PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11817025-B1
Application Number: US-201916682346-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Electronic devices having housings with image transport layers

Abstract:
An electronic device may have pixels. The pixels may form one or more displays. The displays may be flexible organic light-emitting diode displays or other displays. The electronic device may have first and second display layers that face away from each other and display images in different directions. Image transport layers may overlap the display layers and may have curved edges that overlap a sidewall portion of the electronic device. Image transport layers receive images at input surfaces and transport the received images to corresponding output surfaces. Image transport layers may be provided with hemispherical shapes and other shapes having output surfaces of compound curvature. A folding device may have first and second displays that are overlapped by respective first and second image transport layers that join over a hinge to block the hinge from view. A wristwatch device may have links or other structures with an image transport layer.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device having a front, a rear, and sidewalls between the front and the rear, comprising:
 a first pixel array that faces the front and displays a first image; 
 a second pixel array that faces the rear and displays a second image and that faces away from the first pixel array; 
 a first image transport layer having a first input surface and a first output surface at the front and a first portion of the sidewalls, wherein the first input surface receives the first image and wherein the first image is transported through the first image transport layer to the first output surface; and 
 a second image transport layer having a second input surface and a second output surface at the rear and a second portion of the sidewalls, wherein the second input surface receives the second image and wherein the second image is transported through the second image transport layer to the second output surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second output surfaces meet along the sidewalls. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device defined in  claim 2  wherein the sidewalls have curved cross-sectional profiles. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device defined in  claim 3  further comprising:
 an integrated circuit located between the first and second pixel arrays. 
 
     
     
       5. The electronic device defined in  claim 4  wherein the first and second pixel arrays comprise respective first and second flexible display layers with bent edges. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device defined in  claim 5  wherein the first and second image transport layers comprise coherent fiber bundles. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device defined in  claim 5  wherein the first and second image transport layers comprise Anderson localization material. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device defined in  claim 4  wherein the integrated circuit comprises cellular telephone transceiver circuitry. 
     
     
       9. A wristwatch device, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a light source in the housing; 
 a display in the housing; and 
 a strap coupled to the housing, wherein the strap includes a plurality of links, each link having edges, curved portions at the edges, and a planar portion between the curved portions, at least one of the links includes a coherent fiber bundle having an input surface and an output surface, the coherent fiber bundle extends across the link and overlaps the curved portions and the planar portion, the light source is configured to emit light out of the housing and into the strap, and the light passes through the coherent fiber bundle from the input surface to the output surface. 
 
     
     
       10. The wristwatch device defined in  claim 9  wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes. 
     
     
       11. The wristwatch device defined in  claim 9  wherein the strap comprises:
 hinges, wherein the links are coupled together using the hinges. 
 
     
     
       12. The wristwatch device defined in  claim 9  wherein the coherent fiber bundle has a curved cross-sectional profile. 
     
     
       13. A folding electronic device, comprising:
 a hinge; 
 first and second housing portions that are coupled to the hinge and that rotate with respect to each other about the hinge; 
 first pixels that are supported by the first housing portion and that display a first image, wherein the first pixels have a first edge at a first side of the first housing portion and a second edge at a second side of the first housing portion; 
 second pixels that are supported by the second housing portion and that display a second image; 
 a first image transport layer having a first input surface and a first output surface, wherein the first input surface receives the first image, wherein the first image is transported through the first image transport layer to the first output surface, and wherein the first image transport layer comprises a plurality of coherent fiber bundles that overlap the first pixels from the first edge to the second edge; and 
 a second image transport layer having a second input surface and a second output surface, wherein the second input surface receives the second image and wherein the second image is transported through the second image transport layer to the second output surface. 
 
     
     
       14. The folding electronic device defined in  claim 13  wherein the first and second housing portions are configured to rotate about the hinge to an unfolded configuration in which the first and second pixels form a unitary planar display. 
     
     
       15. The folding electronic device defined in  claim 14  wherein the first and second housing portions are configured to rotate to a folded configuration in which the first and second pixels face away from each other and display the first and second images in opposing directions. 
     
     
       16. The folding electronic device defined in  claim 14  wherein, in the unfolded configuration, the first output surface has a first edge portion that overlaps a first part of the hinge, the second output surface has a second edge portion that overlaps a second part of the hinge, and wherein the first and second edge portions join to form the unitary planar display. 
     
