US 11,960,173 B1
Switchable panel with tension control components
Peter F. Masschelein, Campbell, CA (US); Yuan Chen, San Jose, CA (US); and Derek C. Scott, Melbourne (AU)
Assigned to APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/675,475.
Application 17/675,475 is a continuation of application No. 16/751,636, filed on Jan. 24, 2020, granted, now 11,287,701.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/806,088, filed on Feb. 15, 2019.
Int. Cl. G02F 1/1339 (2006.01); G02F 1/1345 (2006.01)
CPC G02F 1/13394 (2013.01) [G02F 1/13452 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A panel, comprising:
a first exterior layer and a second exterior layer;
a switchable component disposed between the first exterior layer and the second exterior layer;
a first spacer having an elongated body having an ovular shape, the ovular shape comprising distal ends, each of the distal ends of the first spacer adhered to opposing interior surfaces of the switchable component;
a lamination frame extending from an outer edge of the switchable component to an outer edge of the panel between the first exterior layer and the second exterior layer; and
a second spacer having an elongated body having an ovular shape, the ovular shape comprising distal ends, each of distal ends of the second spacer embedded within the lamination frame,
wherein the first spacer and the second spacer are configured to prohibit the first exterior layer and the second exterior layer from moving toward each other at the outer edge of the panel when a central portion of the panel experiences tension.
 
11. A panel, comprising:
a first exterior layer and a second exterior layer spaced apart a predetermined distance;
a first lamination layer and a second lamination layer disposed between the first exterior layer and the second exterior layer and extending to an outer edge of the panel;
a switchable component disposed between the first lamination layer and the second lamination layer;
a spacer having an elongated body and an ovular shape with distal ends adhered to opposing interior surfaces of the switchable component,
wherein a position of the spacer is fixed, and
wherein the spacer prohibits the first exterior layer and the second exterior layer from moving toward each other at the outer edge of the panel when a central portion of the panel experiences tension to maintain at least ninety percent of the predetermined distance between the first exterior layer and the second exterior layer at the outer edge of the panel; and
a lamination frame extending from an outer edge of the switchable component to the outer edge of the panel between the first lamination layer and the second lamination layer,
wherein the lamination frame is formed from a material having a stiffness greater than a stiffness of a material that forms the first lamination layer and the second lamination layer.
 
16. A panel, comprising:
a first panel exterior layer spaced apart a predetermined distance from a second panel exterior layer; and
a switchable component disposed between the first panel exterior layer and the second panel exterior layer, the switchable component comprising:
a first switchable component exterior layer and a second switchable component exterior layer;
a liquid crystal (LC) interior layer including a viscous material and disposed between the first switchable component exterior layer and the second switchable component exterior layer; and
switchable component spacers, each switchable component spacer having an elongated, ovoid shape with opposing distal ends that are anchored to opposing interior surfaces of the first switchable component exterior layer and the second switchable component exterior layer at a fixed location within the LC interior layer that is spaced from a location of another one of the switchable component spacers,
wherein the viscous material flows around the switchable component spacers, and
wherein the switchable component spacers prohibit tension experienced by a central portion of the panel from causing a change in the predetermined distance of greater than ten percent.