# US 10,310,645 B2 · Display window with light steering > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,310,645 B2 - Document ID: US10310645B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/071,168 - Filed: 2016-03-15 - Published: 2017-09-21 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-15 - Assignees: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Applicants: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Inventors: Joni Arola - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10310645B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0412: {Digitisers structurally integrated in a display} - G02B 5/0263: {with positional variation of the diffusing properties, e.g. gradient or patterned diffuser} - G02F 1/1335: Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors - G02F 1/133526: {Lenses, e.g. microlenses or Fresnel lenses} - G02F 1/13336: {Combining plural substrates to produce large-area displays, e.g. tiled displays} - G02F 1/133562: {on the viewer side} - G06F 2203/04103: Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices - G06F 2203/04107: Shielding in digitiser, i.e. guard or shielding arrangements, mostly for capacitive touchscreens, e.g. driven shields, driven grounds - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS ## Abstract An electronic device is provided. The device comprises a display module comprising an active area configured to emit light, and a window layer attached to the display module. The window layer comprises: a transparent area positioned above at least the active area of the display module, an area extending outwards relative to the active area of the display module, and an optical pattern configured to direct the light emitted by the active area of the display module near the edges of the active area towards the area of the window layer extending outwards. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device, comprising: a display module comprising an active area configured to emit light, a window layer attached to the display module, wherein the window layer comprises: a transparent area positioned above at least the active area of the display module, an area extending outwards relative to the active area of the display module, and an optical pattern configured below a surface of the window layer, the optical pattern comprising a plurality of light steering elements positioned in a material of the window layer at a distance from the surface of the window layer and extending from outside of edges of the active area and only within an inactive area to direct the light emitted by the active area of the display module near the edges of the active area towards the area of the window layer extending outwards. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window layer is attached to the display module by a layer of optically clear adhesive. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the area extending outwards is transparent to visible light and the plurality of light steering elements is positioned only along a side edge of the window layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical pattern comprises the light steering pattern configured to steer the light emitted by the active area of the display module near the edges of the active area towards the area of the window layer extending outwards, wherein the optical pattern is formed before attaching the window layer to the display module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical pattern further comprises a diffuser pattern configured to scatter the light which passes through the diffuser pattern into the light steering pattern. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of light steering elements is formed at a depth within the material of the window layer by treating a material of the window layer to add the plurality of steering elements during manufacture of the window layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of light steering elements extend outwards to the inactive area, wherein the area extending outwards relative to the active area is aligned with the inactive area. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active area of the display module comprises active elements configured to emit light and form an image on the display module; and the optical pattern is configured to direct the light emitted by the active elements such that the image formed on the display module near the edges of the active area is projected to the area of the window layer extending outwards. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A device as claimed in claim 8, comprising at least one processor and a memory including computer program code, wherein the computer program code and the at least one memory are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the device to modify the image formed on the display module near the edges of the active area to optimize the projection of said image to the area of the window layer extending outwards. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display module comprises a touch-sensing layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the area of the window layer extending outwards has a curved shape along the edges of the display module. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A device as claimed in claim 11, comprising an additional touch-sensing element positioned between the curved area of the window layer extending outwards and at least one edge of the display module. ### Claim 13 A device, comprising: a display module comprising an active area configured to reflect light, a window layer attached to the display module, wherein the window layer comprises: a transparent area positioned above at least the active area of the display module, an area extending outwards relative to the active area of the display module, and an optical pattern configured below a surface of the window layer, the optical pattern comprising a plurality of light steering elements positioned in a material of the window layer at a distance from the surface of the window layer and extending from outside of edges of the active area and only within an inactive area to direct the light reflected by the active area of the display module near the edges of the active area towards the area of the window layer extending outwards. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the area extending outwards is transparent to visible light. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the optical pattern is transparent to visible light. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the optical pattern comprises the light steering pattern configured to steer the light reflected by the active area of the display module near the edges of the active area towards the area of the window layer extending outwards, wherein the optical pattern is formed before attaching the window layer to the display module. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the display module comprises a touch-sensing layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the area of the window layer extending outwards has a curved shape along the edges of the display module. ### Claim 19 A method of manufacturing a device with a display, the method comprising: assembling a display module comprising an active area configured to emit or reflect light; attaching a window layer with optically clear adhesives to the top of the display element, wherein the window layer is positioned such that the window layer covers the active area of the display module, and an area of the window layer extends outwards relative to the active area of the display module; and producing an optical pattern below a surface of the window layer in the area of the window layer extending outwards by treating a material of the window layer, the optical pattern comprising a plurality of light steering elements positioned in the material of the window layer at a distance from the surface of the window layer and extending from outside of edges of the active area and only within an inactive area, wherein the optical pattern is configured to direct the light emitted or reflected by the active area of the display module near the edges of the active area towards the area of the window layer extending outwards. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the optical pattern in the area of the window layer extending outwards is produced by placing the plurality of light steering elements in the material of the window layer in predetermined positions and at predetermined density, and wherein the light steering elements are placed in the material of the window by treating material of the window layer with laser beams with controlled energy, and the optical pattern is formed before attaching the window layer to the display module.