PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10453580-B1
Application Number: US-201715631348-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Windows with invisible patterned conductive layers

Abstract:
A system such as a vehicle may have windows. A window may have rigid clear layers such as layers of glass or rigid polymer. A polymer layer may be interposed between the rigid clear layers to form a laminated window structure. A conductive layer such as a silver layer or other metal layer in the window may be configured to block infrared light. The conductive layer may be patterned to form signal paths, a radio-transparent region, and other structures in a window. The conductive layer may be formed as a coating on a rigid clear window layer or may be formed on other window structures. The conductive layer may be patterned by removing conductive material from areas of the conductive layer. An insulating layer that visually matches the conductive layer may be formed in these areas without overlapping the conductive area.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle body having an interior; and 
 a window in the body through which light passes to the interior, wherein the window has at least one rigid transparent layer and a conductive layer, wherein the conductive layer is patterned to form a patterned area without conductive material, wherein the window includes an insulating layer, wherein the insulating layer is in the patterned area without the conductive material and does not overlap the conductive material, and wherein the insulating layer is visually matched to the conductive layer so that the patterned area is not visible to an unaided eye. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle defined in  claim 1  wherein the conductive layer is a metal layer that blocks infrared light. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle defined in  claim 2  wherein the insulating layer in the patterned area and the metal layer have respective transmissions that are within 10% of each other. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle defined in  claim 2  wherein the insulating layer comprises an inorganic layer. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle defined in  claim 2  wherein the insulating layer comprises a dielectric stack having layers of different refractive indices. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle defined in  claim 2  wherein the insulating layer comprises a polymer with a pigment. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle defined in  claim 2  wherein the metal layer is a silver layer. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle defined in  claim 2  wherein the window includes an additional rigid transparent layer and a polymer layer that attaches the rigid transparent layer to the additional rigid transparent layer. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle defined in  claim 8  wherein the metal layer is a coating on the rigid transparent layer. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle defined in  claim 1  wherein the conductive layer comprises a coating on the rigid transparent layer and wherein the rigid transparent layer comprises a layer of glass. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle defined in  claim 1  wherein the patterned conductive layer forms an ohmic heating current path. 
     
     
       12. The vehicle defined in  claim 1  wherein the window has a first region that does not contain the patterned area, wherein the window has a second region that contains the patterned area, and wherein the second region is more radio-transparent than the first region. 
     
     
       13. The vehicle defined in  claim 12  wherein the rigid transparent layer comprises a glass layer and wherein the conductive layer is a metal coating layer on the glass layer. 
     
     
       14. The vehicle defined in  claim 1  wherein the patterned conductive layer is a metal coating layer on the rigid transparent layer, the vehicle further comprising:
 an additional patterned conductive layer; and 
 a dielectric layer separating the metal coating layer and the additional patterned conductive layer, wherein the additional patterned metal conductive layer has portions that overlap the areas. 
 
     
     
       15. A vehicle window, comprising:
 a rigid transparent layer; 
 a conductive infrared-light-blocking layer on the rigid transparent layer, wherein the conductive infrared-light-blocking layer on the rigid transparent layer is patterned to form areas without conductive material; and 
 an insulating layer in the areas without the conductive material, wherein the insulating layer is visually matched to the conductive layer. 
 
     
     
       16. The vehicle defined in  claim 15  wherein the insulating and the metal layer have respective reflectivities that are within 20% of each other. 
     
     
       17. The vehicle defined in  claim 16  wherein the rigid transparent layer comprises a glass layer, the vehicle window further comprising:
 an additional glass layer; and 
 a polymer layer between the glass layer and the additional glass layer, wherein the conductive infrared-light-blocking layer comprises a metal coating on the glass layer. 
 
     
     
       18. Apparatus, comprising:
 a window having first and second glass layers, a layer of polymer that is interposed between the first and second glass layers, a metal coating on the first glass layer that is patterned to form areas without metal, and a patterned insulating layer in the areas without metal that does not overlap the metal coating, wherein the areas are configured to form a radio-transparent region of the window; 
 an antenna; and 
 radio-frequency transceiver circuitry that uses that antenna to transmit and receive wireless signals through the radio-transparent region. 
 
