (e.g., strain gauges, capacitive force sensors, resistive force sensors, etc.), audio sensors such as microphones, touch and/or proximity sensors such as capacitive sensors (e.g., a two-dimensional capacitive touch sensor integrated into a display, a two-dimensional capacitive touch sensor and/or a two-dimensional force sensor overlapping a display, and/or a touch sensor or force sensor that forms a button, trackpad, or other input device not associated with a display), and other sensors. Touch sensors for a display or for other touch components may be based on an array of capacitive touch sensor electrodes, acoustic touch sensor structures, resistive touch components, force-based touch sensor structures, a light-based touch sensor, or other suitable touch sensor arrangements. If desired, a display may have a force sensor for gathering force input (e.g., a two-dimensional force sensor may be used in gathering force input on a display). 
     If desired, the sensors may include optical sensors such as optical sensors that emit and detect light, optical touch sensors, optical proximity sensors, and/or other touch sensors and/or proximity sensors, monochromatic and color ambient light sensors, image sensors, fingerprint sensors, ultrasonic sensors, temperature sensors, sensors for measuring three-dimensional non-contact gestures (“air gestures”), pressure sensors, sensors for detecting position, orientation, and/or motion (e.g., accelerometers, magnetic sensors such as compass sensors, gyroscopes, and/or inertial measurement units that contain some or all of these sensors), health sensors, radio-frequency sensors (e.g., sensors that gather position information, three-dimensional radio-frequency images, and/or other information using radar principals or other radio-frequency sensing), depth sensors (e.g., structured light sensors and/or depth sensors based on stereo imaging devices), optical sensors such as self-mixing sensors and light detection and ranging (lidar) sensors that gather time-of-flight measurements, humidity sensors, moisture sensors, gaze tracking sensors, three-dimensional sensors (e.g., time-of-flight image sensors, pairs of two-dimensional image sensors that gather three-dimensional images using binocular vision, three-dimensional structured light sensors that emit an array of infrared light beams or other structured light using arrays of lasers or other light emitters and associated optical components and that capture images of the spots created as the beams illuminate target objects, and/or other three-dimensional image sensors), facial recognition sensors based on three-dimensional image sensors, and/or other sensors. 
     In some configurations, components  18  may include mechanical devices for gathering input (e.g., buttons, joysticks, scrolling wheels, key pads with movable keys, keyboards with movable keys, and other devices for gathering user input). During operation, device  10  may use sensors and/or other input-output devices in components  18  to gather user input (e.g., buttons may be used to gather button press input, touch and/or force sensors overlapping displays can be used for gathering user touch screen input and/or force input, touch pads and/or force sensors may be used in gathering touch and/or force input, microphones may be used for gathering audio input, etc.). The control circuitry of device  10  can then take action based on this gathered information (e.g., by transmitting the information over a wired or wireless path to external equipment, by supplying a user with output using a haptic output device, visual output device, an audio component, or other input-output device in housing  12 , etc.). 
     If desired, electronic device  10  may include a battery or other energy storage device, connector ports for supporting wired communications with ancillary equipment and for receiving wired power, and other circuitry. In some configurations, device  10  may serve as an accessory and/or may include a wired and/or wireless accessory (e.g., a keyboard, computer mouse, remote control, trackpad, etc.). 
     Device  10  may include one or more displays such as display  14 . The displays may, for example, include an organic light-emitting diode display, a liquid crystal display, a display having an array of pixels formed from respective light-emitting diodes (e.g., a pixel array having pixels with crystalline light-emitting diodes formed from respective light-emitting diode dies such as micro-light-emitting diode dies), and/or other displays. The displays may include rigid display structures and/or may be flexible displays. For example, a light-emitting diode display may have a polymer substrate that is sufficiently flexible to be bent. Display  14  may have a rectangular pixel array or a pixel array of another shape for displaying images for a user and may therefore sometimes be referred to as a pixel array. Display  14  may also sometimes be referred to as a display panel, display layer, or pixel layer. Each pixel array in device  10  may be mounted under a transparent housing structure (sometimes referred to as a transparent display cover layer). 
     In the example of  FIG. 1 , display (pixel array)  14  is mounted under display cover layer  32 . Display cover layer  32  (which may be considered to form a portion of the housing of device  10 ), covers front face F of device  10 . Configurations in which opposing rear face R of device  10  and/or sidewall portions of device  10  have transparent structures covering displays and other optical components may also be used. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , display cover layer  32  may include image transport layer  16  and protective layer  30 . Protective layer  30  may be formed from a layer of glass, clear polymer, crystalline material such as sapphire or other crystalline material, and/or other transparent material. The presence of layer  30  may help protect the outer surface of layer  16  from scratches. If desired, layer  30  may be omitted (e.g., in configurations in which a thin-film protective coating is present on the outer surface of layer  16 , in configurations in which layer  16  is formed from hard material such as glass, and/or in other configurations in which layer  16  is resistant to scratching). A layer of adhesive and/or other structures may be formed between protective layer  30  and image transport layer  16  and/or may be included elsewhere in the stack of layers on display  14 . 
     During operation, the pixels of display  14  produce image light that passes through image transport layer  16 . In configurations in which image transport layer  16  is formed from a coherent fiber bundle, image transport layer  16  has optical fibers  16 F. The fibers or other optical structures of image transport layer structures such as image transport layer  16  transport light (e.g., image light and/or other light) from one surface (e.g., an input surface of layer  16  that faces display  14 ) to another (e.g., an output surface of layer  16  that faces viewer  28 , who is viewing device  10  in direction  26 ). As the image presented to the input surface of layer  16  is transported to the output surface of layer  16 , the integrity of the image light is preserved. This allows an image produced by an array of pixels to be transferred from an input surface of a first shape at a first location to an output surface with a different shape (e.g., a shape with a footprint that differs from that of the input surface, a shape with a curved cross-sectional profile, a shape with a region of compound curvature, and/or a shape with other desired features). 
