PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10814589-B1
Application Number: US-201816005532-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Items having leatherboard layers with modified portions

Abstract:
An item may be formed from layers of material such as leatherboard layers. A leatherboard layer may include fibrous natural material such as leather or paper embedded in polymer. Portions of the leatherboard layer can be locally modified by incorporation of filler material with desired properties. The filler material may include magnetic particles, conductive particles, or other material. By incorporating the filler material in localized portions of the leatherboard layer, integral electrodes or magnets may be formed. The leatherboard layer may also include embedded circuitry. Items such as enclosures and other items may be formed from the leatherboard layer. The leatherboard layer in an item may include locally modified regions such as magnet regions that are configured to form a closure or other structures that interact with each other.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A leatherboard layer having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the leatherboard layer comprises:
 a layer of polymer in the first and second portions; 
 fibrous natural material embedded in the layer of polymer in the first and second portions; and 
 filler material that is in the first portion and that is not in the second portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The leatherboard layer defined in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fibrous natural material comprises fibrous leather; 
 the leatherboard layer is configured to form an enclosure for an electronic device; 
 the filler material comprises particles of magnetic material; and 
 the first portion is magnetized to form a magnet. 
 
     
     
       3. The leatherboard layer defined in  claim 1  wherein the filler material comprises magnetic material. 
     
     
       4. The leatherboard layer defined in  claim 1  wherein the filler material comprises conductive material. 
     
     
       5. The leatherboard layer defined in  claim 1  wherein the fibrous natural material comprises leather. 
     
     
       6. The leatherboard layer defined in  claim 1  wherein the fibrous natural material comprises paper. 
     
     
       7. The leatherboard layer defined in  claim 1  further comprising circuitry embedded in the leatherboard layer. 
     
     
       8. The leatherboard layer defined in  claim 7  wherein the circuitry comprises an input device. 
     
     
       9. The leatherboard layer defined in  claim 8  wherein the input device comprises a sensor. 
     
     
       10. The leatherboard layer defined in claim  7  wherein the circuitry comprises an output device. 
     
     
       11. The leatherboard layer defined in  claim 10  wherein the output device comprises a light source. 
     
     
       12. An item, comprising:
 a leatherboard structure having first and second portions comprising fibrous leather in polymer and having a first locally modified region in the first portion, wherein the first locally modified region comprises magnetized magnetic material that is in the first portion and that is not in the second portion; and 
 a second leatherboard structure comprising fibrous leather in polymer and having a second locally modified region, wherein the first and second leatherboard structures are configured to overlap to align the first locally modified region with the second locally modified region. 
 
     
     
       13. The item defined in  claim 12  wherein the magnetized magnetic material of the first locally modified region serves as a first magnet, wherein the second locally modified region comprises magnetic material that serves as a second magnet, and wherein the first and second magnets are configured to form a magnetic closure. 
     
     
       14. The item defined in  claim 13  wherein the first and second locally modified regions include the fibrous leather in the polymer and include the magnetized magnetic material embedded in the polymer. 
     
     
       15. The item defined in  claim 14  wherein the first and second leatherboard structures form respective portions of a common leatherboard layer. 
     
     
       16. An item, comprising:
 a layer having fibrous natural material in polymer binder, wherein the layer has a first portion that includes filler material and a second portion that does not include the filler material and wherein the fibrous material is selected from the group consisting of: leather and paper; and 
 a sensor configured to detect the first portion when the first portion is aligned with the sensor. 
 
     
     
       17. The item defined in  claim 16  wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic sensor and wherein the filler material comprises magnetic material configured to form a magnet in the first portion. 
     
     
       18. The item defined in  claim 16  wherein the layer comprises a leatherboard layer, the item further comprising a layer of fabric that is attached to the leatherboard layer and that covers the first portion.

