PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11416074-B1
Application Number: US-201916680902-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Electronic devices having flexible light guides

Abstract:
An electronic device such as a wearable device may have a light guide system. The light guide system may have one or more light guide members. The light guide members may be formed from transparent elastomeric material such as silicone or other flexible material. Light sources such as light-emitting diodes and/or lasers may be used to supply light to the light guide members. The light guide members may have light-scattering structures that are configured to scatter light out of the light guide members at one or more locations along the lengths of the light guide members. Optical isolation layers such as coatings of white polymer or other flexible structures may be used to help confine light within the light guide members. A detector may be coupled to a light guide to detect light guide deformation due to contact with an external object.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device, comprising:
 a flexible housing comprising fabric; 
 a light source in the flexible housing; 
 control circuitry that is configured to control the light source; 
 a flexible light guide member in the housing that has a portion adjacent to the light source that is configured to receive light from the light source; 
 an optical isolation structure on the flexible member that is configured to help confine the light from the light source in the flexible light guide member; and 
 light-scattering structures on the flexible light guide member that are configured to couple the light out of the light guide member and through openings in the fabric. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device defined in claim  1  wherein the flexible housing is configured to be worn on a body of a user, wherein the flexible housing has a portion through which the light that is coupled out of the light guide member passes, wherein the optical isolation structure comprises a coating selected from the group consisting of: a white polymer coating, a metal coating, and a dielectric stack coating, the electronic device further comprising a main housing portion coupled to the flexible housing and a display that is coupled to the main housing portion. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the flexible housing is configured to form a strap. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device defined in  claim 3  wherein the flexible light guide member has an elongated shape with a length and wherein the light-scattering structures are configured to form a plurality of light-emission regions at different respective locations along the length. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the light source comprises a light-emitting diode that emits light into the flexible light guide member and wherein the light that is emitted into the flexible light guide member from the light-emitting diode is coupled out of the flexible light guide member at first and second respective non-contiguous light-emission regions using respective first and second non-contiguous portions of the light-scattering structures. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  further comprising a light detector that is configured to receive light from the flexible light guide member. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  further comprising:
 an additional flexible light guide member that is coupled to the flexible light guide member; and 
 an additional light source that is configured to emit light into the additional flexible light guide member. 
 
     
     
       8. The electronic device defined in  claim 7  wherein the light source is configured to emit light of a first color and wherein the additional light source is configured to emit light of a second color that is different than the first color. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device defined in claim  7  wherein the additional flexible light guide member has additional light scattering structures that are configured to scatter light out of the additional light guide member and through the flexible light guide member. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device defined in  claim 9  wherein the optical isolation structure comprises a layer that is interposed between the flexible light guide member and the additional flexible light guide member. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device defined in  claim 10  wherein the flexible light guide member and the additional flexible light guide member comprise clear elastomeric polymer. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device defined in  claim 10  wherein the layer comprises flexible white polymer. 
     
     
       13. A wearable electronic device, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a flexible light guide member in the housing, wherein the flexible light guide member is configured to be deformed in response to contact between an external object and the housing; 
 a light source configured to emit light that is guided within the flexible light guide member; 
 a light detector configured to measure the light that is guided within the flexible light guide member; and 
 control circuitry configured to use measurements of the light that is guided within the flexible light guide member to detect the contact between the external object and the housing. 
 
     
     
       14. The wearable electronic device defined in  claim 13  wherein the flexible light guide member has first and second portions separated by cavities. 
     
     
       15. The wearable electronic device defined in  claim 13  wherein the housing is configured to be worn on a body part of a user. 
     
     
       16. The wearable electronic device defined in  claim 13  wherein the housing comprises fabric. 
     
     
       17. The wearable electronic device defined in  claim 13  wherein the housing is configured to form a glove with fingers and wherein the flexible light guide member extends along one of the fingers. 
     
     
       18. An electronic device, comprising:
 a wearable housing; 
 first and second flexible polymer light guide members in the wearable housing having respective first and second light-scattering structures;
 a flexible optical isolation layer that is coupled between a surface of the first flexible polymer light guide member and a surface of the second flexible polymer light guide member and that optically isolates the first and second flexible polymer light guide members; 
 
 a first light source configured to emit first light into the first flexible polymer light guide member that is scattered out of the first flexible polymer light guide member by the first light-scattering structures; and 
 a second light source configured to emit second light into the second flexible polymer light guide member that is scattered out of the second flexible polymer light guide member by the second light-scattering structures. 
 
     
     
       19. The electronic device defined in claim  18  wherein the second light-scattering structures are configured to scatter the second light out of the second flexible polymer light guide member and through the first flexible polymer light guide member. 
     
     
       20. The electronic device defined in  claim 18  further comprising a light detector coupled to the first polymer light guide member.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/791,520, filed Jan. 11, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This relates generally to electronic devices, and, more particularly, to electronic devices with optical components. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic devices may include devices for providing a user with output and devices for gathering input from a user. Some electronic devices may have flexible structures. 
