PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10373731-B1
Application Number: US-201715654536-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Systems with hidden signal paths

Abstract:
A system such as a vehicle system may include a window. The window may have glass layers and an interposed polymer layer. Signal paths that contact the polymer layer may be formed within the window. The signal paths may be electrical signal paths formed from wires or patterned conductive traces. The conductive traces may be portions of an infrared-light-blocking layer formed from a conductive film or may be patterned from other conductive thin-film layers. The signal paths may include optical waveguides formed from optical fibers embedded in the polymer or transparent thin-film layers on the glass layers or other substrates. Openings may be formed in the glass layers to allow signal paths to pass to an electrical component. The electrical component may also be wirelessly coupled to the signal paths.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system, comprising:
 a window that includes first and second clear solid dielectric layers separated by a dielectric separation layer, wherein the window is configured to transmit light through a lateral surface of the first and second clear solid dielectric layers; 
 first and second electrical components; and 
 an optical signal path that is embedded within the dielectric separation layer and that is configured to convey light signals between the first and second electrical components. 
 
     
     
       2. The system defined in  claim 1  wherein:
 the first and second clear solid dielectric layers comprise respective first and second glass layers, wherein the dielectric separation layer comprises a polymer layer, and wherein the first electrical component includes a camera. 
 
     
     
       3. The system defined in  claim 2  wherein the first electrical component comprises a first optical communication circuit, wherein the second electrical component comprises a second optical communications circuit, and wherein the first optical communications circuit is configured to transmit the light signals to the second optical communications circuit over the optical signal path. 
     
     
       4. The system defined in  claim 3  wherein the camera produces data and wherein the first optical communications circuit transmits the data to the second optical communications circuit using the light signal. 
     
     
       5. The system defined in  claim 1  wherein the second electrical component is configured to transmit power to the first electrical component over the optical signal path. 
     
     
       6. The system defined in  claim 5  wherein the first electrical component is configured to transmit data to the second electrical component using the light signals. 
     
     
       7. The system defined in  claim 1  wherein the second electrical component is configured to provide power to the first electrical component. 
     
     
       8. The system defined in  claim 7  wherein the second electrical component has a wireless power transmitter circuit, wherein the first electrical component has a wireless power receiver circuit, and wherein the wireless power transmitter circuit is configured to provide the power by transmitting wireless power signals to the wireless power receiver circuit. 
     
     
       9. The system defined in  claim 1  wherein the first electrical component comprises a rear view mirror. 
     
     
       10. The system defined in  claim 1  wherein the window comprises a front vehicle window. 
     
     
       11. The system defined in  claim 10  wherein the dielectric separation layer comprises a dielectric separation layer selected from the group consisting of: a polyvinyl butyral layer and an ethylene-vinyl acetate layer. 
     
     
       12. The system defined in  claim 11  further comprising conductive traces in the vehicle window that convey signals between the first and second electrical components. 
     
     
       13. The system defined in  claim 12  wherein the conductive traces comprise portions of an infrared-light-blocking layer covering the window. 
     
     
       14. The system defined in  claim 13  wherein the first and second clear solid dielectric layers comprise respective first and second glass layers and wherein the infrared-light blocking layer comprises a coating on a surface of the first glass layer. 
     
     
       15. The system defined in  claim 13  wherein the infrared-light blocking layer comprises a silver layer on a polymer film that is embedded within the dielectric separation layer. 
     
     
       16. A vehicle, comprising:
 a window that includes first and second solid dielectric layers separated by a dielectric separation layer; 
 an electrical component coupled to an interior surface of the window; and 
 electrical signal paths in the window that are in contact with the dielectric separation layer, wherein the second solid dielectric layer has an opening and wherein the electrical signal paths pass through the opening and are coupled to the electrical component. 
 
     
     
       17. The vehicle defined in  claim 16  wherein the electrical component includes a camera. 
     
     
       18. The vehicle defined in  claim 17  wherein the electrical signal paths comprise portions of a conductive thin-film coating. 
     