     Image transport layer  16  may therefore move the location of an image and may optionally change the shape of the surface on which the image is presented. In effect, viewer  28  will view the image from display  14  as if the image were generated on the output surface of image transport layer  16 . In arrangements in which the image from display  14  is warped (geometrically distorted) by image transport layer  16 , digital pre-distortion techniques or other compensation techniques may be used to ensure that the final image viewed on the output surface of image transport layer  16  has a desired appearance. For example, the image on display  14  may be prewarped so that this prewarped image is warped by an equal and opposite amount upon passing through layer  16 . In this way, the prewarped image is effectively unwarped by passage through layer  16  will not appear distorted on the output surface. 
     In configurations of the type shown in  FIG. 1 , device  10  may have four peripheral edges and a rectangular footprint when viewed in direction  26  or may have other suitable shapes. To help minimize the size of inactive display borders as a user is viewing front face F of device  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 , the shapes of fibers  16 F along the periphery of layer  16  may be deformed outwardly as shown in  FIG. 1 . These fibers  16 F each have an outwardly bent segment that bends away from surface normal n of the center of layer  30  (e.g., away from an axis parallel to the Z axis of  FIG. 1 ) and each have an inwardly bent segment that bends back towards surface normal n to help direct output light towards viewer  28 . 
     The deformed shapes of fibers  16 F (and/or the corresponding deformations made to optical filaments in Anderson localization material in layer  16 ) may help distribute image light laterally outwards in the X-Y plane so that the effective size of display  14  is enlarged and the image produced by display  14  covers some or all of the sidewalls of housing  12  or other peripheral portions of device  10  when the image on front face F is being viewed by viewer  28 . For example, the bent shapes of fibers  16 F of  FIG. 1  may help shift portions of the displayed image laterally outward in the X-Y plane along the edges and corners of device  10  to block the edges of device  10  from view. In some arrangements, the portions of fibers  16 F at the outermost surface of layer  16  are oriented parallel or nearly parallel with viewing direction  26  and the Z axis of  FIG. 1 , which helps ensure that some or all of the light that has passed through layer  16  will travel in the Z direction and be viewable by viewer  28 . 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of image transport layer  16  in an illustrative configuration in which image transport layer  16  is formed from a coherent fiber bundle. Fibers  16 F for layer  16  may have any suitable configuration. As shown in the example of  FIG. 2 , fibers  16 F may each have a core such as core  16 F- 1 . Cores  16 F- 1  and the other structures of image transport layer (e.g., cladding structures, binder, etc.)  16  may be formed from materials such as polymer, glass, crystalline material such as sapphire, and/or other materials. Some or all of these materials may be transparent. Arrangements in which some of the materials absorb light and/or have non-neutral colors or other light filtering properties may also be used. 
     Fiber cores  16 F- 1  may be formed from transparent material of a first refractive index and may be surrounded by cladding of a second, lower refractive index to promote light guiding in accordance with the principal of total internal reflection. In some arrangements, a single coating layer on cores  16 F- 1  may be used to form the cladding. In other arrangements, two or more coating layers on cores  16 F- 1  may be used to form the cladding. Clad fibers may be held together using binder  16 FB, which serves to fill the interstitial spaces between the clad fibers and join fibers  16 F together. In some configurations, stray light absorbing material may be incorporated into layer  16  (e.g., into some of the cores, cladding, and/or binder). The stray light absorbing material may be, for example, polymer, glass, or other material into which light-absorbing material such as dye and/or pigment has been incorporated. 
     In an illustrative configuration, layer  16  may have inner coating layers  16 F- 2  that are formed directly on the outer surfaces of cores  16 F- 1  and outer coating layers  16 F- 3  that are formed directly on the outer surfaces of layers  16 F- 2 . Additional coating layers (e.g., three or more coating layers) or fewer coating layers (e.g., a single coating layer) may be formed on fiber cores  16 F- 1 , if desired. Stray light-absorbing material may be used in layers  16 F- 2  and/or  16 F- 3  or other coating layer(s) on cores  16 F- 1 . In an illustrative arrangement, layers  16 F- 2  and  16 F- 3 , which may sometimes be referred to as forming first and second cladding portions (or first and second claddings) of the claddings for fiber cores  16 F- 1 , may respectively be formed from transparent material and stray light-absorbing material. Other arrangements may be used, if desired (e.g., arrangements in which stray light absorbing material is incorporated into some or all of binder  16 FB, arrangements in which cores  16 F- 1  are coated with inner and outer transparent claddings and an interposed intermediate stray-light-absorbing cladding, arrangements in which cores  16 F- 1  are covered with a single stray-light-absorbing cladding, arrangements in which some or all of fibers  16 F are provided with longitudinally extending filaments  16 F- 4  of stray light absorbing material located, for example, on or in any of the cladding layers, etc.). 
     In configuration in which fibers  16 F have claddings formed from two or more separate cladding layers, the cladding layers may have the same index of refraction or the outermost layers may have lower refractive index values (as examples). Binder  16 FB may have a refractive index equal to the refractive index of the cladding material or lower than the refractive index of the cladding material to promote total internal reflection (as examples). For example, each fiber core  16 F- 1  may have a first index of refraction and the cladding material surrounding that core may have a second index of refraction that is lower than the first index of refraction by an index difference of at least 0.05, at least 0.1, at least 0.15, at least 10%, at least 20%, less than 50%, less than 30%, or other suitable amount. The binder refractive index may be the same as that of some or all of the cladding material or may be lower than the lowest refractive index of the cladding by an index difference of at least 0.05, at least 0.1, at least 0.15, at least 10%, at least 20%, less than 50%, less than 30%, or other suitable amount. 