     It may be difficult to provide electronic devices with desired functionality. For example, electrical components for providing an electronic device with desired functionality may be too bulky or unattractive to incorporate into the electronic device. In some situations, such as when electronic devices have flexible structures, components that might be used to provide desired functionality are rigid and tend to interfere with device operation. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device such as a wearable device may have a light guide structure. The light guide structure may be formed within a housing such as a fabric housing or other flexible housing. The light guide structure may have one or more light guide members. The light guide members may be formed from transparent elastomeric material such as silicone or other flexible material. This allows the light guide structure to bend and otherwise change shape to accommodate device movement. 
     Light sources such as light-emitting diodes and/or lasers may be used to supply light to the light guide members. The light may travel within the light guide members. For example, the light guide members may have elongated strip shapes and the light may travel along the lengths of the light guide members in accordance with the principal of total internal reflection. 
     The light guide members may have light-scattering structures that are configured to scatter light out of the light guide members at one or more locations along the lengths of the light guide members. The emitted light may serve as visual output for a user of the electronic device. Optical isolation layers such as coatings of white polymer or other flexible structures may be used to help confine light to the light guide members. 
     In some configurations, a detector may be coupled to the end of each light guide member. The detector may be used to detect light guide deformation due to contact with an external object. Control circuitry within the electronic device may use light measurements with the detector to sense touch events. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is side view of an illustrative electronic device with a flexible light guide in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative light guide structure in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of the light guide structure of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of an illustrative light guide with regions containing non-contiguous light-scattering structures in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative light guide in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative light guide system having multiple parallel light guides that are coupled to each other in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of an illustrative wearable item such as a face mask or other head-mounted device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the illustrative device of  FIG. 8  in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an illustrative wrist watch with a flexible light guide in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative wrist band with a flexible light guide in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of an illustrative optical sensor with a light guide for sensing touch input in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative optical sensor with a light guide having collapsible structures for sensing touch input in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of an illustrative wearable item such as a glove with a flexible light guide structure in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An electronic device may have flexible transparent structures formed from flexible materials such as polymer. The material that forms the flexible transparent structures may be an elastomeric polymer material such as silicone, may be a flexible transparent polymer such as flexible acrylic, may be other flexible polymer material, or may be a flexible transparent such as flexible glass or other non-polymeric material. 
     The flexible transparent structures may form light guides. Light from light sources such as light-emitting diodes and/or lasers may be guided along the light guides. Portions of the light guides may be provided with light-scattering structures that help couple light out of the light guides. In this way, a light guide system may be used to emit light from desired locations on the surface of an electronic device. 
     Light guide systems formed from flexible light guides may also be configured to sense input such as touch input (e.g., pressure from a user&#39;s finger or other external object). Sensors may, for example, include devices for detecting light that is passing through a light guide in a system where the amount of light passing through the light guide is indicative of the amount of pressure applied to the light guide. The light that is detected may be visible light and/or may be non-visible light such as infrared light and/or ultraviolet light. 
     Light guide systems with one or more flexible light guides may be incorporated into devices with housing structures formed from flexible materials. For example, devices with housing structures that include fabric, flexible polymer, and/or other flexible materials may incorporate light guide structures. These devices may include wearable devices such as wristwatches, head-mounted devices, wrist bands, gloves and/or other items worn on a user&#39;s body (e.g., a user&#39;s wrist, head, arm, or other body part). 
     An illustrative electronic device of the type that may include a flexible light guide system is shown in  FIG. 1 . Device  10  may be a laptop computer, a computer monitor containing an embedded computer, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a cellular telephone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device, a smaller device such as a wristwatch device, a wristband device, a pendant device, a headphone or earpiece device, a head-mounted device such as glasses, goggles, a helmet, 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, an embedded system such as a system in which equipment is mounted in a kiosk, in an automobile, airplane, or other vehicle, a removable external case for electronic equipment, an accessory such as a remote control, computer mouse, track pad, wireless or wired keyboard, or other accessory, and/or equipment that implements the functionality of two or more of these devices. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , device may have a housing such as housing  12 . Housing  12  may be formed from materials such as polymer, glass, metal, ceramic, fabric, foam, wood, other materials, and/or combinations of these materials. Housing  12  may separate interior region (interior)  26  from exterior region (exterior)  28 . Printed circuits, integrated circuits, mechanical structures, and other components may be located within the enclosure formed by housing  12 . 
     Device  10  may include a light guide system such as light guide system  20 . System  20  may include light guide structure  14  and light source  16 . During operation, light source  16  may emit light into light guide structure  14 . Light guide structure  14  includes one or more light guides that guide the emitted light (e.g., light may be guided within structure  14  in accordance with the principal of total internal reflection). 
     One or more portions of structure  14  such as portions  14 P may include light-scattering structures that scatter the light that is passing through the light guide structure out of the light guide structure as illustrated by outwardly scattered emitted light  18 . Light such as light  18  that is emitted from structure  14  may be emitted in one or more directions. In the example of  FIG. 1 , light  18  is being emitted in two opposite directions (e.g., from opposing upper and lower surface of light guide structure  14 ). Other configurations may be used, if desired. For example, light guide system  20  may be configured to emit light  18  only in a single outward direction. 