     
       19. The vehicle defined in  claim 18  wherein the first and second solid dielectric layers comprise respective first and second glass layers, wherein the dielectric separation layer comprises a polymer layer, and wherein the thin-film coating forms at least part of an infrared-light-blocking layer. 
     
     
       20. A vehicle, comprising:
 a window; 
 first and second electrical components, wherein the first electrical component is mounted to the window and generates data; 
 optical communications circuitry that transmits the data from the first electrical component to the second electrical component by transmitting light through the window; and 
 a circuit in the first electrical component that generates power for the optical communications circuitry.

Description:
This application claims benefit to provisional patent application No. 62/372,465, filed Aug. 9, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This relates generally to transmitting signals, and, more particularly, to systems with hidden signal paths. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In vehicles, building systems, portable electronic devices, and other systems, it is often desirable to convey data and power signals over signal paths. For example, wires may be used to convey data and power signal within a system. 
     It can be challenging to incorporate signal paths into many systems. In some situation, it can be impractical to route wires to components because the components are in inaccessible system locations. In other situations, components that require power and data connections are mounted on clear glass structures, so that wires would be unsightly if routed to the components. 
     SUMMARY 
     A system such as a vehicle system may include a window. The window may separate an interior portion of the system from an external environment. The window may have transparent layers such as glass layers that are joined using a polymer layer to create a laminated window. 
     Signal paths may be formed within the polymer layer (e.g., silver traces or other metal traces may be formed on the glass layers or metal wires may pass through the polymer layer). The signal paths may be used to convey power and/or data between an electrical component on the window and another electrical component in the system. The signal paths may be invisible to a user of the system, allowing the electrical component to be mounted in a prominent location on the window without creating unsightly signal lines. 
     The signal paths may be electrical signal paths formed from patterned conductive traces on the surfaces of the glass layers that face the polymer layer. Conductive traces, which may be contacted by the polymer layer, may be formed from portions of a conductive infrared-light-blocking layer or other conductive thin-film layers. 
     The signal paths may include optical waveguides formed from optical fibers or transparent thin-film layers. The optical fibers may be embedded within the polymer layer and the optical waveguides may be formed from thin-film coatings on the surfaces of the glass layers facing the polymer layer. 
     Openings may be formed in the glass of the window. Signal paths may be coupled to the electrical component through the openings. The electrical component may also be wirelessly coupled to signal paths in the window. Power may be supplied wirelessly to the electrical component through the window or through free space. For example, circuitry in the system may supply the electrical component with light or wirelessly transmitted electromagnetic power signals. The electrical component may also include solar cells, thermoelectric power generators, or other power generation circuitry to generate power within the electrical component. A battery may be used to store power for later use. 
     The electrical component may be incorporated into a rear-view mirror or other component in a vehicle or other system. The electrical component may include a camera, may include a rain sensor, may include a light sensor, or may include any other suitable electrical device for a vehicle or other system. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative system in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative system with components in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of illustrative circuitry for conveying power and data signals over signal paths in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative component such as a rear view mirror or other electrical device mounted on a supporting structure such as a glass window in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of an illustrative window showing how a conductive layer on the window may be patterned to form signal paths for data transmission and/or power transmission in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative window having signal paths in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of another illustrative window having signal paths in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative window having signal paths and a layer with an opening to accommodate the signal paths in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative window and an electrical component mounted on the window that is electromagnetically coupled to signal paths on the window in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is top view of an illustrative