     The diameters of cores  16 F- 1  may be, for example, at least 5 microns, at least 7 microns, at least 8 microns, at least 9 microns, less than 40 microns, less than 17 microns, less than 14 microns, less than 11 microns, or other suitable diameter. Fibers  16 F (including cores and claddings) may have diameters of at least 6 microns, at least 7 microns, at least 8 microns, at least 9 microns, less than 50 microns, less than 17 microns, less than 14 microns, less than 11 microns, or other suitable diameter. 
     Fibers  16 F may generally extend parallel to each other in image transport layer  16  (e.g., the fibers may run next to each other along the direction of light propagation through the fiber bundle). This allows image light or other light that is presented at the input surface to layer  16  to be conveyed to the output surface of layer  16 . 
     If desired, image transport layer  16  may be formed from Anderson localization material in addition to or instead of fibers  16 F. Anderson localization material is characterized by transversely random refractive index features (higher index regions and lower index regions) of about two wavelengths in lateral size that are configured to exhibit two-dimensional transverse Anderson localization of light (e.g., the light output from the display of device  10 ). These refractive index variations are longitudinally invariant (e.g., along the direction of light propagation, perpendicular to the surface normal of a layer of Anderson localization material). 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an image transport layer formed from Anderson localization material. In the example of  FIG. 3 , image transport layer  16  includes a random (pseudorandom) set of elongated optical structures of different refractive index values. These structures may, for example, be optical filaments that run into and out of the page of  FIG. 3  and that have different refractive index values such as first filaments  16 H with higher refractive index values and second filaments  16 L with lower refractive index values. The refractive indices of filaments  16 L and  16 H may differ by any suitable amount (e.g., by at least 0.05, at least 0.1, at least 0.2, at least 0.3, by less than 0.8, etc.). The filaments may be distributed laterally (in dimensions X and Y) with a random pattern and may have any suitable cross-sectional shape (circular, rectangular, etc.). Anderson localization material preforms can be formed by drawing and assembling individual filaments of different refractive index values into bundles and/or can be formed by extruding lengths of material that include laterally interspersed areas of different respective refractive index values. Preforms can then be formed into layer  16  using one or more fusing and drawing operations. Other fabrication techniques may be used, if desired. To absorb stray light within an image transport layer formed from Anderson localization material, the Anderson localization material may include light absorbing material (e.g., light-absorbing filaments interspersed with transparent filaments or other light-absorbing structures). 
     Image transport layers can be used to transport an image from a first surface (e.g., the surface of a pixel array) to a second surface (e.g., a surface in device  10  with compound curvature or other curved and/or planar surface shape) while preserving the integrity of the image. A perspective view of an illustrative corner portion of image transport layer  16  is shown in  FIG. 4 . In the example of  FIG. 4 , device  10  has edge portions  40  and  42  with surfaces that curve about axes  44  and  46 , respectively. These portions of layer  16  may extend parallel to the straight sides of device  10  (as an example) and are characterized by curved surfaces that can be flattened into a plane without distortion (sometimes referred to as developable surfaces). At the corner of image transport layer  16  of  FIG. 4 , image transport layer  16  has curved surface portions CP with compound curvature (e.g., a surface that can only be flattened into a plane with distortion, sometimes referred to as a surface with Gaussian curvature). In a rectangular layout with curved corners, image transport layer  16  may have four corners with compound curvature. Image transport layers of other shapes (e.g., circular outlines, etc.) may also have surfaces with compound curvature (e.g., dome-shaped surfaces). When overlapped by protective layer  30 , the overlapping portions of protective layer  30  may have corresponding surfaces with compound curvature. When selecting the size and shape of the output surface of layer  16  and therefore the size and shape of the image presented on the output surface, the use of an image transport layer material with compound curvature can provide design flexibility. 
     In some arrangements, device  10  may include support structures such as wearable support structures. This allows device  10  to be worn on a body part of a user (e.g., the user&#39;s wrist, arm, head, leg, or other portion of the user&#39;s body). As an example, device  10  may include a wearable band, such as band  50  of  FIG. 5 . Band  50 , which may sometimes be referred to as a wristband, wrist strap, or wristwatch band, may be formed from polymer, metal, fabric, leather or other natural materials, and/or other material, may have links, may stretch, may be attached to housing  12  in a fixed arrangement, may be detachably coupled to housing  12 , may have a single segment or multiple segments joined by a clasp, and/or may have other features that facilitate the wearing of device  10  on a user&#39;s wrist. 
     To accommodate design goals such as minimizing unnecessary device bulk, enhancing a user&#39;s ability to view and interact with visual content, and otherwise enhancing device performance, it may be desirable for image transport layers in electronic devices to have output surfaces (and, if desired, input surfaces) with curved surfaces (e.g., surfaces with compound curvature and other curved surfaces). 
     Consider, as an example, illustrative electronic device  10  of  FIG. 6 . In the example of  FIG. 6 , device  10  has a housing with an elongated cylindrical shape. In this type of arrangement, device  10  extends along longitudinal axis  60  and is rotationally symmetric about longitudinal axis  60 . Upper surface  62  of device  10  may have a convex dome shape that is characterized by compound curvature. Sidewall surface  64  may have a curved cross-sectional profile. For example, sidewall surface  64  may from a cylindrical surface that extends around axis  60 . Device  10  may be a voice-controlled speaker or other electronic device. In arrangements in which device  10  contains audio components such as speakers, one or more openings may be formed in sidewall surface  64  and/or upper surface  62  (see, e.g., openings  68 ). Openings  68  may be used to form acoustic ports that allow sound to pass from the interior of device  10  to the exterior region surrounding device  10  and/or that allow sound to pass from the exterior of device  10  to the interior of device  10 . 