     Some or all of housing  12  may be transparent. For example, portions of housing  12  that overlap portions  14 P may be transparent and may form optical windows that allow light  18  to pass from interior  26  to exterior  28 . Transparent regions of housing  12  may be formed from transparent polymer, glass, ceramic, or other materials (with or without dye, pigment, or other colorant and with or without embedded light scattering features, and/or light-scattering surface roughness structures). Housing  12  may also contain portions formed from fabric. The fabric may be sufficiently transparent to allow light  18  to pass from interior  26  to exterior  28 . For example, housing  12  may have fabric with perforations or with a loose weave, loose knit, or other construction that is sufficiently porous to allow light to pass through the fabric (e.g., to allow light to pass between the intertwined strands of material in the fabric). Fabric may also include transparent strands of polymer, glass, or other material that allows light to pass. 
     If desired, light guide system  20  may include one or more light detectors such as light detector  24 . Light detector  24  may include one or more photodetectors such as photodiodes. Light detector  24  may be optically coupled to light guide structure  14  and may be used to measure light that is traveling through light guide structure  14  from light source  16  and/or may be used to measure light that has been received into light guide structure  14  from exterior  28  (e.g., ambient light that has passed into light guide structure  14  through portions  14 P or other portions of light guide structure  14 ). 
     Light guide structure  14  may include one or more light guides of any suitable shape (e.g., elongated transparent members forming thick slabs or thin strip-shaped members, fibers, tapered blocks, conical shapes, and/or other shapes or combinations of these shapes). The cross-sectional shape of light guide structure  14  (e.g., the cross-sectional shape of an optical fiber, strip-shaped sheet of polymer, or other elongated waveguide) may be rectangular, circular, oval, square, may have other cross-sectional shapes with curved and/or straight edges, or may have other suitable shapes. 
     A schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic device of the type that may include light guide system  20  is shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , device  10  may include control circuitry  30 , communications circuitry  32 , and input-output devices  34 . 
     Control circuitry  30  may include storage and processing circuitry for supporting the operation of device  10 . The storage and processing circuitry may include storage such as nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Processing circuitry in control circuitry  30  may be used to gather input from sensors and other input devices and may be used to control output devices. The processing circuitry may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processors and other wireless communications circuits, power management units, audio chips, application specific integrated circuits, etc. 
     To support communications between device  10  and external electronic equipment, control circuitry  30  may communicate using communications circuitry  32 . Communications circuitry  32  may include antennas, radio-frequency transceiver circuitry, and other wireless communications circuitry and/or wired communications circuitry. Circuitry  32 , which may sometimes be referred to as control circuitry and/or control and communications circuitry, may, for example, support wireless communications using wireless local area network links, near-field communications links, cellular telephone links, millimeter wave links, and/or other wireless communications paths. 
     Input-output devices  34  may be used in gathering user input, in gathering information on the environment surrounding the user, and/or in providing a user with output. Devices  34  may include sensors  36 . Sensors  36  may include force sensors (e.g., strain gauges, capacitive force sensors, resistive force sensors, etc.), audio sensors such as microphones, capacitive touch sensors, capacitive proximity sensors, other touch sensors, ultrasonic 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), muscle activity sensors (EMG) and other biometric sensors, radio-frequency sensors (e.g., radar and other ranging and positioning sensors), humidity sensors, moisture sensors, and/or other sensors. 
     Input-output devices  34  may include optical components such as light-emitting diodes (e.g., for camera flash or other blanket illumination, etc.), lasers such as vertical cavity surface emitting lasers and other laser diodes, laser components that emit multiple parallel laser beams (e.g., for three-dimensional sensing), lamps, and light sensing components such as photodetectors and digital image sensors. For example, sensors  36  in devices  34  may include depth sensors (e.g., structured light sensors and/or depth sensors based on stereo imaging devices that can optically sense three-dimensional shapes), optical sensors such as self-mixing sensors and light detection and ranging (lidar) sensors that gather time-of-flight measurements and/or other measurements to determine distance between the sensor and an external object and/or that can determine relative velocity, monochromatic and/or color ambient light sensors that can measure ambient light levels, proximity sensors based on light (e.g., optical proximity sensors that include light sources such as infrared light-emitting diodes and/or lasers and corresponding light detectors such as infrared photodetectors that can detect when external objects are within a predetermined distance), optical sensors such as visual odometry sensors that gather position and/or orientation information using images gathered with digital image sensors in cameras, gaze tracking sensors, visible light and/or infrared cameras having digital image sensors configured to gather image data, optical sensors for measuring ultraviolet light, and/or other optical sensor components (e.g., light sensitive devices and, if desired, light sources), visible-light and/or infrared photodetectors coupled to light guides (see, e.g., light detector  24  of  FIG. 1 ), associated light emitters (see, e.g., light source  16  of  FIG. 1 ), and/or other optical components (one or more light-emitting devices, one or more light-detecting devices, etc.). These optical components may operate at any suitable wavelengths of light (e.g., visible, infrared, and/or ultraviolet). 
