PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11042233-B2
Application Number: US-201816141805-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Finger-mounted device with fabric

Abstract:
A finger-mounted electronic device may include a body that serves as a support structure for components such as force sensors, accelerometers, and other sensors and for haptic output devices. The body may have first and second side body members that leave the finger pad exposed and an upper body member extending between the first and second side body members. Some or all of the body may be covered in fabric or leather. Fabric may wrap around the first and second side body members and may extend across the upper body member. The fabric may cover electronic components. A touch sensor may have electrodes that are formed from conductive material on the fabric or conductive strands in the fabric. Infrared-reflective ink may form visual markers on the fabric for an infrared tracking system. The fabric may have light-transmissive portions that overlap optical components.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A finger-mounted device configured to be worn on a finger of a user, comprising:
 first and second side body members configured to leave a finger pad of the finger at least partially exposed, wherein each of the first and second side body members has an upper portion and a lower portion coupled by a hinge that allows the lower portion to rotate relative to the upper portion; 
 an upper body member that extends between the first and second side body members, wherein the upper body member is configured to at least partially cover a fingernail of the finger; 
 fabric covering the first and second side body members; 
 electronic components mounted in the upper body member that gather user gesture input; 
 a sensor in the first side body portion that detects deformation of a first side portion of the finger resulting from a pressure applied by the finger pad on an external surface; and 
 control circuitry that sends control signals to an external electronic device based on the detected deformation of the first side portion of the finger. 
 
     
     
       2. The finger-mounted device defined in  claim 1  wherein the first and second side body members have opposing inner and outer surfaces and wherein the fabric is wrapped around the first and second side body members to cover the inner and outer surfaces of the first and second side body members. 
     
     
       3. The finger-mounted device defined in  claim 2  wherein the fabric is adhesively attached to the upper body member. 
     
     
       4. The finger-mounted device defined in  claim 3  wherein an interface between the fabric and the first and second side body members is free of adhesive. 
     
     
       5. The finger-mounted device defined in  claim 4  wherein the first and second side body members are respectively coupled to the upper body member with first and second additional hinges that allow the first and second side body members to move toward and away from each other. 
     
     
       6. The finger-mounted device defined in  claim 1  wherein the fabric comprises elastic material. 
     
     
       7. The finger-mounted device defined in  claim 1  further comprising a touch sensor on the first side body member. 
     
     
       8. The finger-mounted device defined in  claim 7  wherein the touch sensor has electrodes that are formed from conductive material on the fabric layer. 
     
     
       9. The finger-mounted device defined in  claim 7  wherein the fabric comprises conductive strands and wherein the touch sensor has electrodes that are formed from the conductive strands in the fabric. 
     
     
       10. The finger-mounted device defined in  claim 1  further comprising first and second actuators coupled to the fabric, wherein the first actuator moves the fabric to move the first side body member and the second actuator moves the fabric to move the second side body member. 
     
     
       11. The finger-mounted device defined in  claim 1  further comprising a shape memory structure on the first side body member that provides haptic output in response to a change in temperature. 
     
     
       12. The finger-mounted device defined in  claim 1  further comprising a shape memory structure on the first side body member that is used to adjust a tightness of the finger-mounted device on the finger. 
     
     
       13. The finger-mounted device defined in  claim 1  further comprising breathability features in the fabric that increase air circulation through the fabric, wherein the breathability features are selected from the group consisting of: through-holes, pits, and bumps. 
     
     
       14. The finger-mounted device defined in  claim 1  wherein the fabric covers the upper body member and wherein the fabric comprises an infrared-reflective ink that forms a visual marker that is tracked using an external infrared camera. 
     
     
       15. The finger-mounted device defined in  claim 1  wherein the fabric covers the upper body member, wherein the electronic components comprise an optical component, and wherein the fabric has a light-transmissive portion over the optical component. 
     
     
       16. The finger-mounted device defined in  claim 15  wherein the light-transmissive portion comprises an opening in the fabric. 
     
     
       17. A finger-mounted device configured to be worn on a finger of a user, comprising:
 first and second arms configured to leave a finger pad of the finger at least partially exposed; 
 a magnetic hinge coupled between the first and second arms, wherein the magnetic hinge allows the first and second arms to move towards and away from each other; 
 fabric that wraps around the first and second arms; and 
 electronic components that are covered by the fabric. 
 
     
     
       18. The finger-mounted device defined in  claim 17  wherein the first and second arms are molded to the fabric. 
     
     
       19. A finger-mounted electronic device configured to be worn on a finger of a user, the finger-mounted electronic device comprising:
 first ribs that extend along a first side of the finger, wherein each of the first ribs is free to move relative to the other first ribs; 
 second ribs that extend along a second side of the finger, wherein each of the second ribs is free to move relative to the other second ribs; 
 a first fabric portion coupled to the first ribs, wherein the first fabric portion spans across a first gap between two of the first ribs; 
 a second fabric portion coupled to the second ribs, wherein the second fabric portion spans across a second gap between two of the second ribs; 
 a hinge coupled between the first ribs and the second ribs, wherein the hinge is configured to rest on a top portion of the finger and allows the first ribs to rotate relative to the second ribs about a hinge axis, wherein the first ribs are configured to rotate independently of one another about the hinge axis, and wherein the second ribs are configured to rotate independently of one another about the hinge axis; and 
 a sensor located on a side portion of the finger that detects user gesture input from the finger. 
 
     
     
