PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11164917-B1
Application Number: US-201916452171-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Electronic devices with illuminated display borders

Abstract:
An electronic device may have a display mounted in a housing. The display may be mounted on a front side of the device and the housing may have a housing wall on the rear side of the device. The display may be formed from an array of pixels configured to display an image for a user. Pixel-free border areas that run along the edges of the array of pixels may be provided with an edge illuminator. The edge illuminator may provide illumination to the border areas during operation of the device. The edge illuminator may have crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies, backlit liquid crystal devices or electrophoretic display components, or may have a light guide that is supplied with illumination from a light-emitting diode.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device, comprising:
 a display having an array of pixels configured to display an image, wherein the array of pixels has a peripheral edge; 
 a display cover layer that overlaps the array of pixels, wherein the display cover layer has corners with compound curvature; 
 a housing; 
 a transparent member between the housing and the display cover layer; 
 a flexible substrate layer; and 
 light-emitting diodes formed from crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies mounted on the flexible substrate layer, wherein the light-emitting diodes emit light through the corners, the display cover layer, and the transparent member. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the transparent member comprises a polymer member having a first surface that faces an inner surface of the display cover layer and having a second surface that is adjacent to the housing and wherein the housing comprises openings through which light from the light-emitting diodes passes. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device defined in  claim 2  wherein the housing comprises a metal housing wall and wherein the openings comprise perforations with diameters of less than 100 microns. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device defined in  claim 3  wherein the array of pixels comprises an array of organic light-emitting diode pixels. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein light from the light-emitting diodes passes through the housing. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device defined in  claim 5  wherein the housing comprises metal with perforations through which the light passes. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the transparent member comprises a polymer material containing light-scattering particles. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the light-emitting diodes emit light along the peripheral edge. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the flexible substrate layer is mesh-shaped. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device defined in  claim 9  wherein the light-emitting diodes on the flexible substrate layer have a density that varies as a function of distance away from the array of pixels. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  further comprising a layer of opaque material on a surface of the display cover layer overlapping the light-emitting diodes, wherein the layer of opaque material has openings that are configured to allow light emitted by the light-emitting diodes to pass through the display cover layer. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  further comprising a fabric layer that overlaps the light-emitting diodes. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device defined in  claim 12  wherein the display cover layer overlaps a portion of the fabric layer. 
     
     
       14. The electronic device defined in  claim 12  wherein the fabric layer forms a sidewall of the electronic device. 
     
     
       15. An electronic device with opposing front and rear sides and a sidewall extending between the front and rear sides, comprising:
 a display having a substrate with an array of pixels that emit light though the front side; 
 a transparent member configured to overlap an edge portion of the substrate, wherein the transparent member forms a portion of the sidewall; 
 light-emitting diodes configured to emit light through the portion of the sidewall; and 
 a display cover layer that overlaps the array of pixels and the transparent member. 
 
     
     
       16. The electronic device defined in  claim 15  wherein the transparent member is configured to diffuse light that is emitted by the light-emitting diodes. 
     
     
       17. The electronic device defined in  claim 15  wherein the substrate has a rigid portion and a flexible portion, wherein the array of pixels is on the rigid portion and the light emitting diodes are on the flexible portion. 
     
     
       18. An electronic device, comprising:
 an organic light-emitting diode display having an array of pixels; 
 crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies mounted on a flexible printed circuit around the array of pixels; 
 a transparent member that overlaps the crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies; and 
 a display cover layer that overlaps the array of pixels and the transparent member, wherein the pixels and the crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies emit light through the display cover layer. 
 
     
     
       19. The electronic device defined in  claim 18  further comprising an infrared camera. 
     
     
       20. The electronic device defined in  claim 18  further comprising additional crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies mounted in a border area surrounding the array of pixels. 
     
     
       21. The electronic device defined in  claim 18 , wherein the transparent member comprises light-diffusing polymer. 
     
     
       22. An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a display cover layer; 
 a display configured to display an image, wherein the display comprises an organic light-emitting diode pixel array that emits light through the display cover layer; 
 crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies, wherein a first group of the crystalline semiconductor dies emits light through the display cover layer; and 
 a transparent member coupled to the housing, wherein a second group of the crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies emits light through the transparent member. 
 
     
     
       23. The electronic device defined in  claim 22  wherein the crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies are located in a border area surrounding the pixel array and overlap metal traces that carry signals for the pixel array. 
     
     
       24. An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a display cover layer coupled to the housing; 
 a transparent member between the housing and the display cover layer; 
 an organic light-emitting diode pixel array that emits light through the display cover layer; 
 crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies, wherein the crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diodes emit light through the display cover layer and the transparent member. 
 
     
     
       25. The electronic device defined in  claim 24  further comprising:
 a rigid printed circuit, wherein the organic light-emitting diode pixel array overlaps a first portion of the rigid printed circuit, wherein the crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies are mounted to a second portion of the rigid printed circuit that borders the first portion, wherein the rigid printed circuit has multiple layers, and wherein a different portion of the crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies is mounted to each of the multiple layers. 
 
     
     
       26. The electronic device defined in  claim 25  wherein the first portion of the rigid printed circuit has a first thickness and wherein the second portion of the rigid printed circuit has a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/731,493, filed Sep. 14, 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 displays. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic devices such as cellular telephones include displays. Displays may be used in providing visual output to a user. Touch sensitive displays may be used in gathering user input. 
     Displays generally contain opaque borders. Signal routing lines, encapsulation structures, display driver circuits, and other portions of a display that do not emit light are formed along these opaque borders. 
     If care is not taken, the opaque borders in a display may be overly large. This can create undesired bulk in an electronic device and can detract from the visual appearance of the electronic device. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device may have a display mounted in a housing. The display may be mounted on a front side of the device and the housing may have a housing wall on the rear side of the device. The display may be formed from an array of pixels configured to display an image for a user. Pixel-free border areas that run along the edges on the array of pixels may be provided with an edge illuminator. The edge illuminator may provide illumination to the border areas during operation of the device. 
     The edge illuminator may have crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies. The crystalline semiconductor light-emitting dies may be mounted on printed circuit substrates and may extend in a ring around the pixel array and/or may fill a notch in the pixel array. In some arrangements, the printed circuit may be rigid and may have staggered layers and/or a locally thinned region. If desired, the edge illuminator may be formed using liquid crystal devices or electrophoretic components. Arrangements in which the edge illuminator has a light guide that is supplied with illumination from light-emitting diodes may also be used. 
     To accommodate curved edge portions in the electronic device, the edge illuminator may have light-emitting diodes mounted on an elastomeric mesh-shaped substrate or other flexible substrate. The flexible substrate may bend to accommodate curved edge portions of the device and/or corners having surfaces with compound curvature. 
     Light from the edge illuminator may be diffused. With one illustrative arrangement, a translucent polymer frame member may be formed between a portion of the housing and a display cover layer. Light-emitting diodes in the edge illuminator may supply light that passes through the translucent polymer frame member. The light-emitting diodes in the edge illuminator may also produce light that passes through an edge portion of the display cover layer and/or perforations or other holes in the housing. 
     If desired, the housing for the electronic device may include fabric. Edge illuminator light-emitting diodes may provide illumination in the portion of the device that includes the fabric. Fresnel lenses and diffusers may be used to help obscure a boundary between a pixel array that is displaying an image for a user and adjacent light-emitting diodes in an edge illuminator. Light-emitting diodes in an edge illuminator may be mounted on a flexible printed circuit that has holes to accommodate aligned optical components (e.g., in a pixel-free notch along an edge of the array) and/or may be mounted to other substrates such as a substrate that also includes light-emitting diodes for a backlight or a substrate that contains the pixels of the pixel array. 
    