signal path having capacitively coupled portions in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of an illustrative signal path having inductively coupled portions in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative optical signal path coupled to an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A system may have electrical components. The electrical components may be coupled to control circuitry, power sources, and other supporting circuitry in the system using wired and/or wireless paths. An illustrative system is shown in  FIG. 1 . System  10  of  FIG. 1  may be an automobile, truck, airplane, or other vehicle that has windows, body panels, or other structures on which electrical components are mounted, may be a building with windows on which electrical components are mounted, or may be another system that includes windows, other transparent structures, electrical components, and other electrical equipment. 
     In some scenarios, portions of system  10  include transparent glass layers and/or other transparent layers through which it is desired to convey power and/or data signals. In other configurations, portions of system  10  include opaque structures through which it is desired to convey power and/or data signals. Scenarios in which an electrical components such as cameras, rain sensors, light sensors, and other components are mounted on transparent layers such as the windows of a vehicle and in which wired and/or wireless signal paths are used in conveying power and/or data signals to and/or from the electrical components may sometimes be described herein as an example. This is merely illustrative. Systems such as system  10  may include any suitable components and may use any suitable arrangement for forming signal paths between the components and other system circuitry. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , system  10  may include control circuitry  12 . Control circuitry  12  may include storage and processing circuitry for supporting the operation of system  10 . The storage and processing circuitry may include storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., 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  12  may be used to control the operation of system  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. 
     In some configurations, system  10  may include electrical components such as input-output devices  14 . Input-output devices  14  may allow data to be supplied to system  10  and to a user and may allow data to be provided from system  10  to external systems or a user. Input-output devices  14  may include buttons, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, and other user input devices. Microphones may be used to gather voice input from a user and may gather information on ambient sounds. Output may be supplied by devices  14  using audio speakers, tone generators, vibrators, haptic devices, displays, light-emitting diodes and other light sources, and other output components. Devices  14  may include wired and wireless communications circuitry that allows system  10  (e.g., control circuitry  12 ) to communicate with external equipment and that allows signals to be conveyed between components (circuitry) at different locations in system  10 . 
     Input-output devices  14  may include sensors  16 . Sensors  16  may include cameras (digital image sensors), light detectors, magnetic sensors, accelerometers (motion sensors), force sensors, touch sensors, radar sensors, lidar sensors, acoustic sensors (e.g., ultrasonic parking sensors), temperature sensors, gas sensors, magnetic sensors, compasses, pressure sensors, moisture sensors (e.g., rain sensors), humidity sensors, sensors for measuring vehicle speed and direction, and other suitable sensors. Input-output devices  14  may also include electrochromic mirror and window dimmers and other dimmable layers (light modulators), may include components for opening and closing garage doors (e.g., components that transmit wireless commands to garage door systems), wireless circuitry for communicating with toll booths and parking garages, wireless circuitry for supporting vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-network communications, and/or other electrical components. In configurations in which system  10  is a vehicle system, system  10  may include a steering wheel, brakes, gasoline and/or electric motors, batteries, fuel tanks, transmission systems, and other vehicle systems. 
     A simplified side view of system  10  is shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , system  10  may include portions such as portions  18  and  20 . Portion  18  may include wheels, a chassis coupled to the wheels, propulsion and steering systems, and other vehicle systems. Portion  20  may include a body (e.g., doors, trunk structures, a hood, side body panels, a roof, and/or other upper portions of a vehicle). Seats may be formed in the interior of portion  20 . Portion  20  may include windows such as window(s)  28 . Window  28  may separate the interior of portion  20  from the exterior environment surrounding system  10 . 
     Window  28  may be formed from one or more layers of transparent glass, clear plastic (e.g., polycarbonate), and/or other materials. In some arrangements, window(s)  28  may include laminated window structures such as one or more layers of glass with interposed polymer layer(s). The polymer in a laminated window may be, for example, a polymer such as polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). 
