PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11436964-B1
Application Number: US-202117225520-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Electronic devices having image transport layers and electrical components

Abstract:
An electronic device may have a display with pixels configured to display an image. The pixels may be overlapped by a cover layer. The display may have peripheral edges with curved cross-sectional profiles. An inactive area in the display may be formed along a peripheral edge of the display or may be surrounded by the pixels. Electrical components such as optical components may be located in the inactive area. An image transport layer may be formed from a coherent fiber bundle or Anderson localization material. The image transport layer may overlap the pixels, may have an opening that overlaps portions of the inactive area, may have an output surface that overlap portions of the inactive area, and/or may convey light associated with optical components in the electronic device.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device, comprising:
 pixels configured to display an image; 
 an image transport layer having an input surface that receives the image and an output surface to which the received image is transported through the image transport layer; and 
 a display cover layer having a planar portion and a curved portion, wherein the planar portion and the curved portion overlap the image transport layer. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the image transport layer comprises a plurality of fibers formed in a single layer and wherein each of the fibers extends from the input surface to the output surface. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device defined in claim  2  wherein the display cover layer has an edge and has a curved portion that overlaps given fibers of the plurality of fibers. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device defined in  claim 3  wherein the given fibers extend vertically. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device defined in  claim 3  wherein the given fibers are tilted by progressively increasing amounts toward the edge. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device defined in  claim 3  wherein the given fibers are curved and tilted by progressively increasing amounts toward the edge. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device defined in  claim 3  wherein each of the given fibers has a length and wherein each of the given fibers comprises multiple bends along the length. 
     
     
       8. A cellular telephone, comprising:
 pixels configured to display an image; and 
 an image transport layer having an input surface that receives the image and an output surface to which the image is transported, wherein the output surface has a curved portion, and wherein the image transport layer comprises:
 a lower portion with a first set of fibers, wherein the first set of fibers have first ends that form the input surface and second ends, and 
 an upper portion with a second set of fibers, wherein the second set of fibers have third ends facing the second ends of the first set of fibers, and fourth ends that form the output surface. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The cellular telephone defined in  claim 8  wherein the first set of fibers are oriented vertically in the curved portion. 
     
     
       10. The cellular telephone defined in  claim 9  wherein the second set of fibers are oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the first set of fibers in the curved portion. 
     
     
       11. The cellular telephone defined in  claim 10  wherein the second ends of the first set of fibers in the curved portion of the image transport layer are curved. 
     
     
       12. The cellular telephone defined in  claim 8  wherein the input surface has an additional curved portion. 
     
     
       13. A wearable electronic device having a front and a rear, the wearable electronic device comprising:
 a housing comprising a transparent layer facing the front, wherein the transparent layer has a curved portion; 
 a display in the housing, wherein the display comprises an active area configured to display an image and an inactive area that is overlapped by the curved portion of the transparent layer; and 
 an image transport layer that overlaps the display and transports the image to the curved portion of the transparent layer. 
 
     
     
       14. The wearable electronic device defined in  claim 13  wherein the transparent layer is formed from glass. 
     
     
       15. The wearable electronic device defined in  claim 14  wherein the housing comprises an additional glass layer facing the rear. 
     
     
       16. The wearable electronic device defined in  claim 15  wherein the additional glass layer has an additional curved portion that is coupled to the curved portion of the transparent layer. 
     
     
       17. The wearable electronic device defined in  claim 14  wherein the housing comprises a metal layer facing the rear, wherein the metal layer has an additional curved portion that is coupled to the curved portion of the transparent layer. 
     
     
       18. The wearable electronic device defined in  claim 13  wherein the image transport layer comprises Anderson localization material. 
     
     
       19. The wearable electronic device defined in  claim 13  wherein the image transport layer comprises a coherent fiber bundle. 
     
     
       20. The wearable electronic device defined in  claim 13  wherein the housing is configured to be worn on a user&#39;s wrist. 
     
     
       21. An electronic device, comprising:
 pixels configured to display an image, wherein the pixels surround an area without pixels; and 
 an image transport layer having an input surface that receives the image and an output surface to which the received image is transported through the image transport layer, wherein the image transport layer has an opening that is aligned with the area. 
 
     
     
       22. The electronic device defined in  claim 21  wherein the image transport layer has a portion that overlaps a peripheral portion of the area and blocks the peripheral portion of the area from view, wherein the electronic device further comprises a camera and an ambient light sensor in the area, and wherein the camera and the ambient light sensor receive light through the opening in the image transport layer. 
     
     
       23. The electronic device defined in  claim 22  wherein the image transport layer comprises a coherent fiber bundle. 
     
     
       24. The electronic device defined in  claim 22  wherein the image transport layer comprises Anderson localization material. 
     
     
       25. The electronic device defined in claim  21  wherein the pixels form a display having a periphery and wherein a display cover layer overlaps the pixels and has a portion with a curved surface profile at the periphery. 
     
     
       26. The electronic device defined in  claim 25  wherein the image transport layer has an edge portion with a curved surface profile at the periphery. 
     
     
       27. The electronic device defined in  claim 26  wherein the electronic device has a housing structure that is coupled to the display cover layer and wherein the housing structure includes a metal sidewall that runs along the periphery. 
     
     
       28. The electronic device defined in  claim 21  wherein the electronic device comprises an optical component that is configured to transmit light through the opening in the image transport layer. 
     
     
       29. The electronic device defined in  claim 28  wherein the optical component is configured to transmit infrared light through the opening in the image transport layer. 
     
     
       30. The electronic device defined in claim  29  further comprising an infrared image sensor that is configured to receive infrared light through the opening in the image transport layer. 
     
     
       31. The electronic device defined in  claim 21  further comprising:
 an optical component that receives light through the opening; and 
 component mounting structures that are configured to couple the optical component to the image transport layer. 
 
     
     
       32. The electronic device defined in  claim 21  further comprising a metal trace on the image transport layer. 
     
     
       33. An electronic device, comprising:
 a display; 
 a housing structure coupled to the display; 
 a coherent fiber bundle; and 
 an optical component configured to receive light through the coherent fiber bundle. 
 
     
     
       34. The electronic device defined in  claim 33  wherein the optical component comprises an ambient light sensor and wherein the coherent fiber bundle comprises fibers formed from infrared-light-transmitting-and-visible-light-blocking material. 
     
     
       35. The electronic device defined in  claim 33  wherein the coherent fiber bundle has a bend. 
     
     
       36. The electronic device defined in  claim 33  wherein the coherent fiber bundle has a first portion that conveys the light to the optical component and has a second portion with an input surface that receives an image from the display. 
     
     
       37. The electronic device defined in  claim 36  further comprising:
 a display cover layer that overlaps the first and second portions of the coherent fiber bundle. 
 
     
     
       38. The electronic device defined in  claim 33  wherein the optical component comprises a heart rate sensor. 
     
     
       39. A portable electronic device, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a display that is coupled to the housing and that has pixels that display an image; 
 a lens; 
 a digital image sensor; and 
 a field flattener that is interposed between the lens and the digital image sensor and that is formed from a coherent fiber bundle that has an input surface with a curved cross-sectional profile. 
 
     
     
       40. The portable electronic device defined in  claim 39 , wherein the input surface comprises a spherical input surface, wherein the pixels surround an area without pixels, wherein light passes through the area, and wherein the lens comprises a ball lens that receives the light.