    
     
       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 front 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 diagram of an illustrative array of light-emitting diodes on a mesh shaped substrate in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram of an illustrative light-emitting component with pixels in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are cross-sectional side views of illustrative light-guide layers being illuminated using light-emitting diodes accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative transparent layer being illuminated by an array of light-emitting diodes in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  are top views of illustrative illuminated display border areas in accordance with embodiments. 
         FIGS. 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15  are cross-sectional side views of illustrative electronic device edge portions in accordance with embodiments. 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative backlit display and adjacent light-emitting diodes for an edge illuminator in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device with a housing structure formed from illuminated fabric in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional side view of an edge portion of an electronic device in which a layer of material such as a layer of fabric overlaps light-emitting components in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device with an illumination system that illuminates a surface on which the electronic device is resting in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional side view of an edge of an illustrative electronic device in which structures such as edge illuminator structures have an attribute that is varied as a function of distance from the edge of the device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 21  is a top view of an illustrative electronic device with a display with an illuminated border and corner in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective view of an illustrative edge portion of an electronic device showing how the edge portion may display content in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device with a Fresnel lens structure in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view of a corner of an illustrative electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 25  is a top view of illustrative structures that may be used in the electronic device of  FIG. 24  in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 26  is a top view of an illustrative electronic device with a display and an illuminated border in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 27  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative edge portion of an electronic device that is illuminated using light-emitting diodes covered with photoluminescent material in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 28  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative edge portion of an electronic device with a light-emitting diode mounted on the inner surface of a display cover layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 29  is a perspective view of an edge illuminator for an edge portion of an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 30  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative display layer having thin-film structures that form an array of pixels and having a border region in which edge illuminator light-emitting diodes are mounted to a surface of the display layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 31  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative display overlapping a printed circuit having layers of staggered lengths on which light-emitting diodes are mounted to form an illuminated display border with a curved cross-sectional profile in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 32  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative display overlapping a printed circuit with a thinned central portion to accommodate components in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 33  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative display with an array of pixels and adjacent illuminated edge structures overlapped by a diffuser layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 34  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative substrate with light-emitting diodes of variable pitch overlapped by an edge portion of a display layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An electronic device may be provided with a display. The display may have an array of pixels for displaying images. The electronic device may include an edge illuminator that extends along a border surrounding the array of pixels and that provide illumination for the border. Liquid crystal display cells and/or electrophoretic (e-ink) display cells, light guide layers, thin-film light-emitting diodes, crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diodes, and/or other components may be used in forming the edge illuminator. 
     An illustrative electronic device of the type that may have an edge illuminator is shown in  FIG. 1 . Electronic device  10  may be a computing device such as a laptop computer, a computer monitor containing an embedded computer (e.g., a desktop computer formed from a display with a desktop stand that has computer components embedded in the same housing as the display), a tablet computer, a cellular telephone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device, a smaller device such as a wrist-watch device, a pendant device, a headphone or earpiece device, a device embedded in eyeglasses or other equipment worn on a user&#39;s head, or other wearable or miniature device, a television, a computer display that does not contain an embedded computer, a gaming device, a navigation device, a tower computer, an embedded system such as a system in which electronic equipment with a display is mounted in a kiosk or automobile, equipment that implements the functionality of two or more of these devices, or other electronic equipment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , electronic device  10  may have control circuitry  16 . Control circuitry  16  may include storage and processing circuitry for supporting the operation of device  10 . The storage and processing circuitry may include storage such as hard disk drive storage, 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  16  may be used to control the operation of device  10 . The processing circuitry may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processors, power management units, audio chips, application specific integrated circuits, etc. Control circuitry  16  may include wired and/or wireless communications circuitry (e.g., antennas and associated radio-frequency transceiver circuitry such as cellular telephone communications circuitry, wireless local area network communications circuitry, etc.). The communications circuitry of control circuitry  16  may allow device  10  to communicate with keyboards, computer mice, remote controls, speakers, accessory displays, accessory cameras, and/or other electronic devices that serve as accessories for device  10 . 
     Input-output circuitry in device  10  such as input-output devices  12  may be used to allow data to be supplied to device  10  and to allow data to be provided from device  10  to external devices. Input-output devices  12  may include input devices that gather user input and other input and may include output devices that supply visual output, audible output, or other output. These devices may include buttons, joysticks, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, microphones, speakers, tone generators, vibrators and other haptic output devices, light-emitting diodes and other status indicators, data ports, etc. 
     Input-output devices  12  may include one or more displays such as display  14 . Devices  12  may, for example, include an organic light-emitting diode display with an array of thin-film organic light-emitting diode pixels, a liquid crystal display with an array of liquid crystal display pixels and an optional backlight unit, a display having an array of pixels formed from respective crystalline light-emitting diodes each of which has a respective crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode die, and/or other displays. In some configurations, input-output devices  12  may include a projector display based on a micromechanical systems device such as a digital micromirror device or other projector components. 