     System  10  may include one or more electrical components such as components  22 . Components  22  may include, for example, control circuitry and/or integrated circuits and other components such as one or more of input-output devices  14 . Components  22  may include rear-view mirrors, rain sensors, camera sensors, light sensors, buttons, displays, and/or other input-output devices  14 . Components  22  may be mounted within any suitable portion of system  10  (e.g., portion  18  and/or portion  20 ). Components  22  may, for example, be mounted under a hood panel, under a door panel, under a trunk panel, or under other suitable body panels, may be mounted to the chassis of system  10 , may be mounted in a trunk or engine compartment, within a door cavity, or elsewhere within system  10 . With one illustrative configuration, which is illustrated in  FIG. 2 , components  22  may include one or more components mounted on window  28 . Components  22  may be mounted at the rear of a vehicle (e.g., on a rear window), on the top (roof) of a vehicle (e.g., on a moon roof window or on a portion of a front, rear, or side window that is extended over the top of a vehicle), may be mounted on a side window and/or may be mounted on a front window such as window  28  (e.g., a window that covers the front of a vehicle front portion  20 F in system  10 ). 
     Support structures such as window  28  may be formed form plastic, metal, glass, carbon-fiber composite material and/or other fiber composites, and/or other materials. Illustrative configurations for system  10  in which window  28  is formed from a clear layer of material such as a clear window material (e.g., laminated glass) may sometime be described herein as an example. 
     In addition to components  22 , system  10  may include other components such as components  24  (e.g., portions of control circuitry  12  and/or input-output devices  14  of  FIG. 1  and/or other resources that are not included in components  22 ). System  10  (e.g., components  24  or other electrical equipment external to components  22 ) may include circuitry that communicates with components  22  and/or that conveys power to components  22 . Wireless and/or wired paths may be used to support the transfer of data between components  24  and components  22  and/or may be used to support power transfer operations. For example, power and/or data may be conveyed between components  24  and components  22  using hardwired paths such as paths  30  in window  28  and/or wireless paths such as wireless paths  26 . 
     Hardwired paths  30  may include wires, metal signal traces, traces formed from silver nanowires, traces formed from conductive ink, thin-film conductive traces formed from indium tin oxide and other transparent conductive materials, and other conductive paths for conveying electrical signals. Paths  30  may also include optical fibers and other optical waveguides for conveying optical signals. 
     Wireless paths  26  may be based on the transmission of radio-frequency electromagnetic signals or other electromagnetic signals or may be based on free-space light transmission. Components  24  may be located on the roof of system  10  (e.g., in the leading edge portion of the interior cavity formed between a headliner and exterior roof panel in the roof of a vehicle), may be mounted in a dashboard, may be mounted in a door, or may be mounted in other portions of the body of a vehicle. These locations may be adjacent to window  28  (e.g., in the vicinity of components  22 ) to minimize the lengths of hardwired paths  30  and/or to enhance wireless signal transmission and reception for wireless paths  26 . In non-vehicle systems, components  24  may be located at other locations that are in relatively close proximity to component(s)  22  on window  28  or other support structure. 
     In configurations in which paths  30  run across a portion of a transparent support structure such as window  28 , there is a possibility that paths  30  will be visible to a user. To prevent unsightly paths, wireless paths  26  may be used to convey signals between components  22  and  24  and/or hardwired paths  30  may be formed from transparent structures that are invisible or nearly invisible to the unaided eye (e.g., optical waveguides and/or conductive signal lines that are transparent, optical waveguides and other structures that have refractive index values that match or nearly match those of the material(s) of windows  28 ), etc. 
