PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9521885-B2
Application Number: US-201414292607-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Woven display

Abstract:
A woven fabric includes light transmissive fibers woven into the fabric to provide a visual display. The fabric may be used as a tether to releasably connect a portable electronic device to a user. The light transmissive fibers may transmit light to convey information to the user. The fabric may also be used as part of the housing of an electronic device.

Claims:
We claim: 
     
       1. A device for tethering a portable electronic device to a user comprising:
 a plurality of fibers woven into a fabric; 
 a group of light-transmissive fibers woven into the fabric, at least some of the light-transmissive fibers defining light transmissive portions; and 
 a connection for connecting the light-transmissive fibers to the electronic device; wherein: 
 the light-transmissive fibers are woven into a display region; and 
 the device is configured to selectively illuminate the light-transmissive fibers to provide an adaptive display configured to transition between two or more symbols to provide including dynamically updated information within the display region, wherein the position of the two or more symbols overlap. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric defines a wristband. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device includes a timekeeping device. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the connection is an optical connection. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 4 , wherein the optical connection is detachable. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 4 , wherein the connection transmits light to the plurality of light-transmissive fibers. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of light-transmissive fibers is operative to display a message on said fabric. 
     
     
       8. A portable electronic device comprising:
 a housing; 
 at least one light source associated with the housing; 
 a tether attached to the housing; wherein: 
 the tether includes a group of light-transmitting fibers; 
 the group of light-transmitting fibers is optically connected to the at least one light source; and 
 the group of light-transmitting fibers are configured to produce an adaptive display configured to transition between multiple alphanumeric symbols over a region of the tether, wherein the position of at least some of the multiple alphanumeric symbols overlap. 
 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the portable electronic device includes a timekeeping device. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the portable electronic device is operative to control transmission of light through the group of light-transmitting fibers. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the tether is releasably coupled to the housing. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11 , wherein the tether includes a resin associated with the light transmitting fiber. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 11 , wherein the tether is a wristband. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one light source is a multicolor light source. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the tether is formed into a loop shape forms a loop of fabric. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 8 , wherein a light-transmitting fiber of the group of light-transmitting fibers is operative to transmit light of different wavelength to different locations along the light-transmitting fiber. 
     
     
       17. A method for forming a display fabric comprising the steps of:
 supplying a plurality of fibers to a weaving tool, the plurality of fibers including a group of light-transmissive fibers; 
 weaving the plurality of fibers into a fabric; and 
 coupling the group of light-transmissive fibers to a light source; wherein:
 the group of light-transmissive fibers are configured to provide an adaptable display for displaying multiple symbols over a common area that is controlled by a portable electronic device, wherein the position of at least some of the multiple symbols overlap. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the group of light-transmissive fibers are coupled to the light source through an optical connection. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , further including the step of infusing the plurality of fibers with a resin. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the fabric forms at least a portion of a housing for the portable electronic device.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosed embodiments relate to the field of woven fabric displays. More particularly, the embodiments relate to woven bands which include fibers having varying optical properties. In still greater particularity, the embodiments include light pipe fibers woven into the fabric as light guides to visually display indications or messages to a user of a portable electronic device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Weaving is a method of fabric production in which individual threads or yarns are woven into a fabric or cloth material. Weaving has been an art form known for millennia. In modern times, weaving machines have taken the place of more traditional hand woven fabrics. Generally, two fiber types are woven together such as is shown in  FIG. 1 . A warp fiber  11  is shown extending longitudinally or vertically while a weft fiber  12  is shown woven horizontally or laterally to form a woven article  13 . This type of weaving is generally known in the art. Tools such as weaving, braiding and knitting may be used to intertwine fibers. Fibers that may be intertwined include polymer, metal, insulator—coated metal fibers, glass fibers or other suitable fibers. 