     Display  14  may be a touch screen display that includes a touch sensor for gathering touch input from a user or display  14  may be a touch insensitive display that is not sensitive to touch. A touch sensor for display  14  may be based on an array of capacitive touch sensor electrodes, acoustic touch sensor structures, resistive touch components, force-based touch sensor structures, a light-based touch sensor, or other suitable touch sensor arrangements. 
     At suitable locations within device  10  such as along one or more portions of the peripheral edge of display  14 , device  10  may include illumination structures such as edge illuminator  20 . Edge illuminator  20  may include one or more light-emitting diodes (e.g., organic light-emitting diodes and/or crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diodes), one or more lasers (e.g., laser diodes), one or more individually adjustable components that adjust light transmission and/or reflection and that are illuminated by a backlight or by ambient light (e.g., a liquid crystal display structure such as one or more liquid crystal light modulator cells or an array of such cells, an electronic ink display structure sometimes referred to as an electrophoretic display structure such as one or more electrophoretic cells or an array of such cells), and/or other electrically adjustable light-emitting and/or light modulating components. Illustrative configurations in which edge illuminator  20  includes one or more light-emitting components such as one or more light-emitting diodes may sometimes be described herein as an example. In general, any suitable light-emitting and/or light modulating components may be formed in edge illuminator  20 , if desired. Edge illuminators may have ring shapes that extend around the entire border of a rectangular pixel array or other display and/or may have shapes that extend along portions of a display border. If desired, there may be two or more edge illuminators  20  in device  10  (e.g., a first illuminator  20  on a left side of device  10  and a separate a second illuminator on a right side of device  10 , etc.). Such illuminators may be controlled in coordination with each other and/or may be individually controlled. 
     Edge illuminator  20  may include a single light-emitting component, two light-emitting components, 2-100 light-emitting components, at least 20 light-emitting components, fewer than 2000 light-emitting components, fewer than 400 light-emitting components, fewer than 100 light-emitting components, fewer than 40 light-emitting components, fewer than 25 light-emitting components, fewer than ten light-emitting components, or other suitable number of individually or collectively controllable light-emitting components. These light-emitting components may be used to emit light of any suitable color (white, a non-neutral color such as red, green, blue, etc.). In some arrangements, edge illuminator  20  may include one or more light guides, diffusers, reflectors, and/or other structures for distributing light from one or more light-emitting components to desired locations (e.g., locations along the border of display  14 ). If desired, edge illuminator  20  may include a one-dimensional array or a two-dimensional array of light-emitting components (e.g., light-emitting diode pixels). Edge illuminator  20  may include a large number or light-emitting diodes or may contain only a single light-emitting diode or other small number of light-emitting diodes or other light-emitting components (e.g., so that edge illuminator  20  may emit diffuse illumination of a single color and/or may emit other illumination from a single component or other small number of light-emitting components). 
     Input-output devices  12  may also include sensors  18 . Sensors  18  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  18  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 (e.g., sensors that gather position information, three-dimensional radio-frequency images, and/or other information using radar principals or other radio-frequency sensing), 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, three-dimensional sensors (e.g., pairs of two-dimensional image sensors that gather three-dimensional images using binocular vision, three-dimensional structured light sensors that emit an array of infrared light beams or other structured light using arrays of lasers or other light emitters and associated optical components and that capture images of the spots created as the beams illuminate target objects, and/or other three-dimensional image sensors), facial recognition sensors based on three-dimensional image sensors, and/or other sensors. In some arrangements, device  10  may use sensors  18  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, etc.). 
     If desired, electronic device  10  may include additional components (see, e.g., other devices in input-output devices  12 ). The additional components may include haptic output devices, audio output devices such as speakers, light sources such as light-emitting diodes (e.g., crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diodes for status indicators and/or components), other optical output devices, and/or other circuitry for gathering input and/or providing output. Device  10  may also include an optional battery or other energy storage device, connector ports for supporting wired communications with ancillary equipment and for receiving wired power, and other circuitry. Device  10  may be operated in systems that include wired and/or wireless accessories (e.g., keyboards, computer mice, remote controls, trackpads, etc.). 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of device  10  in an illustrative configuration in which device  10  is a portable electronic device such as a cellular telephone or other handheld device. As shown in  FIG. 2 , device  10  may include an array of pixels  24  that form an active area for display  14  in which display  14  displays images for a user. Pixels  24  may extend over front side F of device  10 . In some configurations, some or all of peripheral edge of device  10  is curved (e.g., the edge of device  10  has a curved cross-sectional profile). In other configurations, some or all of the peripheral edge of device  10  has vertical sidewalls and/or other sidewall shapes. The front of device  10  may be covered with a glass layer, polymer layer, or other transparent display cover layer. Some or all of the housing sidewall structures in device  10  (e.g., a housing layer on sidewall W) may be formed from integral portions of the display cover layer and/or separate housing structures. The housing of device  10  may also have portions covering some or all of the rear side R of device  10 . 
     Display  14  may have a rectangular outline as shown in  FIG. 2  or may have other suitable shapes. The periphery of display  14  may be surrounded by a border region that is free of pixels. The border region may be used to accommodate display driver circuits, metal traces for signal lines, encapsulation structures (e.g., beads of adhesive, etc.), and/or other structures that do not emit light, but which form part of the circuitry and associated structures of display  14 . In the example of  FIG. 2 , border notch N is formed along a section of the upper edge of display  14  and extends into the pixels of display  14 , thereby displacing pixels from a rectangular recess in display  14 . Display  14  may be rectangular and may have four peripheral edge segments. The opposing left and right edge segments may have no notches and the lower edge segment may have no notch. In this type of arrangement, notch N along the upper edge segment of the rectangular periphery of display  14  may be the only notch (recess) that protrudes into the array of pixels in display  14 . 
     Notch N is free of pixels  24 . This allows notch N to accommodate speaker opening  32  and optical sensor windows  30 . Sensor windows  30  may be used to allow light to enter and/or exit the interior of device  10  without passing through pixels  24 . For example, sensor windows  30  may be aligned with optical components such as a camera, a camera flash, an optical proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, and a structured light sensor that emits infrared light beams and detects corresponding spots on target objects to capture three-dimensional images of those objects, and/or other optical components. In the example of  FIG. 2 , pixel-free areas run around the entire periphery of display  14  and device  10 . For example, in addition to notch N, the rest of the border surrounding display  14  (e.g., the portion of device  10  running along the left, upper, right, and lower edge segments of the periphery of display  14 ) is also free of pixels  24  (see, e.g., left edge E 1 , upper edge E 2 , right edge E 3 , and lower edge E 4 ). 