       20. The finger-mounted electronic device defined in  claim 19  wherein the fabric comprises strands of material and wherein the strands of material are intertwined with the first ribs and the second ribs.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/669,278, filed May 9, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This relates generally to electronic devices, and, more particularly, to wearable electronic devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic equipment such as computers and head-mounted display systems are sometimes controlled using input-output devices such as gloves. A glove may have sensors that detect user hand motions. The user hand motions can be used in controlling electronic equipment. 
     The use of wearable devices to gather input for controlling electronic equipment can pose challenges. If care is not taken, a device such as a glove may affect the ability of a user to feel objects in the user&#39;s surroundings, may be uncomfortable to use, or may not gather suitable input from the user. 
     SUMMARY 
     A system may include one or more finger-mounted electronic devices such as finger devices with U-shaped housings configured to be mounted on a user&#39;s fingers while gathering sensor input and supplying haptic output. The finger-mounted devices may each have a body. The body serves as a support structure for components such as force sensors, accelerometers, and other sensors and for haptic output devices. During operation, a user may wear the finger mounted units on the tips of the user&#39;s fingers while interacting with external objects. 
     The body of a finger-mounted electronic device may have first and second side body members that leave the finger pad exposed and an upper body member extending between the first and second side body members. Some or all of the body may be covered in fabric or leather. Fabric may wrap around the first and second side body members and may extend across the upper body member. The fabric may cover electronic components. A touch sensor may have electrodes that are formed from conductive material on the fabric or conductive strands in the fabric. Infrared-reflective ink may form visual markers on the fabric for an infrared tracking system. The fabric may have light-transmissive portions that overlap optical components. The fabric may have breathability features such as pits, bumps, or through-holes. 
     The fabric may be attached to the body using wrapping techniques, intertwining techniques, adhesive attachment methods, molding attachment methods, or other suitable techniques. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative system with a finger device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of an illustrative finger of a user on which a finger device has been placed in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative finger device on the finger of a user in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative finger device having a fabric or leather layer in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative fabric that may be used in a finger device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an illustrative finger device having first and second side body members coupled by a hinge in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative finger device having fabric that wraps around first and second side body members in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative finger device having a first fabric covering an interior surface of a body and a second fabric covering an exterior surface of a body in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative finger device having a magnetic hinge between two body members that are wrapped in fabric in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative finger device having first and second body members wrapped in fabric with a magnetic hinge integrated with the first body member in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional side view of illustrative molding equipment that may be used to mold a body to fabric for a finger device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an illustrative finger device having fabric strands intertwined around a body and hinge in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an illustrative finger device having ribs that can articulate independently of one another in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is a top view of an illustrative finger device having ribs and fabric extending between the ribs in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative finger device having ribs with a first fabric extending between the ribs and a second fabric covering the first fabric in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative finger device having fabric strands that are intertwined with ribs in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of an illustrative finger device having first and second side body members coupled to an upper body member. 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative finger device having a body, electronic components, and fabric covering the body and electronic components in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of an illustrative finger device having one or more touch sensors in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 20  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative touch sensor that may be used in a finger device in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative touch sensor having electrodes formed from conductive material on a substrate in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 22  is a top view of an illustrative touch sensor having electrodes formed from conductive strands in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative finger device having actuators that move side body members by rolling and unrolling fabric in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 24  is a side view of an illustrative side body member having a shape memory structure in a first state in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 25  is a side view of an illustrative side body member having a shape memory structure in a second state in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 26  is a side view of an illustrative fabric having breathability features that are shaped as elongated strips in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 27  is a side view of an illustrative fabric having breathability features that are shaped as isolated regions in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 28  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative fabric having breathability features formed from bumps in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 29  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative fabric having breathability features formed from pits in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 30  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative fabric having breathability features formed from through-holes in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 31  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative finger device having a first layer that wicks moisture away from a user&#39;s finger and a second layer with openings that allow the moisture to escape in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 32  is a schematic diagram of a system having a finger device with visual markers on fabric and an electronic device having a camera that tracks the visual markers in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 33  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative finger device having optical components that are aligned with light-transmissive portions of a fabric in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 34  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative finger device having fabric with a light-transmissive region formed from openings in the fabric in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 35  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative finger device having a first transparent fabric portion and a second non-transparent fabric portion with an opening in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Electronic devices that are configured to be mounted on the body of a user may be used to gather user input and to provide a user with output. For example, electronic devices that are configured to be worn on one or more of a user&#39;s fingers, which are sometimes referred to as finger devices or finger-mounted devices, may be used to gather user input and to supply output. A finger device may, as an example, include an inertial measurement unit with an accelerometer for gathering information on figure motions such as finger taps or free-space finger gestures, may include force sensors for gathering information on normal and shear forces in the finger device and the user&#39;s finger, and may include other sensors for gathering information on the interactions between the finger device (and the user&#39;s finger on which the device is mounted) and the surrounding environment. The finger device may include one or more haptic output devices to provide the user&#39;s finger with haptic output and may include other output components. 