     Light tubes or light pipes are optical waveguides used for transporting or distributing natural or artificial light for the purpose of illumination. Light pipes may be divided into two broad categories: hollow structures that contain the light with a reflective lining; and transparent solids that contain the light by total internal reflection such as an optical fiber. Some optical fibers transport as much light as possible within the core while optical fibers intended for light distribution are designed to let part of the light leak out through the walls of the fibers. Molded plastic light pipes or tubes are commonly used in the electronics industry to direct illumination from LED&#39;s on a circuit board to indicator symbols or buttons on the electronic device. 
     Modern portable electronic devices may be carried by a user or they may be removably attached to the person of a user by means of straps or other tethers which may be decorative tethers. These tethers prevent the user from dropping or losing the device and function as a convenience to the user. While useful for such purposes, these tethers are generally decorative and serve no useful information providing, or other utilitarian, function other than for aesthetic purposes. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosed embodiments relate to fabric materials formed from fibers, and to ways in which to form woven fabric materials into bands and other devices to be used with electronic devices. Modern weaving, braiding, and knitting equipment can be used to create fabric materials that would be difficult or impossible to implement using other fabrication technologies. For example, in addition to creating flexible fabric bands which may act as tethers, woven fiber sheets may be used to form carrying structures or pouches for electronic devices. Flexible materials for covering cable sheaths may be formed using fiber weaving tools. Flexible sheets for medical applications may be formed from fiber sheets. For example, flexible carrying devices for transporting medical equipment or objects may be formed from fibers and visual indicia on those carrying devices used to indicate the type or state of electronic equipment contained therein. 
     The disclosed embodiments incorporate light pipe fibers into woven fabric, such as a tether or wrist band, used with an electronic device. The light pipes receive light from LED&#39;s in the electronic device at the point of connection of the fabric to the electronic device such that the light pipes can function as an electronic display on the band. Light pipe fibers such as clear nylon fibers may be interwoven into a flexible material to create a pliable display which may be worn by the user and could provide certain information such as keeping time without turning on the electronic device. The disclosed embodiments may be used with various portable electronic devices including electronic wrist watches, smartphones, laptop computers and computer tablets. 
     Information could also be provided on the material such as an indication of a message waiting or other information about the condition of the electronic device associated with the band or tether. The band could indicate by a change in color whether the clasp or other implement attaching the band to the person of the user is closed or otherwise secured. The band could indicate if the band ends are properly aligned to the person of the user. If the band is worn by different users, the display on the band could indicate by visual means the size of the band such that a particular user could easily know which portion of the clasp or other securing device to engage to comfortably secure the electronic device to his or her person. 
     The disclosed embodiments provide a user with a functional as well as aesthetically pleasing attachment means to secure an electronic device to his or her person or to otherwise transport a portable electronic device. Thus, while providing attachment of the device to the person or providing means to transport the device, the tether may provide useful information relating to the electronic device, the functions provided by the electronic device and the attachment tether itself. In alternate embodiments, the material may find for use with electronic devices in other applications such as with medical equipment or the material may be incorporated into the housing as part of the electronic device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural or other elements throughout the various figures, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a prior art woven material; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of fabrication equipment that may be used to weave fibers according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  shows woven flexible material produced by the equipment of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4 , shows woven fabric of  FIG. 3  with certain light pipe fibers energized to form a display; 
         FIG. 5  shows a side view of the woven fabric as viewed from the direction along the line  31  in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a light transmissive portion and an opaque portion on a light transmissive fiber; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing woven fabric as an attachment band to engage with an electronic device; 
         FIG. 8  shows attachment band of  FIG. 7  worn on the wrist of a user; 
         FIG. 9  shows the wristband of  FIG. 8  seen from the opposite side of the wrist of user with an information display; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an electronic device tethered to a user and including woven fabric display on the tether; 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of woven material including a third type of filler fiber in addition to light guiding fibers and non-light guiding fibers; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a portable laptop computer; 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of the laptop computer of  FIG. 12  in a closed position; and 
         FIG. 14  is a flow diagram of a manufacturing process for making woven fabric and incorporating it into an electronic device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings and in particular with reference to  FIGS. 1-14 . It should be understood that the following descriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments to one preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these Figures is for explanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. 