     Using paths such as hardwired paths  30  and/or wireless paths  26 , power may be conveyed from components  24  to components  22  (and, if desired, from components  22  to components  24 ). Data may also be conveyed between components  22  and components  24  using hardwired paths  30  and/or wireless paths  26 . For example, a camera in component  22  may gather image data in real time and may supply this image data to component(s)  24 . Paths  30  may be used for conveying both power and data, paths  26  may be used for conveying both power and data, paths  30  may be used to convey data while paths  26  convey wireless power, or paths  30  may be used to convey power while paths  26  convey wireless data. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing illustrative circuitry of the type that may be used in system  10  in a configuration in which components  22  and  24  are communicating and exchanging power using wireless paths  26  and/or wired paths  30 . The circuitry of  FIG. 3  is merely illustrative. Components  22  and  24  may have additional circuits or may have fewer circuits, if desired. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , component  24  may supply power to component  22  using a wired path. For example, component  24  may have a power source such as power source  42 . Power source  42  may be a direct-current (DC) power supply that delivers power from an internal battery in system  10  and/or that converts power from a gasoline engine into DC power. Power source  42  may also use solar cells or other components to deliver power. 
     With one illustrative configuration, power source  42  supplies power directly to component  22  using a wired path  30 . With another illustrative configuration, component  22  is intermittently coupled to power source  42 . With this type of arrangement, component  24  may have a connector such as connector  30 - 2  that is configured to couple with mating connector  30 - 3  in component  22 . Connector  30 - 2  may be coupled to an end of cable  30 - 1 . An opposing end of cable  30 - 1  may receive power from power source  42 , via positioning system  40 . When it is desired to decouple components  22  and  24 , positioning system  40  may retract connector  30 - 2  from connector  30 - 3 . When it is desired to couple components  22  and  24  together, positioner  40  may move outwardly so that connector  30 - 2  mates with connector  30 - 3 . Once coupled in this way, power from power source  42  may be conveyed to component  22 . 
     Component  22  may, if desired, include a battery such as battery  92 . Battery  92  may be charged by power from power source  42  and/or from power generated by circuitry within component  22  and may be used to deliver power to the circuits of component  22  when other sources of power are not available or are insufficient. When wired power is available over paths  30 , circuitry in component  22  may be powered from power source  42 . 
     Circuitry in component  22  may also be powered using power generated by devices within component  22 . Component  22  may, for example, have one or more solar cells  94  that convert ambient light such as sunlight into power. 
     As another example, component  22  may have a light-receiving photovoltaic cell  96  that produces power based on received light from a laser or other light source  48  in component  24 . Light source  48  may transmit light to cell  96  over a free space path or through an optical waveguide associated with window  28 . 
     A motion-based generator such as piezoelectric generator  88  or other generator may be used to convey kinetic energy (vibrations, up and down motions and other motions associated with use of a vehicle on a roadway, etc.) to electrical power. 
     Component  22  may include a solid state device that produces power from heat (e.g., thermoelectric generator  90 ). 
     Wireless power for component  22  may be transmitted from component  24  and received by component  22  using wireless power transmitter circuit  44  in component  24  and wireless power receiver circuit  98  in component  22 . Wireless power transmitter circuit  44  may include a transmitter that converts DC power into alternating-current (AC) signals that are wirelessly transmitted using coil  46 . Coil  100  may be electromagnetically coupled (inductively coupled) to coil  46  and may receive the wirelessly transmitted AC signals. A rectifier circuit in circuit  98  may convert the received wirelessly transmitted AC signals and can convert these signals into DC power for charging battery  92  and for powering the circuitry of component  22 . If desired, capacitive coupling arrangements may be used for transmitting power wirelessly. The use of coils (inductors) such as coils  46  and  100  to form an inductively coupled power transfer system is merely illustrative. 
     Data may be conveyed between components  24  and  22  using wireless communications circuitry. For example, component  24  may have radio-frequency communications circuitry  64  (e.g., Bluetooth® circuitry or other communications circuitry) that uses radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  68  and antenna  66  to transmit and receive wireless signals. Component  22  may have corresponding wireless communications circuitry  70  for communicating with circuitry  64 . For example, component  22  may have radio-frequency communications circuitry  70  (e.g., Bluetooth® circuitry or other communications circuitry) that uses radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  72  and antenna  74  to transmit wireless signals to circuitry  64  and to receive wireless signals that have been transmitted by circuitry  64 . 
     As another example, component  24  may have near-field communications circuitry  58 . Circuitry  58  may operate in a near-field communications band such as a band at 13.56 MHz or other suitable frequency band and may use near-field communications transceiver circuitry  62  and near-field communications antenna  60  (e.g., a loop antenna with one or more turns) to transmit and receive wireless signals. Component  22  may have corresponding near-field communications circuitry  76  that uses near-field communications transceiver  78  and near-field communications antenna  80  (e.g., a loop antenna) to transmit wireless signals to circuitry  58  and to receive wireless signals that have been transmitted by circuitry  58 . 