     One or more finger devices may gather user input from a user. The user may use finger devices in operating a virtual reality or mixed reality device (e.g., head-mounted equipment such as glasses, goggles, a helmet, or other device with a display). During operation, the finger devices may gather user input such as information on interactions between the finger device(s) and the surrounding environment (e.g., interactions between a user&#39;s fingers and the environment, including finger motions and other interactions associated with virtual content displayed for a user). The user input may be used in controlling visual output on the display. Corresponding haptic output may be provided to the user&#39;s fingers using the finger devices. Haptic output may be used, for example, to provide the fingers of a user with a desired texture sensation as a user is touching a real object or as a user is touching a virtual object. 
     Finger devices can be worn on any or all of a user&#39;s fingers (e.g., the index finger, the index finger and thumb, three of a user&#39;s fingers on one of the user&#39;s hands, some or all fingers on both hands, etc.). To enhance the sensitivity of a user&#39;s touch as the user interacts with surrounding objects, finger devices may have inverted U shapes or other configurations that allow the finger devices to be worn over the top and sides of a user&#39;s finger tips while leaving the user&#39;s finger pads exposed. This allows a user to touch objects with the finger pad portions of the user&#39;s fingers during use. Users can use the finger devices to interact with any suitable electronic equipment. For example, a user may use one or more finger devices to interact with a virtual reality or mixed reality system (e.g., a head-mounted device with a display), to supply input to a desktop computer, tablet computer, cellular telephone, watch, ear buds, or other accessory, or to interact with other electronic equipment. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of an illustrative system that includes a wearable device such as a finger-mounted device. As shown in  FIG. 1 , system  12  may include a finger-mounted device such as device  10  that interacts with electronic equipment such as electronic device  20 . Finger-mounted device  10  may include sensors such as force sensors  16 , haptic output devices  18 , and control circuitry  14 . Components such as these may be mounted on the body parts of a user (e.g., on a user&#39;s fingertips) using housing structures (sometimes referred to as body structures or body members). Housing structures may be formed for portions of device  10  that reside on one or more fingers. For example, device  10  may include a separate body member and associated components for each of multiple different fingers of a user. The housing structures may be formed from metal, polymer, fabric, glass, ceramic, other materials, or combinations of these materials. In some configurations, wireless or wired links may be used to route signals to and from fingertip components to other portions of device  10  (e.g., a portion of device  10  that is located on the rear of a user&#39;s hand, etc.). 
     If desired, device  10  may include input-output devices other than force sensors  16 . For example, device  10  may include optical sensors (e.g., sensors that detect light or sensors that emit light and detect reflected light), image sensors, status indicator lights and displays (e.g., light-based components such as light-emitting diodes that emit one or more regions of light, pixel arrays for displaying images, text, and graphics, etc.), may include buttons (e.g., power buttons and other control buttons), audio components (e.g., microphones, speakers, tone generators, etc.), touch sensors, sensors for detecting position, orientation, and/or motion (e.g., accelerometers, magnetic sensors such as compass sensors, gyroscopes, inertial measurement units that contain some or all of these sensors), muscle activity sensors (EMG) for detecting finger actions, and/or other circuitry for gathering input. 
     Haptic output devices  18  may be electromagnetic actuators (e.g., vibrators, linear solenoids, etc.), may be piezoelectric devices (e.g., piezoelectric devices that are separate from force sensing piezoelectric devices in device  10  and/or piezoelectric devices that serve both as haptic output devices and as force sensors), may be components that produce haptic output using heat-induced physical changes (e.g., by heating shape memory alloys), may be electroactive polymer components, or may be other suitable components that produce haptic output. 
     Control circuitry  14  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  14  may be used to gather input from sensors and other input devices and may be used to control output devices such as haptic output devices  18 . 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. 
     Control circuitry  14  may include antennas, radio-frequency transceiver circuitry, and other wireless communications circuitry and/or wired communications circuitry to support communications with external equipment such as electronic device  20 . Control circuitry  14  may, for example, support bidirectional communications with device  20  over a wireless local area network link, a cellular telephone link, or other suitable wired or wireless communications link (e.g., a Bluetooth® link, a WiFi® link, a 60 GHz link, etc.). Device  20  may be, for example, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a cellular telephone, a head-mounted device such as a head-mounted display, wearable equipment, a wrist watch device, a set-top box, a gaming unit, a television, a display that is coupled to a desktop computer or other electronic equipment, a voice-controlled speaker, home automation equipment, an accessory (e.g., ear buds, a removable case for a portable device, etc.), or other electronic equipment. Device  20  may include input-output circuitry such as sensors, buttons, cameras, displays, and other input-output devices and may include control circuitry (e.g., control circuitry such as control circuitry  14 ) for controlling the operation of device  20 . Device  20  may be coupled to one or more additional devices in system  12 . For example, a head-mounted device with a display may be used for displaying visual content (virtual reality content and/or augmented reality content) to a user. This head-mounted device may be coupled to an electronic device such as a cellular telephone, tablet computer, laptop computer, or other equipment using wired and/or wireless communications links. Devices  20  may communicate with device  10  to gather input (e.g., user finger position information) and to provide output (e.g., using haptic output components in device). 
     During operation, control circuitry  14  of device  10  may use communications circuitry to transmit user input such as force sensor information and information from other sensors to device  20  to use in controlling device  20 . Information from the sensors and other input devices in device  10  and/or information from device  20  may be used by control circuitry  14  in determining the strength and duration of haptic output supplied to the user with haptic output devices  18 . 
     Device  10  may contain fabric that forms all or part of a housing wall for device  10  (e.g., a wall that forms one or more external surfaces for item device), may form internal structures for device  10 , may form cosmetic structures for device  10 , or may form other fabric-based structures. The fabric of device  10  may be soft (e.g., device  10  may have a fabric surface that yields to a light touch), may have a rigid feel (e.g., the device of item  10  may be formed from a stiff fabric), may be coarse, may be smooth, may have ribs or other patterned textures, may have raised and/or depressed regions formed by embossing or other techniques, and/or may be formed as part of a structure that has portions formed from non-fabric structures of plastic, metal, glass, crystalline materials, ceramics, or other materials. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of a user&#39;s finger (finger  24 ) and an illustrative finger-mounted device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , device  10  may be formed from a finger-mounted unit that is mounted on or near the tip of finger  24  (e.g., partly or completely overlapping fingernail  22 ). If desired, device  10  may be worn elsewhere on a user&#39;s fingers. 