     A schematic diagram of a weaving system that may be used to weave fibers in accordance with one embodiment is shown in  FIG. 2 . Fabrication equipment may be used to weave fiber materials for any suitable purpose or device. Examples in which the weaving equipment is used to weave fabrics for use with electronic devices such as electronic device housings, tethers, wrist bands, and other electronic equipment are described herein. In general, however, the weaving equipment may be used to form any suitable materials for portable electronic devices in computing, communications, medical applications, for industrial equipment, or for any other mechanical structures with surfaces which may benefit from the use of such materials. Weaving equipment  14  is supplied with fiber from fiber sources  15 ,  16 ,  17  and may include a weaving or knitting tool. An optional tool  18  may incorporate resin or other material into the woven material to produce a solid material such as a housing cover. Post processing equipment  19  may be used to produce finished material  21  which in one embodiment, is a flexible band material. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , weaving equipment  14  may be provided with fibers from various fiber sources  15 ,  16 , and  17 . Fiber sources  15 ,  16 ,  17  may provide fibers of any suitable type and the type and amount of fibers may be varied according to the desired characteristics. Examples of fibers  15 ,  16 ,  17  include metal fibers (e.g., strands of steel or copper), glass fibers (e.g., fiber-optic fibers that can internally convey light through total internal reflection), plastic fibers, etc. Some fibers may be included to exhibit high strength (e.g., polymers such as aramid fibers). Other fibers such as nylon may offer good abrasion resistance or be highly flexible (e.g., to stretch without exhibiting plastic deformation). The fibers provided by sources may be magnetic fibers, conducting fibers, insulating fibers, or fibers with other material properties. Fibers may be relatively thin such as carbon nanotubes or carbon fiber or may be thicker such as, for example, metal wire. The fibers provided by sources  15 ,  16 ,  17  may be smaller fibers sometimes referred to as filaments or may be provided from sources such as unitary fibers of a single untwisted individual makeup (i.e. whether thick, thin, or twisted or otherwise formed from smaller fibers). The strands of material from fiber sources  15 ,  16 ,  17  are referred to herein as fibers. The fiber from sources  15 ,  16 ,  17  may also sometimes be referred to as cords, threads, ropes, yarns, filaments, strings, twines, and so on, and may be made from a variety of materials, including dissimilar or different materials. 
     Weaving tool(s)  14  may be based on any suitable fiber weaving technology. For example, weaving or knitting equipment  14  may include computer-controlled weaving tools, and/or computer-controlled knitting equipment (e.g., three-dimensional knitting tools capable of producing flexible fiber band materials that may have two or more different types of fibers such as light guiding fibers  15 , non-light guiding fibers  16  and filler fibers  17 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , a woven flexible material  21  produced by the equipment described in  FIG. 2  is shown. Flexible material  21  includes light transmissive fibers  15  in the warp and opaque fibers  16  in the weft. In this example, there are more of fibers  16  in the weft than light transmissive fibers  15  in the warp. However, in some embodiments in may be desirable to have fibers  15  more prevalent than fibers  16 . This type of spatial variation of fiber type allows the properties of fabric material  21  to be spatially adjusted during weaving with equipment  14 . In one alternate embodiment, light transmissive fibers  15  are included in the weft and opaque fibers  16  are included in the warp. With equipment  14  of  FIG. 2 , three-dimensional (3D) knitting equipment or other weaving tools can be used to form a fiber material layer  21  that has the desired light transmitting properties depending upon the application. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the flexible woven fabric  21  of  FIG. 3  is shown with certain light transmissive areas  22  of light pipe fibers  15  energized to form a display  23 . Light pipe fibers  15  may be connected to light sources such as LEDs as will be further described herein. By selectively displaying lighted transmissive portions  22  of fibers  15 , display  23  may convey information to an observer. The light pipe fibers may be woven between adjacent opaque fibers, such that it passes above one opaque fiber and below the adjacent fiber as shown. Alternately, the light-transmissive fibers  15  may pass above or below multiple adjacent fibers to expose or conceal greater lengths of the light-transmissive fibers and, for example, define display regions of differing sizes, shapes, visual characteristics, and so on. Further, it should be appreciated that the light-transmissive fibers may be either warp or weft fibers and may be intermixed with opaque fibers in any pattern desired. Likewise, the spacing between fibers may be varied either between embodiments or within embodiments. Thus, the patterns shown in  FIGS. 3-6  are examples rather than limiting 
     As an example, in  FIG. 4  the time is displayed as 11:00. That is, region  24 , which, in this example is one fiber  15 , indicates a “1” because fiber  15  is lit along most of its length and a user would visually recognize it as a “1”. Region  25  which is one fiber  15  in this example, is not lit so as to form an unlit space between region  24  and region  26  which is also lit to form a “1”. Region  27  includes one fiber which transmits light in four portions  22  to indicate a “colon”. Regions  28  and  29  comprise 3 fibers  15  each and are transmit light in various portions  22  to each indicate a “0”. Thus, by selectively lighting various fibers  15  and portions  22  thereof, an indication of a time as being 11:00 may be conveyed to an observer. 
     It should be appreciated that the number of fibers  15  and the portions  22  of those fibers to be lit may be varied to convey the desired information. Each of the fibers  15  may transmit light along its entire length or only portions of the fiber may transmit light as determined by the fiber characteristics, display requirements and various design parameters. The opaque fibers  16  may block or diffuse light transmitted by fibers  15  in order to create the desired design  23 . Each area  22  may be thought of as an individual pixel in a display screen and a control device as will be described below may be used to selectively transmit light through various portions  22  of fibers  15  to convey the desired information. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a side view of the woven fabric  21  of  FIGS. 3 and 4  is shown viewed from the direction along the line  31  in  FIG. 3 . Light transmissive fibers  15  are shown as the warp and opaque fibers  16  are shown as the weft. Referring to  FIG. 6 , in one embodiment, a light transmissive fiber  15  is shown with a light transmissive portion  22  and an opaque portion  32 . Of course, light transmissive fiber  15  could be light transmissive along its entire length in one embodiment with departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments. As stated above, the portions of light transmissive fibers  15  which transmit light are determined by the weave and composition of fibers  16  and by the control device, which may be operatively associated with the light transmissive fibers  15  as will be described below. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a perspective view of woven fabric  21  is shown as an attachment band  33  which may releasably engage with an electronic device  34  which may, in one embodiment, be a wristwatch. Wristwatch  34  includes a housing  35  which may contain a display  36  and a control device  37 . In one embodiment, attachment band  33  may connect to housing  35  by sliding circular band mating portion  38  in the direction of arrow  39  into corresponding circular housing mating portion  41  in housing  35 . Of course, the design of mating portions  38 / 41  may be varied without departing from the scope of the described embodiments; a sliding mechanism, a friction-fit mechanism, a clamp, a pin-and-aperture mechanism and so on are all non-limiting examples of possible attachment mechanisms and the mechanism  38  is shown generally as a result. When band mating portion  38  is inserted into housing mating portion  41 , light pipe terminals  42  on mating portion  38  engage with LED sources  43  such that light from LED sources  43  may be transmitted to light transmissive fibers  15  in band  33 . In some embodiments, the LEDs may be multicolor LEDs while in others the LEDs may emit only a single color of light, such as white. As will be described below, control device  37  in electronic device  34  may selectively provide light to fibers  15  in order to convey information to a user through woven fabric  21  on band  33 . 