     
     
       19. The apparatus defined in  claim 18  wherein the insulating layer and the metal coating have respective reflectivities that are within 10% of each other. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus defined in  claim 19  wherein the metal coating is configured to block infrared light.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/380,168, filed on Aug. 26, 2016 which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This relates generally to patterned conductive layers, and, more particularly, to hiding patterned conductive layers such as patterned conductive layers within vehicle windows. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Vehicle windows sometimes include conductive layers such as layers of silver. The conductive layers provide the windows with the ability to shield vehicle occupants from infrared light. Vehicle windows with infrared-light-blocking capabilities may help avoid excessive heat buildup when vehicles are exposed to sunlight. 
     Vehicle windows that are entirely covered with conductive layers tend to block wireless communications. It may therefore be desirable to form openings in the conductive layers in vehicle windows. Patterning these layers may, however, create unattractive visible artifacts. 
     SUMMARY 
     A system such as a vehicle may have windows. A window may have rigid clear layers such as layers of glass or rigid polymer. A polymer layer may be interposed between the rigid clear layers to form a laminated window. 
     A conductive layer such as a silver layer or other metal layer in the window may be used to block infrared light. The conductive layer may be patterned to form signal paths, a radio-transparent region, and other structures in a window. Radio-transparent regions may allow radio-frequency signals to pass through the window between an interior region of the vehicle and an exterior region surrounding the vehicle. 
     The conductive layer may be formed as a coating on a rigid clear window layer or may be formed on other window structures. The conductive layer may be patterned by removing conductive material from areas of the conductive layer using laser processing, lift-off, or other patterning techniques. 
     An insulating layer that visually matches the conductive layer may be formed in the areas of the window from which the conductive material of the conductive layer has been removed. The insulating material may have optical properties that are matched to the optical properties of the conductive layer, making the patterning of the conductive layer invisible and unnoticeable to an unaided eye. The insulating material may be patterned so that it does not overlap the conductive layer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative system in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative window in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is top view of an illustrative window with a patterned conductive layer forming a serpentine ohmic heating element in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of an illustrative window with a patterned conductive layer having left and right portions separated by a gap in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of an illustrative window with a conductive layer that has been patterned to form signal traces for data and/or power in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative window with a conductive layer that has been patterned to form a radio-transparent region in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram of a portion of a window having a conductive layer with an illustrative radio-transparent region in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative window having a patterned conductive layer with opening filled with a material that reduces the visibility of the patterned conductive layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  are cross-sectional side view of illustrative visually match insulator layer structures for reducing the visibility of conductive layer patterns in windows in accordance with embodiments. 
         FIGS. 11 and 12  are diagrams of illustrative equipment and operations of the type that may be used to form windows with patterned conductive layers in accordance with embodiments. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrative window with multiple overlapping patterned conductive layers in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative radio-transparent region in a window with multiple conductive layers in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A system may have windows with one or more structural layers such as layers of glass or rigid plastic. The windows may also include thin-film layers. Conductive layers such as silver layers may, for example, be incorporated into windows to block infrared light. 
     The conductive layers may be patterned using laser patterning techniques, lift-off techniques, or other patterning techniques. Patterned conductive layers may have gaps or other areas where conductive material has been removed. The areas of the patterned conductive layers where conductive material has been removed may be backfilled with insulating material having the same visual appearance as the conductive layer material. This makes the patterns of the conductive layers invisible to a user of the system. 