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/682,406, filed Nov. 13, 2019, which claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/760,656, filed Nov. 13, 2018, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This relates generally to electronic devices, and, more particularly, to incorporating components into electronic devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic devices such as cellular telephones, tablet computers, and other electronic equipment may include electronic components. The electronic components may include components that emit and detect light. For example, the electronic components may include displays and optical components. 
     If care is not taken, electronic devices with displays, optical components, and other electrical components may not have a desired appearance or may be difficult to use satisfactorily. For example, displays and optical components may be bulky and unattractive or may not exhibit desired performance. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device may have a display and electrical components. The electrical components may include optical components such as image sensors, light sensors, light-emitting devices, and other optical devices. The electronic device may have a housing and a display coupled to the housing. The display has pixels that display an image. 
     An image transport layer may overlap the display. The image transport layer may be formed from a coherent fiber bundle or Anderson localization material. The image transport layer may have an input surface that receives an image such as the image presented on the pixels of the display. The image transport layer may transport the image that is provided to the input surface to a corresponding output surface. The output surface may have planar portions and/or may have portions with curved cross-sectional profiles. 
     The display may have an inactive area along a peripheral edge of the display and/or may have an inactive area that is surrounded by the pixels. Electrical components such as audio components and optical components may be mounted in the inactive area. The optical components may transmit and/or receive light through a portion of the image transport layer that overlaps the optical components and/or may transmit and/or receive light through an opening in the image transport layer that is aligned with the inactive area. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of an illustrative electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an illustrative corner of an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative image transport layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative image transport layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11  are cross-sectional side views of illustrative image transport layers in accordance with embodiments. 
         FIGS. 12, 13, and 14  are cross-sectional side views of portions of illustrative electronic devices with image transport layers in accordance with embodiments. 
         FIGS. 15, 16, and 17  are top views of portions of illustrative electronic devices with displays having inactive areas and image transport layers configured to accommodate electrical components in accordance with embodiments. 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device with an image transport layer that reduces the size of an inactive display area in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device with an image transport layer that reduces the size of an inactive area that is surrounded by pixels in a display and that includes an electrical component aligned with an opening in the image transport layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device with an image transport layer that is configured to accommodate mounting of an electrical component in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device with an image transport layer with a portion that conveys light for an optical component that is located in an inactive display area in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 22 and 23  are cross-sectional side views of illustrative image transport structures configured to route light for an optical component in an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 24  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrative electronic device having an image transport layer overlapping an optical sensor such as a heart rate sensor in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 25  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrative electronic device having an image transport layer overlapping circuitry that makes finger measurements in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 26  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrative electronic device having an image transport layer configured to form an image for a floating button in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 27  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrative electronic device with a field flattener formed from an image transport layer with a curved input surface in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 28  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative image transport layer with a taper in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 29 and 30  are cross-sectional side views of illustrative image transport layers with curved surfaces in accordance with embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Electronic devices may be provided with electrical components. The electrical components may include optical components that emit and/or detect light. The optical components may include light-emitting components such as displays, status indicator lights, optical sensors that emit light such as proximity sensors, camera flashes, flood illuminators for infrared cameras, and other light-emitting devices. The optical components may also include light-receiving components such as photodetectors, image sensors, ambient light sensors, and other optical sensors that receive light. 
     To help enhance device aesthetics and/or to help enhance optical component performance, the electronic devices may include structures that transport light from an input surface to an output surface through coherent fiber bundle or a layer of Anderson localization material. Structures such as these may sometimes be referred to as image transport layers, image transport structures, image transport layer structures, etc. 
     As an example, an electronic device may have a display on which an image is displayed. An image transport layer may overlap the display so that an input surface of the image transport layer is adjacent to the display and receives the image from the display. The image transport layer transports the image from the input surface to a corresponding output surface of the image transport layer. The output surface faces outwardly from the device so that the image on the output surface may be viewed by a user of the electronic device. If desired, the output surface may have a curved cross-sectional profile. 
     As another example, an optical sensor may be overlapped by an image transport layer. The input surface of the image transport layer may face outwardly to receive light from an exterior region surrounding the electronic device. The output surface of the image transport layer may be adjacent to a sensor. During operation, light for the optical sensor may pass through the image transport layer from the exterior region to the optical sensor. 
     A schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic device having an image transport layer is shown in  FIG. 1 . Device  10  may be a cellular telephone, tablet computer, laptop computer, wristwatch device or other wearable device, a television, a stand-alone computer display or other monitor, a computer display with an embedded computer (e.g., a desktop computer), a system embedded in a vehicle, kiosk, or other embedded electronic device, a media player, or other electronic equipment. 
     Device  10  may include control circuitry  20 . Control circuitry  20  may include storage and processing circuitry for supporting the operation of device  10 . The storage and processing circuitry may include storage such as 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 control circuitry  20  may be used to gather input from sensors and other input devices and may be used to control output devices. The processing circuitry may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processors and other wireless communications circuits, power management units, audio chips, application specific integrated circuits, etc. 
     To support communications between device  10  and external equipment, control circuitry  20  may communicate using communications circuitry  22 . Circuitry  22  may include antennas, radio-frequency transceiver circuitry, and other wireless communications circuitry and/or wired communications circuitry. Circuitry  22 , which may sometimes be referred to as control circuitry and/or control and communications circuitry, may support bidirectional wireless communications between device  10  and external equipment over a wireless link (e.g., circuitry  22  may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry such as wireless local area network transceiver circuitry configured to support communications over a wireless local area network link, near-field communications transceiver circuitry configured to support communications over a near-field communications link, cellular telephone transceiver circuitry configured to support communications over a cellular telephone link, or transceiver circuitry configured to support communications over any other suitable wired or wireless communications link) Wireless communications may, for example, be supported over a Bluetooth® link, a WiFi® link, a wireless link operating at a frequency between 10 GHz and 400 GHz, a 60 GHz link, or other millimeter wave link, a cellular telephone link, or other wireless communications link. Device  10  may, if desired, include power circuits for transmitting and/or receiving wired and/or wireless power and may include batteries or other energy storage devices. For example, device  10  may include a coil and rectifier to receive wireless power that is provided to circuitry in device  10 . 
