PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9588551-B1
Application Number: US-201514843634-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Fabric electronic device housings

Abstract:
An electronic device such as a cover for a portable device or other electronic equipment may have circuitry mounted in a housing. The housing may be formed from layers of material such as fabric and polymer layers. The fabric may be formed from woven polymer yarn. The fabric may be treated with chemicals to improve stain resistance and wear resistance, may be provided with a polymer backing layer, and may receive molded plastic structures. Patterned areas may be woven into the fabric, may be formed by placing coatings on selected portions of the fabric, or may be formed by embroidering or otherwise locally processing the fabric. The patterned areas may form labels for keyboard keys, logos, key trim patterns, and other features for an electronic device. Patterned areas may have locally enhanced light transmission characteristics and may be backlit.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device, comprising:
 circuitry; 
 a housing that encloses the circuitry; 
 a fabric layer that forms at least part of the housing; and 
 a polymer backing layer on an inner surface of the fabric layer. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the fabric layer includes woven yarn. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device defined in  claim 2  wherein the yarn has a linear mass density of 30 to 200 denier. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device defined in  claim 3  wherein the fabric layer has a thread density of 100-300 yarns per square inch. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device defined in  claim 4  wherein the woven yarn comprises 10-100 filaments. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device defined in  claim 5  wherein the woven yarn comprises untextured yarn. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device defined in  claim 5  wherein the filaments comprise polymer filaments. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device defined in  claim 7  wherein the polymer filaments comprise polyester. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device defined in  claim 5  wherein the circuitry comprises keyboard keys and wherein the fabric overlaps the keyboard keys. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device defined in  claim 9  wherein the polymer backing layer comprises polyurethane. 
     
     
       11. A method for forming a fabric electronic device housing layer, comprising:
 weaving yarn to form a fabric using a weaving tool; 
 injection molding plastic to form a plastic structure attached to the fabric; and 
 embossing the fabric with an embossing tool. 
 
     
     
       12. The method defined in  claim 11  wherein injection molding the plastic comprises injection molding plastic over first portions of the fabric without injection molding plastic over second portions of the fabric. 
     
     
       13. The method defined in  claim 12  wherein embossing the fabric comprises forming raised portions in the second portions of the fabric. 
     
     
       14. The method defined in  claim 13  further comprising:
 immersing the fabric in a chemical bath; and 
 after immersing the fabric in the chemical bath, drying the fabric. 
 
     
     
       15. The method defined in  claim 14  further comprising:
 tumbling the dried fabric to soften the fabric; and 
 applying a polymer backing layer to the fabric before injection molding the plastic. 
 
     
     
       16. An electronic device, comprising:
 a printed circuit board; 
 electrical components on the printed circuit board; and 
 woven fabric with polymer yarn that covers the electrical components, wherein the woven fabric has patterned regions aligned with the electrical components. 
 
     
     
       17. The electronic device defined in  claim 16  wherein the electrical components comprise keyboard keys. 
     
     
       18. The electronic device defined in  claim 17  wherein the patterned regions comprise regions of the woven fabric with locally enhanced light transmission. 
     
     
       19. The electronic device defined in  claim 18  wherein the patterned regions comprise patterns selected from the group consisting of: alphanumeric labels and key trim patterns. 
     
     
       20. The electronic device defined in  claim 19  wherein the patterned regions comprise portions of the woven fabric with locally reduced thread density. 
     
     
       21. The electronic device defined in  claim 16  wherein the woven fabric comprises a woven fabric tube. 
     
     
       22. The electronic device defined in  claim 16  further comprising molded plastic features that are molded onto the woven fabric. 
     