     Input-output devices  34  may have light-based output devices (see, e.g., light-based output devices  38 ) that are used to provide visual output to a user. Light-based output devices  38  may include one or more light-emitting diodes, one or more lasers, lamps, electroluminescent devices, and/or other light emitting components. If desired, light-based output devices  38  may include one or more pixels arrays. The pixel arrays may be used to form one or more displays. Displays in device  10  may be organic light-emitting diode displays, displays based on arrays of light-emitting diodes formed from crystalline semiconductor dies, liquid crystal displays, electrophoretic displays, microelectromechanical systems (MEMs) displays such as displays with arrays of moving mirrors, liquid-crystal-on-silicon displays, and/or other displays. Displays may have arrays of thousands of pixels or more to display images for a user. Status indicator lights, illuminated icons (e.g., backlight symbols associated with power indicators, battery charge indicators, wireless signal strength indicators, notification icons, etc.) may each have only a single light emitter or may have relatively small numbers of light emitters. For example, a battery charge status indicator light or other status indicator may have five independently controlled light-emitting diode each of which is used to illuminate a respective bar of a different length. Other light-based output devices may be used in device  10 , if desired. In some arrangements, light-based output devices  38  may be associated with light guide structure  14 . For example, icons and other patterned areas of housing  12  may be backlit by light  18  that is being emitted by overlapped portions  14 P of light guide structure  14  (e.g., light guide structure  14  and associated light emitters in light source  16  may be used to form a status indicator, or other light-based output device  38 ). 
     If desired, input-output devices  34  may include other devices  40 . Devices  40  may include speakers and other audio output devices, electromagnets, permanent magnets, structures formed from magnetic material (e.g., iron bars or other ferromagnetic members that are attracted to magnets such as electromagnets and/or permanent magnets), batteries, etc. Devices  40  may also include power transmitting and/or receiving circuits configured to transmit and/or receive wired and/or wireless power signals. Devices  40  may include buttons, rotating buttons, push buttons, joysticks, keys such as alphanumeric keys in a keyboard or keypad, microphones for gathering voice commands, touch sensor input devices, accelerometers for gathering user input gestures such as tap gestures, and/or other devices for gathering user input. Devices  40  may also include output components such as haptic output devices and other output components (e.g., electromagnetic actuators or other actuators that can vibrate to provide a user with a haptic alert and/or haptic feedback associated with operation of a touch sensor or other input devices). 
     A cross-sectional side view of an illustrative light guide system is shown in  FIG. 3A . As shown in  FIG. 3A , light guide system  20  includes light guide structure  14 . Light guide structure  14  may include a flexible light guide member such as light guide member  50 . Member  50  may be an elongated flexible transparent member formed from a clear material such as polymer, glass, or other transparent material. As an example, member  50  may be formed from a transparent elastomeric polymer such as silicone or other flexible polymer. The material used to form member  50  may, if desired, have a modulus of elasticity (Young&#39;s modulus) of less than 5 MPa, less than 1 MPa, more than 0.1 MPa, or other suitable value. Member  50  may have low haze (e.g., to enhance light transmission) and/or may have one or more regions of higher haze (e.g., so that one or more portions of member  50  may diffuse light). Dye, pigment, and/or other colorant may be incorporated into one or more portions of member  50 , if desired. 
     Light source  16  may be optically coupled to member  50 . For example, light source  16  may include one or more light-emitting devices (e.g., visible and/or infrared light-emitting diodes, lasers, etc.) that are coupled to member  50  by embedding light source  16  in member  50  (e.g., by molding the polymer material of member  50  over light source  16 ), by pressing light source  16  against an exposed edge of member  50 , by mounting an output surface of light source  16  adjacent to an opposing input surface of member  50 , or by otherwise configuring structure  14  so that light that is emitted from light source  16  such as light  56  is emitted into the interior of member  50 . Light  56  in member  50  may travel along the length of member  50  as shown in  FIG. 3A . For example, member  50  may form a light guide (waveguide) that guides light in accordance with the principal of total internal reflection. Light may also be confined using metallic coatings and other light guide isolation structures. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , some or all of the surface of member  50  may be coated with layers (coatings) such as illustrative layer  52  to help confine light within member  50 .  FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional side view of structure  14  of  FIG. 3A  taken along line  64  and viewed in direction  62  of  FIG. 3A . As shown in  FIG. 3A , layer  52  may be located on the lower surface of member  50  (e.g., in an arrangement in which member  50  has a rectangular cross section). Coating materials may also be formed on the sides of member  50  (see, e.g., illustrative side layers  52 ′) and/or on the top of member  50  (see, e.g., illustrative upper surface layer  52 ″). These layers may be coatings formed from polymer (e.g., reflective polymer such as white polymer), metal (e.g., reflective metal layers), dielectric stacks of alternating higher and lower refractive index dielectric layers (e.g., dielectric mirror layers formed from inorganic and/or organic dielectric layers), and/or other coating materials. In some configurations, total internal reflection can be supported by forming coatings on member  50  from a material with a lower refractive index than member  50  (e.g., a flexible transparent coating material such as a low index refractive index polymer that serves as a waveguide cladding). Coatings on member  50  can run along the entire length of member  50  and may be formed on the end of member  50  (see, e.g., end  74  of  FIG. 3A ). 
     If desired, coatings (e.g., white polymer layers) can be omitted in one or more portions of member  50 . For example, portions  14 P may have light-scattering structures such as protrusions  58  (ridges, bumps, etc.), recesses  60  (grooves, pits, etc.), and/or embedded particles (solid or hollow microspheres, etc.) that are configured to scatter light  56  out of member  50  to form emitted light  18  in one or more non-contiguous portions  14 P. To ensure that light  18  is not blocked, light-reflecting coatings (e.g., a white polymer layer) can be omitted from these regions of member  50  (e.g., a white polymer coating on member  50  may have openings that are each aligned with and overlap a respective portion  14 P with light-scattering structures). 