     A user may wear one or more of devices  10  simultaneously. For example, a user may wear a single one of devices  10  on the user&#39;s ring finger or index finger. As another example, a user may wear a first device  10  on the user&#39;s thumb, a second device  10  on the user&#39;s index finger, and an optional third device  10  on the user&#39;s middle finger. Arrangements in which devices  10  are worn on other fingers and/or all fingers of one or both hands of a user may also be used. 
     Control circuitry  14  (and, if desired, other components of device  10 ) may be contained entirely within device  10  (e.g., in a housing for a fingertip-mounted unit) and/or may include circuitry that is coupled to a fingertip structure (e.g., by wires from an associated wrist band, glove, fingerless glove, etc.). Configurations in which devices  10  have bodies that are mounted on individual user fingertips are sometimes described herein as an example. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative finger device (finger-mounted device)  10  showing illustrative mounting locations  28  for electrical components (e.g., control circuitry  14 , force sensors  16 , haptic output devices  18 , and/or other components in device  10 ) within and/or on the surface(s) of finger device housing  110 . These components may, if desired, be incorporated into other portions of housing  110 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , housing  110  may have a U shape (e.g., housing  110  may be a U-shaped housing structure that faces downwardly and covers the tip of user finger  24  and fingernail  22 ). During operation, a user may press against structures such as structure  30 . As the bottom of finger  24  (e.g., finger pulp  24 P) presses against surface  30 A of structure  30 , the user&#39;s finger  24  may compress and force portions of the finger outwardly against the sidewall portions of housing  110  (e.g., for sensing by force sensors or other sensors mounted to the side portions of housing  110 ). Lateral movement of finger  24  in the X-Y plane may also be sensed using force sensors or other sensors on the sidewalls of housing  110  or other portions of housing  110  (e.g., because lateral movement will tend to press portions of finger  24  against some sensors more than others and/or will create shear forces that are measured by force sensors that are configured to sense shear forces). Ultrasonic sensors, optical sensors, inertial measurement units, and/or other sensors may be used in gathering sensor measurements indicative of the activities of finger  24 . 
     The sensors in device  10  can measure how forcefully a user is moving device  10  (and finger  24 ) against surface  30 A of structure  30  (e.g., in a direction parallel to the surface normal n of surface  30 A such as the −Z direction of  FIG. 3 ) and/or how forcefully a user is moving device  10  (and finger  24 ) within the X-Y plane, tangential to surface  30 A. The direction of movement of device  10  in the X-Y plane and/or in the Z direction can also be measured by force sensors  16  and/or other sensors at locations  28 . 
     Structure  30  may be a portion of a housing of device  24 , may be a portion of another device  10  (e.g., another housing  24 ), may be a portion of a user&#39;s finger  24  or other body part, may be a surface of a real-world object such as a table, a movable real-world object such as a bottle or pen, or other inanimate object external to device  10 , and/or may be any other structure that the user can contact with finger  24  while moving finger  24  in a desired direction with a desired force. Because motions such as these can be sensed by device  10 , device(s)  10  can be used to gather pointing input (e.g., input moving a cursor or other virtual object on a display such as a display in device  20 ), can be used to gather tap input, swipe input, pinch-to-zoom input (e.g., when a pair of devices  10  is used), or other gesture input (e.g., finger gestures, hand gestures, arm motions, etc.), and/or other user input. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative finger device. As shown in  FIG. 4 , housing  110  may include a body such as body  26 . Body  26  may be formed from metal, polymer (e.g., polycarbonate or other suitable polymer), fabric, glass, ceramic, other materials, or combinations of these materials. Body  26  may include upper body member  104  and side body members  102 . Upper body member  104  may rest on the top of finger  24  (e.g., over fingernail  22 ). Side body members  102  may extend down the sides of finger  24  and may have shapes that help hold finger device  10  securely on finger  24 . Side body members  102 , which may sometimes be referred to as bent or curved arms, bent or curved protruding portions, angled housing structures, etc. may have curved cross-sectional profiles that allow these portions to conform to the curved side surfaces of finger  24  and thereby rest against these surfaces while holding housing  110  in place on finger  24 . Side body members  102  may, for example, be configured to curve around left and right edge portions of the lower surface of the user&#39;s finger pad while leaving a portion of the finger pad exposed. Additional arms and/or other structures in housing  110  that help securely mount device  10  on finger  24  may be used, if desired. 
     Device  10  may have one or more hinges such as hinges  34 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , hinges  34 , which may sometimes be referred to as joints, may be located in upper portion  104 , side portions  102 , and/or between upper portion  104  and side portions  102 . Hinges  34  may include friction hinges, spring-loaded hinges, freely-rotating hinge joints, other hinge structures, or a combination of these hinge structures. Hinges  34  may allow upper portion  104  and left and right side portions  102  of housing  26  to be moved towards or away from each other to accommodate fingers of different sizes. The example of  FIG. 4  is merely illustrative, however. If desired, device  10  may be free of hinges, may only have a hinge in upper portion  104 , may only have a hinge between upper portion  104  and side portions  102 , may only have a hinge in side portions  102 , or may have any other suitable hinge arrangement. 
     Device  10  may have one or more soft layers of material such as layer  32 . Layer  32  may be fabric, leather, or other material. Arrangements in which layer  32  is a fabric layer are sometimes described herein as an example. However, it should be understood that layer  32  may be formed from any suitable fabric-like material such as leather. Layer  32  (referred to herein as fabric  32 ) may form part of housing  110  for device  10 , may form one or more exterior surfaces of device  10 , may be located internally within device  10 , and/or may be incorporated in device  10  in any other suitable fashion. Fabric  32  may be integrated with device  10  or fabric  32  may be a removable fabric structure (e.g., a removable case, cover, or other structure that can be removed from and reattached to device  10 ). Fabric  32  may provide a comfortable interface between finger  24  and device  10 . Body  26  and fabric  32  may be attached to one another in any suitable fashion. For example, fabric  32  may be wrapped around some or all of body  26 , fabric  32  may be adhered to one or more portions of body  26 , body  26  may be molded to fabric  32 , body  26  may pass through portions of fabric  32  (e.g., strands that form fabric  32  may be intertwined around portions of body  26 ), and/or other suitable arrangements may be used to attach fabric  32  to body  26 . 
     A cross-sectional side view of an illustrative layer of fabric for device  10  is shown in  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , fabric  32  may be formed from intertwined strands of material such as strands  40  and strands  42 . With one suitable arrangement, fabric  32  may be a woven fabric (e.g., strands  40  may be warp strands and strands  42  may be weft strands). Other arrangements may be used for intertwining strands of material for forming fabric  32  for device  10 , if desired. In general, fabric  32  may be woven, knitted, braided, may be intertwined to form felt, or may contain strands of material that have been intertwined using other intertwining techniques. Fabric  32  may include one or more woven layers and/or one or more fabric layers formed from other intertwining techniques. If desired, layers of plastic and/or other materials may be coupled to one or more layers of fabric. In some arrangements, fabric  32  may include coatings (e.g., polymer coatings to prevent accumulation of dirt, materials that serve as moisture barrier layers, wear resistant coatings, transparent coatings such as patterned translucent coatings, etc.). These coating materials may penetrate into fabric  32  and/or may form layers on the inner and/or outer surfaces of fabric  32 . 
