Abstract: Transparent articles for use as outer surfaces of electronic devices and methods therefor are disclosed. A transparent cover can be provided over a display of portable electronic device to provide a protective outer cover over the display. The transparent cover can include material to mark, mask or color a portion of the transparent cover, such portion thereupon becoming opaque. The material can be provided in a recessed portion of an inner surface of the transparent cover, such portion being a portion of the transparent cover that is not over a usable portion of the display. The electronic device can, for example, be a portable electronic device.

Abstract: Electronic devices may include displays. A display may include backlight structures that generate light and display layers that generate images using the generated light. An electronic device may include an opaque flexible printed circuit that is wrapped around one or more edges of the backlight structures. The opaque flexible printed circuit may prevent light from the backlight structures from reaching other electronic components or escaping from the device. The opaque flexible printed circuit may include signal lines that communicate signals between a printed circuit board and the display. The opaque flexible printed circuit may be a layer of the printed circuit board that extends from an edge of the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board may include an additional flexible extended printed circuit layer that wraps around a surface of the printed circuit board and forms a portion of a conductive shield over that surface.

Abstract: Coatings for magnetic materials, such as rare earth magnets, are described. The coatings are designed to reduce or prevent the release of one or both of nickel and cobalt from the coatings or from the underlying magnetic material. The coatings are designed to resist corrosion and release of nickel and cobalt when exposed to moist conditions. The coatings are also designed to be robust enough to withstand damage due to scratch forces. In some embodiments, the coatings include multiple layers of one or of metal and non-metal materials. The coated magnets are well suited for use in the manufacture of wearable consumer products.

Abstract: A transparent article, such as a transparent cover, for use as a cover glass for an electronic device, as well as methods for producing transparent articles, are disclosed. The transparent article can form a part of a housing of the portable electronic device and can provide an outer surface for a portion of the housing. The transparent article can be provided over a display of portable electronic device to provide a protective outer cover over the display. In one embodiment, the transparent article can be formed with a laminate structure. In another embodiment, the transparent article can be formed with a ribbed structure. In still another embodiment, a sapphire coating can be deposited on the transparent article to improve it strength. Advantageously, the transparent article is able to be not only thin and lightweight but also provide sufficient stiffness for use as a cover glass.

Abstract: An efficient magnetic assembly having magnetic regions is formed by applying a magnetic field from a magnetizer to predefined portions of a monolithic substrate corresponding to the magnetized regions. In the described embodiment, the magnetic field is of sufficient strength and is applied for a sufficient amount of time to magnetize the corresponding portions of the monolithic substrate. A distance between at least two adjacent magnetized regions corresponding to a neutral zone is determined and based upon the determination, the monolithic substrate is shifted an amount less than the distance corresponding to the neutral zone and the magnetic field is re-applied to at least the shifted portion of the monolithic substrate.

Abstract: An electronic device housing may have conductive walls and planar metal internal housing structures. A display in the electronic device may have a touch sensor layer such as an array of capacitive touch sensor electrodes. The display may have display layers in a plastic chassis structure and a metal chassis structure. A display layer may have a conductive surface. Conductive tape may be used to couple the touch sensor to the metal chassis structure and a metal radio-frequency shielding structure. Conductive tape may also be used to short the conductive surface of the display layer to the internal metal housing structure. Segments of conductive tape may run along each of the four edges of a display and may overlap at display corners. Conductive foam structures may be used to short the segments to adjacent portions of the conductive housing walls.

Abstract: A solar concentrator assembly includes a tripod, a base, a reflective dish, a receptacle, and a thermoelectric module or a heat transfer module. The tripod includes legs and a top tripod connector coupled to top portions thereof. The base includes a rod coupled to the tripod; a bottom support structure coupled to the rod; a top support structure coupled to the bottom support structure; an extension coupled to the bottom support structure and the top support structure; and a cap with recesses mounted to the top support structure. The reflective dish includes support rods received within the recesses; a pliable material forms panels, wherein the support rods are inserted into seams between the panels; and a reflective material disposed on the pliable material. The receptacle is connected to the base and disposed within the reflective dish. The thermoelectric module or the heat transfer module is partially disposed within the receptacle.