Description:
FIELD 
     This relates generally to items such as enclosures, and, more particularly, to items formed from materials such as leatherboard. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Leather, paper, and other natural materials are widely used. During manufacturing, scraps of these natural materials are produced that represent a potential source of waste. 
     The formation of manufactured materials such as leatherboard from scraps of natural material helps to recycle natural products and reduce or eliminate waste. Items formed from leatherboard may have desired tactile properties and other satisfactory characteristics, but may be missing desired functionality. 
     SUMMARY 
     An item may be formed from leatherboard. Layers of leatherboard may be used to form an enclosure for an electronic device, part of an electronic device housing, or other items. 
     A leatherboard layer for an item may include fibrous natural material such as fibrous leather or paper in a polymer binder. Portions of the leatherboard layer can be locally modified by selective incorporation of filler material with desired properties. The filler material may include magnetic particles, conductive particles, or other material. 
     By incorporating filler material in localized portions of the leatherboard layer, integral electrodes, integral magnets, or other structures may be formed as part of the leatherboard layer without creating undesired discontinuities in the flexibility, density, or other mechanical properties of the leatherboard layer. 
     Magnets in leatherboard structures can interact to form a magnetic closure. If desired, the leatherboard layer may include regions with embedded circuitry. Sensors and other components in leatherboard layers or other portions of an item can be configured to interact with magnets, conductive regions, or other structures formed in a leatherboard layer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative system including a leatherboard item and an associated electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of illustrative leatherboard layers with locally modified portions in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative leatherboard layer with a locally modified portion and an associated layer with a component that interacts with the locally modified portion in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of a pair of interacting magnets for a closure or other structure in an item in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of illustrative interacting magnets with multiple magnetic domains in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative leatherboard layer with a locally modified portion in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative leatherboard layer with a locally modified portion serving as a signal path in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of an illustrative leatherboard layer with locally modified portions forming electrodes such as capacitive sensor electrodes in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative leatherboard layer having embedded circuitry in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative leatherboard layer having conductive material that forms electromagnetic shielding in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of illustrative equipment for forming leatherboard in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Layers of material such as leatherboard may be used in forming enclosures for electronic devices and other items. A perspective view of an illustrative system with a leatherboard item is shown in  FIG. 1 . In the example of  FIG. 1 , system  8  includes electronic device  12  and an associated leatherboard item  10 . 
     Device  12  may be a cellular telephone, a computer such as a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or other computing device, a wristwatch device or other wearable device, a media player, a wearable augmented reality or virtual reality device (e.g., googles, glasses, a helmet, etc.), a set of headphones, a remote control, a pointing device such as a computer mouse, pencil, or trackpad, a keyboard, and/or other electronic equipment. 
     Item  10  may be an enclosure such as a removable cover for a device or a bag, may be an electronic device such as device  12 , may be a wearable item (e.g., a wristwatch strap, arm band, head band, hat or other clothing, etc.), or other item. Item  10  may have portions formed from natural materials. For example, housing walls, straps, inner and/or outer layers, and other portions of item  10  may be formed from leatherboard. 
     Leatherboard is an artificial material formed from fibrous natural materials such as leather or paper in a polymer binder. Configurations in which leatherboard for item  10  includes fibrous leather (e.g., fibrous leather pieces from leather scraps) that is incorporated into polymer (e.g., a layer of polymer binder) may sometimes be described herein as an example. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , item  10  may be formed from one or more leatherboard layers such as layer  16 . Layers such as layer  16  may, if desired, be used in forming walls (e.g., housing walls), straps, or other structures in item  10 . In the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 1 , item  10  forms an enclosure (e.g., a removable cover or case) with an interior region  14  configured to receive electronic device  12 . Other type of items may be formed from leatherboard layers such as layer  16 , if desired. 