     The light-emitting devices of light source  16  may emit visible light of any suitable color(s) for viewing by a user such as white light, red light, blue light, green light, yellow light, etc. Infrared light may also be emitted by light source  16 , if desired. 
     Each light source  16  may contain one or more light-emitting devices. The light-emitting devices in light source  16  may be independently controlled. For example, light source  16  may be adjusted so that light  18  is red or may be adjusted so that light  18  is green. Different emitted colors of light may be used by device  10  to represent different types of information (e.g., to represent different operating states for device  10 ) or may otherwise be used to convey visual output to a user of device  10 . To control the light-emitting device(s) of light source  16 , signal lines may be coupled to the electrical terminals of the light-emitting devices. As shown in  FIG. 3A , for example, electrical connections  68  (e.g., solder joints, welds, conductive adhesive connections, etc.) may be formed between the circuitry of light source  16  and metal traces  70  in printed circuit  72 . Metal traces  70  may be used to form signal lines that supply control signals to light-emitting diodes, lasers, or other components in light source  16  from control circuitry  30 . Printed circuit  72  may be a rigid printed circuit (e.g., a printed circuit formed from rigid printed circuit substrate material such as fiberglass-filled epoxy) or may be a flexible printed circuit (e.g., a printed circuit formed from one or more sheets of flexible substrate material such as one or more flexible polyimide layers). 
     During operation, the flexible nature of member  50  and optional coatings such as layer  52  of  FIG. 3A  allow structure  14  to bend. Structure  14  may, for example, be located adjacent to a body part of a user and may flex back and forth as the body part of the user moves. In this way, structure  14  may be used to route light from light source  16  to the light-scattering structures of portion  14 P even as housing  12  and the rest of device  10  is bent and otherwise changes in shape to accommodate operation on the body of a user. Devices  10  that are not worn by a user may likewise experience bends and other changes in shape and the flexible nature of member  50  may also allow light  56  to be conveyed through light guiding structures in those devices. 
     The light-scattering structures of portions  14 P may be configured to form alphanumeric characters, icons, or other suitable shapes or may be configured to form rectangular patches or patches of other shapes that backlight patterned opaque layers (e.g., black ink layers with alphanumeric openings and/or icon-shaped openings). Coating openings and light-scattering structures associated with portions  14 P may be formed on outwardly facing surfaces of member  50 , inwardly facing surfaces of member  50 , sidewall surfaces, and/or other suitable surfaces of member  50 . 
     In the illustrative top view of member  50  of  FIG. 4 , there are two rectangular patches of light-scattering structures in two respective isolated portions  14 P of member  50  (e.g., two portions  14 P that are distinct, non-contiguous, and separated from each other by an intervening non-light-emitting area). These patches may be covered with housing material (see, e.g., housing  12  of  FIG. 1 ) such as fabric, polymer, and/or other housing material). During operation, light  18  may be emitted from these regions or regions that have been patterned to form icons, alphanumeric characters, or other shapes to provide visual output for a user. The visual output may be associated with the status of operation of device  10  (e.g., battery status, power status, sleep status, wireless charging status, wireless signal strength status, wireless local area network status) and/or other suitable status (unread message status, voice mail status, etc.). Visual output may serve to provide a user with notifications. For example, flashing light output can be provided to alert a user that an email message has been received or that an incoming voice and/or video call is being received. In other configurations, light output may be provided to serve as feedback. For example, when a user touches a touch sensor on the surface of device  10  (e.g., a capacitive touch sensor, optical touch sensor, or other touch sensitive component that is overlapped by housing  12 ), control circuitry in device  10  can modulate light source  16  and thereby create a flash of emitted light  18  that serves as a visual confirmation that the touch input has been received. 
     Light sources such as light source  16  may be optically coupled to member  50  at one or more locations along the length of member  50 . In the example of  FIG. 3A , printed circuit  70  extends along a direction that is perpendicular to member  50 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , for example, printed circuit  70  may run parallel to member  50 . Light source  16  may include edge emitting devices and/or surface emitting devices. The polymer material of light guide member  50  of  FIGS. 3A and 5  may, if desired, be molded over light sources  16 . 
     If desired, light guide structure  14  of light guide system  20  may include multiple light guides. For example, light guide structure  14  may have a set of elongated light guides that run parallel to each other. The light guides may be stacked on top of each other or may otherwise be coupled to form a bundle of light guides. In this type of arrangement, each of the light guides in light guide structure  14  may bend together as light guide structure  14  is moved during use of device  10 . 
     Light guide structure  14  may have light guide isolation structures that help optically isolate light guides from each other. For example, light guide structure  14  may have one or more layers such as layers  52 ,  52 ′, and  52 ″ of  FIG. 3B  to help optically isolate each light guide. In some arrangements, a white polymer layer or other light guide isolation layer may be interposed between adjacent light guides. Light guide isolation structures may be formed from reflective structures (e.g., layers of white polymer, metal, dielectric mirror coatings, etc.) and/or optical waveguide cladding materials (e.g., material having a lower index of refraction than the core portion of the light guide that is formed from members such as members  50 ) to help isolate individual light guides from each other. 