     Although free of pixels  24  of display  14 , one or more portions of the border surrounding display  14  (e.g., the regions associated with edge E 1 , E 2  and associated notch N, E 3 , and E 4 ) may be provided with light from an edge illuminator such as edge illuminator  20  of  FIG. 2 . Edge illuminator  20  may, for example, fill notch N and the other edge portions surrounding display  14 . In this way, the entire front face of device  10  may be illuminated, providing device  10  with a desired appearance. Edge illuminator  20  may provide light that matches or compliments the color of the content on display  14 , may provide light that has different colors, intensities, etc. in different areas, may provide static light, may provide light that flashes on and off and/or that otherwise varies in intensity and/or color as a function of time, may provide solid regions of color, may include text, graphics, icons, moving images, and other visual output. To conserve power and reduce complexity and to incorporate edge illuminator  20  into portions of device  10  with curved surfaces (e.g., sidewalls), edge illuminator  20  may, if desired, be provided with less spatial resolution than pixels  24  of display  14  (as an example). 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of device  10  of  FIG. 2  taken along line  34  and viewed in direction  36  of  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , device  10  may have a housing such as housing  40  that covers rear side R of device  10  and, if desired, portions of sidewall W and front side F. Housing structures in device  10  such as housing  40  (e.g., a rear housing wall and/or other housing structures) may be formed from glass, metal, polymer, crystalline materials such as sapphire, natural materials such as wood, fabric, other materials, and/or combinations of two or more of these materials. For example, device  10  may have a rear housing wall on rear side R that is formed from glass, metal, or other housing materials. Portions of this rear housing wall and/or other housing structures may cover some or all of sidewall W. 
     Display  14  may be formed from an array of pixels  24  on front side F of device  10  (as an example). Edge illuminator  20  may run along one or more of the peripheral portions of the pixel array formed from pixels  24  of display  14 . The presence of edge illuminator  20  may allow device  10  to emit light around the border of display  14  that would otherwise be unilluminated due to the absence of pixels  24 . The illumination from illuminator  20  may thereby enhance the appearance of device  10 . If desired, the light emitting by illuminator  20  may be used to display visual content (e.g., using colors, time variations, and/or spatial patterns). 
     Display cover layer  46  may cover the pixel array formed from pixels  24  (e.g., display  14 ) and, if desired, may cover edge illuminator  20 . Display cover layer  46  may be formed from transparent materials such as glass, polymer, sapphire and other crystalline materials, transparent ceramic, and/or other transparent materials. Display cover layer  46  may form a portion of the housing of device  10 . The housing of device  10  may enclose and define an interior region such as interior region  48  and may separate interior region  48  from exterior region  50  surrounding device  10 . Electrical components  44  (e.g., control circuitry  16  and/or input-output devices  12  of  FIG. 1 ) may be mounted on one or more printed circuits  42  in interior  48 . The inner and/or outer surfaces of display cover layer  46  may include planar portions and/or portions with curved cross-sectional profiles. 
     Edge illuminator  20  may be formed from one or more light-emitting components (e.g., light-emitting devices such as light-emitting diodes, lasers, etc.) and/or from adjustable optical components such as electrophoretic display devices that are illuminated by backlight and/or ambient reflections. Illustrative configurations in which light-emitting diodes are used in providing illumination for edge illuminator  20  are sometimes described herein as an example. 
     In one illustrative configuration, edge illuminator  20  has a flexible substrate such as substrate  60  of  FIG. 4 . Substrate  60  may be a flexible polymer layer without openings and/or may be formed from a layer with openings such as openings (e.g., to form a mesh shape for substrate  60 ). Substrate  60  may be formed from polyimide, an elastomeric material such as silicone, and/or other flexile substrate material. In the example of  FIG. 4 , openings  62  have been configured to form serpentine substrate segments that interconnect and array of square substrate islands  60 ″ on which respective light-emitting devices  64  (e.g., one or more edge illuminator light-emitting diodes) have been mounted. Metal traces such as traces  66  may extend throughout substrate  60  to interconnect light-emitting devices  64 . Islands  60 ″ and light-emitting devices  64  may be organized in an array with rows and columns of fixed pitch and/or variable pitch and/or may be arranged in other patterns. 
     If desired, one or more light-emitting (or light-adjusting) cells such as cells  70  of  FIG. 5  may form edge illuminator  20 . Cells  70 , which may sometimes be referred to as adjustable elements or pixels, may be electrically adjusted by control circuitry  16 . The pitch (cell-to-cell spacing) of cells  70  may be may be fixed and/or variable. Cells  70  may be organic light-emitting diode elements, may be liquid crystal display element, may be electrophoretic display element, and/or may be other suitable individually controllable light-emitting (or light adjusting) components. Cells  70  may, if desired, be significantly larger than pixels  26  and arranged in a significantly coarser pattern (e.g., to reduce the overhead associated with forming and operating edge illuminator  20 ). One-dimensional and two-dimensional arrays of adjustable cells  70  may be formed, if desired. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of edge illuminator  20  in an illustrative configuration in which edge illuminator  20  includes a light guide. As shown in  FIG. 6 , one or more light-emitting diodes  72  may emit light  74  into light guide  78 . Light guide  78  may be a light guide layer formed from a rigid polymer plate or may be thin flexible light guide film. If desired, light guide  78  may have curved surfaces and/or other desired three-dimensional shapes. Light guide  78  may be formed from a transparent material, so that light  74  that has been emitted into light guide  78  may be distributed throughout light guide  78  in accordance with the principal of total internal reflection. Light-scattering features such as protrusions, recesses, and/or light-scattering particles in light guide  78  may be used to help extract light  74  (e.g., to form emitted light  80 ). Optional reflective structures such as reflector  76  may be used to help recycle light that has scattered from light guide  78  in a direction away from the desired direction of light emission. 
     In the example of  FIG. 7 , light guide  78  has an elongated shape with protrusions  78 ′ into which light-emitting diodes  72  emit light  74 . Other shapes may be used for light guide  78  if desired (e.g., shapes with curved surfaces such as surfaces with compound curvature, ring-shaped elongated structures, structures that extend along one or more edges of device  10  in elongated strips, etc.). 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of edge illuminator  20  in an illustrative configuration in which light  80  is emitted outwardly by light-emitting diodes  72  on printed circuit  84 . Light-emitting diodes  72  are overlapped by member  82  (e.g., a transparent member such as a diffuser formed by embedding light-scattering particles into a polymer or other transparent material, fabric, material with perforations, etc.). The emitted light from light-emitting diodes  72  passes through member  82  to form emitted light  80 . 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of an edge portion of device  10  that has been provided with an edge illuminator. Edge illuminator  20  of  FIG. 9  has a one-dimensional array of light-emitting diodes  72  overlapped by optional structures such as a light guide, diffuser, etc. Light-emitting diodes  72  extend along the length of edge illuminator  20  in a one-dimensional array in the example of  FIG. 9 . If desired, light-emitting diodes  72  may be arranged in a two-dimensional array (see, e.g.,  FIG. 10 ) and/or there may be only one (or other small number) of light-emitting diodes  72  in edge illuminator  20 . Light-emitting diodes  72  may include diodes of more than one color. For example, diodes  72  may include red diodes that emit red light, blue diodes that emit blue light, and/or green diodes that emit green light (as an example). Configurations in which diodes  72  include diodes of other colors (e.g., yellow, white, etc.) may also be used. 