     An illustrative system with windows is shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , system  10  may be a vehicle having portions such as portions  18  and  20 . Portion  18  may include wheels  14 , a body such as body  12  with a chassis to which wheels  14  are mounted, propulsion and steering systems, and other vehicle systems. Body  12  may include doors, trunk structures, a hood, side body panels, a roof, and/or other body structures. Seats may be formed in the interior of vehicle  10 . Portion  20  may include windows such as window(s)  16 . Window  16  and portions of body  12  may separate the interior of vehicle  10  from the exterior environment that is surrounding vehicle  10 . 
     Windows  16  may include front windows on the front of vehicle  10 , a moon roof window or other window extending over some or all of the top of vehicle  10 , rear windows on the rear of vehicle  10 , and side windows on the sides of vehicle  10 . Windows  16  may be formed from one or more layers of transparent glass, clear rigid polymer (e.g., polycarbonate), polymer adhesive layers, and/or other layers. In some arrangements, window(s)  16  may include laminated window structures such as one or more transparent layers (glass, rigid polymer, etc.) with interposed polymer layer(s). The polymer in a laminated window may be, for example, a polymer such as polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). 
     Conductive layers and other layers of material may also be incorporated in windows  16 . If desired, air gaps may be formed between the transparent layers of material in a window. Adjustable layers (e.g., light modulator layers, etc.) may also form part of windows  16 . With one suitable arrangement, windows  16  are vehicle windows and include one or more glass layers with optional laminating polymer and include one or more patterned conductive layers and visually matched backfill insulator. This type of arrangement may sometimes be described herein as an example. Other types of window structures may be used and these window structures may be used in buildings or other systems in addition to vehicles. 
     Vehicle  10  may include control circuitry  24  and input-output devices  22 . Control circuitry  24  may include storage and processing circuitry for supporting the operation of vehicle  10 . The storage and processing circuitry may include storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Control circuitry  24  may also include processing circuitry based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processors, power management units, audio chips, application specific integrated circuits, etc. 
     Processing circuitry in control circuitry  24  may be used to control the operation of vehicle  10  and the components in vehicle  10  (e.g., components associated with windows  16  and input-output components  22 , etc.). For example, control circuitry  24  can apply current to a patterned conductive layer in a window to ohmically heat the window (e.g., to defrost the window). As another example, control circuitry  24  can route signals such as power signals and/or data signals through signal traces formed from a patterned conductive layer. If desired, control circuitry  24  and input-output devices  22  may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and antennas for transmitting and receiving wireless signals. Regions of conductive layers in windows  16  may be patterned to make these regions radio-transparent and capable of passing radio-frequency antenna signals transmitted and received by the antennas. 
     Input-output devices  22  may be used to gather data for vehicle  10 , may be used to gather information from a user (vehicle occupant, etc.) of vehicle  10 , may be used to provide data from vehicle  10  to external systems or a user, and/or may be used in handling other input and output operations. Input-output devices  22  may include buttons, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, and other user input devices. Microphones may be used to gather voice input from a user and may gather information on ambient sounds. Devices  22  may include ambient light sensors, proximity sensors, magnetic sensors, force sensors, accelerometers, image sensors, and/or other sensors for gathering input. Output may be supplied by devices  22  using audio speakers, tone generators, vibrators, haptic devices, displays, light-emitting diodes and other light sources, and other output components. Vehicle  10  (e.g., devices  22 , etc.) may include wired and wireless communications circuitry that allows vehicle  10  (e.g., control circuitry  24 ) to communicate with external equipment and that allows signals to be conveyed between components (circuitry) at different locations in vehicle  10 . 