     
       17. The folding electronic device defined in  claim 13  wherein the first pixels form a first flexible display layer having a first bent edge portion along the hinge and wherein the second pixels form a second flexible display layer having a second bent edge portion along the hinge.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/760,526, filed Nov. 13, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This relates generally to electronic devices, and, more particularly, to electronic devices with image transport layers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic devices such as cellular telephones, tablet computers, and other electronic equipment may include housing structures. Electrical components such as displays and sensors may be mounted within the housing structures. 
     If care is not taken, an electronic device may not have a desired appearance or may be difficult to use satisfactorily. For example, housing structures may not have a desired shape and may not accommodate desired electrical components. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device may have displays. The displays may be flexible organic light-emitting diode displays or other displays. Pixels in the displays may display images. 
     The electronic device may be a portable device such as a handheld device, a wristwatch device, or other electronic equipment. Image transport layers for the electronic device may be formed from coherent fiber bundles or Anderson localization material. 
     In an illustrative configuration, the electronic device has first and second display layers that face away from each other. The pixels of these display layers may display images in different directions. Respective image transport layers may overlap the display layers and may have curved edges that overlap a sidewall portion of the electronic device. The image transport layers may receive images from the first and second display layers at respective input surfaces and transport the received images to corresponding output surfaces, thereby covering the surface of the electronic device with a displayed image. 
     In some arrangements, image transport layers may be provided with hemispherical shapes and other shapes having output surfaces of compound curvature. Display layers and overlapping image transport layers may be covered with transparent housing structures (display cover layers) to help protect the display layers and image transport layers. 
     A folding device may have first and second displays that are overlapped by respective first and second image transport layers. These image transport layers may have respective edge portions that are configured to mate over a hinge when the folding device is placed in an unfolded planar configuration. In this configuration, the output surfaces of the image transport layers may be joined to form a unitary display and mating edge portions of the image transport layers may block the hinge from view. In a folded configuration, the first and second displays may face away from each other. 
     A wristwatch device may have a strap with links or other structures. The strap may be coupled to a main wristwatch unit that has a display and other components. A light source with one or more light-emitting devices such as one or more light-emitting diodes may be used to supply light to an image transport layer. The image transport layer may be located in one of the links of the strap and the light source may have light-emitting diodes mounted in a housing associated with the main unit of the wristwatch device. 
    
    
     