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional side view of an edge portion of device  10  showing how edge illuminator  20  may be formed from a structure that bends and conforms to the curved inner surface of display cover layer  46  near the periphery of device  10  (e.g., the periphery of device  10  following a rectangular outline of front side F of device  10 ). Pixels  24  may be formed in an array with rows and columns on a substrate such as a flexible polyimide substrate (e.g., pixels  24  may be organic light-emitting diode pixels in an organic light-emitting diode display, etc.). In this type of configuration, the array of pixels  24  in display  14  may be bent or otherwise shaped to conform to a desired shape (e.g., to follow a curved cross-sectional profile for the inner surface of display cover layer  46  near the edge of display cover layer  46 ). Other portions of the substrate of display  14  may, for example, be planar and/or may have less curvature than the edges of display cover layer  46 . 
     As shown in the example of  FIG. 12 , edge illuminator  20  may have a portion such as portion  20 ′ that is overlapped by housing  40 . In some configurations, portion  20 ′ may include active light-emitting devices (e.g., light-emitting diodes). In these configurations, housing  40  may be formed from a transparent material that allows light from portion  20 ′ to be emitted to the exterior of device  10  or may have openings (e.g., microperforations) that allow light to be emitted through housing  40 . In other configurations, portion  20 ′ may be free of light-emitting devices and may not emit light. In these configurations, portion  20 ′ may include display driver circuitry, routing traces, and/or other non-light-emitting circuitry. 
     As shown in the illustrative arrangement of  FIG. 13 , edge illuminator  20  may overlap a portion of the substrate on which pixels  24  have been formed. Pixels  24  may, for example, be formed in an array on a polyimide substrate or other flexible substrate. Portion  241  of this substrate may contain display driver circuitry, metal traces for signal routing, encapsulation structures, and/or other structures that do not emit light. To allow light to be emitted along the edge of device  10 , edge illuminator  20  may overlap portion  241 , as shown in  FIG. 13 . Portion  20 ′ of edge illuminator  20  may be mounted behind housing  40  and may, as described in connection with  FIG. 12 , contain active pixels or be free of pixels. To help reduce the visibility of the boundary between pixels  24  and edge illuminator  20 , optional material  284  may be incorporated into device  10  between display cover layer  46  and edge illuminator  20  and/or pixels  24 . Material  284  may, for example, be formed from a polymer (e.g., a polymer adhesive material). The polymer may be transparent to light emitted from edge illuminator  20  and pixels  24 . If desired, light-scattering particles (e.g., titanium dioxide particles or other inorganic dielectric particles) may be incorporated into the polymer of material  284 , thereby forming a diffuser layer that diffuses the light emitted from edge illuminator  20  and from overlapped pixels  24  along the boundary between pixels  24  and edge illuminator  20 . In the example of  FIG. 13 , edge illuminator  20  is overlapping the substrate supporting pixels  24 . If desired, pixels  24  and/or the substrate on which pixels  24  are formed may overlap edge illuminator  20 . Arrangements in which pixels  24  and edge illuminator  20  are adjacent to each other without overlapping each other may also be used. 
     In the example of  FIG. 14 , edge illuminator  20  has a substrate such as substrate  86  (e.g., a mesh shaped substrate, a sheet of polymer, a substrate formed from elastomeric material such as an elastomeric mesh-shaped substrate, a mesh shaped sheet of polymer such as polyimide, and/or other flexible layer(s) of polymer material). Light-emitting diodes  88  or other electrically adjustable pixels may be formed on flexible substrate layer  86 . In region  90 , light-emitting diodes  88  may emit light through display cover layer  46  (e.g., to illuminate the edge region of device  10 ). 
     In region  92  of edge illuminator  20 , light-emitting diodes  88  may emit light through member  94 . Member  94  may be, for example, a frame member formed from a transparent polymer (e.g., a translucent polymer frame formed by embedding light-scattering particles in a clear polymer and/or by forming texture or other light-scattering features in member  94 ). This diffuse light-transmitting member may help illuminate portions of sidewall W. 
     Housing  40  may be present along the lower portion of sidewall W in region  98 . If desired, housing  40  may be formed from an opaque material such as metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum or metal). Holes  96  may be formed in housing  40  to allow light from light-emitting diodes  88  in region  98  to be emitted through housing  40  for viewing by a user. Holes  96 , which may sometimes be referred to as openings, perforations, or microperforations, may have any suitable shape and size. As an example, holes  96  may be laser-drilled openings (tapered or untampered cylindrical openings, etc.) having a maximum diameter of 20-150 microns, less than 100 microns, less than 60 microns, less than 30 microns, at least 10 microns, or other suitable size. Smaller holes (e.g., holes  96  with diameters of less than 60 microns or less than 30 microns) may be invisible to the naked eye, which may enhance the appearance of device  10 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , edge illuminator substrate  86  may be bent to accommodate the shape of the components of device  10 . Substrate  86  may, for example, be bent to accommodate the differing orientations of the inner surfaces of display cover layer  46 , member  94 , and housing  40 . End  100  or other portion of substrate  86  may be provided with contacts and/or a connector (e.g., conductive structures for mating with a zero insertion force connector or other suitable connector to allow the circuitry of edge illuminator  20  to be interconnected with control circuitry on a printed circuit board that is separate from substrate  86 ). 
       FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional side view of device  10  in an illustrative configuration in which the underside of the edge of display cover layer  46  has been provided with opaque masking material  102 . Material  102  may have openings  104  that allow light from light-emitting diodes  88  in edge illuminator  20  to pass through the edge portion of display cover layer  46 . Openings  104  may be aligned with respective light-emitting diodes  88  or there may be a different number of openings  104  than diodes  88 . Openings  104  may be circular, square, rectangular, or hexagonal, or may have other shapes. If desired, edge illuminator  20  of  FIG. 15  and the other FIGS. may have an illuminated light guide structure, adjustable electrophoretic display (e-ink) cells, and/or other adjustable components instead of using an array of individually adjustable light-emitting diodes  88  on substrate  86  or in addition to using an array of individually adjustable light-emitting diodes  88 . 
       FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional side view of a backlit display system for device  10 . System  108  of  FIG. 16  may be mounted under a display cover layer with curved edges. System  108  of includes a backlight unit formed from light-emitting diodes  88  on substrate  110  in region  112 . The light-emitting diodes  88  in region  112  provide backlight illumination that passes through an array of pixels (pixel array  114 ). Pixel array  114  may be a liquid crystal display pixel array or other pixel array that has pixels  24  for displaying images for the user. Display cover layer  46  may overlap pixel array  114  on front side F of device  10 . 