     It may be desirable to present visual content on the exterior surface of device  10 . Accordingly, some or all of surface  62  and/or some or all of surface  64  may be covered with the output surface(s) of one or more image transport layers. As an example, a first image transport layer with a dome-shaped output surface and a circular outline may be mounted to the top of device  10 . The dome-shaped output surface may form surface  62  of  FIG. 6 . A second image transport layer with a cylindrical output surface may wrap around device  10  (e.g., about axis  60 ) to form some or all of sidewall surface  64 . Along vertical seam  66 , portions of the second image transport layer may meet to cover a gap in an underlying curved flexible display that has been wrapped into a cylindrical tube shape (as an example). The first and second image transport layers may have portions that join along seam  70 . Seam  70  may have a circular shape that runs around the circular periphery of the dome-shaped output surface of the first image transport layer (surface  62 ). 
     In the example of  FIG. 6 , substantially all of the exterior surface of device  10  is covered by the output surfaces of image transport layers. If desired, some of the exterior of device  10  may be formed form opaque polymer, glass, metal, and/or other materials and may not be covered with image transport layer material. In device  10  of  FIG. 6  and/or other devices  10 , optional protective layer  30  may overlap the image transport layer material to help protect the image transport layer material from damage (as described in connection with layer  30  of layer  32  in  FIG. 1 ). Illustrative arrangements in which layer  30  has been omitted may sometimes be described herein as an example. 
     Using an arrangement of the type shown in  FIG. 6 , visual content may be provided over some or all of the exterior surface of device  10 . Device  10  may, as an example, include light sources such as one or more colored light-emitting diodes or lasers (e.g., light sources that emit white light and/or colored light). Light from the light-emitting diodes or lasers may be conveyed from image transport layer input surfaces through the image transport layers of device  10  in fixed and/or moving patterns to surfaces  62  and/or  64  (e.g., to provide a user with visual feedback in response to received voice commands from the user). In some arrangements, patterns of light or images including text, photographs, moving image content, and/or other visual content may be provided using one or more displays. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of device  10  of  FIG. 1  in an illustrative configuration in which device  10  has two light-emitting devices (e.g., displays). First display  14 - 1  is overlapped by first image transport layer  16 - 1 . Image transport layer  16 - 1  receives an image on display  14 - 1  at input surface  72  and transports this image to curved output surface  74 . Output surface  74  may form an output surface with a circular periphery such as dome-shaped surface  62  of device  10  of  FIG. 6 . Input surface  72  may have a rectangular shape, a circular shape, or other suitable shape and may be planar or curved. Second display  14 - 2  is overlapped by second image transport layer  16 - 2 . Image transport layer  16 - 2  receives an image on display  14 - 2  at input surface  76  and transports this image to output surface  78 . Output surface  78  may form cylindrically shaped surface  64  of device  10  of  FIG. 6 . Input surface  76  may have a cylindrical shape and may be directly adjacent to a cylindrical outwardly facing surface of display  14 - 2 . Portions of the sidewall of device  10  may be free of image transport layer material. For example, housing  12  may include a polymer wall, fabric, metal layers, and/or other structures that do not include image transport layer material. Openings  68  may be formed in image transport layer  16 - 2  and/or in other housing structures. 
     Deformed portions  80  of image transport layers  16 - 1  and  16 - 2  may be configured to join each other smoothly along circular seam  70 , thereby presenting image content that covers gap G 1  between the adjacent edges of displays  14 - 1  and  14 - 2 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , image transport layer  16 - 2  may have deformed portions  82  that join smoothly along vertical seam  66 , thereby covering and hiding gap G 2  between respective edges of display  14 - 2 . 
     In the illustrative arrangement of  FIG. 9 , an image transport structure (structure  16 ′) is formed from a block of image transport layer material (e.g., a coherent fiber bundle with bent fibers  16 F). Display  14  provides an image to input surface  84  of structure  16 ′. This image is transported by structure  16 ′ to corresponding output surface  86 . This type of arrangement may be used in a system (e.g., system  88 ) such as a vehicle or a building such as an office or home. Because surfaces  84  and  86  are not parallel to each other (e.g., the surface normals of surfaces  84  and  86  are not parallel to each other), structure  16 ′ changes the apparent orientation of display  14 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , for example, display  14  may lie in a horizontal plane and output surface  86  may lie in a non-horizontal plane (e.g., output surface  86  may be a vertical plane or a nearly vertical plane (e.g., a plane that is within 10°, 30°, or other suitable amount relative to vertical). 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device  10  in an illustrative configuration in which the inner surface of image transport layer  16  has a coating. As shown in  FIG. 10 , image transport layer  16  may have a first surface (e.g., an input surface) such as surface  94  and a corresponding second surface (e.g., an output surface) such as surface  96 . Surface  94  can be coated with layer  90 . Layer  90  may be, for example, a coating of polymer containing colorant (e.g., ink and/or pigment) such as a black ink layer or other colored ink. If desired, layer  90  may be a colored polymer film that is attached to layer  16  with adhesive. Layer  90  may have a solid appearance (e.g., layer  90  may have no discernable pattern) or may include text, icons, trim or other decorative elements, or any other suitable appearance. In some configurations, layer  90  may be opaque (e.g., the transmission of layer  90  at visible light wavelengths and/or other wavelengths may be less than 90%, less than 95%, less than 99%, or other suitable amount that blocks interior components from view from the exterior of device  10 ). By virtue of the presence of layer  16 , the appearance of layer  90  is transported from input surface  94  to output surface  96 , so that the image of layer  90  that would be observed in the absence of layer  16  is, in the presence of layer  16 , visible at output surface  96 . 
     Device  10  may have internal components such as optical component  100  or other electrical components. Optical component  100  may be overlapped by layer  90 . If desired, a portion of layer  90  (e.g., portion  98 ) may have a different appearance and/or different optical properties. For example, portion  98  may have a different transparency than remaining portions of layer  90  at one or more wavelengths, may have a different color, haze, texture, and/or pattern than other portions of layer  90 , etc. These differing properties may allow portion  98  to serve as an optical window for component  100 . The outline of portion  98  may be circular or may have other suitable window shapes. 