     Device  10  may include input-output devices such as devices  24 . Input-output devices  24  may be used in gathering user input, in gathering information on the environment surrounding the user, and/or in providing a user with output. Devices  24  may include one or more displays such as display(s)  14 . Display  14  may be an organic light-emitting diode display, a liquid crystal display, an electrophoretic display, an electrowetting display, a plasma display, a microelectromechanical systems display, a display having a pixel array formed from crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies (sometimes referred to as microLEDs), and/or other display. Display  14  may have an array of pixels configured to display images for a user. The display pixels may be formed on one or more substrates such as one or more flexible substrates (e.g., display  14  may be formed from a flexible display panel). Conductive electrodes for a capacitive touch sensor in display  14  and/or an array of indium tin oxide electrodes or other transparent conductive electrodes overlapping display  14  may be used to form a two-dimensional capacitive touch sensor for display  14  (e.g., display  14  may be a touch sensitive display). 
     Sensors  16  in input-output devices  24  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 display  14 , a two-dimensional capacitive touch sensor overlapping display  14 , and/or a touch sensor that forms a button, trackpad, or other input device not associated with a display), and other sensors. If desired, sensors  16  may include optical sensors such as optical sensors that emit and detect light, ultrasonic sensors, 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, 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, depth sensors (e.g., structured light sensors and/or depth sensors based on stereo imaging devices that capture three-dimensional images), 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, and/or other sensors. In some arrangements, device  10  may use sensors  16  and/or other input-output devices to gather user input. For example, buttons may be used to gather button press input, touch sensors overlapping displays can be used for gathering user touch screen input, touch pads may be used in gathering touch input, microphones may be used for gathering audio input, accelerometers may be used in monitoring when a finger contacts an input surface and may therefore be used to gather finger press input, etc. 
     If desired, electronic device  10  may include additional components (see, e.g., other devices  18  in input-output devices  24 ). The additional components may include haptic output devices, audio output devices such as speakers, light-emitting diodes for status indicators, light sources such as light-emitting diodes that illuminate portions of a housing and/or display structure, other optical output devices, and/or other circuitry for gathering input and/or providing output. Device  10  may also include a battery or other energy storage device, connector ports for supporting wired communication with ancillary equipment and for receiving wired power, and other circuitry. 
       FIG. 2  is a front (plan) view of electronic device  10  in an illustrative configuration in which display  14  covers some or all of the front face FR of device  10 . Opposing rear face RR of device  10  may be covered by a housing wall formed from glass, metal, polymer, and/or other materials. Rear face RR may be free of display pixels and/or may be partly or fully covered by display  14 . 
     Device  10  may include a housing (e.g., housing  12 ) that forms sidewall structures for device  10  and/or internal supporting structures (e.g., a frame, midplate member, etc.). Glass structures, transparent polymer structures, image transport layer structures, and/or other transparent structures that cover display  14  and other portions of device  10  may provide structural support for device  10  and may sometimes be referred to as housing structures. For example, a glass or polymer layer that covers and protects a pixel array in display  14  may serve as a display cover layer while also serving as a housing structure for device  10 . 
     In some illustrative arrangements, sidewall portions of device  10  may be covered with portions of display  14 . In the example of  FIG. 2 , device  10  is characterized by four peripheral edges: upper edge T, lower edge B, left edge L, and right edge R. Upper edge T and opposing lower edge B may run parallel to each other and parallel to the X axis of  FIG. 2 . Left edge L and opposing right edge R may run parallel to each other and parallel to the Y axis of  FIG. 2 . Front face FR and rear face RR may be planar (e.g., two parallel planes offset by a distance along the Z axis) and/or may include curved portions. 
     Touch sensor circuitry such as two-dimensional capacitive touch sensor circuitry may be incorporated into one or more displays in device  10  as separate touch sensor panels overlapping display pixels or as part of one or more display panels in device  10 . Touch sensors may be formed on front face FR, rear face RR, and/or edges (sidewall faces) T, B, R, and/or L. If desired, icons and other images for virtual buttons may be displayed by the pixels of device. For example, virtual buttons and/or other images may be displayed on front face FR, rear face RR, and/or edges T, B, R, and/or L and may overlap touch sensor circuitry. Haptic output devices may be used to provide haptic feedback when virtual buttons are selected (as an example). 
     Device  10  of  FIG. 2  has a rectangular outline (rectangular periphery) with four rounded corners. If desired, device  10  may have other shapes. For example, device  10  may have a shape that folds and unfolds along a bend (folding) axis and may include a display that overlaps or that does not overlap the bend axis, may have a shape with an oval footprint or circular outline, may have a cubic shape, may have a pyramidal, cylindrical, spherical, or conical shape, or may have other suitable shapes. The configuration of  FIG. 2  is illustrative. 
     If desired, openings may be formed in the surfaces of device  10 . For example, a speaker port and optical windows for an ambient light sensor, an infrared proximity sensor, and a depth sensor may be formed in a region such as upper region  30  of front face FR. A fingerprint sensor, touch sensor button, force-sensitive button, or other sensor that operates through display  14  may be formed under the portion of display in lower region  32  on front face FR and/or other portions of front face FR and/or other external surfaces of device  10 . Device  10  may be free of connector openings or an opening for a connector (e.g., a digital data connector, analog signal connector, and/or power connector) may be formed in portion  34  of the lower sidewall of device  10  running along lower edge B or elsewhere in device  10 . Openings may be omitted when power is received wirelessly or is received through contacts that are flush with the surface of device  10  and/or when data is transferred and received wirelessly using wireless communications circuitry in circuitry  22  or through contacts that are flush with the exterior surface of device  10 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device. As shown in  FIG. 3 , device  10  may have a housing such as housing  12 . Housing  12  may include structures formed from glass, polymer, metal, wood, sapphire or other crystalline material, ceramic, fabric, other materials, and/or combinations of these materials. In some configurations, transparent portions of housing  12  may be configured to form display cover layers that overlap one or more displays or other light-emitting optical components. In the example of  FIG. 3 , display  14  is formed on front face FR of device  10 . Display  14  includes an array of pixels. During operation, the pixels are used to display an image for viewing by a user of device  10 . Arrays of pixels for displays in device  10  may sometimes be referred to as pixel layers, pixel array layers, displays, display structures, display layers, or display panels. In general, displays and other optical components may be located on front face FR, rear face RR, and/or sidewalls W of device  10  (e.g., sidewalls on edges T, B, R, and/or L). Housing  12  may have planar portions (e.g., in central portions of front face FR and rear face RR and/or on sidewalls W of device  10 ) and/or curved portions (e.g., curved edges, curved corners, portions of front face FR and/or rear face RR that have curved cross-sectional profiles, etc.). 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , device  10  may include electrical components  50  in interior  46  (e.g., integrated circuits, sensors and other input-output devices, control circuitry, display layers such as organic light-emitting diode panels or other display layers, etc.). Electrical components  50  may, if desired, be mounted on printed circuits such as printed circuit  48  (e.g., flexible printed circuits and/or printed circuits formed from rigid printed circuit board material). In some configurations, a display may be formed on rear face RR. In other configurations, no display is present on rear face RR. In configurations in which no display is present on rear face RR, the portion of housing  12  on rear face RR may be formed from metal (e.g., a stainless steel or aluminum layer). For example, device  10  may have a rear housing wall formed from metal and may have optional sidewalls that extend upwardly from the rear housing wall. If desired, device  10  may have a rear housing wall and/or other housing walls formed from opaque glass, transparent glass coated with opaque materials such as ink or metal, and/or other housing wall materials. 