Abstract: Electronic devices may include displays having backlight structures that include optical films. The optical films may help guide light from the backlight structures to display layers that generate display images using the light. The optical films may be attached together at one or more locations. The optical films may be attached to a structural member of the backlight structures. The structural member may be formed along each edge of the optical films and prevent the optical films from sliding within the display. Each optical film may be designed to expand to a common lateral size when the display is operated at a display operating temperature. The optical films may each include an elongated opening such as a slot through which a pin can be placed to partially constrain the movement of the optical films while allowing the optical films to expand or contract under changing thermal conditions in the display.

Abstract: An efficient magnetic assembly having magnetic regions is formed by applying a magnetic field from a magnetizer to predefined portions of a monolithic substrate corresponding to the magnetized regions. In the described embodiment, the magnetic field is of sufficient strength and is applied for a sufficient amount of time to magnetize the corresponding portions of the monolithic substrate. A distance between at least two adjacent magnetized regions corresponding to a neutral zone is determined and based upon the determination, the monolithic substrate is shifted an amount less than the distance corresponding to the neutral zone and the magnetic field is re-applied to at least the shifted portion of the monolithic substrate.

Abstract: Coatings for magnetic materials, such as rare earth magnets, are described. The coatings are designed to reduce or prevent the release of one or both of nickel and cobalt from the coatings or from the underlying magnetic material. The coatings are designed to resist corrosion and release of nickel and cobalt when exposed to moist conditions. The coatings are also designed to be robust enough to withstand damage due to scratch forces. In some embodiments, the coatings include multiple layers of one or of metal and non-metal materials. The coated magnets are well suited for use in the manufacture of wearable consumer products.

Abstract: A clasp for securing a first strap with a second strap includes a first clasp portion having a first frame member and a first set of magnets movable from a first to a second position, the first clasp portion adapted to be attached with the first strap; and a second clasp portion adapted to selectively connect with the first clasp portion, the second frame clasp portion having second frame member and a second set of magnets positioned in a fixed location within the second clasp portion, the second set of magnets positioned adjacent the first set of magnets when the second clasp portion is connected with the first clasp portion, the second clasp portion adapted to be attached with the second strap. When the first and second set of magnets create an attractive magnetic force therebetween in the first position and a repulsive magnetic force therebetween in the second position.

Abstract: An accessory unit for use with an electronic device is described. Accessory unit includes a front flap and a rear cover. The rear cover includes a recessed portion that defines a chamber and a lip portion. The chamber is configured to receive a consumer electronic device, and the lip portion is configured to hold the consumer electronic device therein by an interference fit that exposes substantially all of a display portion of the consumer electronic product. The front flap can include segments formed from panels with folding regions therebetween, which allow the front flap to fold. Further, an end region of the front flap pivotally couples the front flap to the rear cover, such that the front flap may be moved between open and closed configurations. The front may include magnetic elements.

Abstract: An accessory unit includes a front flap and a rear cover. The rear cover includes a recessed portion that defines a chamber and a lip that extends about an opening of the chamber. The chamber is configured to receive a consumer electronic device, and the lip is configured to hold the consumer electronic device therein. The rear cover can include a shell formed from glass fiber reinforced plastics and a lip formed from a thermoplastic. The front flap may include segments formed from panels with folding regions therebetween, which allow the front flap to fold. Further, an end region of the front flap hingedly couples the front flap to the rear cover, such that the front flap may be moved between open and closed configurations. Methods of manufacturing the accessory unit are also disclosed.