     A cross-sectional side view of an illustrative window is shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , window  16  may include one or more transparent structural layers such as layers  26 . Two layers  26  are included in window  16  in the example of  FIG. 2 , but more than two layers or fewer than two layers may be included in window  16 , if desired. Layers  26  may be clear layers of rigid polymer, glass, or other transparent material. Polymer layer  30  (e.g., a PVB layer, an EVA layer, or other polymer layer) may be used to couple layers  26  together. One or more layers such as layer  28  may be included in window  16 . Layer  28  may be a metal layer such as a silver layer (e.g., a silver layer of 3-25 nm in thickness, of 5-20 nm in thickness, of more than 2 nm in thickness, of less than 30 nm in thickness, etc.) or other conductive layer that serves as an infrared-light blocking filter. 
     Layer  28  may be formed as a coating on one or both of layers  26  (e.g., on a surface of layer(s)  26  facing polymer layer  30 ). If desired, layer  28  may be embedded within layer  30 . Layer  28  may be formed form an elemental metal (e.g., silver, aluminum, titanium, etc.), from a metal alloy, from a thin-film stack including multiple layers of metal and dielectric (e.g., a thin-film stack that forms a low thermal emissivity coating layer or other infrared light blocking filter), may be formed on a polymer carrier film that is embedded within layer  30  or attached to the surface of one of layers  26 , or may be formed using other suitable structures. 
     Layer  28  may be patterned using laser etching or other patterning techniques (photolithography and etching, lift-off, etc.). In the example of  FIG. 3 , layer  28  on window  16  has been patterned by forming areas  32  from which the material of layer  28  has been removed. Areas  32  of  FIG. 3  form elongated slot-shaped gaps, so that the unremoved conductive material of layer  28  forms a serpentine ohmic heating current path. When it is desired to heat window  16  (e.g., for defrosting), control circuitry  24  can apply a current I to this path. Ohmic heating signal paths of other shapes may be formed in layer  28  of window  16  if desired. The creation of a serpentine shape for layer  28  by removing strips of material in areas  32  is illustrative. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , layer  28  may be divided into regions (e.g., right and left halves of window  16 ) for independent ohmic heating (e.g., for defrosting) by removing the conductive material of layer  28  in a vertical strip (area  32 ). Busbars  34  or terminals of other shapes may be used to apply currents I to the left and right halves of layer  28 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 5 , elongated signal paths  28 ′ (e.g., signal lines in a data bus, power lines, etc.) have been formed by creating elongated strip-shaped areas  32  from which the conductive material of layer  28  in window  16  has been removed. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view window  16  showing how a region of window  16  (region  16 ′) may be modified to make region  16 ′ radio-transparent. Other portions of window  16  may include conductive material (i.e., unpatterned material from layer  28 ) that fully or partially blocks radio-frequency signals and thereby renders those portions of window  16  not radio-transparent or at least less radio-transparent than region  16 ′ (i.e., region  16 ′ may be more radio-transparent than the other portions of window  16 ). In region  16 ′, all of the conductive material from layer  28  may be removed or conductive material may be removed from an area of layer  28  in a pattern. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , this allows internal radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  38  and internal antenna  40  in the interior of vehicle  10  to transmit and receive radio-frequency signals  42  that pass through region  16 ′ and thereby allows internal radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  38  and internal antenna  40  to wirelessly communicate with external radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  46  and external antenna  44  in an external region surrounding vehicle  10  (i.e., region  16 ′ may be radio-transparent). 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , radio-transparent region  16 ′ may have a grid-shaped area  32  from which the conductive material of conductive layer  28  on window  16  has been selectively removed (e.g., by laser processing, photolithography, etc.). Area  32  may have any suitable shape (e.g., area  32  may include combinations of slots, polygons, grids, and/or other suitable shapes that render region  16 ′ radio-transparent and allow radio-frequency wireless signals to pass through region  16 ′). The inclusion of regions such as region  16 ′ in one or more windows  16  of vehicle  10  allows occupants of vehicle  10  to use cellular telephones and other portable electronic devices in the interior of vehicle  10  (e.g., devices that transmit and receive signals through region  16 ′ during use). 