     
       23. The electronic device defined in  claim 16  wherein the patterned regions comprise embroidered regions. 
     
     
       24. The electronic device defined in  claim 16  wherein the electrical components comprise keyboard keys, wherein the woven fabric has embossed regions aligned with the keyboard keys, and wherein the patterned regions overlap the embossed regions.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This relates generally to electronic devices, and, more particularly, to forming layers of material for housing walls and other electronic device structures. 
     Electronic devices such as computers, cellular telephones, and other devices include integrated circuits and other electrical components. These components may be enclosed within electronic device housing walls formed from plastic and metal layers. 
     It can be challenging to provide an electronic device structure such as housing walls with desired attributes. Housing walls should be sufficiently durable to withstand wear and tear from normal use. At the same time, housing walls should have an appealing appearance while accommodating internal electrical components. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improve electronic device housings. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device such as a cover for a portable device or other electronic equipment may have circuitry mounted in a housing. The housing may be formed from layers of material such as fabric and polymer layers. The fabric may be formed from woven polymer yarn. The fabric may be treated with chemicals to improve stain resistance and wear resistance, may be provided with a polymer backing layer, and may receive molded plastic structures. The fabric may be embossed to create local raised and lowered areas. Housings may be formed from tubes of fabric and fabric that has been formed by knitting, braiding, and other techniques for intertwining strands of material. 
     Patterned areas may be woven into the fabric, may be formed by placing coatings on selected portions of the fabric, may be formed by embroidering certain portions of the fabric, or may be formed by otherwise locally processing the fabric. The patterned areas may form labels for keyboard keys, logos, key trim patterns, and other features for an electronic device. Patterned areas may have locally enhanced light transmission characteristics and may be backlit. 
    
    
     