     In some configurations for device  10 , an opaque material such as metal or opaque polymer may form some or all of sidewalls W of device  10 . As an example, metal that forms some or all of a rear housing wall on rear face RR of device  10  may protrude upwardly along the edges of device  10  to form some or all of the sidewalls for device  10 . As another example, a peripheral metal band that forms some or all of the sidewalls of device  10  may extend around the rectangular periphery of device  10  (e.g., along upper edge T, right edge R, lower edge B, and left edge L). Sidewalls may have vertically extending planar surfaces and/or may exhibit other surface profiles (e.g., curved profiles). 
     If desired, some or all of the sidewalls of device  10  may be formed from clear material and may overlap light-producing components. This material may, as an example, be part of a display cover layer (e.g., a sidewall may be formed from an extension of a central display cover layer portion and may be formed from glass, polymer, crystalline material, etc.). Because clear layers of glass, plastic, crystalline material, and/or other clear layers of material in device  10  may enclose and protect internal device components, these outer layers of material in device  10  may serve as portions of housing  12  for device  10 . 
     In configurations for device  10  in which sidewalls have transparent portions formed from extending portions of a display cover layer or other transparent material, the sidewalls may overlap light-emitting components. Transparent sidewalls may have planar and/or curved surfaces and may be formed from clear glass, clear polymer, transparent crystalline material such as sapphire, and/or other transparent protective material. Displays (pixel arrays), light-emitting diodes covered with diffusing material, light-emitting diodes covered with patterned masks (e.g., opaque coatings with icon-shaped openings or openings of other shapes), and/or other light-emitting devices may be placed under clear sidewalls. 
     If desired, device  10  may have external surfaces with compound curvature. A perspective view of an illustrative corner portion of device  10  is shown in  FIG. 4 . In the example of  FIG. 4 , device  10  has edge portions  68  and  70  formed from sidewalls W ( FIG. 3 ). Edge portions  68  and  70  may have surfaces that curve about axes  62  and  64 , respectively. These portions of housing  12  extend along the straight sides of device  10  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 device  10  of  FIG. 4 , device  10  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). Each of the four corners of device  10  may have this arrangement, if desired. 
     Flexible displays such as organic light-emitting diode displays with flexible polyimide substrates or other bendable polymer substrates can be bent about axes such as axes  62  and  64  to form curved surfaces in portions  68  and  70  (e.g., these substrates may be bent without wrinkling or other undesired deformation). In compound curvature regions such as corner regions of device  10 , display  14  can be formed from materials that stretch (e.g., displays formed from mesh-shaped elastomeric substrate material), may be formed from flexible displays that are patterned to create one or more flexible strips and/or other structures that can be bent to cover at least part of the compound curvature regions, may be formed from bent tab portions that are part of a display (display substrate) that also is overlapped by a display cover layer on front face FR and/or other portions of device  10 , may be formed using pixels on one or more display substrates that are separate from a main central display substrate, and/or may be formed from other display structures. 
     To help accommodate optical components within housing  12 , device  10  (e.g., housing  12 ) may include one or more image transport layer structures (e.g., coherent fiber bundles or Anderson localization material). The image transport layer structures may transport light (e.g., image light and/or other light) from one surface to another while preventing the light from spreading laterally and thereby preserving the integrity of the image light or other light. This allows an image produced by an array of pixels in a flat or curved display to be transferred from an input surface of a first shape at a first location to an output surface with compound curvature or other desired second shape at a second location. The image transport layer may therefore move the location of an image and may optionally change the shape of the surface on which the image is presented. In scenarios in which the image transport layer structure is adjacent to a light-detecting component, light to be detected, such as light from the environment surrounding device  10 , may be conveyed to the light-detecting component through the image transport layer structure. The detected light may be image light, ambient light to be detected by an ambient light sensor, reflected light being measured by a proximity sensor light detector, and/or other light received and detected by an image sensor, photodetector, and/or other light detecting component. 
     Fiber bundles include fiber cores of a first refractive index surrounded by cladding (e.g., polymer) of a second, lower refractive index. In some configurations, additional polymer, which may sometimes be referred to as binder or secondary cladding, may be included. A cross-sectional view of an illustrative image transport layer formed from a fiber bundle is shown in  FIG. 5 . In the example of  FIG. 5 , image transport layer  80  is formed from a bundle of fibers  82 . Fibers  82  may have respective fiber cores  84 . Cores  84  may be surrounded by material with a different index of refraction than cores  84 . For example, each core  84  may have a first index of refraction and the 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. When the material surrounding cores  84  has a refractive index that is lower than cores  84 , light may be guided within cores  84  in accordance with the principal of total internal reflection. 
     In the example of  FIG. 5 , cores  84 , which may be formed from transparent material such as glass or polymer, are surrounded by lower index structures such as claddings  86  (e.g., glass or polymer of lower refractive index). Additional material (e.g., optional binder  88 ) may be included in image transport layer  80  (e.g., to hold fibers  82  in place, etc.). Binder  88  may be formed from a material (e.g., polymer or glass) with a refractive index lower than that of cores  84  and/or lower than that of cladding  86  to promote total internal reflection in cores  84 . In some configurations, cores  84  may be coated with metal and/or surrounded by air or other material to help confine light within cores  84 . Arrangements in which some of cores  84 , some of cladding  86 , and/or some of binder  82  are formed from materials such as opaque material, colored transparent material, infrared-light-blocking-and-visible-light-transmitting material, infrared-light-transmitting-and-visible-light-blocking material, and/or other materials may also be used. For example, some of these structures may be formed from a black polymer or other light-absorbing material to help absorb stray light (e.g., light that is not being guided within cores  84 ). If desired, polymer  88  may be omitted (e.g. in arrangements in which cladding  86  is used to hold fibers  82  together in image transport layer  80 ). 
     The diameters of cores  84  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  82  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. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , fibers  82  may extend parallel to each other in image transport layer  80  (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 input surface  90  to be conveyed to output surface  92 . In the example of  FIG. 6 , surfaces  90  and  92  are planar and fibers  82  extend in straight lines between surfaces  90  and  92 . Other arrangements such as arrangements in which fibers  82  are bent and/or taper and/or in which surface  90  and/or surface  92  have curved cross-sectional profiles may also be used. 
     In general, image transport layers such as image transport layer  80  of  FIG. 6  and the other FIGS. may be formed from a coherent fiber bundle (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ) or may be formed from Anderson localization material instead of a coherent fiber bundle. 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). Configurations in which image transport layer  80  has a bundle of fibers  82  are sometimes described herein as an example. 
     Fiber bundles and Anderson localization material can be used to form plates (e.g., layers with a thickness of at least 0.2 mm, at least 0.5 m, at least 1 mm, at least 2 mm, at least 5 mm, less than 20 mm, or other suitable thickness) and/or other image transport structures (e.g., straight and/or bent elongated light pipes, spherical shapes, cones, tapered shapes, etc.). As described in connection with  FIG. 6 , the surfaces of image transport structures may be planar and/or may have curved profiles. 
     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) without causing the image light to spread laterally. For example, an image that is produced by a display can be transported 5 mm vertically through an image transport layer that is 5 mm thick and can then be viewed on the output surface of the image transport layer. As another example, an image transport layer may have a planar input surface and an output surface with a planar central region surrounded by curved edges and corners of compound curvature. With this type of arrangement, images produced by a display that rests against the planar input surface can be smoothly transported to an output surface without becoming blurred, even if the output surface contains curved portions such as areas of compound curvature. Curved image transport layer surfaces can be formed by polishing, slumping heated fiber bundle material, molding under heat and/or pressure, etc. In devices with optical sensors, light can be transported through an image transport structure to an optical sensor. 