       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. 
         FIG.  15    is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative image transport layer with a curved output surface in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  16    is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device with image transport layers overlapping respective flexible display layers with bent edge portions in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  17    is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative wristwatch device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  18    is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a wrist-watch strap showing how strap links may have image transport layers and displays in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  19    is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a wristwatch device and associated strap that has an image transport layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  20    is a top view of a wristwatch device of the type shown in  FIG.  19    showing how visual output may be provided using an output surface associated with the image transport layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  21    is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative folding device having image transport layer structures configured to hide a hinge from view when the folding device is in an unfolded configuration in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  22    is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative device having an image transport layer that may create visual output that merges with visual output on a sidewall display in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  23    is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative electronic device with image transport layer structures and displays that are oriented in different directions in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG.  24    is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device with image transport layers having curved output surfaces in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Electronic devices may be provided with displays and other visual output devices. For example, an electronic device may have a display with an array of pixels that displays an image. To help enhance device aesthetics and/or to help enhance performance, the electronic device may include structures that transport the image or other visual output 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 may transport the image from the input surface to a corresponding output surface of the image transport layer. The output surface faces outwardly from the electronic 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 and one or more areas of compound curvature. 
     The image transport layer structures in the electronic device may be configured to accommodate curved surfaces, to hide display seams, to hide hinges or other mechanical structures, to reduce display border widths, to distribute an image or other visual output over multiple surfaces of the device, or to otherwise provide the electronic device with a desired shape and ability to supply a user with visual output. 
     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 that extend between front face FR and rear face RR). 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. 
     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 and other optical components, light may, if desired, be transported through an image transport structure to and/or from an optical component. 
     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 face 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 face FR (as an example). Image transport layers  80  may also be provided on rear face RR. With an illustrative configuration, a first image transport layer covers front face FR and partly overlaps sidewalls W, wherein a second image transport layer covers the rear face RR and partly overlaps sidewalls W. In this type of illustrative arrangement, the output surfaces of the first and second image transport layers may meet along sidewalls W. 
     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. 
     Sensors such as capacitive sensors, radio-frequency circuitry, signal lines, electrical components for forming sensors and other input and output devices, and other circuitry may be incorporated into image transport layer  80 . This type of arrangement may help place electrical components at a desired distance (e.g., a small distance) from the outermost surface of device  10 . For example, by placing capacitive sensor circuitry in image transport layer  80 , capacitive sensor electrodes in layer  80  may be placed close to the exterior surface of device  10 , thereby enhancing sensor accuracy and sensitivity when making sensor measurements. As another example, placement of wireless circuitry such as antennas within image transport layer  80  may help separate such wireless circuitry from potentially interfering conductive structures in the interior of device  10  and can enhance wireless signal transmission and reception. 
       FIG.  15    is a cross-sectional side view of image transport layer  80  in an illustrative configuration in which output surface  92  is curved. Output surface  92  may be curved about a single axis (e.g., surface  92  may have left and right edges that are bowed inwardly towards a user who is viewing surface  92 ) or may form a surface that curves in two lateral dimensions (e.g., surface  92  may be a concave surface). Image transport layers of the type shown in  FIG.  15    may be used in computer displays and other displays for which it is desirable to curve the outer edges of the display toward the user to enhance viewing comfort (as an example). 
       FIG.  16    is a cross-sectional side view of device  10  in an illustrative configuration in which device  10  displays images on front face FR, rear face RR, and the surfaces of sidewalls W. Image transport layers  80  may be associated with the front and rear of device  10 . The peripheral edges of image transport layers  80  may contain fibers  82  that are bent to distribute image light from active areas  106  of display layers  100  to sidewalls W. This allows device  10  to display an image over most or all of its exposed surface including front face FR, rear face RR, and sidewall W. 