     As these examples demonstrate, it may be desirable to remove areas  32  of layer  28 . Layer  28  may be formed from a thin layer of conductive material (e.g., a silver layer of 3-25 nm in thickness, of 5-20 nm in thickness, of more than 2 nm in thickness, of less than 30 nm in thickness, etc.). Layer  28  may be sufficiently thin to allow desired amounts of visible light to pass through windows  16  while blocking 30% or more, 60% or more, or 90% or more of near infrared light. Due to the presence of layer  28 , the transmission of layer  28  will be less than 100% at visible wavelengths. As an example, the visible light transmission of layer  28  may be 70-95%, less than 90%, less than 80%, more than 40%, and/or other suitable amounts. If care is not taken, the patterning of layer  28  (the pattern of removed-material area  32 ) may be noticeable to the occupants of vehicle  10  or an external observer. To make patterned layer  28  less noticeable while preserving the insulating quality of areas  32  (so as not to create short circuits across areas  32 ), areas  32  may be backfilled with dielectric (insulating) structures that match the appearance of layer  28 . 
     Consider, as an example, the scenario of  FIG. 8 . In the example of  FIG. 8 , layer  26  has been coated with patterned layer  28 . Layer  28  has an area  32  from which the material of layer  28  has been selectively removed. To make this patterning less visible, area  32  may be filled with a material such as insulating layer  50 . Insulating layer  50  may be a dielectric such as an inorganic dielectric (an oxide, nitride, etc.) or and organic material (e.g., a polymer). The thickness of layer  50  may match the thickness of layer  28  or layer  50  may be thinner or thicker than layer  28 . 
     An observer such as viewer  52  may view window  16  in direction  54 . To hide area  32  from view (i.e., to obscure the patterning of layer  28  so that the patterning of layer  28  is invisible and thereby unnoticeable to the unaided eye), the optical properties of layer  50  may be matched to those of layer  28 . One or more parameters such as visible reflectivity, visible-light transmission, and/or color for layer  50  may be matched to those of layer  28  within 30%, within 20%, within 10%, within 5%, within between 5-40%, or within any other suitable amount. Window  16  may include the structure of  FIG. 8  and, if desired, additional layers (e.g., an additional layer  26 , a PVB layer or EVA layer, etc.). The configuration of  FIG. 8  is shown as an example. 
     Layer  50  may be formed from a single layer of material, two layers of material, or more than two layers of material. As shown in  FIG. 9 , layer  50  may include a polymer, glass, inorganic material, or other material  58  that includes additives  56 . Additives  56  may include inorganic and organic pigments, light-scattering and light-absorbing particles (e.g., carbon particles, metal oxide particles, etc.), and/or other materials that alter the color, optical density, and reflectivity of layer  50 . If desired, additional layers  50 ′ (e.g., thin-film dielectric stacks, bulk films, and/or other materials) may be added above and/or below material  58 . As shown in the example of  FIG. 10 , layer  50  may include a thin-film dielectric stack formed form multiple thin-film layers  60  (e.g., silicon oxide, titanium dioxide, silicon nitride, and/or other inorganic dielectric layers). Layers  60  may form a thin-film interference filter with a desired transmission, reflectivity, and color. Layer  50  may be, for example, a film with alternating high refractive index and low refractive index dielectric layers  60 , a film with other thin-film interference filter configurations, semiconductor layers, amorphous materials, polymers, inorganic materials, or other suitable materials. 
       FIG. 11  is a diagram of illustrative equipment and operations that may be used in forming windows with patterned conductive layers such as layer  28 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , a window layer such as layer  26  may be coated with layer  28  and photoresist layer  64  using deposition tools  62 . Layer  28  may be deposited using physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, or other suitable deposition techniques. Layer  64  may be applied by spraying or other suitable photoresist deposition techniques. 
     Following deposition of layers  28  and  64 , a patterning tool such as laser tool  66  (e.g., a visible laser, infrared laser, or ultraviolet laser) may supply continuous-wave and/or pulsed laser light that selectively removes portions of layer  28  and  64  in area  32 . 
     Deposition tool  68  may then deposit layer  50 . Deposition tool  68  may be a physical vapor deposition tool, a chemical vapor deposition tool, a tool that deposits material using spinning, spraying, pad printing, screen printing, spinning, slit coating, or other suitable deposition technique. 
     A step in height is created by patterning layers  28  and  64  with tool  66 . As a result, when layer  50  is deposited by tool  68 , a portion of layer  50  will form a coating on layer  26  at the bottom of the opening formed in area  32  and a portion of layer  50  will be formed on top of layer  64 . Photoresist removal tool  70  (e.g., a tool that immerses layer  26  and the coatings on layer  26  in a solvent bath) may be used to remove photoresist  64  and thereby remove the portions of layer  50  that are not in area  32 . This process, which may sometimes be referred to as a lift-off process, may be used to form a patterned layer of material  50  on layer  26  in area  32 . The material of layer  50  does not overlap the material of layer  28  (in this example). Because layer  50  and layer  28  have matching appearances, the presence of layer  50  helps hide the patterning of layer  28  from view. 