     In portions of device  10  that have an externally viewable display, a display cover layer that forms at least part of housing  12  may be used to cover and protect image transport layer  80  or an image transport layer that is uncovered by a separate display cover layer may be used in forming at least part of housing  12 . 
     In arrangements in which a display cover layer is used to cover and project layer  80 , adhesive, touch sensor structures, diffuser layers, masking layers, filter layers, antireflection layers, and/or other structures may optionally be interposed between layer  80  and the display cover layer. The display cover layer may be formed from glass, polymer, ceramic, crystalline material such as sapphire, multiple layers of these materials and/or other materials and may have optional coatings (e.g., an antireflection layer, an antiscratch layer, an antismudge layer, etc.). The display cover layer may form some or all of housing  12  of  FIG. 3 . A display layer with an array of pixels that displays an image may be located within the interior of housing  12 . Image transport layer  80  may be interposed between the array of pixels and the display cover layer so that the image on the pixel array is transported from the input surface of the image transport layer to the output surface of the image transport layer. The image on the output surface of the image transport layer is visible through the display cover layer forming the portion of housing  12  that overlaps the image transport layer. 
     In arrangements in which no display cover layer is present, one or more portions of housing  12  of  FIG. 3  may be formed from an image transport layer that is not covered with a separate protective member. For example, an image transport layer with a planar central portion, curved peripheral edges, and corners of compound curvature may be used to form an upper portion and sidewall portion of housing  12 . In this type of configuration, the outside of image transport layer  80  is not covered with a separate display cover layer member so that output surface  92  forms the outermost surface of housing  12  of  FIG. 3 . The pixel array may be formed against input surface  90  of the image transport layer, which may form the innermost surface of housing  12  of  FIG. 3 . 
     During use, output surface  92  may contact external objects. To prevent damage to image transport layer  80  (e.g., the portion of housing  12  of  FIG. 3  that overlaps the pixel array), output surface  92  may be strengthened using a chemical strengthening process or other strengthening process. For example, in a scenario in which layer  80  is formed from glass, surface  92  of layer  80  may be strengthened using an ion exchange chemical strengthening treatment and/or other strengthening processes (e.g., heat treatment, etc.). Chemical strengthening may be performed by placing a glass image transport layer in a heated potassium salt bath to perform an ion-exchange process. Chemical strengthening in this way may enhance the compressive stress of the outermost surfaces of the glass image transport layer relative to deeper portions. Heat treatment (e.g., thermal tempering) may also be used to create compressive stress on outer surfaces of image transport layer  80 . By creating compressive stress on the surface of image transport layer  80 , the strength of output surface  92  may be enhanced. If desired, an antiscratch coating, an antireflection coating, an antismudge coating, and/or other exterior coating layers may be applied to surface  92 . When layer  80  is strengthened at output surface  92 , layer  80  is able to withstand damage during drop events and other events that impose stress on layer  80 . 
     Illustrative image transport layers  80  are shown in  FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 . Structures such as these may have lower surfaces that serve as input surfaces (e.g., to receive image light from a display) and opposing upper surfaces (e.g., surfaces with curved edges aligned with the periphery of device  10 ). For example, structures such as these may be provided on front surface FR so that the curved edges of these structures run around the periphery of device  10  while the planar portions of these structures overlap the center of display  14  on front surface FR (as an example). 
     As shown in the example of  FIG. 7 , fibers  82  may be oriented to extend vertically through image transport layer  80 . 
       FIG. 8  shows how fibers  82  may be tilted by progressively increasing amounts at increasing distances toward the curved outer peripheral edge of image transport layer  80 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 9 , fibers  82  are both tilted and curved. 
       FIG. 10  shows how fibers  82  may contain multiple bends along their lengths. This allows the entrances and exit portions of the fibers to be oriented along the desired direction of light propagation. As an example, fiber  82 ′ may have an entrance portion with a longitudinal axis that is aligned parallel or nearly parallel to light entrance direction  94  so that light from a display or other optical component may be emitted efficiently into fiber  82  in direction  94 . Fiber  82 ′ may also have an exit portion with a longitudinal axis that is aligned parallel or nearly parallel to light emission direction  96  (e.g., a direction facing a viewer) so that light emitted from the curved edge portion of image transport layer will be directed toward the viewer rather than being angled away from the viewer. If desired, the entrance and output faces of each fiber may be oriented to facilitate light output in desired directions. Optional grooves and other structures may also be formed in image transport layer  80  (see, e.g., illustrative peripheral groove  98 ). This may facilitate the coupling of layer  80  to a housing structure and/or may otherwise facilitate the mounting of image transport layer  80  within device  10  (as an example). 
     In the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 11 , image transport layer  80  has multiple overlapped portions such as lower portion  80 - 1  and upper portion  80 - 2 . Portions  80 - 1  and  80 - 2  may be plates or other layers that have fibers  82  with different orientations. As an example, portion  80 - 1  may have vertically oriented fibers  82  and portion  80 - 2  may have tilted fibers that are oriented at a non-zero angle with respect to fibers  82  in portion  80 - 1 . Fibers  82  in different portions of layer  80  may, if desired, be aligned end-to-end. Arrangements in which fibers  82  in different portions of layer  80  are not aligned may also be used. If desired, image transport layer  80  may have three or more overlapped layers of fibers with potentially different orientations and/or shapes. Each sublayer of fibers  82  in layer  80  may have input and/or output surfaces that are planar and/or that are curved. The configuration of  FIG. 11  is merely illustrative. 
     Device  10  may include one or more protective structures formed from clear portions of housing  12 . As an example, housing  12  of device  10  may have a clear portion such as portion  12 - 1  of  FIG. 12  that overlaps image transport layer  80  and display layer  100 . Housing  12  may also have a portion such as portion  12 - 2  (e.g., a metal housing wall, a transparent housing wall such as a glass housing wall with an inner surface covered with an opaque masking material such as ink, metal, and/or other coating materials, and/or other housing wall materials). 
     Portion  12 - 1  may form a display cover layer that covers a display layer such as display layer  100 . Display layer  100  may have an active area such as active area  104  with an array of pixels  102  that display an image for a viewer such as viewer  108  who is viewing device  10  in direction  110 . Display layer  100  may also have an inactive area such as inactive border area  106  that contains metal signal paths, display driver circuitry, encapsulation structures, and other structures that do not emit light. Inactive border area  106  of display layer  100  is free of pixels and therefore does not display any part of the image that is displayed by display layer  100 . In some configurations, portion  12 - 1  may be omitted, so that image transport layer  80  forms housing  12  over display layer  100  and so that output surface  92  forms the outermost portion of housing  12  above display layer  100 . The arrangement of  FIG. 12  is illustrative. 
     To help hide inactive border area  106  from view by viewer (user)  108 , some of fibers  82  of image transport layer  80  may be tilted as shown in  FIG. 12 . As a result, the image from the pixel array in active area  104  on input surface  90  of layer  80  will be transported to an enlarged output surface  92 . Surface  92  overlaps inactive border area  106  when device  10  and display layer  100  are viewed in direction  110  as viewer  108  is viewing front face FR of device  10 , so that the image on surface  92  extends to the outermost periphery of device  10  or nearly to the outermost periphery of device  10 , thereby hiding inactive border area  106  from view. Image transport layer  80  of  FIG. 12  also has a curved edge profile and may have corners of compound curvature. 
     In the example of  FIG. 12 , fibers  82  are tilted by increasing amounts at increasing distances from the outer edge of area  104  toward the periphery of device  10 . If desired, fibers  82  may have one or more bends along their lengths, as shown in the illustrative arrangement for device  10  that is shown in  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 14  shows how display layer  100  may, if desired, have one or more portions that are bent. Layer  100  may, as an example, be formed from an organic light-emitting diode display substrate of polyimide or other flexible polymer covered with thin-film transistors, thin-film organic light-emitting diode pixels, and/or other thin-film circuitry. In this type of arrangement, layer  100  may have one, two, three, four, or more than four edges with curved cross-sectional profiles as shown in  FIG. 14 . Image transport layer  80  may have a mating curved input surface that receives an image from layer  100  and may have a curved output surface. The curved output surface of image transport layer  80  may mate with the curved inner surface of housing portion  12 - 1 . 