       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 cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative key for a keyboard in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of an illustrative fabric for use in forming housing walls and other electronic device structures in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative fabric layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are diagrams showing illustrative equipment and operations involved in forming fabric-based housing structures such as housing wall structures in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of an edge portion of an illustrative electronic device having a fabric layer and molded structures in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram of an illustrative fabric having a fabric construction that varies as a function of position to adjust the appearance and properties of the fabric in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative layer of material such as a fabric layer with a patterned coating layer such as a printed layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative layer of material with an embossed region in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of a portion of an illustrative electronic device having a fabric housing with patterned portions that include a logo and labeled keys in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of a portion of an illustrative electronic device having keys with backlight patterned portions in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative housing structure such as a fabric housing layer for an electronic device with internal light-emitting components such as key backlight components in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative tube of fabric being used to enclose circuitry for an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An electronic device may have housing structures and other structures formed from plastic, metal, and other materials. Some structures may be formed from layers of material (e.g., plastic, metal, and/or other materials). Other structures may be formed from intertwined strands of material (e.g., fabric). 
     A schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic device with structures such as housing structures that are formed using fabric is shown in  FIG. 1 . Device  10  may be a tablet computer, laptop computer, a desktop computer, a display, a cellular telephone, a media player, a wristwatch device or other wearable electronic equipment, headphones, an accessory such as a cover or other enclosure for an electronic device such as a tablet computer or other portable device, equipment embedded in a larger system, electronic equipment associated with furniture or a vehicle, equipment in a building, or other suitable electronic device. 
     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. 
     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 buttons, joysticks, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, microphones, speakers, tone generators, vibrators, cameras, sensors, light-emitting diodes and other status indicators, data ports, displays, etc. A user can control the operation of device  10  by supplying commands through input-output devices  12  and may receive status information and other output from device  10  using the output resources of input-output devices  12 . If desired, device  10  may be coupled to an external device (e.g., a host device or an auxiliary device) using a cable and/or a wireless signal path. In this type of arrangement, device  10  may gather user input that is routed to the coupled external device and may receive information from the external device that is presented to the user with the output resources of device  10 . 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronic device. In the example of  FIG. 2 , device  10  is a cover (or part of a cover) for a tablet computer or other electronic equipment. Device  10  may have housing structures formed from plastic, metal, glass, ceramic, carbon-fiber composites, fiberglass, and other fiber composites, fabric and other intertwined strands of material, and/or other materials. As an example, device  10  may have components that are mounted within a housing body formed from lower housing layer  24  and upper housing layer  26 . Lower housing layer  24  may be formed from plastic, plastic with embedded microfibers, or other materials. Upper housing layer  26  may be formed from fabric. The fabric of layer  26  may include strands of material that have been intertwined using weaving techniques, knitting techniques, braiding techniques, or other techniques for intertwining strands of material. 
     The strands of material in the fabric of layer  26  may be polymer strands, metal strands, glass strands, strands of material that include a core of one material (e.g., polymer) that is coated with one or more additional materials (e.g., a metal layer, a dielectric outer coating, etc.). The strands of material in layer  26  may be monofilaments or multi-filament strands (sometimes referred to as yarn or thread). 
     Device  10  may include a keyboard (e.g., a computer keyboard for an associated tablet computer, laptop computer, or other computing equipment). The keyboard may have an array of keys  20  that are covered by fabric layer  26 . Each key  20  may have a movable button member such as key cap  30  and an associated switch such as key switch  32 . Key caps  30  may be mounted in openings in a support structure such as key web  28  (e.g., a plastic panel with rectangular openings and other openings configured to receive respective key caps  30  or other button members). Key web  36  may supply structural support for fabric layer  26  and may therefore form an internal frame for the upper housing wall of device  10 . Key switches  32  may be mounted on substrate  36 . Substrate  36  may be a printed circuit board that contains metal traces for forming signal paths to interconnect support circuitry  34  (e.g., one or more integrated circuits) with key switches  32 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , key cap  30  may be aligned with key switch  32  so that key switch  32  may be actuated when a user&#39;s finger (finger  40 ) presses downwards in direction  42  on the key formed from key cap  30  and switch  32 . Switch  32  may be a dome switch or other switch mounted on printed circuit  36 . Support structures  46  (e.g., a butterfly mechanism or other hinge mechanism) may be used to provide support for key cap  30  and to provide a restoring force that biases key cap  30  upwards in direction  44  when the user releases key  20 . 