     Optical component  100  may emit and/or receive light at one or more wavelengths (e.g., visible light, infrared light, and/or ultraviolet light). Component  100  may be, for example, an infrared proximity sensor that emits light (e.g., infrared light) and receives reflected light (e.g., infrared light) from external objects through layer  16 , may be an optical touch sensor that emits light and receives reflected light from a user&#39;s finger or other object (e.g., visible and/or infrared light), may be a health sensor such as blood oxygen sensor or heartrate sensor, may be an ambient light sensor, may be a camera flash, may be an image sensor, or may be any other suitable light-emitting device and/or light-sensing device. Light-emitting components for component  100  may be based on light-emitting diodes and/or lasers (as examples). Light-sensing components for component  100  may be photodiodes. 
     In an illustrative configuration, portion  98  is configured to serve as a window in remaining portions of layer  90 . For example, if layer  90  is opaque and component  100  is an ambient light sensor, portion  98  may have sufficient visible light transmission (e.g., 2-10%, at least 2%, at least 4%, less than 90%, or other suitable amount) to allow at least some ambient light from exterior  22  to pass to component  100 . As another example, if layer  90  is opaque and component  100  is an infrared sensor such as an infrared proximity sensor, portion  98  may be configured to serve as an infrared-light-transmitting-and-visible-light-blocking window (e.g., so that component  100  is blocked from view from exterior  22  while infrared light is allowed to pass through portion  98  during operation of overlapped component  100 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , device  10  may include a button with an image transport layer. In the example of  FIG. 11 , device  10  has a housing wall such as housing  12  that separates exterior  22  from interior  24 . Button  106  includes movable button member  108  and switch  114 . Switch  114  may be, for example, a dome switch or other switch that is mounted on a substrate such as printed circuit  116  in interior  24  of device  10 . Housing  12  may have an opening that receives button member  108 . When a uses presses inwardly on button member  108 , button member  108  moves inwardly against dome switch  114  and activates dome switch  114 . Button  106  may be electrically coupled to control circuitry in device  10  using traces in printed circuit  116 . 
     Button member  108  may have an exterior surface formed by output surface  110  of image transport layer  16 . Output surface  110  may be curved (e.g., output surface  110  may have a convex shape and may exhibit compound curvature). A light-emitting diode or other light source such as display  14  may be mounted to input surface  112  of image transport layer  16 . During operation, display  14  may present an alphanumeric label, an icon, or other image to input surface  112 , which is transported to output surface  110  by image transport layer  16 . Control circuitry in device  10  may adjust the image on display  14  (e.g., so that button  106  displays context-dependent labels on output surface  110 ). 
     In the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 12 , device  10  has a rotating button. As shown in  FIG. 12 , button  118  has a shaft  16 ″ that passes through an opening in housing  12  (e.g., a polymer housing wall, a metal housing wall, a glass housing wall, etc.). Shaft  16 ″ may be formed from image transport layer material (e.g., an elongated coherent fiber bundle or elongated member formed from Anderson localization material). The button rotates about rotational axis  112 . Encoder  125  may optically and/or electrically detect user input associated with rotation of the shaft of button  118 . A light-emitting diode or other light-emitting device such as display  14  may be mounted on input surface  121  of the image transport layer shaft (e.g., an elongated shaft member such as shaft  16 ″ that is formed from a coherent fiber bundle or Anderson localization material). An image presented on display  14  may be transported form input surface  121  of shaft  16 ″ to output surface  123  of shaft  16 ″, where the transported image may be viewed by viewer  28 . Shaft  16 ″ may, if desired, be housed within a hollow tube such as tube  120 . Tube  120  may, as an example, be formed from a material such as polymer, metal, or glass and may help protect shaft  16 ″. 
       FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional side view of device  10  in an illustrative configuration in which display  14  contains an array of optical sensors. As shown in  FIG. 13 , device  10  may have an image transport layer such as image transport layer  16  coupled to housing  12 . Display  14  may be mounted in interior  24  adjacent to input surface  124  of image transport layer  16 . During operation, display  14  may present an image to input surface  124  that is transported by layer  16  to corresponding output surface  126 . Output surface  126  may be planar and/or may have portions with curved cross-sectional profiles. As an example, some or all of output surface  126  may have compound curvature (e.g., surface  126  may have a convex dome shape). Arrangements in which surface  126  has a planar central region surrounded by curved edges may also be used. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , display  14  may have an array of light-emitting pixels such as pixels  14 P. Pixels  14 P may be visible light-emitting diode pixels or other pixels that are arranged in an array and used to display an image. If desired, display  14  may contain infrared pixels (e.g., infrared light-emitting diodes) interspersed with visible light pixels. The substrate for display  14  (or a layer overlapping the substrate) may have an array of light detectors  14 D. Detectors  14 D may be, for example, semiconductor photodetectors (e.g., thin-film photodetectors on a common substrate with visible and/or infrared thin-film organic light-emitting diodes, etc.). Detectors  14 D may be used to form a two-dimensional optical touch sensor for display  14 . 
     During operation, pixels  14 P may emit visible light that creates an image on output surface  126  and may optionally emit infrared light that passes to output surface  126 . In the absence of external objects on surface  126 , visible and/or infrared light emitted by display  14  passes through output surface  126  to exterior region  22 . When an external object such as finger  128  touches surface  126 , some of the emitted visible and/or infrared light is reflected from the external object through layer  16  back towards detectors  14 D on display  14  in interior region  24  of device  10 . Control circuitry in device  10  can process the detected light to determine whether finger  128  is present and, if present, to determine the location where finger  128  is touching surface  126 . In this way, the light-emitting and light-sensing circuitry of display  14  may be used to form an optical touch sensor with a touch sensing surface that coincides with output surface  126 . Touch input may be gathered from one or more fingers simultaneously. Touch gestures such as swipe gestures and other touch input may be used in controlling the operation of device  10 . 
       FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional side view of device  10  in an illustrative configuration in which device  10  is a computer stylus. Device  10  may have an elongated shape extending along longitudinal axis  131  between tip TP and opposing end ED. When gripped by a user&#39;s fingers, tip TP of device  10  may be used to supply input to a touch sensitive tablet computer display or other external equipment (e.g., to draw lines on a tablet display using a drawing program on a tablet computer). 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , device  10  may have an elongated housing. Housing  12  may extend along longitudinal axis  131  and may have walls that separate interior region  24  from exterior region  22  surrounding device  10 . Housing  12  may have a cylindrical shape or other suitable shape. At tip TP, housing  12  may taper to a point. Electrodes  130  at tip TP may be used to create electric fields that interact with capacitive touch sensors in the displays of external devices (e.g., touch sensors that can sense where electrodes  130  are located so that device  10  may serve as an input device). Electrodes  130  can be mounted on the output surface of an image transport layer such as a conical image transport layer at tip TP. 
     In the example of  FIG. 14 , there are three image transport layers  16 , each of which receives visual output (e.g., diffuse light, an illuminated pattern such as an icon or text, a display image, etc.) from a corresponding visual output device  14 ′ at a corresponding input surface for that image transport layer. Devices  14 ′ may be light-emitting diodes or other light sources. If desired, one or more of devices  14 ′ may be a display (e.g., an array of pixels configured to produce an image with text, icons, and/or other image content). 
     During operation of device  10 , it may be desirable to provide a user of device  10  with status information. This information may include visual output indicating the power status of device  10  (e.g., a red output if device  10  is off and a green output if device  10  is on), the current color or brush selected in a drawing program (e.g., a blue indicator if a blue color is selected, a pointed brush icon if a pointed brush is selected, a wide brush icon if a wide brush is selected, etc.), the current line type that is in use by a drawing program that is being controlled by device  10  (e.g., line width, line style, etc.), or other information on the operating mode of device  10  and/or a program on external equipment that is being controlled using device  10 . One or more of devices  14 ′ can supply text, icons, blanket fields of color, still and/or moving images, and/or other visual output that visually presents status information and/or other information to a user of device  10 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 14 , housing  12  has transparent window regions that overlap corresponding output surfaces of image transport layers  16 . The output surface of image transport layers  16  of  FIG. 14  may be rotationally symmetric around axis  131  (as an example). This allows a user to view visual content on the output surfaces of the image transport layers without being concerned about the rotational orientation of device  10  in the user&#39;s fingers. 
     A first image transport layer  16  at location LA receives a first image (e.g., an image from a display or other visual output) from a first of devices  14 ′ near tip TP and transports the first image to the output surface of layer  16  at location LA. The image transport layer at location LA may have a conical output surface shape or other tapered shape that fits within the tapered tip of housing  12 . Transparent window  12 W- 1  in housing  12  overlaps electrodes  130  and the output surface. Electrodes  130  may be formed from a transparent conductive material such as indium tin oxide. This allows a user to view the image on the output surface of layer  16  at location LA through transparent window  12 W- 1  and through electrodes  130 . 
     A second image transport layer  16  at location LB receives a second image (e.g., an image from a display or other visual output) from a second of devices  14 ′ and transports the second image to the output surface of layer  16  at location LB. This output surface may have a ring shape (e.g., a cylindrical surface running around the circumference of housing  12 ). Transparent window  12 W- 2  (e.g., a cylindrical ring-shaped window) overlaps the output surface of layer  16  at location LB and allows the visual output that is presented on this output surface to be viewed by the user. There may be one or more cylindrical windows such as window  12 W- 2  along the length of housing  12 . 
     At end ED of device  10 , housing  12  has a curved cross-sectional profile. Transparent window  12 W- 3  may have a convex dome shape and may be characterized by compound curvature. A third image transport layer  16  at location LC receives a third image (e.g., an image from a display or other visual output) from a third of devices  14 ′ near end ED and transports the third image to the output surface of layer  16 . Transparent window region  12 W- 3  overlaps this output surface, so that the user may view visual output on the output surface through window  12 W- 3 . 
     If desired, image transport layer  16  may have a ring shape that surrounds a central opening. This type of arrangement is shown in the cross-sectional side view of device  10  of  FIG. 15 . In the example of  FIG. 15 , light-emitting device  14 ″ has a ring shape and surrounds longitudinal axis  131 . Image transport layer  16  and its input surface also have ring shapes that surround longitudinal axis  131 . A central opening in device  14 ″ and a central opening in layer  16  can accommodate longitudinally extending structures such as structures  138 . 
     Housing  12  of device  10  of  FIG. 15  may be elongated along longitudinal axis  131  (e.g., device  10  of  FIG. 15  may be a computer stylus or other device such as device  10  of  FIG. 14 ). Structures  138  may extend along this axis through opening  136  in image transport layer  16 . Structures  138  may include wires that form signal paths, printed circuits (e.g., printed circuits with signal paths formed from metal traces), electrical components, and/or other portions of device  10 . For example, structures  138  may include signal paths that interconnect circuitry at tip TP with circuitry at end ED. Opening  136  may have a circular shape or other suitable shape. Image transport layer  16  may have a ring-shaped input surface that surrounds axis  131  and opening  136 . The input surface may receive an image or other visual output from device  14 ″ (e.g., a ring-shaped display, ring-shaped light-emitting device based on one or more light-emitting diodes or lasers, or other light-emitting device). The image received at the input surface may be transported to an output surface of layer  16  that lies under transparent window  12 W- 4 . The output surface and window  12 W- 4  may be cylindrical. Device  14 ″ may include one or more light-emitting components (e.g., light-emitting diodes) arranged in a ring surrounding axis  131 . Device  14 ″ (e.g., a display panel, a printed circuit on which light-emitting diodes are mounted, etc.) may have an opening such as opening  137  through which structures  138  may pass. 
       FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device  10  in an illustrative configuration in which image transport layer  16  has first and second sublayers. A first sublayer such as image transport layer  16 - 1  has input surface  143  and corresponding output surface  144 . A second sublayer such as image transport layer  16 - 2  has input surface  146  and output surface  148 . Output surface  148  may face exterior region  22  surrounding device  10 . Input surface  143  may face interior  24 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , display  14  may be mounted adjacent to input surface  143 . During operation, display  14  may present an image to input surface  143  that is transported to output surface  148  through layer  16 . 
     A sensor layer such as touch sensor layer  140  and/or other components may be interposed between layers  16 - 1  and  16 - 2 . As an example, a two-dimensional array of transparent capacitive touch sensor electrodes  142  may be used to form a two-dimensional capacitive touch sensor between output surface  144  of layer  16 - 1  and input surface  146  of layer  16 - 2 . This touch sensor may gather touch input as a user touches surface  148  with one or more fingers or other external objects. 
     Electrodes  142  may be formed from a transparent conductive material such as indium tin oxide. Electrodes  142  may be mounted on a clear transparent substrate (e.g., a transparent polymer film), may be formed from a patterned coating on surface  144 , may be formed from a patterned coating on surface  146 , and/or may have other configurations. Layer  140  may include transparent adhesive or other structures to help couple optically and mechanically couple layers  16 - 1  and  16 - 2  together. For example, layer  140  may have adhesive with a refractive index that is matched to that of layer  16 . Because layer  140  is transparent and relatively thin (e.g., less than 0.3 mm, less than 0.1 mm, or other suitable thickness), the image that is presented to output surface  144  of layer  16 - 1  may be received at input surface  146  of layer  16 - 2  and subsequently conveyed to output surface  148  through layer  16 - 2 . The arrangement of  FIG. 16  therefore helps transport an image from display  14  to output surface  148  while ensuring that the two-dimensional capacitive touch sensor or other circuitry of layer  140  is close to the exterior surface of device  10  (e.g., surface  148 ) and is therefore able to satisfactorily detect when a user&#39;s fingers or other objects are present on this surface. Surface  148  may be planar, may have a curved cross-sectional profile, may have areas of compound curvature, etc. 
       FIG. 17  shows how image transport layer  16  may be used to display a logo or other visual output on the exterior surface of housing  12 . In the example of  FIG. 17 , image transport layer  16  has an input surface that receives an image (e.g., a display image or visual output such as light from one or more light-emitting diodes) from visual output device  14 ′″. Visual output device  14 ′″ may be a display, a light-emitting diode, a set of 2-10 light-emitting diodes, a set of more than 10 light-emitting diodes, one or more lasers, or other light-emitting device. Device  14 ′″ and image transport layer  16  may be mounted in housing  12 . Housing  12  may be, for example, a laptop computer housing such as the upper housing in a laptop computer. Image transport layer  16  of  FIG. 17  has a shape that routes visual output from device  14 ′″ to output surface  150 . 
     Output surface  150  may be visible on the exterior surface of housing  12 . For example, output surface  150  may lie flush with the exterior surface of housing  12  or nearly flush with the exterior surface of housing  12 . If desired, a diffuser layer, a patterned optical mask, a protective housing wall, and/or other structures may overlap surface  150 . With an illustrative configuration, the outline of surface  150  may have the shape of a logo, so that an illuminated logo will be visible on the surface of housing  12  when device  14 ′″ is active and emitting light. In another illustrative configuration, device  14 ′″ may present an image with fixed and/or moving text and other image content. This image may be presented on surface  150  to serve as a notification or other message for a user of device  10 . In the example of  FIG. 17 , output surface  150  is planar. This is illustrative. Any suitable image transfer layer output surface shapes may be used when displaying notifications (e.g., cylindrical surfaces, dome-shaped surfaces, and cone-shaped surfaces of the type described in connection with  FIG. 14 , etc.). 
     If desired, image transport layers may be used to convey images in a head-mounted device. Consider, as an example, head-mounted device  10  of  FIG. 18 . As shown in  FIG. 18 , housing  12  in device  10  may have a main portion  12 M that supports lenses  166  in front of eye boxes  160 . During operation, a user may view images through lenses  166  when the user&#39;s eyes are located in eye boxes  160 ). Housing  12  may be configured to be worn on a user&#39;s head. For example, main portion  12 M and side portions  12 T of housing  12  may be housing structures (sometimes referred to as head-mounted support structures) that are configured to be worn on a user&#39;s head. Side portions  12 T of housing  12 , which may include straps, headbands, temples in eye glasses, and/or other support structures, may include displays  14 . There may be, for example, a first of displays  14  for a left portion of device  10  and a second of displays  14  for a right portion of device  10  (as an example). Displays  14  may be organic light-emitting diode displays, liquid crystal displays (e.g., liquid-crystal-on-silicon displays), scanning mirror display devices, digital micromirror devices (e.g., two-dimensional arrays of microelectromechanical systems mirrors), and/or other displays. Image transport layers  16  may have input surfaces  162  that receive images from displays  14  in portions  12 T of housing  12  and may have corresponding output surfaces  164  to which the images from displays  14  are transported. Output surfaces  164  may face eye boxes  160 , so that a user may view the images on output surfaces  164  through lenses  166  that are interposed between output surfaces  164  and eye boxes  160 . 