     The strands of material that form fabric  32  may include insulating strands (e.g., polymer yarn, etc.) and conductive strands (e.g., bare wire and/or wire coated with insulation). The strands of material may be monofilaments, may be multifilament strands (sometimes referred to herein as yarns, threads, or multifilament wire), may be formed from metal (e.g., metal monofilaments and/or yarns formed from multiple monofilament wires), may be formed from dielectric (e.g., polymer monofilaments and yarns formed from multiple polymer monofilaments), may include dielectric cores covered with conductive coatings such as metal (e.g., metal coated dielectric monofilaments and yarns of metal coated polymer-core monofilaments may be used to form conductive monofilaments and conductive yarns, respectively), may include outer insulating coatings (e.g., coatings of polymers or other dielectrics may surround each metal-clad polymer monofilament or each collection of metal-clad polymer monofilaments in a yarn, polymer insulation may enclose a multifilament metal wire, etc.), or may be other suitable strands of material for forming fabric. Fabric  32  may be formed using monofilaments, multifilament strands of material (yarns), combinations of these arrangements (e.g., fabric with polymer coated wires interspersed with insulating yarn), etc. The diameter of strands  40  and  42  that are formed from yarns containing multiple monofilaments may be, for example, 0.25 mm, may be 0.1 to 0.5 mm, may be more than 0.2 mm, may be less than 2 mm, or may be any other suitable diameter (width). 
     In some arrangements, fabric  32  may include stretchable (elastic) strands of material. Strands  40  and/or strands  42  may, for example, be formed from an elastomeric polymer that can stretch and return elastically to its unstretched state (e.g., when strands  40  and  42  are not stretched more than their elongation-to-break limits). As an example, strands  40  and  42  may be formed from synthetic rubber or spandex (a copolymer of polyoxyethylene and polyurethane, sometimes referred to as Lycra® or elastane). Fabric  32  may instead or additionally have strands that are less stretchable, but that add strength to fabric  32 . For example, strands  40  and/or strands  42  may be nylon strands or strands of other strong material. These examples are merely illustrative. 
     A perspective view of an illustrative configuration for body  26  of device  10  is shown in  FIG. 6 . In the illustrative arrangement of  FIG. 6 , body  26  has first and second side body members  102  coupled by hinge  34 . Hinge  34  allows side body members  102  to hinge about hinge axis  112 . Hinge  34  may include protruding ridges  114  that can be pinched together to spread side body members  102  open in directions  116  and released to close in directions  118  on a user&#39;s finger  24 . In other arrangements, hinge  34  may include a compressing member such as a bolt that squeezes side body members  102  together to form a friction hinge. The arrangement of  FIG. 6  is merely illustrative. 
       FIG. 7  shows how a body of device  10  (e.g., a body of the type shown in  FIG. 6  or body having other suitable structure) may be covered in fabric. As shown in  FIG. 7 , fabric  26  may be wrapped around body  26  to cover inner surfaces  106  of device  10  and outer surfaces  108  of device  10 . If desired, gaps  36  may be formed in fabric  32  overlapping hinge  34  to allow hinge  34  to move freely. Gaps  36  may be free of material such that hinge  34  is exposed, or gaps  36  may include a material that covers hinge  34  while still allowing hinge  34  to move freely. Material in gaps  36  may include fabric (e.g., fabric of a different type than fabric  32 ) or may include non-fabric materials such as polymer, metal, or other suitable material. 
     In the illustrative arrangement of  FIG. 7 , fabric  32  wraps continuously from inner surface  106  to outer surface  108 . In some arrangements, fabric  32  may include strands of stretchable material such as spandex, which provides a tight fit around body  26 . Fabric  32  may be attached to body  26  using adhesive or other suitable attachment techniques. If desired, some or all of the interface between body  26  and fabric  32  may be free of adhesive to allow fabric  32  to slide relative to side body members  102  as side body members move towards and away from one another. 
       FIG. 8  shows an arrangement in which fabric  32  includes multiple fabric portions such as fabric portion  32 A and fabric portion  32 B. Fabric portions  32 A and  32 B may be formed from different materials, may have different properties (e.g., different amounts of stretch, different denier values, different colors, different fabric constructions, etc.), or may be the same or similar fabrics that are separately attached to inner surface  106  and outer surface  108  of body  26 . Fabric portions  32 A and  32 B may be attached at joints  120  using adhesive, sewing, stitching, or other suitable fabric attachment techniques. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device  10  showing an example in which device  10  includes a magnetic hinge. As shown in  FIG. 9 , body portion  26 A and body portion  26 B may be coupled via magnetic hinge  34 . Hinge  34  and body portions  26 A and  26 B may be magnetized such that body portions  26 A and  26 B are magnetically attracted to hinge  34 . This holds body portions  26 A and  26 B together at hinge  34  while allowing body portions  26 A and  26 B to rotate about hinge axis  112  (e.g., an axis extending in and out of the page of  FIG. 9 ). Materials that may be used to form body portions  26 A and  26 B include neodymium alloys or other rare-earth magnetic materials, non-rare-earth ferromagnetic or ferromagnetic magnetic materials, or other magnetic material. In one illustrative arrangement, body portions  26 A and  26 B may be formed from ferromagnetic material and hinge  34  may be formed from neodymium. Other arrangements may be used, if desired. 
     In the example of  FIG. 9 , each body portion  26 A and  26 B is wrapped in a separate fabric material. Body portion  26 A is wrapped in fabric  32 A and body portion  26 B is wrapped in fabric  32 B. Fabrics  32 A and  32 B may be the same or different material and may have the same or different properties. Hinge  34  may be free of a fabric outer layer (as shown in the example of  FIG. 9 ), or hinge  34  may be covered or wrapped in fabric or other material. 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of device  10  showing another illustrative example of a magnetic hinge for device  10 . In the arrangement of  FIG. 10 , hinge  34  and body portions  26 A and  26 B are magnetized such that body portion  26 B is attracted to hinge  34  and body portion  26 A. This holds body portions  26 A and  26 B together while allowing body portions  26 A and  26 B to rotate about hinge axis  112 . Hinge  34  and body portion  26 A may, if desired, be formed from the same material such as neodymium and body portion  26 B may be formed from ferromagnetic material. Other arrangements may be used, if desired. 
     In the example of  FIG. 10 , body portion  26 A and hinge  34  are wrapped in fabric  32 A and body portion  26 B is wrapped in fabric  32 B. Fabrics  32 A and  32 B may be the same or different material and may have the same or different properties. 
       FIG. 11  shows an illustrative method of attaching body  26  to fabric  32  of device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , fabric  32  may be placed into a molding tool such as molding tool  38 . Molding tool  38  may have upper and lower molding tool structures that surround a recess. The recess may have a shape that matches the desired shape of body  26  and fabric  32 . In an insert molding process (sometimes referred to as overmolding), fabric  32  may be placed into molding tool  38  and molten plastic may be injected into molding tool  38  to form body  26 . As the molten plastic hardens, body  26  forms a mechanical bond with fabric  32 . The use of injection molding is merely illustrative, however. If desired, other forming techniques such as compression molding or vacuum forming may be used to form body  26  and fabric  32  in the desired shape. In some arrangements, fabric  32  may itself be formed from polymers (e.g., thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer strands or coatings) that can be formed into the desired shape using molding, heat and pressure, or other forming techniques. 