     By isolating light guides from each other, different light guides can be used to carry light from different respective light sources  16 . For example, a first light guide member  50  may carry blue light, a second light guide member  50  may red light, and a third light guide member  50  may carry green light. These different colors of light (or light of the same color from different light sources) can be adjusted individually. For example, red light intensity can be adjusted to provide a user with red light output in a first region of device  10  and blue and green light intensities can be separately adjusted to provide a user with blue and green light output in respective second and third regions of device  10 . 
     Consider, as an example, the arrangement of  FIG. 6 . In the example off  FIG. 6 , light guide structure  14  of light guide system  20  includes a first light guide formed from first light guide member  50 A and a second light guide formed from second light guide member  50 B. Light source  16 A may supply light  56 A to light guide member  50 A, which is coupled out of light guide member  50 A in portion  14 PA by light-scattering structures  76 A as first emitted light  18 A. Light source  16 B may supply light  56 B to light guide member  50 B, which is coupled out of light guide member  50 B in portion  14 PB by light-scattering structures  76 B as emitted light  18 B. Light guide members  50 A and  50 B may be covered on one or more sides by reflectors and/or low-index cladding material. These covering layers (e.g., coatings, etc.) may serve as light guide isolation structures. In the example of  FIG. 6 , isolation structure (layer)  78 A is formed between the lower surface of member  50 A and the opposing upper surface of member  50 B. Members  50 A and  50 B may be, for example, thin elongated strips of elastomeric polymer (e.g., silicone). Portions  14 PA and  14 PB may be used to form patches (see, e.g., the rectangular outlines of portions  14 P of  FIG. 4 ) or other shapes (e.g., icons, alphanumeric characters, etc.). With this type of configuration, emitted light  18 A and emitted light  18 B can be used to provide a user with notifications and other visual output. 
     Isolation structure  78 A of  FIG. 6  may be a layer of white polymer, a dielectric mirror layer, a metal layer, a low-index cladding layer, and/or other structure that helps confine light  56 B in member  50 B and that helps confine light  56 A in member  50 A and thereby helps prevent light that is being guided within one light guide from leaking into and being guided within another light guide. Although isolation structure  78 A helps prevent guided light leakage between light guides, scattered light from one light guide may, if desired, pass laterally through another light guide. As shown in  FIG. 6 , for example, light that is scattered out of light guide member  50 B by light-scattering structures  76 B may pass laterally through light guide member  50 A to form emitted light  18 B. In this example, emitted light  18 B is traveling upwards and almost parallel to the surface normal of light guide member  50 A (which has a longitudinal axis that is approximately horizontal) and is therefore not guided along the length of light guide member  50 A in accordance with the principal of total internal reflection. Rather, light  18 B passes directly from the lower to the upper surface of member  50 A through member  50 A (without internal reflections) so that light  18 B can be observed by a user. 
     Two light guides are stacked in the arrangement of  FIG. 6 , but, in general, any suitable number of stacked light guides may be included in light guide structure  14 , each of which may be used in longitudinally guiding light from a respective individually controlled light source. Light-scattering structures may be formed at one or more locations along the length of each light guide member. The outermost light guide in a stack may emit scattered light directly outwards. The innermost light guide(s) may scatter light through overlapping upper-layer light guides and/or may scatter light through openings that have been formed in the upper light guide layers. 
     The presence of isolation structure  78 A helps confine light  56 B to member  50 B and helps confine light  56 A to member  50 A. If desired, additional isolation structures (reflective layers, cladding, etc.) may be provided to enhance light guiding. For example, illustrative isolation structure  78 B may be provided on the lower surface of light guide member  50 B. Structures  78 B may be formed from a layer of white polymer, metal, dielectric mirror structures, cladding material, and/or other isolation structure material and may help confine light  56 B to member  50 B. Structures such as these may also be provided on the upper (outermost) surface of member  50 A and/or on the sidewall surfaces of members  50 A and  50 B. 
     Light guide members such as illustrative members  50 A and  50 B may be coupled mechanically (e.g., by forming waveguides on top of each other in a stack as shown in  FIG. 6  or by forming other types of coupled sets of light guides) and/or light guide system  20  may include multiple independent light guide members that are not coupled along their lengths. Light guide members in system  20  may have any suitable cross-sectional shape (circular, oval, square, rectangular, etc.). In some configurations, the light guide members may have rectangular cross-sectional profiles as shown in  FIG. 3B . In this type of configuration, each light guide member may have a width W (measured horizontally in the example of  FIG. 3B ) and a height H (measured vertically in the example of  FIG. 3B ). The light guide members may form thin strips (e.g., the aspect ratio R=W/H of the light guide members may be at least 2, at least 5, at least 10, at least 15, at least 20, less than 50, less than 25, or other suitable value). In arrangements in which light guide structure  14  has a relatively large aspect ratio (e.g., when light guide structure  14  is formed from a flexible layer of material that has an elongated strip shape), light guide structure  10  may be incorporated into electronic devices with similarly thin and elongated shapes (e.g., devices with thin planar housing portions such as straps, face mask housing structures, etc.). 