     Fabric layer  26  may be attached to the upper surface of device  10  and may cover key web  28  and the upper surfaces of key caps  30  in keys  20 . Adhesive  48 , injection-molded portions of key web  28 , or other suitable attachment mechanisms may be used to attach portion  26 - 2  of fabric layer  26  to key web  28 . Adhesive  48  and/or other attachment mechanisms may also be used to attach portion  26 - 1  of fabric layer  26  to key caps  30  or portions  26 - 1  may be free of adhesive  48 . The key cap in each key may be surrounded by peripheral portions  26 ′ of fabric layer  26 . If, for example, key caps  30  are rectangular, peripheral portions  26 ′ may have the shape of rectangular rings. The peripheral boundary portion  26 ′ of fabric layer  26  that surrounds each key  20  is preferably sufficiently flexible to allow key caps  30  to travel freely both in outwards direction  44  and inwards direction  42  during use of the keyboard by a user. 
     Fabric  26  may be formed from intertwined strands of material using weaving equipment (to form woven fabric), knitting equipment (to form knitted fabric), braiding equipment (to form braided fabric), or using other strand intertwining equipment (e.g., equipment for forming felt). Any suitable fabric construction may be used for fabric  26 . With one suitable configuration, which may sometimes be described herein as an example, fabric  26  may be woven fabric. Woven fabric may have a plain weave, a basket weave, or other suitable types of weave. 
     A portion of an illustrative fabric layer such as layer  26  that has been woven using a plain weave is shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , fabric  26  may have sets of perpendicular strands of material such as warp strands  26 A and weft strands  26 B. Plain-weave fabric such as fabric  26  of  FIG. 4  may exhibit satisfactory durability to serve as an outer housing layer in the housing walls of device  10  (e.g., to cover keys  20 ) and may have an attractive appearance and texture. Other types of weaving patterns may be used in forming fabric  26  if desired. The plain-weave configuration of  FIG. 4  is merely illustrative. 
     It may be desirable to form strands such as warp strands  26 A and  26 B from multiple filaments. A cross-sectional side view of fabric  26  of  FIG. 4  is shown in  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , fabric  26  may include warp strands  26 A and weft strands  26 B. Warp strands  26 A and weft strands  26 B may be formed from strands of yarn that contain multiple filaments such as filaments  50  (i.e., multiple monofilaments). An optional coating layer such as coating layer  52  may be formed on the inner surface of fabric  26  and may serve as a backing layer for fabric  26 . Layer  52  may be formed from a polymer such as polyurethane or other suitable material. 
     There may be any suitable number of filaments in the yarn that makes up warp strands  26 A and weft strands  26 B. With one illustrative configuration, the number of filaments in this yarn may be 36, may be more than 30, may be less than 50, may be 20-60, may be 10-100, may be less than 70, may be less than 200, may be less than 50, may be more than 2, may be more than 10, may be more than 20, may be 25-75 or may be any other suitable number. Yarns with large number of filaments  50  (e.g., more than 100 or more than 200) may be soft, but may not be as robust as yarns with fewer filaments  50  (e.g., fewer than 100, fewer than 50, etc.). 
     The thread density of fabric  26  (i.e., the number of yarns per square inch) may be about 100-300 yarns (threads) per square inch, may be more than 150 yarns per square inch, may be less than 250 yarns per square inch, may be 125-225 yarns per square inch, may be more than 50 yarns per square inch, may be more than 170 yarns per square inch, may be less than 210 yarns per square inch, may be 190 yarns per square inch, may be 150-230 yarns per square inch, or may have any other thread density value. As an example, warp strands  26 B may have a density of about 5-20 ends per inch and weft strands  26 A may have a density of about 5-25 picks per inch (as examples). 
     The yarn in fabric  26  may have a linear mass density of 36 denier, 20-50 denier, 25-45 denier, 10-100 denier, 30-200 denier, more than 10 denier, more than 20 denier, more than 30 denier, less than 100 denier, less than 60 denier, or less than 40 denier (as examples). Yarn visibility (which impacts device aesthetics) may be particularly satisfactory at levels below 300 denier or 200 denier. Abrasion resistance may be enhanced by using yarn with a linear mass density of more than 20 denier or more than 30 denier. 
     Yarn for fabric  26  (e.g., yarn for warp strands  26 A and/or weft strands  26 B) may be formed from polymer or other suitable materials. For example, filaments  50  may be formed from a polyethylene terephthalate material such as polyester (e.g., strands  26 A and  26 B may be untextured 50D/36F polyester yarn). Examples of other polymers that may be used in forming filaments  50  include polyamide (nylon—e.g., nylon6, nylon6,6, nylon 11), aromatic polyamide (i.e., para-aramids such as Kevlar® or other aramids), polyimide, polyolefin, acrylic, polyethylene, extruded cellulosic polymers such as rayon and Tencel® and polyurethane. Other polymers or mixtures of these polymers may be used, if desired. Non-polymer materials may also be used for some or all of filaments  50  if desired. Polyester tends to exhibit low amounts of water absorption (e.g., less water absorption than nylon), which can enhance durability. 
     If desired, tumbling equipment or other fabric processing equipment may be used to soften fabric  26  after weaving. Polymer coating equipment or other deposition equipment may be used to deposit backing layer material or other coatings. Molding equipment may be used to mold thermoplastic structures onto fabric  26 . Laser processing tools and/or other tools may selectively remove portions of fabric  26  in region  26 ′ or other portions of fabric  26  to adjust the stiffness of fabric  26 . 
     Illustrative equipment and operations involved in forming electronic devices and electronic structures for devices  10  using layers of material such as fabric  26  are shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6A , yarns such as warp yarn  26 A and weft yarn  26 B may be woven to form fabric  26  using weaving equipment  54 . 