     Substrate  110  may be a rigid flex printed circuit. The central portion of substrate  110  in region  112  may be formed from rigid printed circuit material (e.g., fiberglass-filled epoxy or other rigid printed circuit substrate material). In edge region  116  of device  10 , a flexible printed circuit layer of substrate  110  such as flexible substrate portion  110 ′ of substrate  110  may protrude from the rigid portion of substrate  110  in region  112 . The flexible printed circuit layer may be formed from a flexible printed circuit substrate material such as a flexible layer of polyimide or other sheet of flexible polymer. Light-emitting diodes  88  on flexible substrate portion  110 ′ may form edge illuminator  20 . 
     If desired, the printed circuit formed from substrate  110  and flexible substrate portion  110 ′ may be used for routing signals to pixel array  114 . For example, data lines, power lines, control signal paths, and/or other signal paths may pass under the light-emitting diodes  88  in region  112  that are being used to provide backlight illumination for the pixels of pixel array  114 . Along one or more of the edges of pixel array  114  and/or using vias that protrude into the substrate of pixel array  114  from below, these signal paths may be coupled to the signal paths of pixel array  114  to provide pixel array  114  with image data, to gather touch data from touch sensors in array  114  and/or that overlap array  114 , etc. 
       FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional side view of device  10  in an illustrative configuration in which housing  40  includes a fabric portion such as portion  40 FB. Portion  40 FB may be, for example, a woven fabric, knit fabric, or braided fabric. Portion  40 FB may be formed from one or more layers of fabric having intertwined strands  120 . Strands  120  may be bare metal wires, may have metal portions (e.g., metal cores and/or metal coatings) and dielectric portions (dielectric cores and/or coatings), may be formed from monofilaments and/or threads with multiple monofilaments, and/or may be other suitable strands with conductive materials for forming signal paths. These signal paths and/or metal traces on fabric  40 FB and/or on a flexible printed circuit or other substrate may be used in providing signals to light-emitting diodes  88 . In some configurations, light-emitting diodes  88  may be coupled to conductive strands in fabric  40 FB and may be embedded within fabric  40 FB. 
     If desired, fabric  40 FB may have openings (perforations or other spaces between strands) that allow light from light-emitting diodes  88  to pass through fabric  40 FB (e.g., in an arrangement in which fabric  40 FB overlaps a printed circuit or other substrate on which light-emitting diodes  88  have been mounted.). By providing individually adjustable light-emitting diodes  88  under fabric  40 FB, light-emitting diodes  88  form an edge illuminator  20  for device  10  and allow text, icons, and other content may be displayed on sidewall W of device  10 . If desired, light for fabric  40 FB (and edge illuminator  20  of  FIG. 17 ) may be provided using an illuminated light guide or other light source. The use of an array of light-emitting diodes  88  in the arrangement of  FIG. 17  is illustrative. 
       FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional side view of an edge portion of device  10  in an illustrative configuration in which fabric  40 FB is incorporated into sidewall W of device  10 . In the example of  FIG. 18 , fabric  40 FB overlaps one or more light-emitting diodes  88  in edge illuminator  20 . Fabric  40 FB of  FIG. 18  may be incorporated into a sidewall of device  10 . Device  10  may also include display cover layer  46  and pixels  24 . If desired, display cover layer  46  and pixels  24  may be omitted (e.g., fabric  40 FB and light-emitting didoes  88  may be used in forming sidewalls and/or rear walls or other portions of a removable cover for device  10  rather than a portion of device  10 ). 
     In the example of  FIG. 19 , device  10  is resting on support surface  128  of support structure  130 . Support structure  130  may be a table or other external object that supports device  10 . Pixels  24  may be overlapped by display cover layer  46 . Display cover layer  46  or transparent portions of housing  40  on sidewall W of device  10  may allow light  124  from light-emitting diodes  88  to be projected onto surface  128  to form projected light  126 . If desired, light from light-emitting diodes  88  may pass through member  122  (e.g., a transparent member formed from polymer with light-scattering structures such as embedded light-scattering particles or texture that allow member  122  to serve as a diffuser). In this type of arrangement, projected light  126  may have a diffuse glowing appearance. In general, any suitable light emitted by light-emitting diodes  88  in edge illuminator  20  may be projected onto nearby external surfaces. 
       FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative edge portion of device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 20 , edge portion  132  of display cover layer  46  may be modified (e.g., to create texture or to incorporate light-scattering particles to create haze, etc.). Light-emitting diodes  88  of edge illuminator  20  may be mounted on substrate  86  to create illumination for the edge portions of device  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 20 , light-emitting diodes  88  may be mounted on substrate  86  with a pitch that varies as a function of distance X away from pixels  24  (and therefore as a function of distance from the periphery of device  10 ). For example, near to pixels  24  (and far from the outer edge of device  10 ), adjacent light-emitting diodes  88  may be separated by a distance (light-emitting-diode-center-to-light-emitting-diode-center spacing) DL, whereas far from pixels  24  (and near the outermost peripheral edge of device  10 ), adjacent light-emitting diodes  88  may be separated by a distance DB that is different than DL. The diode spacing for diodes  88  may, for example, increase or decrease linearly, increase or decrease in a stepwise fashion, increase or decrease exponentially, may fluctuate, and/or may vary in accordance with any other continuously or discretely varying function. 
     Other attributes of the components and structures in edge illuminator  20  may also be varied as a function of distance X. For example, opaque masking material on the inner surface of layer  46  may have openings that vary in density as a function of distance X, may have a thickness that varies as a function of distance X, may have a transparency that varies as a function of distance X, and/or may have other attributes that vary as a function of distance. The profile shape, opacity, haze, and/or other attributes of display cover layer  46  may vary as a function of distance X, the color, pitch, light-output capabilities and/or other attributes of light-emitting diodes  88  may vary as a function of distance X, the attributes of a photoluminescent material (e.g. a phosphor) that covers some or all of light-emitting diodes  88  may be varied as a function of distance X, the haze, opacity, color, thickness, and/or other attributes of and adhesive layer that is interposed between diodes  88  and overlapping structures (display cover layer  46  and/or housing  40 ) may be varied as a function of distance X, and/or other attributes of the components and structures of edge illuminator  20  may be varied as a function of distance X (and therefore as a function of distance from the outer edge of device  10 ). 
       FIG. 21  is a top view of device  10  in an illustrative configuration in which the center of device  10  has an array of pixels  24  to form display  14  and in which edge illuminator  20  surrounds the periphery of pixels  24 . Edge illuminator  20  may have one or more light-emitting diodes  88  and these components may be arranged with a different pattern pitch (e.g., a coarser pitch) than pixels  24 . If desired, light-emitting diodes  88  may be formed on flexible elastomeric substrates or other substrates that allow edge illuminator  20  to accommodate compound curvature in the surfaces of display cover layer  46  at the corners of device  10  such as corner CR. 