     Layer  16  may, if desired, include one or more locally modified portions such as portions  18 . Portions  18  may include magnetic material or other material (e.g., conductive material, etc.). As an example, particles of magnetic material may be selectively incorporated into portions  18 . In this way, portions  18  may include magnetized magnetic material forming a permanent magnet and/or magnetic material such as iron that exhibits magnetic attraction when exposed to magnetic field from a permanent magnet or electromagnet. The magnetic material of portions  18  may form a magnetic closure such as closure  20  (e.g., in configurations in which portions  18  are formed on overlapping portions of a single layer  16  or overlapping portions of a pair of separate layers  16 ). When it is desired to close the closure, portions  18  on overlapping sections of layer  16  may be placed in close proximity so that these potions attract each other. When it is desired to open the closure, the overlapping sections of layer  16  may be pulled apart, thereby overcoming the magnetic attraction between mated magnetic portions  18 . If desired, portions  18  may include magnetic material that interacts with magnetic sensor circuitry. Arrangements in which portions  18  are locally modified by incorporation of conductive particles (e.g., to form shielding, signal paths, etc.) may also be used. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of illustrative overlapping leatherboard layers  16  in which portions  18  are aligned. Portions  18  may be modified by incorporating magnetic material into portions  18  and by magnetizing one or both of portions  18  to form permanent magnet structures. The remaining portion of layer  16  in this type of configuration will not contain magnetized magnetic material (e.g., the remaining portion of layer  16  will not include the magnetic material incorporated into portions  18 ). 
     During operation, portions  18  that have been formed from magnetic material may serve as magnetic structures that temporarily hold layers  16  to each other (e.g., portions  18  may form a closure or clasp that holds layers  16  together when portions  18  on each of layers  16  have been aligned). Portions  18  may also serve as magnetic attachment points for external equipment with magnets, may be formed on the ends of layer  16  so that portions  18  can be inserted into a mating magnetic slot (e.g., a slot in layer  16  or other slotted structures), may be patterned to encode information (e.g., to form a magnetic code serving as an identifier, serial number, product type information, and/or other coded information that can be detected using a magnetic sensor) and/or may otherwise be used in forming magnetic structures. Magnetic material in portions  18  may be used to form isotropic magnets or anisotropic magnets. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , item  10  may include a leatherboard layer such as layer  16  that includes a locally modified portion  18  and an additional layer such as layer  16 ′ (e.g., a leatherboard layer, a layer formed from polymer and/or other materials, other structures, etc.). Component  22  may be coupled to layer  16 ′ and may interact with locally modified portion  18 . For example, component  22  may be a magnetic sensor and portion  18  may be formed from a magnetic material that can be sensed by the magnetic sensor when portion  18  is adjacent to sensor  22 . As another example, component  22  may be a capacitive sensor and portion  18  may be formed from a conductive material that can be sensed by the capacitive sensor. If desired, component  22  may be an electromagnet that magnetically interacts with magnetic material in portion  18  when components  22  and portion  18  are aligned. 
     Layer  16  and layer  16 ′ may both form part of item  10  or layer  16  and layer  16 ′ may be formed in separate items. For example, layer  16  may form part of item  10  (e.g., a cover for a tablet computer or cellular telephone) and layer (structure)  16 ′ may form part of device  12  (e.g., a tablet computer or cellular telephone with a magnetic sensor such as a Hall effect sensor that senses the presence or absence of portion  18  of layer  16  to determine whether the cover is present and/or in a closed state). 
     An illustrative arrangement in which locally modified portions  18  are configured to form a pair of mating permanent magnets is shown in  FIG. 4 . In the  FIG. 4  example, each magnet has a single magnetic domain.  FIG. 5  shows how locally modified portions  18  may, if desired, include pattern of multiple magnetic domains (e.g., each magnet may be a multipole magnet having a pattern of magnetic domains that matches a corresponding complementary pattern of magnetic domains in the other magnet). Arrangements in which locally modified portions  18  include different magnetic structures (e.g., different types of permanent magnets, pads of magnetic material that are not permanently magnetized, etc.) can also be used. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of leatherboard layer  16  in an illustrative arrangement in which layer  16  includes a locally modified region (region  18 ). In portions of layer  16  other than locally modified portion  18 , layer  16  includes fibrous material  24  embedded in polymer  26 . Fibrous material  24  may be fibrous natural material such as fibrous leather, fibrous paper, etc. Polymer  26  may be a flexible polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyurethane, silicone, a fluoroelastomer (e.g., an FKM), butyl rubber, or other elastomeric polymer. In locally modified portions  18  of layer  16 , filler  28  is embedded in polymer  26 . Fibrous material  24  may also be included in portions  18  to help maintain a desired leather-like feel of layer  16  in portions  18  or may be omitted from portions  18 . Portions  18  may include the same type of polymer  26  that is formed in other portions of layer  16  or may include a different type of polymer  26  than in other portions of layer  16 . 