     Light guide structure  14  may be incorporated into wearable electronic devices or other electronic equipment.  FIG. 7  is a rear (inner) view of an illustrative electronic device. In the example of  FIG. 7 , device  10  is a head-mounted device (e.g., a face mask to be worn against a user&#39;s face while a user is resting or sleeping, or other item wearable on a user&#39;s head). Device  10  of  FIG. 7  has support structures that are configured to be worn on a user&#39;s head such as head strap  92 . Housing portion  94  of device  10  may be formed from fabric, polymer structures, metal, and/or housing structures formed from other materials. Recess  96  may be formed along the lower edge of portion  94  to help accommodate a user&#39;s nose. Light guide structure  14  and other components of light guide system  20  may be supported within the housing of device  10  (e.g., within housing portion  94 ) and may have light sources and light guide members that guide light to light-scattering structures in light emission regions such as regions  90 . Regions  90  may, for example, be configured to align with a user&#39;s left and right eyes when device  10  is worn on a head of a user. 
     A cross-sectional top view of device  10  of  FIG. 7  is shown in  FIG. 8 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , light source  16  of system  20  may emit light into light guide member  50  of light guide structure  14 . Layer  52  may help confine light in light guide member  50 . In portions  14 P of light guide structure  14  (see, e.g., regions  90  of  FIG. 7 ), light guide member  50  has light-scattering structures that cause guided light in member  50  to be scattered outwards as emitted light  18  towards a user&#39;s eyes  100 . Housing  12  may be formed from a layer of polymer, structures formed from materials such as ceramic, metal, wood, natural materials such as cotton, and/or other materials, and/or may be formed from fabric having intertwined strands of material such as strands  98 . Strands  98  may be monofilaments or multifilament yarns and may be formed from polymer, cotton or other natural materials, metal, and/or other materials. Transparent windows may be formed in housing  12  such as in locations where housing  12  overlaps portions  14 P (e.g., by creating regions of loosely woven or knit fabric, patches with transparent fabric such as clear polymer fabric, openings in fabric, and/or other optical window structures). This allows light  18  to pass through housing  12  to reach eyes  100 . Emitted light  18  in portions  14 P (regions  90  of  FIG. 7 ) may be used to wake a sleeping user and/or may otherwise be emitted under control of control circuitry  30  to provide a user with desired light-based output. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of device  10  in an illustrative configuration in which device  10  is a wristwatch device. As shown in  FIG. 9 , device  10  may have a display such as display  80  formed on a front face of a main rigid portion of housing  12 . Buttons such as buttons  82  and  84  may be provided in this main portion of housing  12  to gather user input. Housing  12  may also have portions forming wrist strap  86 . If desired, a clasp such as clasp  88  may be used to attach segments of strap  86  together. Strap  86 , which may sometimes be referred to as a band, may be formed from fabric, metal links, polymer, ceramic, wood, glass, natural materials such as cotton, and/or other materials. Light guide structures  14  may be located in one or both halves of a two-part strap such as illustrative strap  86  of  FIG. 9 , may extend along some or all of the length of a single-segment strap coupled to the main portion of housing  12 , and/or may otherwise be formed within the housing structures forming a wrist strap for device  10 . This allows light guide structure  14  to emit light in one or more light-emission regions  90  associated with respective portions  14 P with light-scattering structures. Multiple regions  90  may be illuminated by a single light source and light guide member or each of multiple regions  90  may be individually provided with emitted light (e.g., using respective light guides and respective light sources  16 ). Each light source  16  may produce light of a single color or may be an adjustable light source that produces different colors (e.g., different colors selected by control circuitry  30 ). 
     In the illustrative example of  FIG. 10 , device  10  is a wrist strap without a rigid main housing portion (sometimes referred to as a health band or wristband device). Device  10  of  FIG. 10  may have a housing (housing  12 ) that forms wrist strap  86 . Strap  86  may have a single segment or, as shown in  FIG. 10 , may have first and second segments that are joined using clasp  88 . A wrist band device such as device  10  of  FIG. 10  may have a light guide structure system  20  with a light guide structure  14  that emits light in one or more light-emitting regions  90 . 
     If desired, light guide structure system  20  may include a light detector such as light detector  24  of  FIG. 1  and may be used as a sensor. As an example, a light detector may be coupled to an end of light guide member  50  and may be used to gather ambient light measurements. 
     As another example, light guide member  50  may be configured to exhibit an amount of light transmission that varies as a function of the shape of light guide member  50 . In this type of arrangement, pressure on light guide member  50  may change the amount of light guided along light guide member  50 . By monitoring the amount of light conveyed along member  50 , control circuitry  30  can determine whether pressure is being exerted on member  50 . The measured light may be visible light, infrared light, and/or infrared light. 