     Housing  12  may be formed from one or more structures (e.g., glass layers, layers of polymer or crystalline material such as sapphire, etc.). Housing  12  may have peripheral edges and, if desired, corners with curved cross-sectional profiles. Display layers  100  may be planar and/or may have curved portions. For example, the peripheral edges of display layers  100  may be bent (see, e.g.,  FIG.  16   ) to help hide inactive areas  106  of display layers  100 . The input surface of each image transport layer  80  may overlap a corresponding active area  104  of a respective display layer  100 . There may be any suitable number of display layers  100  in device  10 . In the example of  FIG.  16   , a first (upper) display layer  100  has an array of pixels forming a first active area  104  that displays a first image that is viewable on the output surface of a first image transport layer  80  through a first (upper) portion of transparent housing  12  and a second (lower) display layer  100  has an array of pixels forming a second active area  104  that displays a second image that is viewable on the output surface of the second image transport layer through a second (lower) portion of transparent housing  12 . Due to the flared edge portions of image transport layers  80 , the output surfaces of image transport layers  80  may present an image over most or all of the exposed outwardly facing surface of device  10 , including sidewall W and surfaces in the corners of device  10  and other portions of device  10  with compound curvature, while hiding components in interior  46  from view. 
     If desired, image transport layers may be incorporated into wearable devices. As an example, consider device  10  of  FIG.  17   . As shown in the side view of device  10  of  FIG.  17   , device  10  may be a wristwatch device having a main portion such as main unit (control unit)  112  and a strap such as strap  116 . Main portion  112  may have a housing that supports a display and other components such as control circuitry  20 , communications circuitry  22 , and input-output devices  24  of  FIG.  1   . Strap  116  may have a first portion coupled to one side of unit  112  (e.g., the housing of unit  112 ) and a second portion coupled to an opposing side of unit  112  (e.g., the opposing side of the housing of unit  112 ). Clasps  118  may be formed at the ends of the first and second portions, respectively. When strap  116  is wrapped around a user&#39;s wrist, clasps  118  may mate to secure device  10  to the user&#39;s wrist. Clasps  118  may be magnetic clasps, clasps formed from mating clasp mechanisms (e.g., tangs and holes), hook-and-loop fasteners, or other structures for closing strap  116  around a user&#39;s wrist or other body part. 
     Strap  116  may be flexible, which allows strap  116  to be wrapped around a user&#39;s wrist. For example, strap  116  may be formed from fabric, flexible polymer, leather, or other flexible materials, and/or strap  116  may have multiple hinged segments  114 . Segments  114 , which may sometimes be referred to as wristband segments, strap segments, or links, may be formed from rigid materials (glass, rigid polymer, metal, etc.) and/or may be formed from flexible materials (e.g., fabric, flexible polymer, etc.). Hinges  120  may be formed at joints between adjacent pair of segments  114  and between segments  114  and main unit  112 . Hinges  120 , which may be metal hinges, fabric hinges, hinges formed from polymer and/or metal or other materials, and/or other hinge structures, may be used to allow segments  114  to rotate with respect to each other and with respect to main unit  112 . If desired, strap  116  may be detachable. 
     Main unit  112  may include a touch screen display, buttons, sensors, and/or other input-output devices  24  (e.g., integrated circuits and other components forming control circuitry  20 , communications circuitry  22 , and input-output devices  24  of  FIG.  1   ). Flexible printed circuits, wires, metal traces formed on housing structures and other substrates in unit  112  and strap  116 , and/or other signal path structures may be used to electrically couple circuitry in main unit  112  to optional circuitry in strap  116 . 
     To provide a user of device  10  with visual output in desired locations (e.g., to display an image containing content such as text, graphics, and video), device  10  may include image transport layers  80 . One or more image transport layers  80  may, as an example, be included in main unit  112  and may overlap one or more arrays of pixels associated with display  14  in main unit  112 . If desired, strap  116  may also include one or more image transport layers  80 . As shown in the cross-sectional side view of the illustrative portion of strap  116  of  FIG.  18   , each segment  114  of strap  116  may have a respective display layer  100  that is coupled to circuitry in main unit  112  using signal paths on flexible printed circuits or other signal path structures. The pixel array of each display layer  100  may generate an image that is received at the input surface of a corresponding image transport layer  80 . The received image at the input surface of each layer  80  may be transported to a corresponding output surface for viewing by a user. The output surface of each layer  80  may serve as the exterior surface of strap  116  or each segment  114  of strap  116  may be provided with a rigid display cover layer (e.g., a polymer layer or glass layer, as described in connection with housing structures  12 - 1 ). The use of image transport layers  80  in segments  114  of strap  116  may allow these segments to have peripheral edges with curved cross-sectional profiles and inactive borders that are narrow or that are completely absent. 
     If desired, light sources such as light-emitting diodes may supply backlight illumination for a pixel array (e.g., a liquid crystal pixel array), illumination for a patterned ink layer (e.g., ink patterned into the shape of an icon), or other illumination. The light from multiple individually controlled light-emitting diodes or other light sources may be used to provide this illumination or this illumination may be provided by one or more light-emitting diodes or other light sources that are controlled in unison. 