     The materials of portions  18  and surrounding portions of layer  16  may be configured help match the feel of portions  18  to the feel of surrounding portions of layer  16  (e.g., so that all of layer  16  has a uniform leather-like quality of uniform flexibility and density, and/or to otherwise mechanically and/or cosmetically match these areas of layer  16  to create a seamless transition between portions  18  and the rest of layer  16 ). As a result, undesirable rigid lumps and other undesirable features may be avoided when incorporating magnets (or other structures) into layer  16 . For example, the flexibility and/or density of portions  18  will vary by less than 30%, less than 10%, less than 5%, more than 0.1%, or other suitable amount relative to the remainder of layer  16 . 
     If desired, optional additional materials may be coupled to layer  16 . For example, outer layers such as layers  30  may be formed on one or more sides of layer  16 . Layers  30  may each include one or more layers fabric, leather, polymer, or other materials coupled to a corresponding exterior surface of layer  16  (e.g., using adhesive). By avoiding undesirable rigid lumps within layer  16 , a user will not notice any discontinuity in the flexibility (stiffness) and other properties of layer  16 , even when layer  16  is covered with one or more layers  30 . 
     Filler  28  may be provided in the forms of particles, strands of material, flakes, and/or other structures. In some arrangements, filler  28  may be dispensed in a liquid slurry. The material of filler  28  may be magnetic, may be electrically conductive, may be thermally conductive, may impart desired optical properties (e.g., color, light transmission, absorption, reflection, haze, etc.), may affect the flexibility or other mechanical properties of portion  18 , and/or may otherwise have properties that alter the characteristics of portions  18  relative to the other portions of layer  16 . Examples of magnetic material that may be used in forming filler  28  include iron, neodymium magnet material (NdFeB) or other rare-earth magnet material, alnico, ferrite, etc. Materials such as these may, for example, be incorporated into polymer  26  in the form of particles (e.g., in a liquid slurry of magnetic powder). Examples of electrically conductive material that may be used in forming filler  28  include carbon black, copper, iron, and other metals, etc. If desired, filler  28  may exhibit both magnetic properties and electrically conductive properties. Filler  28  (e.g., metal filler or other thermally conductive material, fiberglass strands, etc.) may also be used to adjust the thermal and/or mechanical properties of layer  16 . 
     Portions  18  may penetrate entirely through the thickness of layer  16  (in dimension Z of  FIG. 6 ) and/or may penetrate partway through layer  16 . In some configurations, portions  18  may be formed in the interior of layer  16 , so that portions  18  are sandwiched between opposing outer portions of layer  16  that do not include filler  28 . The thickness (in dimension Z) of layer  16  and portion  18  may be, for example, at least 0.1 mm, at least 0.3 mm, at least 0.8 mm, at least 1.5 mm, at least 3 mm, less than 4 mm, less than 2 mm, less than 1 mm, or other suitable thickness. Each portion  18  may have lateral dimensions (e.g., in the X-Y plane of  FIG. 6 ) of at least 0.1 mm, at least 0.5 mm, at least 1 mm, at least 4 mm, at least 1.5 cm, at least 6 cm, less than 100 cm, less than 20 cm, less than 2 cm, or other suitable size. The shape of portion  18  (e.g., the outline of portion  18  in the X-Y plane) may be rectangular, square, oval, circular, may have straight edges, curved edges, straight and curved edges, may be elongated (e.g., to form a line), may have a serpentine shape, and/or may have other suitable shape. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of layer  16  in an illustrative configuration in which locally modified portion  18  of layer  16  includes conductive filler so that portion  18  serves as an electrical path. As shown in  FIG. 7 , electrical components  32  may be coupled by conductive material  34  (e.g., solder, conductive adhesive, welds, conductive fasteners, etc.) to a signal path formed from portion  18 . The signal path may be part of a bus of multiple parallel lines, may form an isolated electrical line, may have a meandering path shape, may have portions forming contact pads (e.g., solder pads), and/or may have other suitable shapes. 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of layer  16  in an illustrative configuration in which portions  18  include conductive filler and are patterned to form an array of electrodes. The electrodes in layer  16  that are formed from portions  18  may be used to form capacitive sensor electrodes (e.g., for a capacitive touch sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor that detects fingers and other external objects at a distance from layer  16 , a capacitive touch sensitive switch, or other capacitive sensor structures). The electrodes in  FIG. 8  may be electrically coupled to capacitive sensing circuitry through signal paths formed from portions  18  and/or other conductive paths. If desired, a pattern of electrodes (e.g., rectangular pads, elongated strip-shaped electrodes, etc.) can be formed in layer  16  that are detected by capacitive sensor circuitry (see, e.g., component  22  of  FIG. 3 ). The capacitive sensor circuitry may form part of device  12  (e.g., a capacitive touch sensor array in device  12 ). The arrangement of  FIG. 8  in which portions  18  form signal paths that electrically couple capacitive sensor pads to capacitive sensor circuitry (e.g., a touch sensor integrated circuit) is illustrative. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of layer  16  in an illustrative configuration in which components  38  and signal paths  40  have been embedded in layer  16 . Signal paths may be formed from portions  18  and/or from embedded wires or other conductive strands of material, metal traces on printed circuits such as metal traces on flexible printed circuits, or other conductive structures. Components  38  may be electrical components such as integrated circuits, energy storage devices such as capacitors and batteries, input-output devices (e.g., input devices such as sensors, output devices such as displays, light-emitting diodes, and other light-emitting devices, etc.), wireless power circuitry, etc. 
     The circuitry of components  38  and paths  40  may be used in forming control circuitry for item  10  and may be used in forming input-output circuitry. The control circuitry may include storage and processing circuitry for supporting the operation of item  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 the control circuitry 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 item  10  and external equipment, the control circuitry may communicate using communications circuitry. The communications circuitry may include antennas, radio-frequency transceiver circuitry, and other wireless communications circuitry and/or wired communications circuitry. The communications circuitry, which may sometimes be referred to as control circuitry and/or control and communications circuitry, may support bidirectional wireless communications between item  10  and external equipment (e.g., device  12 ) over a wireless link (e.g., control and communications circuitry in item  10  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 60 GHz link or other millimeter wave link, a cellular telephone link, or other wireless communications link. 
     The circuitry of components  38  and paths  40  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, item  10  may include a coil and rectifier to receive wireless power. 
     The circuitry of components  38  and paths  40  may also include input-output devices that are used in gathering user input, in gathering information on the environment surrounding the user, and/or in providing a user with output. The input-output devices may include one or more displays or components forming pixels for displays (e.g., 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, and/or other displays). The displays may be touch insensitive or may include touch sensor circuitry. The input-output devices may include force sensors (e.g., strain gauges, capacitive force sensors, resistive force sensors, etc.), audio sensors such as microphones, touch and/or proximity sensors such as capacitive sensors (e.g., a two-dimensional capacitive touch sensor integrated into a display, a two-dimensional capacitive touch sensor overlapping a display, and/or a touch sensor that forms a button, trackpad, or other input device not associated with a display), and other sensors. If desired, the sensors 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), 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, item  10  may use the sensors and/or other input-output devices to gather user input (e.g., 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, the input-output devices 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. The input-output devices of item  10  may also include connector ports for supporting wired communication with ancillary equipment and for receiving wired power. Although shown in  FIG. 9  as being surrounded on all sides by portions of leatherboard layer  16 , the structures of components  38  and paths  40  may, if desired, protrude out of one or both sides of layer  16 , if desired. 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of layer  16  in an illustrative configuration in which layer  16  includes structures that surround components  40 . Components  40  (e.g., components such as components  38  of  FIG. 9  and/or other circuitry) may be mounted on one or more substrates such as printed circuit  42  and/or may be connected by other signal paths (see, e.g., paths  40  of  FIG. 9 ). To electromagnetically shield the circuitry of components  40 , leatherboard layer  16  may incorporate conductive filler  28  in addition to fibrous material  24  in binder such as polymer  26 . Shielding may be formed on one or both sides of components  40 . For example, layer  16  may be a single planar layer on one side of components  40  that forms a signal ground plane in item  10  and/or may form a three-dimensional enclosure that encloses components  40 . Shielding may be included in a portion of layer  16  adjacent to components  46  (as an example). 