     A diagram of additional illustrative equipment and operations that may be used in forming windows with patterned conductive layers such as layer  28  is shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , a window layer such as layer  26  may be coated with a patterned photoresist layer  64  using equipment  72 . Equipment  72  may include photoresist deposition equipment (e.g., spraying equipment, etc.) and may include photoresist patterning equipment (e.g., a laser tool, photolithographic equipment for exposing and developing photoresist  64 , etc.). 
     Deposition tool  74  (e.g., a physical deposition tool, a chemical vapor deposition tool, etc.) may be used to deposit layer  28  on layer  64 . Resist removal tool  76  (e.g., a photoresist solvent bath) may then remove photoresist  64  and the portions of layer  28  on resist  64  using lift off. This patterns layer  28  and creates areas  32  where layer  28  is not present. 
     Tool  78  may deposit layer  50  on top of patterned layer  28 . Tool  78  may be a physical vapor deposition tool, a chemical vapor deposition tool, a spraying tool, a tool for applying the material of layer  50  by dripping, spinning, slit coating, or other suitable deposition techniques. 
     Resist deposition and patterning equipment  80  (e.g., a tool for depositing photoresist by spraying or other suitable technique and a laser, photolithography tool, or other equipment for patterning the deposited photoresist) may be used to form a patterned layer of photoresist  64  after layer  50  has been deposited. 
     Etching and photoresist removal equipment  82  may preferentially etch the material of layer  50  while not etching away layer  28  (e.g., equipment  82  may etch away layer  50  using a material that removes layer  50  without attacking photoresist layer  64  and without excessively etching the material of layer  28 ). Following removal of layer  50  in the areas not protected by photoresist  64 , photoresist  64  may be stripped (e.g., using a solvent that dissolves photoresist). This leaves patterned layers  28  and  50  on layer  26 . 
     If desired, coatings of the type described in connection with  FIGS. 11 and 12  may be formed on plastic carrier films and embedded in layer  30  ( FIG. 2 ), may be formed on multiple layers  26  in window  16 , and/or may be formed in other portions of window  16 . Windows  16  may include a single layer  26  and/or multiple layers  26  (e.g., layers  26  that are coupled together using layer  30  of  FIG. 2 ). 
       FIG. 13  shows how multiple conductive layers  28  may be formed in window  16 . In the example of  FIG. 13 , there are two layers  28 : lower layer  28 B and upper layer  28 T. Additional layers  28  may be included in window  16 , if desired. 
     Different layers  28  in window  16  may be patterned using complementary patterns (or nearly complementary patterns). For example, the lower layer  28 B in  FIG. 13  may have an opening in area  32  and upper layer  28  may be patterned to have a shape and layout that covers area  32  (and, if desired, overlaps area  32  and parts of lower layer  28 B). Because the material of the upper layer  28 T overlaps area  32  from which the material of the lower layer  28 B has been removed, window  16  will not have any substantial visible areas  32  when viewed in direction  54  by viewer  52 . Dielectric  86  (e.g., one or more inorganic and/or organic layers such as oxide layers, polymer layers, etc.) may be used to separate layers  28 B and  28 T from each other. Additional layers  88  (e.g., additional layers  26 , PVA or EVA layers, etc.) may be incorporated into window  16 , if desired. 
     A top view of a portion of an illustrative window such as window  16  is shown in  FIG. 14 . This type of multilayer structure may be used to form a radio-transparent region  16 ′ in window  16  and/or may be used to form other structures where it is desirable to pattern one or more layer  28  (e.g., to form data or power traces, etc.). In the example of  FIG. 14 , upper layer  28 T has an array of patches that overlap and underlying array of openings  32  (e.g., identical patch shaped openings) in lower layer  28 B. If desired, slit-shaped areas  32  may be used to help ensure that layer  28 B in  FIG. 14  is segmented (e.g., to improve radio-transparency). Other multi-layer patterns may be used for forming windows with multiple conductive layers  28 , if desired (e.g., patterns without slit-shaped areas  32  and patterns in which areas  32  in layer  28 B are completely overlapped by layer  28 T). The arrangement of  FIG. 14  is illustrative. 
     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: 20170623
Publication Date: 20191022
Grant Date: 20191022
Priority Date: 20160826
Inventors: WILSON, JAMES R.
JONES, CHRISTOPHER D.
MELCHER, MARTIN
Assignee: APPLE INC
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Family ID: 68242104