     If desired, device  10  may include flexible display structures. For example, a flexible organic light-emitting diode display may be wrapped into a cylindrical shape as shown by flexible display  14  of  FIG. 19 . A gap G 3  may be present between the pixels along opposing edges of display  14  after display  14  has been formed into a cylindrical shape. 
     As shown in the cross-sectional side view of device  10  of  FIG. 20 , a display such as display  14  of  FIG. 19  may be overlapped by an image transport layer. Image transport layer  16  of  FIG. 20  may have a cylindrical input surface  170  that receives an image presented on the outwardly facing surface of display  14 . Image transport layer  16  may have a corresponding output surface  172  to which the image on input surface  170  is transported. Output surface  172  may have a cylindrical shape, a shape with planar portions, portions with curved cross-sectional profiles, areas with compound curvature, and/or other suitable shapes. Touch sensor circuitry (e.g., a two-dimensional optical touch sensor formed from photodetectors and optional infrared light-emitting diodes of the type described in connection with  FIG. 13 ) may be incorporated into display  14  and/or other displays in devices  10 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 20 , portions  176  of image transport layer  16  are deformed to cover gap G 3  while meeting smoothly along seam  174 . This allows an image to be displayed on surface  172  that extends seamlessly around the entire perimeter of device  10 . Electrical components for device  10  (e.g., control circuitry, sensors, a battery, and/or other circuitry) may be mounted in interior region  24  (e.g., an area of device  10  that is surrounded by display  14 ). Device  10  of  FIG. 20  and the other FIGS. may be a cellular telephone, a wristwatch, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a voice-control speaker, a computer monitor, a television, a head-mounted device, an electronic device accessory such as a computer mouse, a computer stylus, an ear bud, or other accessory, a voice-controlled speaker, an embedded system, and/or other electronic equipment. 
     As described above, one aspect of the present technology is the gathering and use of information such as sensor information. The present disclosure contemplates that in some instances, data may be gathered that includes personal information data that uniquely identifies or can be used to contact or locate a specific person. Such personal information data can include demographic data, location-based data, telephone numbers, email addresses, twitter ID&#39;s, home addresses, data or records relating to a user&#39;s health or level of fitness (e.g., vital signs measurements, medication information, exercise information), date of birth, username, password, biometric information, or any other identifying or personal information. 
     The present disclosure recognizes that the use of such personal information, in the present technology, can be used to the benefit of users. For example, the personal information data can be used to deliver targeted content that is of greater interest to the user. Accordingly, use of such personal information data enables users to calculated control of the delivered content. Further, other uses for personal information data that benefit the user are also contemplated by the present disclosure. For instance, health and fitness data may be used to provide insights into a user&#39;s general wellness, or may be used as positive feedback to individuals using technology to pursue wellness goals. 
     The present disclosure contemplates that the entities responsible for the collection, analysis, disclosure, transfer, storage, or other use of such personal information data will comply with well-established privacy policies and/or privacy practices. In particular, such entities should implement and consistently use privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining personal information data private and secure. Such policies should be easily accessible by users, and should be updated as the collection and/or use of data changes. Personal information from users should be collected for legitimate and reasonable uses of the entity and not shared or sold outside of those legitimate uses. Further, such collection/sharing should occur after receiving the informed consent of the users. Additionally, such entities should consider taking any needed steps for safeguarding and securing access to such personal information data and ensuring that others with access to the personal information data adhere to their privacy policies and procedures. Further, such entities can subject themselves to evaluation by third parties to certify their adherence to widely accepted privacy policies and practices. In addition, policies and practices should be adapted for the particular types of personal information data being collected and/or accessed and adapted to applicable laws and standards, including jurisdiction-specific considerations. For instance, in the United States, collection of or access to certain health data may be governed by federal and/or state laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), whereas health data in other countries may be subject to other regulations and policies and should be handled accordingly. Hence different privacy practices should be maintained for different personal data types in each country. 
     Despite the foregoing, the present disclosure also contemplates embodiments in which users selectively block the use of, or access to, personal information data. That is, the present disclosure contemplates that hardware and/or software elements can be provided to prevent or block access to such personal information data. For example, the present technology can be configured to allow users to select to “opt in” or “opt out” of participation in the collection of personal information data during registration for services or anytime thereafter. In another example, users can select not to provide certain types of user data. In yet another example, users can select to limit the length of time user-specific data is maintained. In addition to providing “opt in” and “opt out” options, the present disclosure contemplates providing notifications relating to the access or use of personal information. For instance, a user may be notified upon downloading an application (“app”) that their personal information data will be accessed and then reminded again just before personal information data is accessed by the app. 
     Moreover, it is the intent of the present disclosure that personal information data should be managed and handled in a way to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use. Risk can be minimized by limiting the collection of data and deleting data once it is no longer needed. In addition, and when applicable, including in certain health related applications, data de-identification can be used to protect a user&#39;s privacy. De-identification may be facilitated, when appropriate, by removing specific identifiers (e.g., date of birth, etc.), controlling the amount or specificity of data stored (e.g., collecting location data at a city level rather than at an address level), controlling how data is stored (e.g., aggregating data across users), and/or other methods. 
     Therefore, although the present disclosure broadly covers use of information that may include personal information data to implement one or more various disclosed embodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that the various embodiments can also be implemented without the need for accessing personal information data. That is, the various embodiments of the present technology are not rendered inoperable due to the lack of all or a portion of such personal information data. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made to the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20200904
Publication Date: 20220125
Grant Date: 20220125
Priority Date: 20191031
Inventors: WITTENBERG, MICHAEL B.
BARRETT, DANIEL J.
DE JONG, ERIK G.
BROWNING, LUCY E.
RAMMAH, MARWAN
PHOUTHAVONG, RASAMY
PANDYA, SAMEER
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F3/167", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04164", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04103", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0011", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0445", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/06", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0421", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04102", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/167", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04102", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/167", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/06", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0421", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0445", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 79689861