     Consider, as an example, the cross-sectional side view of wristwatch device  10  of  FIG.  19   . As shown in  FIG.  19   , main unit  112  may have a housing such as housing  12  in which a display  14  has been mounted. Main unit  112  may include a light source with one or more light-emitting diodes such as light-emitting diodes  122 . Each light-emitting diode  122  may supply light to a corresponding set of fibers  82  in image transport layer  80 . Image transport layer  80  may be configured to route laterally emitted light in an outwards direction away from strap  116 . For example, light from a first of light-emitting diodes  122  may be emitted into image transport layer  80  in direction X and may be routed by a first set of fibers  82  in image transport layer  80  in outwards direction Z, thereby creating light output on the output surface of image transport layer  80  in first region  128 , whereas light from a second of light-emitting diodes  122  may be emitted into image transport layer  80  in direction X and may be routed by a second set of fibers  82  in image transport layer  80  in outwards (upwards) direction Z, thereby creating light output on the output surface of image transport layer  80  in second region  130 . 
     As shown in the top view of  FIG.  20   , the output surface of image transport layer  80  may have multiple separate areas that are illuminated in this way. Fibers  82  may be configured to from patterns (e.g., logos, icons associated with actions such as receiving a message, expiration of an alarm, battery charge status, power status, etc.). By selectively illuminating desired light-emitting diodes  122 , corresponding desired patterns of the surface of strap  116  may be illuminated (e.g., to convey information to a user). For example, different icons can be illuminated, different portions of a pattern can be illuminated (e.g., a selected number of bars in a status bar indicator may be illuminated), an opening in an ink layer and/or colored transparent regions may be illuminated, etc. Light-emitting diodes  122  (or laser diodes or other light sources including light sources associated with pixels in an optional laterally oriented display in unit  112 ) may supply fibers  82  in image transport layer  80  with one or more different colors of light. Color adjustments, illumination timing adjustments, illumination pattern adjustments, and/or light intensity adjustments light flashing pattern adjustments, and/or light intensity adjustments may be used in conveying desired visual output to a user. 
     In the example of  FIGS.  19  and  20   , image transport layer  80  has an input surface that faces main unit  112  to receive light output from light-emitting diodes  122  mounted in housing  12  of main unit  112 . If desired, light sources such as light-emitting diodes  122  may be mounted within strap  116 . The output surface of image transport layer  80  in  FIG.  19    has a planar surface. As shown in  FIG.  18   , the output surface of image transport layer  80  may have a curved profile. Multiple segments  114  may receive light by configuring a respective image transport layer  80  in each segment to receive light from an adjacent image transport layer  80  in an adjacent segment  114 . In this way, illumination may be distributed throughout strap  116 . In some configurations, image transport layer  80  may provide backlight illumination (e.g., to an overlapping liquid crystal display having an array of pixels that are backlit by image transport layer  80 ). In this type of arrangement, light-emitting diodes  122  may be individually adjusted to provide local dimming of the backlight illumination. 
     Another illustrative electronic device with image transport layer structures is shown in  FIG.  21   . In the example of  FIG.  21   , device  10  is a foldable device having a first portion  10 - 1  that is coupled to a second portion  10 - 2  with hinge  130 . Hinge  130  allows first portion  10 - 1  to rotate relative to a second portion  10 - 2 . Portion  10 - 1  may have first housing structures  12 A that are coupled to hinge  130  and that support first display layer  100 - 1  and may have second housing structures  12 B that are coupled to hinge  130  and that support second display layer  100 - 2 . Display layers  100 - 1  and  100 - 2  may be planar and/or may have portions with curved profiles. For example, display layers  100 - 1  and  100 - 2  may be organic light-emitting diode display layers or other display layers with flexible substrates and bent edges. 
     Portion  10 - 1  may include image transport layer  80 - 1  and portion  10 - 2  may include image transport layer  80 - 2 . Image transport layer  80 - 1  may have an input surface that receives an image from an array of pixels in display layer  100 - 1  and a corresponding output surface at which a transported version of the received image is viewed. Image transport layer  80 - 2  may similarly have an input surface that receives an image from an array of pixels in display layer  100 - 2  and a corresponding output surface at which a transported version of the received image is viewed. When it is desired to create a single unitary display for device  10 , portions  10 - 1  and  10 - 2  may be rotated in directions  140  about hinge  130  until device  10  has the planar configuration shown in  FIG.  21    (e.g., so that device  10  is in an unfolded configuration and the display layers on portions  10 - 1  and  10 - 2  form unified display  14 ). When it is desired to reduce the size of device  10 , portion  10 - 1  and portion  10 - 2  may be rotated in directions  142  about hinge  130  (e.g., so that portions  10 - 1  and  10 - 2  are in locations  10 - 1 ′ and  10 - 2 ′, device  10  is in a folded configuration, and display layers  100 - 1  and  100 - 2  face in different directions by facing outwardly and away from each other). An optional transparent display cover layer may cover the output surfaces of image transport layers  80 - 1  and  80 - 2 . Using an arrangement of the type shown in  FIG.  21   , fibers  82  of image transport layers  80 - 1  and  80 - 2  may be configured so that the output surfaces of image transport layers  80 - 1  and  80 - 2  overlap and hide hinge  130  from view when device  10  is in the unfolded (planar display) configuration (e.g., the top surface of device  10  of  FIG.  21    may be covered with a seamless display). 