     As shown in  FIG. 22 , edge illuminator  20  may, if desired, use light-emitting diodes  88  or cells formed from electrophoretic display structures and/or other adjustable components to form visual content  134 . Content  134  may include diffuse light, patterns of diffuse light, text, icons, still and/or moving images, images with a lower or higher resolution than the images displayed by pixels  24  in display  14 , and/or other content. Diffuse light and/or other lower-resolution content may be displayed in coordination with the content on pixels  24  of display  14 . For example, in an example in which edge illuminator  20  has a single solid color the extends in an unbroken ring around display  14 , this color may be selected to match the average color of the image on display  14 , may be selected to match the average intensity of the image on display  14 , may have a different color and/or intensity that coordinates with the attributes of the image on display  14 , and/or may have a fixed intensity and/or color that is displayed whenever content is displayed on display  14 . In arrangements in which edge illuminator  20  has multiple individually adjustable areas, these areas may be adjusted to match the intensity and/or color of nearby portions of the image on display  14  and/or may be adjusted to create text, icons, and/or other patterns of visual content. Edge illuminator  20  may also produce illumination that is indicative of incoming messages, expiration of timers (alarms), and/or other events that may or may not be associated with content on display  14 . 
       FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional side view of device  10  in an illustrative configuration in which device  10  has a Fresnel lens. Display  14  of device  10  may have an array of pixels  24  formed from liquid crystal display module  138  and may receive backlight illumination from backlight  140 . Backlight  140  may have an array of light-emitting diodes  142  that are mounted on printed circuit  144 . In area  150  of device  10 , pixels  24  in display module  138  are adjusted to display images for display  14  and these images are backlit by light-emitting diodes  142  in backlight  140 . Edge portion  138 I of display module  138  does not contain pixels  24 , but is sufficiently transparent to allow some of the backlight emitted by light-emitting diodes  142  to be emitted through display cover layer  46 . To help obscure the border between pixels  24  in module  138  and inactive area  138 I, Fresnel lens structures  152  may overlap pixels  24  adjacent to this border and may overlap inactive area  138 I. If desired, Fresnel lens structures  152  may be formed on the underside of display cover layer  46  (e.g., as a separate layer of optical structures or as an integral portion of display cover layer  46 ). During operation, diffuse light (e.g., light that has passed through Fresnel lens structures  152 ) may illuminate edge region  154  of display cover layer  46  and the adjacent edge of region  150 . 
       FIG. 24  is a perspective view of an illustrative corner portion of device  10  showing how the surface of corner CR may have 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. Edge illuminator  20  may illuminate the surface of corner CR and adjacent curved surfaces running along the sides of device  10 . For example, edge illuminator  20  may illuminate sidewall portion W 1  and sidewall portion W 2 . Sidewall portion W 1  may, if desired, have a curved cross-sectional profile and may curve around axis  160 . Sidewall portion W 2  may have a curved cross-sectional profile that curves about axis  162 . These sidewall surfaces may lie flush with an adjacent surface with compound curvature at corner CR. Edge illuminator  20  may supply light to the edge portions of device  10  surrounding display  14  including four sidewalls such as sidewalls W 1  and W 2  and four corners such as corner CR. 
       FIG. 25  is a top view of structures that may be used in forming device  10  of  FIG. 24 . Central display structure  164  may be a display such as a display having an array of light-emitting diodes or other pixels  24  (e.g., a flexible display such as an organic light-emitting diode display or a liquid crystal display). Flexible edge illuminator layer  166  may be formed from a flexible substrate (e.g., an elastomeric substrate and/or other flexible substrate layer such as a layer of polyimide) and may be patterned in a ring-shaped strip with tabs and corner protrusions that can be curved downward to cover sidewalls such as sidewalls W 1  and W 2  of  FIG. 24  and curved corner portions CR of  FIG. 24 . Light-emitting diodes  88  (e.g., thin-film organic light-emitting diodes and/or light-emitting diodes formed from crystalline semiconductor dies) may be formed on layer  166  to provide illumination for edge illuminator  120  when layer  166  is bent into a desired shape (e.g., a shape that allows layer  166  to cover the sidewalls and corners of  FIG. 24 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 26 , light-emitting devices  170  in edge illuminator  120  may be formed from clusters of light-emitting diodes  88 . Each light-emitting device  170  may, for example, include a red light-emitting diode  88 , a green light-emitting diode  88 , and a blue light-emitting diode  88 . Pixels  24  in the array of pixels formed in display  14  may have a smaller pixel-to-pixel spacing than light-emitting devices  170 . There may, for example, be at least 200 or at least 300 pixels per inch in the array of pixels  24  of display  14 , whereas there may be fewer than 100 pixels (devices) per inch, fewer than 30 pixels per inch, fewer than 10 pixels per inch, at least 1 pixel per inch, or at least 5 pixels per inch in edge illuminator  120  (as an example). 
       FIG. 27  is a cross-sectional side view of device  10  in an illustrative configuration in which photoluminescent material  182  overlaps light-emitting diodes  88  in edge illuminator  20 . Photoluminescent material  182  may be, for example, a phosphor. Light-emitting diodes  88  may be configured to emit light of a given color (e.g. blue light) in one or more directions (up, down, and/or sideways). Photoluminescent material  182  may be configured to luminesce (e.g., to emit light of another color such as white light) in response to being illuminated with the light of the given color. A layer of photoluminescent material  182  may cover each of light-emitting diodes  88  or separate portions of material  182  may cover respective light-emitting diodes  88  as shown in  FIG. 27 . Light-emitting diodes  88  may be mounted to a transparent substrate layer such as substrate  176  and may be coupled to conductive traces  178  on substrate  176 . Substrate  176  may be, for example, a clear polymer layer and traces  178  may be transparent conductive traces such as indium tin oxide traces formed on an inner surface of substrate  176 . If desired, transparent conductive traces  180  (e.g., indium tin oxide traces) may also be formed on an opposing outer surface of substrate  176 , facing display cover layer  46 . Traces  180  may, for example, be capacitive touch sensor electrodes. Optically clear adhesive  174  may be used to couple substrate  176  and light-emitting diodes  88  to the inner surface of display cover layer  46 . 
     In another illustrative configuration, transparent conductive traces such as traces  184  of  FIG. 28  may be formed directly on inner surface  186  of display cover layer  46  (or on a coating on inner surface  186 ). Light-emitting diodes  88  may then be mounted to traces  184 . In arrangements in which light-emitting diodes  88  are coupled to metal traces in device  10 , solder, conductive adhesive, and/or other conductive material may be used in forming electrical and mechanical joints between contacts on light-emitting diodes  88  and associated contacts formed from the metal traces. As shown in  FIG. 28 , photoluminescent material  182  may be formed over light-emitting diodes  88 , if desired. 
       FIG. 29  is a perspective view of edge illuminator  20  in an illustrative configuration in which openings have been formed in a substrate for edge illuminator  20 . As shown in  FIG. 29 , edge illuminator  20  may have a substrate such as substrate  86 . Substrate  86  may be formed from a flexible polymer (e.g., a flexible sheet of polyimide or other flexible polymer layer, a substrate material such as silicone or other elastomeric polymer, a mesh-shaped substrate, etc.). Light-emitting diodes  88  may be mounted to metal traces on substrate  86 . Optional light-diffusing polymer may cover layer  86 , if desired. A metal bracket or other support structure  194  may support light-emitting diodes  88  in a desired position for emitting light for edge illuminator  20 . For example, support structure  194  may hold light-emitting diodes  88  in a location aligned with notch N of  FIG. 2  (as an example). To accommodate components in device  10 , substrate  86  may have openings such as openings  190  and  190 ′. Openings  190  may form optical component window for optical components that are aligned with openings  190  such as an ambient light sensor, an infrared proximity sensor, a visible light camera, an infrared camera, a flood illumination light-emitting diode (e.g., an infrared light-emitting diode), an array of laser-diodes (e.g., infrared vertical cavity surface emitting diodes for emitting an array of light beams in a structured light sensor that also includes the infrared camera), and/or other optical components. Opening  190 ′ may be aligned with an internal component in device  10  such as a speaker. If desired, substrate  86  may have a rear bent portion such as portion  86 B that carries signal paths for coupling light-emitting diodes  88  to control circuitry  16  located elsewhere in device  10 . Light-emitting diodes  88  may be mounted in an outwardly-facing orientation on portion  86 B. 