     Consider, as an example, the arrangement of  FIG. 11 . In the example of  FIG. 11 , light guide structure system  20  has a light source such as light source  16  that emits light  56  (e.g., visible, infrared, and/or ultraviolet light) into light guide member  50  at a first end of light guide member  50 . Light guide system  20  also has a light detector such as light detector  24  at an opposing end of light guide member  50  that detects light  56 . Control circuitry  30  adjusts light source  16  to emit light  56  while monitoring detected light at detector  24 . In the absence of pressure on light guide member  50 , light guide member  50  may have an undeformed shape that transmits a first amount of light  56  to detector  24 . In the presence of pressure on portion  106  of light guide member  50  in direction  104  by external object  102 , however, light guide member  50  may be bent into the deformed shape shown by deformed light guide member  50 B of  FIG. 11 . This causes some or all of light  56  to leak out of light guide member  50  (e.g., light guiding by total internal reflection is locally defeated), so that the amount of light  56  that is detected by detector  24  is reduced to a second amount that is less than the first amount. During operation, control circuitry  30  can detect changes in the amount of light  56  detected by detector  24  and can convert these detected light measurements into measurements of touch (e.g., pressure) on portion  106  of member  50 . In this way, light guide structure  14  forms a touch sensor. The touch sensor, which may also sometimes be referred to as a pressure sensor or force sensor, may detect events where portion  106  is contacted and thereby deformed by external objects such as object  102 . 
     Another illustrative optical touch sensor that may be formed using light guide structure  14  is shown by illustrative light guide system  20  of  FIG. 12 . In the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 12 , light guide member  50  of light guide structure  14  has upper portion  50 T and lower portion SOL. Portions  50 T and SOL are separated by cavities  108 . Cavities  108  may be filled with air, liquids such as water or oil, or other fluids. The fluid of cavities  108  may have a lower refractive index than the material of lower portion SOL. Accordingly, when light guide member  50  is not being touched by an external object, light  56  that is emitted by light source  16  at one end of light guide member  50  may be guided in accordance with the principal of total internal reflection along the entire length of portion  50 L and may be detected by light detector  24  at the opposing end of light guide member  50 . In the presence of pressure from external object  102  in direction  104 , one or more of cavities  108  may be deformed sufficiently to allow upper portion  50 T to contact lower portion  50 L. This locally defeats total internal reflection and allows at least some of light  56  to escape portion  50 L at the point at which portions  50 T and  50 L contact each other, as illustrated by escaping light  56 ′ in  FIG. 12 . Control circuitry  30  can measure the amount of light transmitted through portion  50 L during operation using detector  24 . Touch events can be detected by detecting drops in the amount of light that is received at detector  24 . 
     The light emitted by light source  16  and detected by detector  24  may include visible light, infrared light, and/or ultraviolet light. Detector  24  may, if desired, be placed at other locations, as illustrated by illustrative detector location  24 ′ of  FIG. 12 . The detector (light-sensing optical component) at location  24 ′ may be a photodetector (e.g., a visible or infrared photodetector), a two-dimensional image sensor (e.g., a visible-light camera or an infrared camera), or other light-sensitive device. In response to pressure from external object  102 , some escaping light  56 ′ may leak towards location  24 ′ and may be detected by the light-sensitive device at location  24 ′. For example, infrared or visible light may travel towards location  24 ′ and may be detected using an infrared or visible image sensor at location  24 ′. Using an image sensor (visible or infrared), time-of-flight sensor, self-mixing sensor, array of photodetectors, and/or other location-sensitive optical sensors for detector  24 , device  10  may, if desired, determine the location of touch events in addition to measuring pressure associated with touch events. 
     Optical touch sensors based on deformable light guides such as light guide(s) in light guide structure  12  may be used in any suitable type of electronic device (e.g., a wrist watch, wrist strap, head-mounted device, arm band, other wearable devices, etc.). In the illustrative example of  FIG. 13 , device  10  is a touch-sensitive glove having a hand-shaped housing  12 . Light guide system  20  of  FIG. 13  has multiple light guide members  50  each of which loops out and back along the length of a different respective finger in the glove. Deformation of the light guide members  50  may be sensed at illustrative locations such as locations  110 . The amount of deformation may, if desired, be detected by measuring the magnitude of the drop in detected light at detectors  24  (e.g., the touch sensor arrangement of  FIG. 13  may measure grasping force). If desired, multiple light guides  50  may be associate with each finger (e.g., to gather independent touch measurements due to deformations at multiple different locations along the length of each finger and thereby provide the glove-shaped touch sensor of  FIG. 13  with additional spatial resolution when gathering touch sensor input). If desired, some or all of light guide members  50  may have portions  14 P that emit light. The emitted light may form registration marks that facilitate optical tracking such as three-dimensional camera tracking using a pair of stereoscopic cameras or other optical tracking. Configurations in which device  10  of  FIG. 13  has both light-emitting regions (formed form light-scattering structures on members  50 ) and deformable portions of members  50  for forming a touch sensor from structure  12  may also be used. 
     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, this gathered data may include 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, eyeglasses prescription, 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 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 such 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 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: 20191112
Publication Date: 20220816
Grant Date: 20220816
Priority Date: 20190111
Inventors: TRINCIA, NICHOLAS R.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G02B6/0011", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21V33/0008", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/017", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/016", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/014", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/013", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0346", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04109", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0421", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B1/045", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/042", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/014", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01J1/0238", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21V33/0008", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01J1/0425", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/001", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B1/045", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21Y2115/10", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21V33/0008", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01J1/0425", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/042", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/014", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01J1/0238", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B1/045", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "F21Y2115/10", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/001", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 82803021