       FIG. 12  shows another illustrative method of attaching body  26  to fabric  32  of device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , fabric  32  may include strands  40  and  42  that are intertwined around fabric  32  portions of body  26  and/or hinge  34 . Fabric  32  may be woven, knitted, braided, or otherwise intertwined around body  26  and/or hinge  34 . This type of arrangement in which fabric  32  is attached to body  26  without being bonded or otherwise fixed to body  26  may allow body  26  to freely articulate about hinge axis  112  (e.g., without causing wrinkles in fabric  32 ) 
       FIG. 13  shows another illustrative arrangement for body  26  and hinge  34 . In the example of  FIG. 13 , body  26  has multiple ribs  44 . Ribs  44  may be configured to articulate independently of one another about hinge axis  112 . Compressing member  122  (e.g., a bolt) may squeeze portions of ribs  44  together to form a friction hinge  34  at a joint associated with axis  112 . When portions  26 A and  26 B are spread open in directions  124  (e.g., when rotated away from each other about axis  112 ), device  10  will be released from finger  24 . When portions  26 A and  26 B are rotated towards each other, portions  26 A and  26 B clamp down on finger  24  and hold device  10  in place on finger  24 . 
     Fabric  32  may be attached to body  26  of  FIG. 13  using any of the techniques described in connection with  FIGS. 7-12  (e.g., wrapping, overmolding or insert molding, intertwining, vacuum forming, compression molding, etc.). Each rib  44  may be wrapped individually in fabric  32  or fabric  32  may extend around multiple ribs  44  (e.g. fabric  32  may extend around groups of two or more ribs  44  or may extend around all ribs  44 ). 
       FIG. 14  shows an illustrative arrangement in which body  26  and/or hinge  34  is overmolded onto fabric  32 . Fabric  32  may have gaps that receive respective ribs  44  or fabric  32  may extend continuously across ribs  44 . The presence of fabric  32  between ribs  44  couples ribs  44  together while still allowing some independent movement of individual ribs  44 . 
       FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional side view of device  10  of  FIG. 14  taken along line  46  and viewed in direction  48 . As shown in  FIG. 15 , fabric  32  may extend between ribs  44  to form a flexible joint between adjacent ribs  44 . If desired, fabric  32  may have multiple fabric portions such as fabric portion  32 A and fabric portion  32 B. Fabric portion  32 A may be coupled between ribs  44  to form a flexible joint between ribs  44 , whereas fabric portion  32 B may form a covering over ribs  44  and fabric  32 A. Fabric  32 A and fabric  32 B may be formed from the same or different materials and may have the same or different properties. Outer fabric portion  32 B may, for example, form a cosmetic covering and inner fabric portion  32 A may protect outer fabric portion  32 B from tearing. 
       FIG. 16  shows an illustrative example in which fabric  32  is intertwined around ribs  44 . Fabric  32  may be woven, knitted, braided, or otherwise intertwined around one or more ribs  44 . This type of arrangement in which fabric  32  is attached to ribs  44  without being bonded or otherwise fixed to ribs  44  may allow ribs  44  to freely articulate about hinge axis  112 . 
       FIG. 17  shows another illustrative arrangement for body  26  of device  10 . In the example of  FIG. 17 , body  26  has upper body member  104  and side body members  102 . One or more hinges  34  are coupled between upper body member  104  and side body members  102 . For example, first and second hinges  34  may couple one side body member  102  to upper body member  104 , and third and fourth hinges  34  may couple an opposing side body member  102  to upper body member  104 . 
     In one illustrative arrangement, each side body member  102  may be a solid continuous structure (e.g., similar to body members  26 A and  26 B of  FIG. 6 ). In other suitable arrangements, side body members  102  may have one or more openings, gaps, or grooves that allow some portions of side body member  102  to move relative to other portions of side body member  102 . For example, an opening or grooves in side body member  102  along axis  50  may allow for articulation about axis  50 . An opening or groove in side body member  102  along axis  48  may allow for articulation about axis  48 . Additional openings or grooves that are parallel to axis  50 , parallel to axis  48 , and/or oriented in other directions may be formed in side body members  102 , if desired. Arrangements in which side body members  102  are formed from individual ribs of the type shown in  FIG. 13  may also be used. 
     Upper body member  104  may surround a cavity, recess, or opening such as cavity  46 . Components of device  10  (e.g., control circuitry  14  or other electronic components of device  10 ) may be mounted in cavity  46 . 
       FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative device  10  having a body of the type shown in  FIG. 17 . In the example of  FIG. 18 , upper body  104  has an upper portion  104 A and lower portion  104 B that surround cavity  46 . This type of arrangement may be useful for allowing upper portion  104 A to be removed so that components  72  in cavity  46  may be accessed. 
     Some or all of body  26  may be covered in fabric  32 . In the example of  FIG. 18 , fabric  32  covers inner and outer surfaces of side body members  102  and also wraps up and over the side walls of upper body member  104 . If desired, adhesive  56  or other attachment structures may be used to attach fabric  32  to upper body member  104  while fabric  32  is left unfixed at locations  58  on side body members  102 . This allows fabric  32  to slide relative to side body members  102  as side body members  102  move inward and outward in directions  126 . The ability of fabric  32  to slide across body  26  during movement of body  26  may help prevent fabric  32  from bunching up or wrinkling. 
     As shown in  FIG. 18 , components  72  may be mounted to side body members  102  and or may be mounted in cavity  46  of upper body member  104 . Components  72  may be covered by fabric  32 . Components  72  may include control circuitry  14 , force sensors  16 , and/or haptic output devices  18 . Forces sensors that may be used in components  72  include force sensors such as piezoelectric force sensors, piezoelectric haptic output components, capacitive force sensors, force sensors formed from soft piezoelectric polymers, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) force sensors, strain gauges, resistive force sensors, optical sensors that measure skin color changes due to pressure variations, and/or other force sensing components. Haptic output components that may be used in components  72  include piezoelectric haptic output components, electromagnetic actuators such as linear solenoids, motors that spin asymmetrical masses, electroactive polymers, actuators based on shape memory alloys, pneumatic actuators, and/or other haptic output components. 
       FIGS. 19, 20, 21, and 22  show illustrative arrangements in which a touch sensor is incorporated in device  10 . As shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 19 , touch sensors  60  may be formed on exterior surfaces of side body members  102  (e.g., facing away from a user&#39;s finger  24 ), may be formed on interior surfaces of side body members  102  (e.g., facing towards a user&#39;s finger  24 ), and/or may be formed on upper body member  104 . Touch sensors  60  may be formed on fabric  32 , may be formed from conductive strands in fabric  32 , may be formed under fabric  32  on a separate substrate (e.g., portions of body  26 ), and/or may be formed on other structures of device  10 . Touch sensor  60  may sense touch and/or force using capacitive touch electrodes, soft piezoelectric polymers, microelectromechanical systems (MEMs) force sensors, a strain gauge (e.g., a planar strain gauge mounted to the surface of side body member  102 ), resistive force sensors, optical sensors that measure skin color changes due to pressure variations, other optical sensors, and/or other force sensing components. 
       FIG. 20  is a schematic diagram showing an illustrative arrangement for touch sensor  60  of device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 20 , device  10  may include touch sensor control circuitry  66  (e.g., touch sensor control circuitry that forms part of control circuitry  14  of  FIG. 1 ). 
     Conductive lines  62  may serve as capacitive electrodes in capacitive touch sensor  60  (e.g., a touch sensor grid). Conductive lines  62  may be formed from patterned thin-film metal traces on body  26  and/or fabric  32 , may be formed from conductive strands of material in fabric  32 , may be formed from patterned traces on a layer that is separate from fabric  32  and body  26  such as a layer of polymer or other material, and/or may be formed from other conductive structures that form capacitive touch sensor electrodes. 