     Optical communications may be supported over hardwired (waveguide) paths and/or through free space. Component  24  may have optical communications circuitry  50  and component  22  may have corresponding optical communications circuitry  82 . Circuitry  50  may have a transceiver such as transceiver  54 . A transmitter TX in circuitry  54  may use a light source (S) in optical transmitter/receiver circuitry  56  to transmit light to a corresponding detector (D) in optical transmitter/receiver circuitry  86  of circuitry  82 . Receiver RX in circuitry  84  may use detector D to receive the transmitted signals from circuitry  50 . Transmitter TX in circuitry  84  may use a light source (S) in circuitry  86  to transmit light signals to detector D in circuitry  52 . Receiver RX in circuitry  54  may use detector D to receive signals transmitted from circuitry  82 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , component  22  may be a rear-view mirror mounted on window  28 . Hardwired paths  30  (e.g., conductive signal lines, optical waveguides, etc.) and other structures (e.g., coils  100 , antennas  74  and  80 , etc.), transparent solar cells or other solar cells  94 , and/or other structures for component  22  may be formed in window  28 . Paths  30  and other structures in window  28  may, if desired, be formed from transparent conductive materials such as indium tin oxide and/or conductive thin-films based on silver and/or other materials (conductive ink, silver nanowires, etc.). Component (rear-view mirror)  22  of  FIG. 4  may have a base portion such as base  22 - 1  that is mounted to the inner surface of window  28 , may have a thin stalk such as stalk  22 - 2 , and may have a reflective mirror portion such as mirror mount portion  22 - 3  with mirror  100 . One or more portions of the circuitry of  FIG. 3  and other component circuitry (see, e.g., control circuitry  12  and input-output devices  14  of  FIG. 1 ) may be incorporated into base  22 - 1 , stalk  22 - 2 , and/or mirror mount portion  22 - 3 . For example, a camera (e.g., a camera that gathers real time driving information for autonomous vehicle systems), a rain sensor, a light sensor, display, buttons, a compass sensor, a light modulator for mirror  100 , and other electrical devices may be mounted in portions  22 - 1 ,  22 - 2 , and/or  22 - 3 . If desired, configurations in which rear-view mirrors have other shapes (e.g., configurations in which stalk  22 - 2  is omitted, etc.) and/or in which mirror  100  is omitted may also be used in system  10 . The rear-view mirror configuration of  FIG. 4  is merely illustrative. 
     Components such as illustrative component  22  of  FIG. 4  may sometimes be located in prominent positions on window  28 , so it may be desirable to hide signal paths from view from a user. As described in connection with the hardwired and wireless circuitry of  FIG. 3 , hardwired paths  30  may be formed from structures that are difficult or impossible to view and/or data and/or power may be transferred wirelessly so that some or all of paths  30  may be omitted. 
     Window  28  may be coated with one or more transparent conductive layers. These layers may, for example, include a layer such as an indium tin oxide layer or other transparent layer that can be ohmically heated (e.g., to defrost window  28 , to enhance the speed with which an electrochromic window dimmer changes state, etc.) and may include a silver layer or other low-e coating layer that blocks infrared light. Conductive layers such as these may be deposited as thin-film coatings on a glass layer or other transparent substrate layer in window  28  and/or may be formed on plastic films or other carriers that are incorporated into one of the layers of window  28 . 
     In configurations for window  28  in which window  28  has one or more conductive layers (e.g., thin-film coatings or other layers embedded in window  28 ), the conductive layer(s) may be patterned to carry power and/or data signals. Consider, as an example, window  28  of  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , window  28  may have a transparent conductive coating or other transparent conductive layer  102 . Gaps  104  may be formed in layer  102  to form signal paths  106 . Paths  106  may be coupled to terminals  108  of component  22  and may serve as hardwired paths  30  that convey a positive power supply signal and ground power supply signal respectively to component  22  from component  24  (not shown in  FIG. 5 ). Paths  106  may also carry data signals. 
     Window  28  may include one or more layers, two or more layer, or three or more layers of a hard substrate material such as glass, polycarbonate, or other rigid material (e.g., rigid clear dielectric or other solid dielectric layers). A dielectric layer(s) such as a polymer layer(s) may be used to couple the rigid layers together or the rigid layers may be separated by a gaseous dielectric layer (e.g., the rigid layers may be separated by a solid dielectric separation layer such as a polymer separation layer or may be separated by a gaseous dielectric separation layer such as a an air gap interposed between the rigid layers). Configurations in which window  28  includes two glass (or plastic) layers joined by polymer that is interposed between the glass (or plastic) layers may sometimes be described herein as an example. 