     In the example of  FIG. 30 , display  14  includes a substrate such as substrate  194 . Substrate  194  may include a layer of polyimide or other flexible polymer and thin-film layers (dielectric thin films, thin-film layers of metal and/or semiconductor, encapsulant, etc.). The thin-film layers may form thin-film light-emitting diodes  196  (e.g., organic light-emitting diodes) and thin-film transistors  198  for pixel circuitry in each pixel  24 . In region  200  of display  14 , pixels  24  display an image for a user of device  10 . Along peripheral edge portions of substrate  194 , traces  204  in substrate  194  may route signals (data, power, etc.) for pixels  24 . Some metal traces in this portion such as traces  202  may form solder pads or other surface contacts that supply signals to light-emitting diodes  88  that are mounted on the upper surface of substrate  194 . In this way, light-emitting diodes  88  for edge illuminator  20  (e.g., diodes formed from crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies) may be supported by the same substrate (substrate  194 ) that is used in forming the array of pixels  24  for display  14 . 
       FIG. 31  is a cross-sectional side view of display  14  in an illustrative configuration in which edge illuminator  20  is formed from light-emitting diodes  88  that are mounted to different respective layers  206  in printed circuit  208  (e.g., a rigid printed circuit board formed from a rigid printed circuit board substrate material such as fiberglass-filled epoxy). Layers  206  may be laminated to each other with adhesive (as an example) and may have different lengths so that light-emitting diodes  88  are mounted at different heights within edge illuminator  20  (e.g., so that illuminator  20  can be provided with a curved profile that matches the curved inner surface profile of display cover layer  46 , etc.). Display  14  may be formed from an array of pixels  24  mounted on an upper surface of printed circuit  208 . Pixels  24  may, for example, be formed in a flexible organic light-emitting diode display layer that is attached to the upper surface of printed circuit  208  using a layer of adhesive. 
     If desired, printed circuit  208  may be locally thinned to provide space within device  10  for internal device components  44 , as shown in  FIG. 32 . In the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 32 , edge portion  210  of printed circuit  208  is thicker than center portion  212  of printed circuit  208 . This allows components  44  to be mounted under portion  212 . Light-emitting diodes  88  or other edge illuminator components may be mounted on the upper surface of edge portion  210  of printed circuit  208  to form edge illuminator  20 . Light-emitting diode pixels such as organic light-emitting diode pixels or other pixels  24  may be attached to the upper surface of printed circuit  208  in region  212  to form display  14 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 33 , a diffuser such as diffuser  214  may overlap adjacent portions of printed circuit  86  and light-emitting diodes  88  in edge illuminator  20  and the pixels in display  14 . Diffuser  214  may be formed from a layer of polymer with embedded light-scattering particles. The light-scattering particles may be formed from a metal oxide or other inorganic dielectric material and/or other materials with a refractive index that differs from the refractive index of the polymer in the layer of polymer. Display  14  may have an array of pixels  24  that display an image for a user of device  10 . Some pixels along the edge of pixels  24  such as edge pixels  24 ′ may be overlapped by diffuser  214 . Adjacent light-emitting diodes in edge illuminator  20  such as light-emitting diodes  88 ′ may also be overlapped by diffuser  214 . As light is emitted from pixels  24 ′ and light-emitting diodes  88 ′, this light will be diffused by diffuser  214 , thereby helping to obscure the boundary between edge illuminator  20  and display  14 . If desired diffuser  214  may be formed by coating pixels  24 ′ and light-emitting diodes  88 ′ with a polymer coating that contains light-emitting particles and/or that has a light diffusing texture. 
     In the illustrative example of  FIG. 34 , light-emitting diodes  88  in edge illuminator  20  have a density that varies as a function of lateral distance away from pixels  24  (and therefore as a function of distance from the peripheral edge of device  10 ). Some of the light-emitting diodes of edge illuminator  20  such as light-emitting diodes  88 ″ may be overlapped by pixels  24  of display  14 . Pixels  24  may contain spaces between metal lines and other opaque structures that allow pixels  24  to be at least partly transparent to light emitted from light-emitting diodes  88 ″. Accordingly, light from light-emitting diodes  88 ″ may blend with light emitted from pixels  24  along the edge of display  14  during operation. The density of light-emitting diodes  88  (number of diodes per unit area) may also be adjusted (increased or decreased) as a function of distance lateral distance. In this way, the boundary between the light-emitting diodes of edge illuminator  20  and the light-emitting diodes or other components of pixels  24  may be visually obscured and/or the optical attributes of edge illuminator  20  may be adjusted. 
     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: 20190625
Publication Date: 20211102
Grant Date: 20211102
Priority Date: 20180914
Inventors: WANG, PAUL X.
MATHEW, DINESH C.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G02F1/1336", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133331", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/13332", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09F9/35", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09F9/33", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133388", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y02E10/549", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G3/03", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G2380/02", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G3/3208", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133603", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09F9/301", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133608", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133608", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G2380/02", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L51/5275", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133603", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L2251/5338", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L27/3232", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L27/3244", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L51/0097", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L51/5268", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09F9/301", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G3/03", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G3/3208", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L27/3234", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01L27/323", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10K77/111", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10K2102/311", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10K50/858", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10K59/65", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10K59/50", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10K59/40", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10K59/12", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10K50/854", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10K59/65", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10K59/877", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H10K59/12", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 78331404