     As shown in  FIG. 20 , touch sensor  60  includes touch sensor circuitry  66  coupled to a set of horizontal lines  62  and a perpendicular set of vertical lines  62 . Touch sensor circuitry  66  may provide drive signals D to one of these sets of lines  62  (i.e., horizontal lines  62  in the example of  FIG. 20 ) and may gather corresponding sense signals S on the other of these sets of lines  62  (i.e., vertical lines  62  in the example of  FIG. 20 ). Capacitive coupling between the drive and sense lines varies in the presence of a user&#39;s finger over a drive-line-to-sense-line intersection. As a result, touch sensor circuitry  66  can process the drive and sense signals to determine which of the intersections of the horizontal and vertical lines  62  are being overlapped by a user&#39;s finger(s) or other external objects. When touch input is detected in this way, touch sensor circuitry  66  may provide a processor or other control circuitry in device  10  or other equipment with information on the touch input using a path such as path  64 . 
       FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional side view showing an illustrative arrangement for touch sensor  60  in which signal lines  62  are formed from conductive lines on a substrate such as substrate  52 . Substrate  52  may be a portion of fabric  32 , may be a portion of body  26 , or may be a substrate that is separate from fabric  32  and body  26 . Signals lines  62  may be formed from transparent conductive material such as indium tin oxide or may be formed from other conductive materials such as metal. 
       FIG. 22  is a top view showing an illustrative arrangement for touch sensor  60  in which signal lines  62  are formed from conductive strands of material in fabric  32 . As shown in  FIG. 22 , fabric  32  may include warp strands  40  and weft strands  42 . Warp strands  40  run along a first dimension of fabric  32  (e.g., the vertical dimension in the orientation of  FIG. 22 ) and weft strands  42  run perpendicularly along a second dimension of fabric  32  (e.g., the horizontal dimension in the orientation of  FIG. 22 ). Some of warp strands  40  such as strands  401  may be insulating and some of strands  40  such as strands  40 C may be conductive and may therefore serve as the vertically extending electrodes  62  in touch sensor  60 . Some of weft strands  42  such as weft strands  421  may be insulating and some of strands  42  may be conductive such as strands  42 C and may therefore serve as horizontally extending electrodes  62  in touch sensor  60 . Woven fabric  32  of  FIG. 22  has a plain weave, but in general, fabric  32  may have any suitable construction (e.g., fabric  32  may have a basket weave, may be knitted, may be braided, or may have any other suitable fabric construction). 
       FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional side view of device  10  showing another illustrative arrangement for device  10  in which fabric is used in conjunction with actuators to facilitate movement of body  26 . As shown in  FIG. 23 , fabric  32  may wrap around side body members  102  and may extend into upper body member  104 . In upper body member  104 , fabric  32  may be wrapped around actuators  74 . Actuators  74  may be configured to roll and unroll fabric around respective axes  128 . When actuators  74  rotate about respective axes  128  in direction  132 , fabric  32  is rolled up around each axis  128 , causing side body members  102  to move outward in directions  76 . When actuators  74  rotate about respective axes  128  in direction  134 , fabric  32  is unrolled from axes  128 , causing side body members  102  to move in direction  130 . Actuators  74  may be controlled by control circuitry  14 . Control circuitry  14  may actuate actuators  74  to move side body members  102  in direction  76  or direction  130  in response to user input, in response to sensor data, and/or in response to other information. 
       FIGS. 24 and 25  show an illustrative arrangement for device  10  in which device  10  includes shape memory materials. Shape memory structure  78  of  FIG. 24  may be formed on exterior surfaces of side body members  102  (e.g., facing away form a user&#39;s finger  24 ), may be formed on interior surfaces of side body members  102  (e.g., facing towards a user&#39;s finger  24 ), and/or may be formed on upper body member  104  (not shown in  FIG. 24 ). Shape memory structure  78  may be formed on fabric  32 , may be formed from conductive strands in fabric  32 , may be formed under fabric  32  on a separate substrate (e.g., portions of body  26 ), and/or may be formed on other structures of device  10 . 
     Shape memory structure  78  may be formed from a shape memory substance (e.g., nitinol or other shape memory metal alloys, shape memory polymers, etc.). Control circuitry  14  may control the state of shape memory structure  78  using shape memory effects (e.g., a two-way shape memory effect). In particular, control circuitry  14  may control the state of shape memory structure  78  by controlling the temperature of shape memory structure  78  (e.g., by passing current through shape memory structure  78  using a heating element). When shape memory structure  78  is maintained at room temperature, shape memory structure  78  may have a first shape that places body  26  in a first state, as shown in  FIG. 24 . When shape memory structure  78  is heated to an elevated temperature (e.g., a temperature above room temperature), shape memory structure  78  may have a second shape that places body  26  in a second state, as shown in  FIG. 25 . For example, the first state of shape memory structure  78  shown in  FIG. 24  may be a finger-mounted state where side body members  102  are spaced closer together to secure device  10  to finger  24 , and the second state of shape memory structure  78  shown in  FIG. 26  may be a non-finger-mounted state where side body members  102  are spaced further apart so that device  10  can be removed form finger  24 . As another example, shape memory structure  78  may be manipulated to provide haptic output in the form of a shear force on the user&#39;s finger. For example, the first state of  FIG. 24  may be a relaxed state where finger  24  feels no haptic output, whereas the second state of  FIG. 25  may be a stretched state that produces a shear force on finger  24 . 
     If desired, shape memory elements in device  10  may be used for fit adjustment purposes instead of or in addition to be using for providing haptic output. With this type of arrangement, control circuitry  14  may manipulate shape memory structure  78  to adjust the tightness of item  10  around finger  24 . In particular, control circuitry  14  may adjust the temperature of shape memory structure  78  to expand and/or contract shape memory structure  78  so that device  10  can accommodate both larger finger diameters (e.g., by moving side body members  102  away from each other) and smaller finger diameters (e.g., by moving side body members  102  towards each other). 
     If desired, fabric  32  may incorporate openings, holes, recesses, grooves, or other surfaces shapes to achieve a desired level of breathability.  FIGS. 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30  show illustrative arrangements for increasing the breathability of fabric  32  and device  10  using breathability features  80  in fabric  32  on side body members  102 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 26 , breathability features  80  are formed in elongated strips on fabric  32 . Breathability features  80  may extend across the length, width, and/or other dimension of fabric  32  on side body member  102 . There may be one, two, three, or more than three breathability features  80  extending across side body member  102  of device  10 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 27 , breathability features  80  are formed as isolated elements in fabric  32 . Breathability elements  80  may be formed in a random array, an ordered grid pattern, or other pattern. 
       FIG. 28  is a cross-sectional side view of fabric  32  showing how breathability features  80  of the type shown in  FIGS. 26 and 27  may be formed from bumps or protrusions on the surface of fabric  32 . This type of arrangement forms gaps between finger  24  and the non-protruding portions of fabric  32  between breathability features  80 . Air circulation in these gaps may help increase breathability of fabric  32  of device  10 . 
       FIG. 29  is a cross-sectional side view of fabric  32  showing how breathability features  80  of the type shown in  FIGS. 26 and 27  may be formed from pits or recesses in fabric  32 . This type of arrangement creates gaps between finger  24  and the recesses of features  80 . Air circulation in these gaps may help increase breathability of fabric  32  of device  10 . 