     Control device  37  may execute instructions and carry out operations associated with portable electronic devices as are described herein. Using instructions from device memory, controller  37  may regulate the reception and manipulation of input and output data between components of the electronic device  34 . Controller  37  may be implemented in a computer chip or chips. Various architectures can be used for controller  37  such as microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC&#39;s) and so forth. Controller  37  together with an operating system may execute computer code and manipulate data. The operating system may be a well-known system such as iOS, Windows, Unix or a special purpose operating system or other systems as are known in the art. Control device  37  may include memory capability to store the operating system and data. Control device  37  may also include application software to implement various functions associated with the portable electronic device. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , an electronic device, which may be the wristwatch  34  described in  FIG. 7 , is shown as worn on the wrist of a user  44 . Flexible attachment wristband  33  which, in one embodiment, includes flexible woven fabric  21  is shown around the wrist of user  44 . Electronic device  34  indicates that the time is 11:00 on display  36 . Display  36  coincides with display  23  shown in  FIG. 4 . A control device  37  is included in electronic device. Control device  37  may enable the light transmissive fibers in woven fabric  21  to display information associated with electronic device  34  and/or user  44 . Referring to  FIG. 9 , the wristband  33  of  FIG. 8  is shown on the opposite side of the wrist of user  44  from electronic device  34 . The time of 11:00 is shown on woven fabric  21  which is part of wristband  33  by directing light from the LED&#39;s in electronic device  34  through the light transmissive fibers in fabric  21  as described above. Thus, user  44  may be able to determine the time without looking directly at the display  36  on electronic device and whether or not electronic device display  36  is active. Other information relating to the electronic device  34  or the user  44  may be displayed by control device  37 . For example, the temperature or the status of wristband  33  (whether it is securely fastened around user  44  and thus whether it is likely or not to fall off of user  44 ) or other information may be displayed on wristband  33 . 
     The light-transmissive fibers in woven fabric  21  may be selectively opaque. That is, only certain portions or segments may be designed to emit light externally while other sections are opaque. The light-transmissive fibers may be made opaque by coating them with a light-blocking substance in the opaque regions, as one example. 
     As another example, the light-transmissive fibers may have a diffraction pattern formed at certain intervals along their lengths. The diffraction pattern may cause light of a particular wavelength to be emitted at or near the pattern, thereby making that section of the fiber light up, glow, or otherwise emit light. Sections or regions that lack such a diffraction pattern may convey light along its length through total internal reflection. Thus, only those areas in which a diffraction pattern is formed may emit light. As an alternative, microlenses, micro-apertures and the like may be used instead of a diffraction pattern to emit light from the fiber. 
     As still another option, the fiber may define a set of diffraction patterns, each of which permits light only of a certain wavelength or range of wavelengths to be emitted. Light outside those wavelengths may be transmitted along the fiber rather than being emitted. Accordingly, by controlling the wavelength of the light transmitted from the LED or other light source, the location along the fiber at which the light is emitted may be controlled. As one non-limiting example, a processing unit in an associated electronic device may cause an LED to emit light in varying wavelengths at varying times, thereby causing the light to exit the light-transmitting fiber at different regions or areas, depending on the diffraction patterns of such regions or areas. By rapidly changing the wavelength of the light traveling through the fiber, multiple regions of the fiber may appear to emit light at the same time insofar as the shifts between different light-emitting regions may occur too quickly for the human eye to notice the shift or register any dimming or brightening of such regions. Thus, multiple regions may be simultaneously (or substantially simultaneously) used as part of a single display without requiring all light-emitting regions of the fiber to be simultaneously used. In this fashion, greater control over the display formed by a group of light-emitting fibers may be achieved. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , a perspective view of an electronic device, which may be a mobile phone or a “smartphone”  45 , is shown held by a user  44 . The smartphone  45  includes a display screen  36  which may include a touchscreen. The smartphone  45  may also include additional input controls such as an on/off button  46  and a home button  47  on a housing  35 . Smartphone  45  also includes a computer control device  37  which may control the content of display screen  36 . Display screen  36  may include a time display  48  which could be an analog display or a digital display. In one embodiment, smartphone  45  may be tethered to user  44  directly by attachment band  33  around the wrist of user  44  or band  33  may be attached to another part of user  44  or to the clothing of user  44 . Attachment band may include woven fabric  21 . Band  33  may releasably engage with housing  35  of portable electronic device  45  as described above with respect to  FIG. 7  by sliding circular band mating portion  38  in the direction of arrow  39  into corresponding circular housing mating portion  41  in housing  35 . When band mating portion  38  is inserted into housing mating portion  41 , light pipe terminals on mating portion  38  engage with LED sources in housing  35  such that light from LED sources in housing  35  is transmitted to light transmissive fibers  15  in woven fabric  21  on band  33 . Here, for example, LEDs may be provided on both the top and bottom of the mating aperture. As described above, control device  37  in electronic device  45  may selectively provide light to light pipe fibers  15  in order to convey information to a user through the light pipes  15  in woven fabric  21  on band  33 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 , the information conveyed on band  33  is the time (11:00) as is displayed  48  on screen  36 . In one embodiment, when electronic device is turned off, band  33  may remain active such that user  44  can determine the time without turning electronic device on. In another embodiment, when an email or text message or voice message is left for user  44  on smartphone  45  while smartphone  45  is turned off (or even while on), information associated with that message may be displayed on band  33  as determined by control device  37 . For example, blinking light displays or the like may be used to signal a message waiting to a user, the name or subject of the message may be displayed, a summary of the message, and so on. Thus user  44  may be informed of messages received even while smartphone  45  is turned off. In an alternate embodiment, band  33  may display information associated with smartphone  45  such as remaining battery life and the need to recharge the battery or other information on the status of smartphone  45 . Thus, even while smartphone is turned off, selected information may be communicated to user  44  through tether  33 . Essentially, any suitable information or data may be conveyed by the woven display. As yet another example, information may “scroll” across the band by updating the display periodically ti show a message that is otherwise too large or long to fit on the woven display all at once. 
     It should be appreciated that any tether, loop, band, or the like that mates with or attaches to any electronic device may incorporate a woven display, as discussed herein. Thus, for example, embodiments may take the form of a cover or case for an electronic device, a band or strap, a cord (such as a power cord or a cord connecting a peripheral to the electronic device), and so on. Any or all of these may incorporate a woven display as discussed herein. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , in an alternate embodiment, a side view of woven material  21  includes a third type of filler fiber  17  in addition to light guiding fibers  15  and non-light guiding fibers  16 . Examples of filler fibers include metal fibers (e.g., strands of steel or copper), glass fibers, and plastic fibers, magnetic fibers, conducting fibers, insulating fibers, or fibers with other material properties. Some filler fibers  17  may be included to exhibit high strength (e.g., polymers such as aramid fibers). Other fibers such as nylon may offer good abrasion resistance or be highly flexible (e.g., to stretch without exhibiting plastic deformation). Fibers  17  may be relatively thin such as carbon nanotubes or carbon fiber or may be thicker such as, for example, metal wire. While fibers  17  are shown alternating with light guiding fibers  15  in the warp of woven material  21 , filler fibers  17  could also be included in the weft of woven material  21  alternating with, or in some other configurations replacing, non-light guiding fibers  16 . The configuration of filler fibers  17  in the warp or weft of woven fabric  21  may also be varied according to various design parameters depending upon the desired characteristics of the woven material  21 . 