     A cross-sectional side view of window  28  showing illustrative structures that may be used in forming electrical and/or optical hardwired paths such as paths  30  is shown in  FIG. 6 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , paths  30  may include electrical paths  30 - 1  and/or optical paths  30 - 2 . Window  28  may include an outer clear rigid layer such as outer glass (or polymer) layer  110  and an inner clear rigid layer such as inner glass (or polymer) layer  112 . Polymer material  114  (e.g., one or more layers of polyvinyl butyral or ethylene-vinyl acetate) may be used to join layers  110  and  112  to form a layer of laminated safety glass for window  28  or layers such as layers  110  and  112  may be separated by an air gap. 
     Hardwired signal paths  30  may be formed as patterned thin-film coatings on lower surface  118  of outer glass layer  110  or on outer surface  120  of inner glass layer  112  and/or may be formed using structures that are embedded within material  114 . In the example of  FIG. 6 , illustrative electrical signal paths  30 - 1  include conductive traces  116  on surface  118  of layer  110  and include conductive traces  119  on surface  120  of layer  112 . Traces such as traces  116  and  119  may be formed, for example, from transparent conductive materials such as indium tin oxide and/or metal layers that are sufficiently thin to be transparent (e.g., with a light transmission of more than 70% more than 90% of light, less than 99%, or other suitable amount). Traces such as traces  116  and  119  may also be formed from other materials such as conductive ink (e.g., polymer binder with conductive particles such as metal particles), silver nanowires, etc. If desired, thin wires such as wires  122  may be embedded within layer  114  to carry electrical signals. 
     Illustrative optical signal paths  30 - 2  include optical fibers  124 . Fibers  124  each include a core  126  and a cladding  128 . The index of refraction of core  126  is less than the index of refraction of cladding  128  to support total internal reflection of light rays in core  126 . If desired, a fiber may be formed from an unclad core fiber such as illustrative core fiber  130 . In this type of configuration, the refractive index of core  130  is preferably greater than the refractive index of layer  114 , so that layer  114  may serve as the cladding for the fiber formed from core  130 . Optical waveguides may, in general, be formed from fiber structure such as fibers  124 , from fibers such as the illustrative fiber formed from core  130 , and/or from other optical waveguide structures. If desired, thin-film transparent layers may be used to form optical waveguides on surfaces  118  and/or  120 . For example, optical waveguide  132  may be formed from a core material such as core material  134  surrounded on some or all sides by a cladding material such as cladding  136 . Waveguide core  134  may have a refractive index that is greater than the refractive index of layer  112  and that is greater than the refractive index of material  136  (in the  FIG. 6  example). Optical fibers and other optical waveguides for forming optical paths  130  may be formed from polymers, inorganic materials such as silicon oxide, titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, etc.). The index of refraction values of the structures that form optical paths  130 - 2  may be sufficiently close to the index refraction values for layers  110 ,  114 , and/or  112  of window  28  to make it difficult or impossible to view paths  130 - 2  using an unaided eye. 
     In the example of  FIG. 7 , layer  140  has been embedded within layer  114 . Layer  140  may include one or more polymer film substrates (e.g. substrates formed from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or other polymer films coated with a thin silver layer (or layers) such as layer(s)  142  that serves as an infrared light blocking layer. Infrared light blocking layers (e.g., silver layers or low emissivity layers formed from stacks of silver layers and barrier and seed layers) may be formed on a layer such as layer  140  that is embedded within layer  114  or may be formed as thin-film coatings such as coating layer  144  on surface  118  of layer  110  and/or coating  146  on surface  120  of layer  112 . These infrared light blocking layers and/or other conductive blanket films in window  28  (e.g., indium tin oxide ohmic heating layers, conductive thin-film layers associated with electrochromic light modulators, etc.) may include silver or other conductive material and may therefore be patterned to form electrically conductive paths  30 - 1  of  FIG. 6 , as described in connection with patterned layer  102  of  FIG. 5 . 
     In some configurations, one or openings may be formed in the glass of window  28  to permit optical and/or electrical paths  30  to pass from within window  28  to component  22 . Openings may be formed using laser drilling, machining, chemical etching, or other suitable techniques. In the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 8 , opening  148  has been formed in layer  112  to allow optical fiber  124  and conductive trace  116  to pass to component  22 . Component  22  may be attached to the inner surface of window  28  using adhesive  150  (as an example). 