Abstract: A solar concentrator assembly includes a tripod, a base, a reflective dish, a receptacle, and a thermoelectric module or a heat transfer module. The tripod includes legs and a top tripod connector coupled to top portions thereof. The base includes a rod coupled to the tripod; a bottom support structure coupled to the rod; a top support structure coupled to the bottom support structure; an extension coupled to the bottom support structure and the top support structure; and a cap with recesses mounted to the top support structure. The reflective dish includes support rods received within the recesses; a pliable material forms panels, wherein the support rods are inserted into seams between the panels; and a reflective material disposed on the pliable material. The receptacle is connected to the base and disposed within the reflective dish. The thermoelectric module or the heat transfer module is partially disposed within the receptacle.

Abstract: An accessory unit includes a front flap and a rear cover. The rear cover includes a recessed portion that defines a chamber and a lip that extends about an opening of the chamber. The chamber is configured to receive a consumer electronic device, and the lip is configured to hold the consumer electronic device therein. The rear cover can include a shell formed from glass fiber reinforced plastics and a lip formed from a thermoplastic. The front flap may include segments formed from panels with folding regions therebetween, which allow the front flap to fold. Further, an end region of the front flap hingedly couples the front flap to the rear cover, such that the front flap may be moved between open and closed configurations. Methods of manufacturing the accessory unit are also disclosed.

Abstract: An accessory unit for use with an electronic device is described. Accessory unit includes a front flap and a rear cover. The rear cover includes a recessed portion that defines a chamber and a lip portion. The chamber is configured to receive a consumer electronic device, and the lip portion is configured to hold the consumer electronic device therein by an interference fit that exposes substantially all of a display portion of the consumer electronic product. The front flap can include segments formed from panels with folding regions therebetween, which allow the front flap to fold. Further, an end region of the front flap pivotally couples the front flap to the rear cover, such that the front flap may be moved between open and closed configurations. The front may include magnetic elements.

Abstract: Electronic devices may include displays. A display may include backlight components that provide backlight illumination for the display. Backlight components may include a light guide plate that distributes light from a light source across the display. Display chassis structures may be used to support display layers and backlight components. A metal chassis may include a portion that partially surrounds the light source. Openings or perforations in the metal chassis may allow the portion that surrounds the light source to flex about a flex axis. A portion of a display layer may be mounted to a plastic chassis. The plastic chassis may be insert molded over a light source, may form part of a package for a light source, may be adhered to a light source, or may wrap around the light source. An encapsulant may be formed over the light source to protect the light source from vibrations and contaminants.

Abstract: An electronic device having an optical connector that provides and/or receives optical signals through openings or perforations formed at an external surface of the electronic device. These openings can serve as the interface of the optical connector through which the electronic device can engage in one-way or two-way communication with corresponding optical connectors of other electronic devices. These openings can be sized such that they are not visible or not easily visible with the naked human eye. As such, these openings can be too small for communicating with corresponding optical connectors using any single one of these openings. But light that is collectively transmitted through or received through a group of these openings can provide optical signals that can be used to communicate with corresponding optical connectors using optical signals.

Abstract: An accessory unit includes a front flap and a rear cover. The rear cover includes a recessed portion that defines a chamber and a lip that extends about an opening of the chamber. The chamber is configured to receive a consumer electronic device, and the lip is configured to hold the consumer electronic device therein. The rear cover can include a shell formed from glass fiber reinforced plastics and a lip formed from a thermoplastic. The front flap may include segments formed from panels with folding regions therebetween, which allow the front flap to fold. Further, an end region of the front flap hingedly couples the front flap to the rear cover, such that the front flap may be moved between open and closed configurations. Methods of manufacturing the accessory unit are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic device contains electrical circuits. The circuits may include circuitry on printed circuit boards and components such as a touch screen display and buttons. Signal paths for routing signals between the electrical circuits may be formed from metal traces on flexible printed circuit cables. The flexible printed circuit cables may be bent around one or more bend axes. A flexible printed circuit cable may be formed from a flexible polymer substrate having one or more layers of polymer. Upper and lower ground layers may be supported by the flexible polymer substrate. The metal traces for the signal paths may lie between the upper and lower ground layers. Longitudinal slits within the flexible printed circuit may be formed that pass through the ground layers and the polymer layers. Vias may be formed that couple the ground layers together. The vias may run along the edges of the slits.