     Following weaving, fabric  26  may be treated with a durable water repellant coating using equipment  56 . For example, fabric  26  may be submersed in chemical treatment bath  60  in vessel  58  of coating equipment  56 . Chemical bath  60  may include chemicals such as fluorocarbon compounds or other organofluorine compounds (as examples). Treatment in bath  60  may increase water repellency, may increase durability, and may increase stain resistance. 
     Dryer  62  may dry fabric  26  following chemical treatment in bath  60 . 
     Polymer coating tool  64  may include knife coating equipment or other coating equipment to apply a polymer backing to fabric  26 , as illustrated by polymer backing layer  52  on yarn portion  26 Y of fabric layer  26 . Backing layer  52  may have a density of 2.5 g/m 2 , more than 0.5 g/m 2 , less than 20 g/m 2 , or other suitable density. The polymer of layer  52  may be polyurethane or other suitable polymer. If desired, other types of coating layers may be added to fabric  26 . The use of a polymer such as polyurethane is merely illustrative. 
     The application of polymer coating layer  52  may increase the stiffness of fabric  26 . If desired, fabric  26  may be processed to reduce the stiffness of fabric  26 . For example, fabric  26  may be softened using tumbler  66 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6B , following softening in tumbler  66 , plastic structures such as key web  28  may be molded onto fabric  26  using injection molding tool  68 . During injection molding, molten plastic may flow into the openings between warp strands  26 A and weft strands  26 B as illustrated by flowing plastic portion  28 ′ of web  28  and/or the molten plastic may bond to backing layer material such as layer  52 , thereby securing key web  28  to fabric  26 . The mold die used in molding tool  68  may have portions that prevent molded plastic from reaching fabric  26  in selected areas (e.g., to form areas such as area  70  in fabric  26  that are uncoated by the molded plastic). The plastic-free openings formed in areas  70  may be used to form keys  20  (in the present example). If desired, other types of molded plastic features may be formed using injection molding tool  68  such as support structures, brackets, frames, screw bosses, connector mounts, sensor housings, etc. 
     Following the formation of key web  28  on the inner surface of fabric  26 , embossing tool  72  may create raised and/or lowered features in fabric  26 . Tool  72  may contain a heated die or other structures that can be used to emboss features into fabric  26  using heat and pressure. Raised portion  74  of  FIG. 6B  may be associated with one of keys  20  (e.g., the embossed portions of fabric  26  may overlap respective keys  20 ). Other protruding and/or recessed features may be formed in fabric  26  using embossing equipment, if desired. The illustrative configuration of  FIG. 6B  is merely illustrative. Following embossing and, if desired, additional processing operations (e.g., operations such as printing operations using printing equipment, embroidery operations involving sewing equipment, operations involving application of laser light, heat treatment, or other application of energy, machining equipment operations, etc.) fabric  26  may be integrated with other device structures to complete assembly of device  10 . 
     If desired, molded plastic (e.g., plastic molded using equipment such as equipment  68  of  FIG. 6B ) may be used to attach fabric layer  26  to structures in device  10  or to form other mechanical features for device  10 . As shown in the illustrative cross-sectional side view of the edge of device  10  of  FIG. 7 , for example, plastic  80  may be molded along the edge of device  10  between fabric  26  (which serves as an upper housing layer for device  10 ) and lower housing layer  24 , thereby forming a peripheral seal and structural element that joins layers  26  and  24  together. Portions of plastic  80  may flow into openings in fabric layer  26  (as shown by illustrative plastic portion  80 ′ of  FIG. 7 ) and/or may be bonded to backing layer  52  (as examples). 
     It may be desirable to locally modify the physical properties of fabric  26  during weaving (or other yarn intertwining operations) and/or after forming fabric  26  and thereby form patterned areas with desired modified fabric properties. It may, as an example, be desirable to modify fabric  26  in one or more locations on fabric  26  to increase or decrease fabric stiffness, to change fabric stretchiness, to change fabric water resistance or stain resistance, to modify the light transmission properties of fabric  26 , to change fabric color, etc. 
     In the illustrative example of  FIG. 8 , portion  82  of fabric  26  has been modified relative to portions  84 . In particular, during weaving, fabric  26  of  FIG. 8  was woven so as to have portions with a tighter weave (more yarns per unit area) such as portions  84  and so as to have portions with a looser weave (fewer yarns per unit area) such as portions  82 . Looser weaves may allow more moisture, air, sound, and light to pass through fabric  26  than tighter weaves. For example, portion  82  may be used as an audio port, a sensor window, a light-emitting diode window or other optical window, etc. Different fabric densities and other localized changes to the construction of fabric  26  that are produced by the weaving, knitting, or braiding equipment that is forming fabric  26  may also change the outward appearance of fabric  26  (e.g., to provide portions of fabric  26  with different colors, different light transmissions, different textures, different stiffnesses, etc.). 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , coatings such as coating  86  may be deposited on portions of fabric  26 . Coating  86  may be, for example, a layer of colored or metallic paint (ink), plastic, metal, or other material that is deposited in a particular area on the surface of fabric  26 . Coating  86  may be deposited by screen printing, pad printing, ink-jet printing, dripping, spraying, evaporation or other physical vapor deposition techniques, lamination, blanket film deposition followed by photolithographic patterning or other types of patterning, shadow mask deposition, etc. 