       FIG. 30  is a cross-sectional side view of fabric  32  showing how breathability features  80  of the type shown in  FIGS. 26 and 27  may be formed from through-holes in fabric  32 . This allows air to circulate through fabric  32  via the holes that form features  80 . 
       FIG. 31  is a cross-sectional side view of fabric  32  on finger  24  showing how breathability features  80  may be formed from holes that pass through one of two fabric layers that form fabric  32 . Fabric  32  may have first and second fabric layers  32 A and  32 B. Inner fabric layer  32 A that rests on finger  24  may be a moisture-wicking layer that absorbs moisture adjacent to the user&#39;s skin (e.g., using a denier deferential in which the fabric closest to the user&#39;s skin has a greater denier value than fabric further away from the user&#39;s skin). Outer fabric layer  32 B that faces the exterior of device  10  may have breathability features  80  formed from holes that pass through outer fabric layer  32 B. This allows moisture that has been absorbed by inner fabric layer  32 A to escape through the holes in outer fabric layer  32 B. 
     As shown in  FIG. 32 , external equipment such as electronic device  20  in system  12  may contain sensors such as one or more cameras  136  (e.g., visual light cameras, infrared cameras, etc.). Electronic device  20  may, as an example, form part of an augmented reality (mixed reality) or virtual reality system (e.g., a system that includes a head-mounted device, glasses, a helmet, or other head-mountable support structures). Visual markers  82  may be placed on device  10  and, if desired, on other locations in the user&#39;s environment. Markers  82  may be, for example, passive visual markers such as bar codes, cross symbols, or other visually identifiable patterns and may be applied to device  10  and/or other objects such as a tabletop or other work surface. 
     Markers  82  may, if desired, include light-emitting components (e.g., visual light-emitting diodes and/or infrared light-emitting diodes modulated using identifiable modulation codes) that are detected using cameras. Markers  82  may help inform system  12  of the location of the user&#39;s virtual work surface and one or more of the user&#39;s fingers as a user is interacting with a computer or other equipment in system  12 . 
     Visual markers  82  on device  10  and/or inertial measurement units in device  10  (e.g., accelerometers, compasses, and/or gyroscopes) may be used in tracking the user&#39;s finger locations (e.g., the locations of finger-mounted devices  10 ) relative to other markers in the user&#39;s work area. At the same time, system  12  may display associated visual content for the user. The user may interact with the displayed visual content by supplying force input, motion input (e.g., air gestures), taps, shearing force input, and other input gathered from device  10  by inertial measurement units in device  10  and/or force sensors and other sensors in device  10 . 
     For example, information on the location of finger-mounted device  10  relative to other marks in system  12  may be gathered by control circuitry in device  20  or other electronic equipment in system  12  (e.g., a computer, cellular telephone, or other electronic device coupled to device  20 ) during operation of system  12  while monitoring device  10  for force input, gesture input (e.g., taps, three-dimensional air gestures, etc.) that indicate that a user has selected (e.g., highlighted), moved, or otherwise manipulated a displayed visual element and/or provided commands to system  12 . As an example, a user may make an air gesture such as a left hand wave to move visual content to the left. System  12  may use markers  82  and/or inertial measurement units in device  10  to detect the left hand wave gesture and can move visual elements being presented to the user with a display in device  20  in response to the left hand wave gesture. As another example, a user may select a visual element in the user&#39;s field of view by tapping on that element. 
     In this way, control circuitry in device  20 , and/or other control circuitry in system  12  may allow a user to manipulate visual elements being viewed by the user (e.g., virtual reality content or other visual content being presented with a head-mounted device such as augmented reality googles or other device  20  with a display). 
     Markers  82  on device  10  may be formed from ink on fabric  32 , coatings on strands that form fabric  32 , surface features on fabric  32 , or other suitable structures in device  10 . In arrangements where markers  82  are tracked with an infrared camera, marks  82  may be formed from infrared-reflective ink or coatings. 
     In some arrangements, device  10  may incorporate optical components such as light emitters and/or light detectors. In this type of scenario, it may be desirable to incorporate light-transmissive portions in fabric  32 . This type of arrangement is illustrated in  FIG. 33 . 
     As shown in the cross-sectional side view of  FIG. 33 , device  10  may include optical components  86  and  88 . Optical component  86  may, for example, be a light emitter and optical component  88  may be a light detector. Fabric  32  may include light-transmissive portions  84  overlapping light emitter  86  and light detector  88 . In arrangements where optical components  86  and  88  emit and detect visible light, light-transmissive portions  84  of fabric  32  may be transmissive to visible light. In arrangements where optical components  86  and  88  emit and detect infrared light, light-transmissive portions  84  of fabric  32  may be transmissive to infrared light. 
     Light-transmissive portions  84  may be formed using material that is transparent to visible and/or infrared light, or may be formed using openings in fabric  32 . This type of arrangement is shown in  FIG. 34 . As shown in  FIG. 34 , light-transmissive portions of fabric  32  such as light transmissive portion  84  over optical component  86  may be formed from an array of perforations  90 . Perforations  90  may allow light emitted from optical component  86  to pass through openings  90 . If desired, perforations  90  may also be formed in fabric  32  over light detector  88  to allow light to pass through fabric  32  to reach detector  88 . 
       FIG. 35  shows an arrangement in which light transmissive portions  84  of fabric  32  are formed using a two-layer arrangement. Outer layer  32 A of fabric  32  may be formed from a transparent (e.g., visible-light-transparent or infrared-light-transparent) material and inner layer  32 B of fabric  32  may be formed from a light-blocking (e.g., visible-light-blocking or infrared-light-blocking) material. Outer layer  32 A may form a smooth outer surface of device  10 . Inner layer  32 B may have one or more openings  94  for allowing light from outside of device  10  to reach optical detector  88  and/or for allowing light from light emitter  86  to exit device  10 . If desired, both layer  32 A and  32 B may be fabric layers or one of layers  32 A and  32 B may be a coating and the other may be a fabric layer. For example, layer  32 A may be a fabric layer and layer  32 B may be a coating, or vice versa. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made to the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20180925
Publication Date: 20210622
Grant Date: 20210622
Priority Date: 20180509
Inventors: WANG, PAUL X.
JO, YOONHOO
STRYKER, JAMES A.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "D10B2401/18", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0446", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/038", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/0331", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/016", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "D10B2401/16", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/0331", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/014", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0445", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/016", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "D03D1/0088", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/044", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "D10B2401/16", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0308", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/044", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "D03D2700/0166", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/0331", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0308", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "D10B2401/16", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/016", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "D03D1/0088", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/038", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 68463987