     Other arrangements for placing image transport layer  80  over display layer  100  may be used, if desired. For example, portions of image transport layer  80  may, if desired, overlap opaque housing structures (e.g., to provide device  10  with a borderless appearance). Image transport layer  80  may also serve as the outermost structure of device  10  (e.g., housing portion  12 - 1  may be omitted). The configurations of  FIGS. 12, 13, and 14  are illustrative. 
     In some configurations, portions of device  10  are not covered with active portions of display  14  and are therefore available to accommodate components such as sensors  16 , speakers, and/or other electrical components. For example, one or more areas on front face FR of device  10  may be available to accommodate electrical components. These areas may be free of pixels and free of any of the output surface of image transport layer  80  that is emitting an image presented to the input surface of that image transport layer. Illustrative front views of device  10  in configurations in which front face FR of device  10  has both areas that emit images and areas that do not emit images are shown in  FIGS. 15, 16, and 17 . 
     As shown in the example of  FIG. 15 , front face FR may include a first area such as image area  112 A that coincides with the output surface of image transport layer  80  and therefore displays an image and may have a second area such as non-image area  112 I that does not display an image and can therefore accommodate electrical components  114  (e.g., a speaker, sensors  16 , and/or other electrical components). The pixels in display  14  may, if desired, be confined to a smaller area on front face FR than area  112 A. For example, the pixels in display  14  may lie in active area  104  of  FIG. 15 , which may have a smaller footprint (area when viewed from the front of device  10 ) than area  112 A. Image transport layer  80  may overlap active area  104 . For example, the inner surface of image transport layer  80  may form an input surface that coincides active area  104 , so that the input surface of image transport layer  80  receives an image being displayed by display  14  using the pixels in active area  104 . Fibers  82  in image transport layer  80  may be configured to flare outwardly from active area  104 , thereby hiding unsightly structures such as inactive area  106  of display  14 . The visually narrows the width of the inactive area  106  of display  14 . 
     Non-image area  112 I of  FIG. 15  has the shape of a notch that runs partway across the top peripheral edge of device  10 . Non-image area  112 I may have other configurations, if desired. For example, non-image area  112 I may be surrounded by image area  112 A as shown in  FIG. 16  in which non-image area  112 I forms an island that is surrounded on all sides by the pixels in display  14 . The pixels in the active area of display layer  100  may surround an island-shaped inactive display area. The input surface of an image transport layer may overlap the pixels and receive an image from the pixels. The fibers of the image transport layer may flare so that some of the output surface of the image transport layer extends over the periphery of the inactive display area (e.g., the island-shaped area of display  14  that is surrounded by pixels). This may minimize the amount of the inactive display area that is visible to a user. 
     Non-image area  112 I may, if desired, have non-contiguous portions as shown by the illustrative set of three parts of non-image area  112 I of  FIG. 17 , each of which forms a respective non-image region surrounded by the pixels of display  14 . In configurations in which non-image area  112 I has multiple non-contiguous portions, one portion may be aligned with a speaker and one or more additional components may be aligned respectively with one or more image sensors, proximity sensors, ambient light sensor, camera flash components, and/or other optical components. 
     In arrangements in which the fibers of image transport layer  80  are flared or otherwise configured to overlap some of the inactive area of display  14 , an enhanced fraction of non-image area  112 I may be used to accommodate sound from a speaker, light for an optical sensor in sensors  16 , or other electrical components. Accordingly, the use of image transport layer  80  may allow non-image area  112 I to be used to efficiently accommodate electrical components  114 . 
     Although illustrated as being formed on front surface FR of device  10  in the examples of  FIGS. 15, 16, and 17 , device  10  may have non-image areas such as area  112 I and adjacent image areas  112 A on any suitable surface(s) of housing  12 . The configurations of  FIGS. 15, 16 , and  17  are illustrative. There may be one or more electrical components  114  that are aligned with each area  112 A and these components may include sensors  16 , a speaker, etc. For example, components  114  may include an ambient light sensor such as a color ambient light sensor, a proximity sensor such as an infrared proximity sensor having an infrared light-emitting diode that emits infrared light and a corresponding infrared light detector that makes proximity measurements by detecting how much of the emitted infrared light is reflected back to the infrared light detector from external objects, a flood infrared light illuminator (e.g., an infrared light-emitting diode), an array of lasers (e.g., vertical cavity surface emitting lasers) that form a dot projector (e.g., an optical component that projects an array of infrared light beams as part of a three-dimensional image sensor such as a structured light three-dimensional image sensor, an infrared image sensor in a structured light three-dimensional image sensor, a visible light image sensor (visible light camera), a camera flash (e.g., a visible light-emitting diode), and/or other optical components. In each area  112 A, image transport layer  80  may have a fiber-free opening filled with air and/or may have a fiber-free opening filled with a solid material such as glass, transparent polymer, and/or other transparent materials. A display cover layer (see, e.g., housing portion  12 - 1 ) may optionally overlap image transport layer  80 . If desired, the display cover layer may have one or more openings aligned with one or more corresponding openings in image transport layer  80  (e.g., an opening aligned with each area  112 A). 
       FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional side view of device  10  in an illustrative configuration in which image transport layer  80  has an input surface aligned with active area  104  of display layer  100  and has an output surface that is configured to overlap both active area  104  and inactive border area  106  as well as other inactive display regions (e.g., the inactive area occupied by optional component  114  of  FIG. 18 ). The extension of the edge portion of the output surface of image transport layer  80  so that a portion of image transport layer overlaps border area  106  may minimize or eliminate the presence of portions of inactive border area  106  in non-image area  112 I. Area  112 I may form a notch along one of the peripheral edges of device  10  and/or may have other suitable shapes. One or more electrical components  114  may be mounted in area  112 I, as shown in  FIG. 18  and as described in connection with  FIGS. 15, 16, and 17 . 
     Housing  12  may have transparent portions that serve as a display cover layer overlapping image transport layer  80 . Housing  12  may, as an example, have a first portion such as portion  12 - 1  that is formed from transparent glass, transparent polymer, transparent sapphire or other crystalline material, and/or other clear material. Portion  12 - 1  may overlap and protect image transport layer  80 . 
     A layer of adhesive (e.g., clear polymer) or other material may help optically couple the outer surface of image transport layer  80  to the opposing inner surface of housing portion  12 - 1 . A touch sensor layer (e.g., a flexible polymer substrate with transparent capacitive touch sensor electrodes such as indium tin oxide electrodes) may be interposed between the outer surface of image transport layer  80  and the inner surface of portion  12 - 1 , capacitive touch sensor electrodes or other structures may be formed on the inner surface of portion  12 - 1 , and/or other sensor structures may be formed between image transport layer  80  and portion  12 - 1 , if desired. As shown in  FIG. 18 , housing  12  may have a portion such as portion  12 - 2  that is coupled to portion  12 - 1 . Portion  12 - 2  may be formed from the same material as portion  12 - 1  or may be formed from a different material (polymer, glass, metal, ceramic, natural materials, and/or other materials). 
     In the example of  FIG. 19 , device  10  has a configuration of the type shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17  in which non-image area  112 I is surrounded by image area  112 A (e.g., non-image area  112 I is an island within image area  112 A). The cross-sectional side view of device  10  that is shown in  FIG. 19  is taken through non-image area  112 I and shows how an electrical component such as component  114  may have an active portion such a portion  114 A that is aligned with non-image area  112 I. Image transport layer  80  may have fibers  82  that are flared over inactive border area  106  of display layer  100  to hide inactive border area  106  from view and/or may be flared over other structures in the inactive area (pixel-free area) of display  14  (e.g., portions of the display other than active area  104 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 19 , component  114  may have an inactive portion such as portion  114 I. Inactive portion  114 I may include component housing walls such as opaque metal and/or polymer structures for mounting component  114  in device  10  and/or may contain other portions of device  10  that do not emit or receive light, emit or receive acoustic signals, and/or that do not emit or receive other signals during operation. As a result, inactive portion  114 I may be placed under the overhanging inactive portions of display layer  100  around the periphery of the island-shaped inactive area of display  14 . This allows inactive portion  114 I of component  114  to be hidden from view. 