     Illustrative equipment for forming leatherboard layer  16  is shown in  FIG. 11 . In general, leatherboard layer  16  may be formed in any suitable type of tool that incorporates fibrous material  24  and other desired materials into binder such as polymer  26  (e.g., extrusion equipment, equipment with plates that press together, molds with three-dimensional shapes, etc.). In the illustrative arrangement of  FIG. 11 , leatherboard fabrication equipment  60  includes rollers  54 . Preformed leatherboard layer  62  may be calendared (e.g., to establish a desired thickness, to emboss a desired texture, etc.) by passing this layer through rollers  54  in direction  58 . Dispenser  52  may dispense liquid magnetic particle slurry, conductive particle slurry, other filler material for filler  28 , electrical components (e.g., components  38  of  FIG. 9 ), structures for forming paths  40 , and/or other material, components, and/or circuitry into location  50  of layer  62 . After layer  62  passes through rollers  54  in direction  58  to form leatherboard layer  16 , the circuitry and/or material incorporated into location  50  will be located at a location such as location  56  and may form a locally modified portion of leatherboard layer  16  (e.g., one of portions  18 ) and/or embedded circuitry (see, e.g., embedded components  38  and/or paths  40  of  FIG. 9 ). Leatherboard layer  16  may then be cut to a desired shape and assembled with additional structures and circuitry to form item  10 . 
     The foregoing is 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: 20180611
Publication Date: 20201027
Grant Date: 20201027
Priority Date: 20180611
Inventors: SCALES, Timothy W.
MATTSON, WHITNEY D.
STEVENSON, Benjamin A.
Benavente-Notaro, Linda D.
TRINCIA, NICHOLAS R.
Chui, William H.
ZHU, HAO
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "B32B2307/208", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2260/028", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B9/025", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2307/416", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2307/402", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B9/06", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B9/047", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B29/005", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2260/048", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2264/105", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2307/302", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2260/021", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B29/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B27/10", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2457/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2307/202", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2264/108", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2260/046", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B3/08", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2571/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B27/12", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2307/732", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2307/546", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B7/12", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B5/26", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/10151", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/0215", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/0373", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/0366", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B9/045", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/10113", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/185", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2457/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/083", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/0366", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B27/20", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21Y2115/10", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B9/06", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21V23/0442", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/10151", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2260/028", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B27/10", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21V15/01", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B9/025", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2260/021", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/10121", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2307/208", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B29/005", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2260/046", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B9/045", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2260/046", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/185", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/083", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B29/005", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/10113", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2260/028", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2457/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21Y2115/10", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B9/025", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2307/208", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/0366", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21V15/01", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/10121", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B1/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B2260/021", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21V23/0442", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B27/20", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/10151", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B9/06", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B27/10", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B32B1/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 72944466