     Another illustrative configuration for device  10  is shown in  FIG.  22   . Device  10  of  FIG.  22    may be a voice-controlled speaker (sometimes called a voice activated assistant) or other electronic device. In the illustrative configuration of  FIG.  22   , device  10  extends vertically along axis  146 . Device  10  may, as an example, have a cylindrical shape and may be symmetric or nearly symmetric when rotated about axis  146 . Surface BB of device  10  may rest on a supporting surface such as a table top. The sides of device  10  may be covered with housing  12  (e.g., fabric to allow sound to pass). Interior  46  may include speakers and other components (e.g., control circuitry  20 , communications circuitry  22 , and input-output devices  24  of  FIG.  1   ). 
     Optional display layers such as display layer  100 A may be wrapped around some or all of a cylindrical inner or outer surface associated with a layer of polymer or other supporting material (e.g., a housing structure). In the example of  FIG.  22   , display layer  100 A is attached to the cylindrical inner surface of a transparent housing (housing  12 ). Other support arrangements may be used, if desired. 
     Housing  12  may have openings and/or transparent regions formed from polymer, glass, etc. so that an image on the pixel array of layer  100 A may be viewed on the sidewalls W of device  10 . Top surface TT may have a circular outline or other suitable outline when viewed from above along axis  146 . Image transport layer  80  may have an input surface that receives an image displayed on display layer  100 B and an output surface facing the exterior of device  10  to which the received image is transported through fibers  82 . Image transport layer  80  may have a curved cross-sectional profile and may, if desired, be rotationally symmetric (e.g., image transport layer  80  and optional overlapping transparent portions of housing  12  at top surface TS may have a circular shape and may be rotationally symmetric about axis  146 ). Images may be displayed using the pixel array of layers  100 A and  100 B. Using this type of arrangement, some or all of the exposed surfaces of device  10  may be covered with still and/or moving image content (e.g., when bottom surface BB is resting on a table). The image that is displayed by display layer  100 A and/or display layer  100 B may include text such as song titles and other information related to audio content that is being presented to a user by speakers in interior  46 . If desired, display layers  100 A and/or  100 B may be used to display visual content such as swirling light patterns that serve as feedback as a user interacts with device  10  using touch commands, voice commands, and/or other user input commands. 
       FIG.  23    is a cross-sectional side view of device  10  in an illustrative configuration in which device  10  has at least four display layers  100 L- 1 ,  100 L- 2 ,  100 L- 3 , and  100 L- 4 , each of which may include an array of pixels for displaying images and each of which may face in a different direction. A set of four corresponding image transport layers  80  may be used to cover the display layers. Each display layer may have a planar shape or other suitable shape and may be covered by a respective image transport layer. Each display layer and image transport layer may be covered and protected by an optional transparent housing  12 . Device  10  may have a cube shape and may have pixel arrays on four, five, or six sides of the cube or may have other suitable shapes. Interior  46  of device  10  of  FIG.  23    may include control circuitry  20 , communications circuitry  22 , and input-output devices  24  of  FIG.  1   . 
     In the example of  FIG.  24   , device  10  has a pair of display layers  100  that are separated by a distance HD to create interior  46  (e.g., to house control circuitry  20 , communications circuitry  22 , and input-output devices  24  of  FIG.  1   ). Display layers  100  of  FIG.  24    may face away from each other. One of display layers  100  may, for example, provide an image to the input surface of a first image transport layer  80 A and another of display layers  100  may provide an image to the input surface of a second image transport layer  80 B. Layers  80 A and  80 B may be hemispherical (and may therefore have surfaces of compound curvature) and may be joined together to form a spherical shape for device  10  and/or may have other suitable shapes (e.g., half cylinders, etc.). An optional display cover layer may cover the surface of device  10 . 
     The display structures in device  10  may include capacitive touch sensors or other touch sensors that are configured to gather touch input. The touch input may be provided by a user&#39;s fingers or other external objects. These external objects may touch the surfaces of the image transport layers and/or the surfaces of the display cover layers of device  10 . The touch sensors may be formed as part of the display layers and/or may be formed separately. Device  10  may incorporate one or more portions with cube shapes, spherical shapes, hemispherical shapes, cylindrical shapes, shapes with rounded corners, and/or other shapes. These shapes may, if desired, be used in combination with each other. (e.g., a hemisphere may be formed on top of a cylinder, etc.). 
     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: 20191113
Publication Date: 20231114
Grant Date: 20231114
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
DINH, RICHARD H.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G09G3/20", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0006", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0008", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09F9/301", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B2006/12111", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G3/20", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0006", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B2006/12111", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09F9/301", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0008", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09F9/301", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G3/03", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G2340/145", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/04", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 88700917