     If desired, the use of openings such as opening  148  may be reduced or eliminated by forming wireless signal paths through portions of window  28 . In the example of  FIG. 9 , trace  116  and metal pad  152  in component  22  are overlapping and in close proximity to each other and are therefore capacitively coupled. This allows alternating current signals to pass between trace  116  and pad  152  through dielectric layers such as polymer layer  114  and glass layer  112  and allows internal circuitry (component)  154  in component  22  to receive and/or transmit alternating current signals for data and/or power. In capacitive coupling arrangements, it may be desirable for trace  116  and pad  152  to overlap, as shown by illustrative trace  116  and pad  152  in the top view of  FIG. 10 . Inductively coupled wireless schemes may also be used. In this type of arrangement, trace  116  may have a loop shape and metal  152  in component  22  may have an overlapping loop shape, as show in  FIG. 11 . Antennas for far-field communications may also be formed using portions of paths  30 - 1 . 
     In optical signal transmission schemes, total internal reflection can be selectively defeated to enhancing optical coupling into and out of an optical waveguide. Consider, as an example, the arrangement shown in the cross-sectional side view of  FIG. 12 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , an optical waveguide structure such as waveguide structure  155  (e.g., the structures of signal paths  30 - 2  of  FIG. 6 , one or more layers in window  28 , etc.) may be locally modified to create modified portion  158  (e.g., by etching or machining away part of structure  155  to form a recessed portion and/or by etching, machining, or otherwise treating the surface of structure  155  to texture the surface of structure  155  in portion  158  and thereby create a non-flat surface structure with high angle surfaces that allow light to escape waveguide structures, etc.) and/or an index-matched material such as material  160  may be placed on an appropriate portion of structure  155 . Light  156  may be guided within structure  155  by total internal reflection until reaching portion  158  and/or material  160 . When portion  158  and/or material  160  is reached, light  156  will be coupled out of structure  155  and into component  22 , as illustrated by light  162 , which is aligned with a light transmitter and/or light detector in internal component  154  of component  22 . Using an arrangement of the type shown in  FIG. 12 , component  24  may transmit light signals for power and/or data to component  22 . Component  22  may also transmit light signals to component  22 . As illustrated by light signals  156 , the transmitted light passing between components  24  and  22  may be guided internally in an optical waveguide structure such as structure  155 . Light  156  may be visible light, infrared light, or ultraviolet light. As an example, light  156  may be infrared light so that light  156  is invisible to users of system  10  and so that structure  155  is sufficiently transparent to convey light  156  with low loss. 
     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: 20170719
Publication Date: 20190806
Grant Date: 20190806
Priority Date: 20160809
Inventors: WILSON, JAMES R.
JONES, CHRISTOPHER D.
BURKHOLDER, GARY L.
Scott, Derek C.
HAVSKJOLD, DAVID G.
RHODES, GLEN A.
WANG, FORREST C.
GARRONE, RYAN J.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H02J7/00034", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/10", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/80", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60J1/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60R1/04", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/10", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B10/807", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B10/25", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/30", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B10/807", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/42", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B10/80", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60R16/03", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B5/208", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B5/208", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/30", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B10/807", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/10", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B10/25", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01B5/14", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/025", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B6/42", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60R1/04", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60R16/03", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B60J1/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B10/80", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01B5/14", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J50/80", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H02J7/00034", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 67477619