     Image transport layer  80  of  FIG. 19  has an opening such as opening  116  that corresponds to non-image area  112 I and that overlaps active portion  114 A of component  114 . Because fibers  82  are flared inwardly, the size of opening  116  and non-image area  112 I can be minimized while providing sufficient clearance for active area  114 A of component  114  to receive light, emit light, receive and/or emit acoustic signals, or to emit and/or receive other signals through opening  116  (e.g., inactive area  106  and other potentially unsightly structures in the pixel-free area can be covered by the flared fibers  82  in image transport layer  80 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 20 , image transport layer  80  may be configured to facilitate mounting of component  114  in alignment with openings  116 . Image transport layer  80  may be configured to form an island-shaped opening (e.g., a hole) such as opening  116  of  FIG. 20  or may be configured to form a notch-shaped opening (notch) along one of the edges of device  10  (see, e.g., the notch in image transport layer  80  of  FIG. 18 ). Component  114  may be mounted to flexible printed circuit  120 . Metal traces  122  may be formed on image transport layer  80  (e.g., on surfaces of image transport layer  80  facing opening  116  as shown in  FIG. 20 ), may be formed on a flexible printed circuit such as flexible printed circuit  120 , may be formed from a cable, may be formed from wires, and/or may be formed from other signal path structures in device  10 . Using signal paths such as signal paths formed from metal traces  112 , control circuitry  20  ( FIG. 1 ) may send signals to component  114  and/or may receive signals from component  114 . Component mounting structures  124  may be coupled to image transport layer  80  and configured to support component  114 . Portions of image transport layer  80  may be molded, machined, or otherwise processed to form component mounting structures  124  (e.g., mounting structures  124  may be integral portions of image transport layer  80 ) and/or component mounting structures  124  may be separate structures that are attached to image transport layer  80  using adhesive, screws or other fasteners, clips, springs, and/or other attachment structures. 
     If desired, a portion of image transport layer  80  and/or separate image transport layer material (e.g., a separate bundle of fibers  82  and/or separate piece of Anderson localization material) may be used in routing light to and/or from an optical component such as component  114 . Consider, as an example, the arrangement of  FIG. 21 . As shown in  FIG. 21 , image transport layer  80  may be configured so that fibers  82 - 1  and  82 - 2  are flared and help direct light from active area  104  of display layer  100  to an associated output surface that is attached to the inner surface of a display cover layer (e.g., transparent housing portion  12 - 1 ). The bent shape of display layer  100  may help hide inactive border area  106  of layer  100 . At the same time, image transport layer  80  (or a separate image transport layer structure) may be used to form fibers  82 - 3 . Fibers  82 - 3  may have a first surface such as surface  130  that faces outwardly and is adjacent to and/or attached to the inner surface of housing portion  12 - 1  with adhesive. Fibers  82 - 3  also have an opposing second surface such as surface  132  that faces and/or is adjacent to electrical component  114 . Component  114  of  FIG. 21  may be any suitable component that emits and/or receives light through fibers  82 - 3 . As an example, component  114  may include one or more visible light-emitting diodes, visible lasers, displays, infrared components such as infrared light-emitting diodes and/or infrared lasers, image sensors such as visible and/or infrared image sensors, ambient light sensors (e.g., color ambient light sensors), optical proximity sensors, dot projectors for three-dimensional image sensors, infrared digital image sensors for three-dimensional image sensor systems, gesture sensors (e.g., three-dimensional image sensors such as infrared structured light three-dimensional image sensors), camera flashes, etc. 
     In some configurations, components  114  may include both a light-emitting component and a light-detecting component. For example, component  114  may be an infrared proximity sensor that includes a light-emitting devices (light source) such as an infrared light-emitting diode or infrared laser and that includes a corresponding infrared light detector (e.g., a photodetector). During operation, the light source emits light that travels through fibers  82 - 3  and reflects from the surface of a user&#39;s face or other external object. The reflected light passes through fibers  82 - 3  and is received by the light detector in component  114 . To help reduce visible light interference with the reflected infrared light, fibers  82 - 3  may be infrared-light-transmitting-and-visible-light-blocking fibers (e.g., fibers formed from a polymer or other material that is configured to block visible light by at least 90% or other suitable amount while transmitting infrared light by at least 10%, at least 30%, at least 60%, or other suitable amount). Infrared-light-transmitting-and-visible-light-blocking filter material may also be interposed between surface  132  of fibers  82 - 3  and component  114  (e.g., a light detector in component  114 ), if desired. 
     In the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 22 , image transport layer  80  has been configured to form a light pipe that guides light to and/or from component  114 . Housing portion  12 - 1  may be a portion of a display cover layer or other transparent housing structure. Opaque masking material  136  or other structures may have an opening. The opening may be covered by window material  138 . Window material  138  may be more transparent to visible light than masking material  136 , so that some visible light is guided through fibers  82  to component  114 . Component  114  may be, for example, a color ambient light sensor that is configured to measure ambient light color and intensity. 
     As shown in  FIG. 22 , optional filter  140  (e.g., an infrared-light-blocking filter) may be interposed between layer  138  and component  114 . If desired, component  114  may emit visible and/or infrared light, may be a display device (e.g., a pixel array), may be an image sensor, may be an ambient light sensor, may be a detector and/or emitter for an optical proximity sensor and/or may be another suitable optical component. The light pipe formed by fibers  82  of image transport layer  80  may be cylindrical or may have other suitable shapes. Light such as ambient light being measured by an ambient light sensor may be homogenized when passing through the light pipe. The light pipe may be formed from infrared-light-blocking-and-visible-light-transmitting fibers or fibers of other desired optical properties. If desired, the light pipe may have an elongated shape (e.g., a shape that is longer along its longitudinal axis than its diameter or other lateral dimension) so that the light pipe may carry light past internal objects and/or around corners. The light pipe formed from fibers  82  may, if desired, be bent one or more times along their length (e.g., to form a bent light pipe of the type show in  FIG. 23 ). Bent and/or straight light pipes formed from fibers  82  may be formed as separate light pipes and/or as light pipes that are parts of larger fiber bundle structures (e.g., a larger image transport layer structure overlapping display  14 , etc.). 
     Image transport layer  80  may, if desired, be used in carrying light associated with a heart rate sensor or other biometric sensor. Device  10  may be, for example, a wristwatch device or other wearable device that is worn against the skin of user&#39;s body. As shown in  FIG. 24 , device  10  may be worn so that housing  12 ′ and image transport layer  80  face user&#39;s body  140  (e.g., the skin of the user&#39;s wrist or other body part). If desired, a layer of glass, polymer, or other material may be include in housing  12 ′ and may serve as a cover layer that forms a protective outer layer for image transport layer  80 . Housing  12 ′ may also include opaque structures  142  (e.g., opaque polymer, metal and/or other material with opaque structures). Transparent structures  144  may serve as windows that allow visible and/or infrared light to pass. Infrared and/or visible (e.g., green) light may be emitted by a light source in component  114  such as light source  114 - 1  and may be detected by a light detector in component  114  such as light detector  114 - 2 . With one illustrative arrangement, light source  114 - 1  and light detector  11402  form a heart rate sensor (heart rate monitor) in which light source  114 - 1  emits green light or other light into body  140  and in which light detector  114 - 2  measures the amount of emitted light that is backscattered (reflected) from body  140 . With this arrangement, the blood flow of a user can be measured and used to detect the user&#39;s heart rate. Due to the presence of fibers  82  in image transport layer  80 , emitted light from light source  114 - 1  may be efficiently coupled into body  140  with reduced loss and interference and scattered (reflected) portions of the emitted light may be efficiently conveyed to light detector  114 - 2  (e.g., with reduced noise and therefore an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio). 