     In the configuration of  FIG. 10 , fabric layer  26  has been embroidered. In particular, one or more strands of material such as thread  88  has been sewn into fabric  26  to pattern a selected area of fabric  26 . Embroidered areas such as patterned area  90  of  FIG. 10  may have different textures, appearances, conductivities, light transmission characteristics, stiffnesses, and/or other characteristics than non-embroidered areas such as area  92 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , weaving techniques, embroidery techniques, painting techniques and other coating techniques, and/or other techniques for locally modifying fabric  26  may be used to create patterns in fabric  26 . As an example, a logo such as logo  94  may be woven into fabric  26 , may be applied as a coating on fabric  26 , may be created by embroidery, and/or may be formed using other techniques for selectively modifying portions of fabric  26  to create desired patterned areas. Local modification techniques such as these may also be used to create patterned areas for alphanumeric labels  96  on keys  20  or other text, graphical elements, trim patterns (e.g., key trim patterns aligned with keys  20 ), etc. 
     In the example of  FIG. 12 , key  20  has been provided with a locally modified portion such as portion  98  (e.g., an alphanumeric key label or other label or icon) surrounded by rectangular ring-shaped trim region  100 . The patterned portion of fabric  26  that forms trim  100  may have a different appearance (color, texture, etc.) than other portions of fabric  26 . For example, trim  100  may be characterized by a greater light transmittance than other portions of fabric  26 , thereby allowing key  20  to be provided with a rectangular backlit appearance by providing key  20  with backlight illumination from a backlight unit in device  10 . Labels such as label  98 , logos such as logo  94 , and/or other patterned areas of enhanced light transmission in fabric  26  may also be illuminated with backlight illumination from device  10  if desired. The structures may be provided with an enhanced transparency relative to other portions of fabric  26  by selectively incorporating transparent yarn portions into fabric  26 , by selectively removing opaque layers such as backing layer  52  from particular portions of fabric  26 , by reducing the density of the yarns in selected areas of fabric  26 , etc. 
       FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative layer of fabric  26  that has a portion of enhanced transparency such as portion  104 . Portion  104  may be formed by weaving portion  104  with a looser weave than surrounding portions of fabric  26  such as portions  102  or by otherwise enhancing the light transmission characteristics of portion  104  relative to portions  102 . Portion  104  may have a pattern that allows portion  104  to serve as trim for a key (see, e.g., portion  100  of  FIG. 12 ), that allows portion  104  to serve as an alphanumeric key label, that allows portion  104  to form a logo such as logo  94  of  FIG. 11 , etc. A light-emitting diode or other light source  106  in device  10  may emit light  108 . Light  108  may pass through layer  104  for viewing by a user. 
       FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative tube shaped layer of fabric. Tube-shaped fabric layer  26 T may be formed using weaving, knitting, braiding, or other strand intertwining techniques. Following formation of fabric tube  26 T, circuitry  110  such as electrical components  112  on printed circuit  114  may be mounted within the interior of layer  26 T. Layer  26 T may then be shaped using heat and/or pressure (e.g., in an embossing tool), may receive molded plastic structures such as illustrative injection-molded plastic edge structures  116 , and/or may be attached to circuitry  110  using adhesive, thereby forming electronic device  10  (e.g., a keyboard, etc.). This type of approach allows a unitary piece of fabric to serve as opposing front and rear walls in an electronic device. Injection molded edge caps or other structures may be used to seal the opposing ends of fabric tube  26 T, as described in connection with molded plastic edge structures  80  of  FIG. 7 . 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20150902
Publication Date: 20170307
Grant Date: 20170307
Priority Date: 20150902
Inventors: Hegde Siddhartha
COUSINS BENJAMIN A.
SHAFFER BENJAMIN A.
SMITH SAMUEL G.
KUNA MELODY
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04M1/23", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1662", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0202", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B29C45/14786", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0202", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B29C45/14786", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0202", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1656", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1675", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1662", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1662", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/181", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/182", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/182", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0202", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B29C45/14336", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B29C45/14336", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/23", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0202", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B29C59/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1675", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B29C45/14221", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H13/83", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B29L2031/3425", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B29C45/14221", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B29C59/02", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1675", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1662", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B29C59/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B29C45/14786", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B29C45/14336", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0202", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/181", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/23", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/182", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1656", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B29C45/14221", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 56684716