     As discussed above with respect to  FIG. 2 , in an alternate embodiment, post-processing tool  18  could also incorporate resin into the woven fabric  21  to form it into a more rigid material for incorporation into a housing for an electronic device. Referring to  FIG. 12 , a portable electronic device is shown which may be laptop computer  49 . Computer  49  includes a screen  51  on a top portion  52  of a housing  53 , and user inputs  55  on a bottom portion  54  of housing  53 . A display  48  on screen  51  indicates the time as 11:00. Screen  51  is on the inside of top housing portion  52  and an outside cover surface  56  on the side of top portion  52  opposite to screen portion  51  is not visible in this view. Control device  37  is contained within housing  53  and may control various functions of the computer  49  as described above. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , the top portion  52  of laptop computer  49  is shown in a closed position. That is, top portion  52  has been closed onto lower portion  54  such that screen  51  is not visible and is contained within housing  53  and outside cover portion  56  is shown. In one embodiment, outside cover portion  56  includes woven fabric  21  that has been invested with a resin such that it is formed as part of housing  53  such that fabric portion  21  is visible to a user. Fabric  21  may also be added to an existing housing as a cover portion. Information, such as the time, 11:00, is displayed by light transmissive fibers  15  in fabric  21  as described above. That is, light transmissive fibers are connected to electronic device  49 , either removably as described above, or permanently connected to LED&#39;s as part of electronic device  49 . As described above, the information displayed may also be other than the time such that information about the status of the electronic device or an indication of messages received or calendar information regarding appointments could be visually conveyed to a user on the outside of electronic device  49  when it is, or is not, otherwise in use. For example, the visible light portions on fabric  21  could blink when a message is received to alert the user to this received message. In an alternate embodiment, fabric  21  is made into a carrying pouch such as a backpack or a purse which may be removably connected to an electronic device contained therein as described above to allow information from the electronic device to be visible to the user on the carrying pouch or backpack when the device is not otherwise visible. 
       FIG. 14  is a flow chart of a method for weaving fibers  15 ,  16 , and/or  17  into woven fabric  21  and making fabric  21  an operating display associated with an electronic device. At step  57 , equipment  14  may be provided with fibers from one or more different sources of fibers (e.g., fiber sources  15 ,  16 ,  17  of  FIG. 2 ). There may be one, two, three, or more than three different types of fiber sources available to a given weaving tool  14 . Each fiber may have a different property and may be incorporated into woven fabric  21  in an accurately controlled amount. This allows tools  14  to weave fabrics  21  that have portions with different light transmitting properties. At step  58 , tools  14  may be used to weave fibers into appropriate configurations to achieve the desired display configuration. The portions of light transmissive fibers  15  that are made visible in fabric  21  may be thought of as pixels in a screen. Different types of tools may be used for different types of weaving operations. For example, a computer-controlled weaving machine may be used to determine the appropriate weaving pattern necessary to convey the desired display information to a user. 
     During the operations of optional step  59 , a resin or binder may be incorporated into fabric  21  to provide controlled amounts of flexibility. For example, binder patterns may include different shapes that provide a smooth transition in the amount flexibility at various points along the length of fabric  21  as necessary to make a wrist band or other type of tether for an electronic device. Binder patterns may also include solid regions on fabric  21  for forming rigid planar structures such as housing walls for a portable computer, handheld electronic device, or other structure. Other regions of fabric  21  may be provided with little or no binder (e.g., in flexible band or pocket where maximum flexibility is desired. After optionally incorporating desired patterns of binder into woven fabric  21 , additional processing steps may be performed during the operations of step  61  with post processing tools  19 . These operations may include, for example, attaching a clasp to flexible woven fabric  21  to allow its use as a wristband and attaching connectors  38  to fabric  21  to allow its connection to an electronic device as described above. In other post processing operations in step  61 , for applications where binder has been infused into fabric  21  to increase rigidity, fabric  21  may be formed into housing portions  53  for use with a portable electronic device. 
     The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not target to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20140530
Publication Date: 20161220
Grant Date: 20161220
Priority Date: 20140530
Inventors: WEBER DOUGLAS J.
DABOV TEODOR
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G04G9/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0001", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A44C5/00", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G04G17/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49119", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G04G9/00", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "D03D1/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/0001", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/001", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G04G17/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49119", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A44C5/00", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G04G17/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10T29/49119", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G04G9/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 53547754