     In the example of  FIG. 25 , image transport layer  80  is interposed between housing portion  12 - 1  (e.g., a transparent housing layer such as a layer of glass, polymer, sapphire or other crystalline material, transparent ceramic, etc.) and electrical component  146 . During operation of device  10 , a user may place a body part such as finger  140 F against the outer surface of housing portion  12 - 1 . Component  146  can use light to measure the user&#39;s fingerprint and/or to gather touch input from the user&#39;s finger. Component  146  may have an array of cells  148 . Each cell  148  may contain a light source such as a light-emitting diode (e.g., an organic light-emitting diode or a crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode die) or a single cell or an external light source may provide light. The light may illuminate the underside of finger  140 F. If desired, cells  148  may be arranged in an array and may form pixels in a display that displays an image for a user. Configurations in which cells  148  are formed under a pixel array in a display may also be used. The light-emitting diodes of cells  148  may be used as photodetectors and/or some or all of cells  148  may contain other light sensors (e.g., photodetectors formed from other devices than the light-emitting diodes of cells  148 ). During operation, light may be emitted by a light source (e.g., light sources in one or more of cells  148  and/or other light sources) and emitted light that has scattered (reflected) from finger  140 F or other external object may be detected by the light sensors of one or more of cells  148 . This allows component  146  to serve as an optical fingerprint sensor or a touch sensor. By using a two-dimensional array of cells  148  in component  146 , two-dimensional fingerprint data and/or two-dimensional touch input from contact of finger  140 F with the outer surface of housing portion  12 - 1  may be gathered. Fingerprint information may be used in unlocking device  10  and/or performing other authentication functions. Touch input may be used in selecting on-screen options and/or in otherwise controlling the operation of device  10  and/or a system in which device  10  is operating. 
     Another illustrative configuration for device  10  that includes an image transport layer is shown in  FIG. 26 . In the example of  FIG. 26 , display layer  100  has an array of pixels that display an image. The housing of device  10  of  FIG. 26  includes transparent outer layer  158  (e.g., a display cover layer). Layer  158  overlaps display  100 , so that an image on display  100  can be viewed through layer  158 . In some areas of display  100  such as area  154 , display  100  is overlapped by transparent material  152  (e.g., polymer, air, glass, etc.). In other areas of display  100  such as area  156 , image transport layer  80  is interposed between layer  158  and display  100 . Image transport layer  80  has an input surface adjacent to display  100  that receives part of the image displayed by display  100  and has a corresponding output surface adjacent to layer  158  on which the received image is displayed. The output surface of image transport layer  80  is separated from display layer  100  by height H, so the image on the output surface of image transport layer  80  appears to float above the rest of the image on display  80 . If desired, a two-dimensional touch sensor (e.g., capacitive touch sensor  160 ) may be formed on the inner side of layer  158  (e.g., so that the touch sensor is interposed between layer  80  and layer  158  and, if desired, so that the touch sensor is interposed between transparent material  152  and layer  158 ). During operation, a user can supply touch input to the surface of the floating button in region  156  and control circuitry  20  can take action based on the touch input. Touch input can also be gathered when the user touches portions of area  154 . If desired, some or all of the portion of layer  100  that is not overlapped by image transport layer  80  of  FIG. 26  may be omitted. 
     Image transport layer  80  may be configured to serve as a field flattener in an optical system. Consider, as an example, the arrangement of  FIG. 27 . As shown in  FIG. 27 , device  10  may have a transparent member such as housing portion  12 - 1  (e.g., a clear layer of glass, polymer, sapphire, or other material that forms part of a rear housing wall, display cover layer, camera window, or other transparent structure in device  10 ). A layer of opaque masking material  136  may be formed on the inner surface of housing portion  12 - 1 . Opening  162  in the layer of opaque masking material may form an optical window for a visible light camera. The visible light camera includes a digital image sensor (component  114 ). Component  114  may be mounted in support structure  164 . A layer of adhesive or other mounting mechanism may be used to attach support structure  164  to the inner surface of housing portion  12 - 1 . Image transport layer  80  may have a curved input surface such as surface  170  (e.g., a concave spherical surface or other surface with a curved cross-sectional profile) that faces lens  166  and may have a planar output surface that is adjacent to the planar surface of sensor  114 . Lens  166  may be a spherical lens (a ball lens) or other lens. During operation, lens  166  may receive image light from the environment surrounding device  10  through the window formed by opening  162  and may focus this image light  168  onto curved surface  170  of the field flattener formed by image transport layer  80 . The presence of the field flattener formed from image transport layer  80  helps reduce optical aberrations that would otherwise be introduced by the presence of a spherical lens. The use of a spherical lens in the camera of  FIG. 27  may help reduce the size of the camera system. 
     As shown in  FIG. 28 , image transport layer  80  may have a taper. For example, image transport layer  80  may have opposing first and second surfaces such as first surface  172  and second surface  174 . 
     In one illustrative arrangement, component  178  is present and component  176  is not present. Component  178  may emit light. For example, component  178  may be a display that displays an image. Surface  172  of image transport layer  80  may serve as an input surface that receives the image or other emitted light. Surface  174  may serve as an output surface. A reduced-size image of enhanced intensity and/or other intensified light may be viewed at surface  174 . 
     In another illustrative arrangement, component  178  is not present and component  176  is present. In this arrangement, component  176  may emit light (e.g., component  176  may be a display that displays an image). Surface  174  may serve as an input surface that receives the emitted light (e.g., that receives the image displayed on the display). Surface  172  may serve as an output surface on which an enlarged (size-enhanced) version of the image presented to surface  174  may be viewed. If desired, component  176  may be a light sensor that detects light of increased intensity through image transport layer  80 . 
     Tapered image transport layers such as image transport layer  80  of  FIG. 28  and/or other image transport layers may be provide with planar input and output surfaces as shown in  FIG. 28  and/or may have one or more surfaces with curved cross-sectional profiles. As an example, input surface  180  of image transport layer  80  of  FIG. 29  may receive an image or other output light from component  182  (e.g., a display) so that a transported version of the received image (or other light) may be viewed on curved output surface  184 . Surface  184  may, if desired, have compound curvature. As an example, surface  184  may have a depressed central section surrounded by a ridge and may serve as a touch sensitive button on a portion of the housing of device  10  (as an example). 
       FIG. 30  is a cross-sectional side view of image transport layer  80  in an illustrative configuration in which both input surface  180  and output surface  184  have curved cross-sectional profiles (e.g., surface  180  and/or surface  184  may have compound curvature) and in which image transport layer  80  is tapered (e.g., fibers  82  flare outwardly towards surface  184  and flare inwardly towards surface  180 ). Structures such as the image transport layer structures of  FIGS. 28, 29, and 30  that have tapers, bends, portions with straight fibers  82 , planar surfaces and/or curved surfaces such as surfaces with compound curvature may be used on front face FR, rear face RR, and/or sidewalls W of device  10  and/or may be used in other portions of device  10 . The arrangements of  FIGS. 28, 29, and 30  are illustrative. 
     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: 20210408
Publication Date: 20220906
Grant Date: 20220906
Priority Date: 20181113
Inventors: WANG, YING-CHIH
BROWN, MICHAEL J.
WITTENBERG, MICHAEL B.
KELLEY, PAUL C.
PHOUTHAVONG, RASAMY
KAKUDA, TYLER R.
GUILLOU, Jean-Pierre S.
RAMMAH, MARWAN
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04M2250/12", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0266", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0264", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/22", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/3888", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/08", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B2006/12111", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G3/20", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09F9/301", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0008", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0006", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0006", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09F9/301", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G3/20", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B2006/12111", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0008", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 83149806