Patent Application

App. No. 15/035,520

Abstract

Claims (42)

1 . An apparatus comprising:

a flexible laminate structure comprising a first layer and a second layer and comprising perforations that extend through the first layer but not through the second layer, wherein the first layer is a functional layer used to enable user input to or output from the apparatus.

2 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the functional layer is a user output functional layer configured to enable control of output to a user.

3 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the functional layer is a display functional layer configured to enable control of light output to a user.

4 . (canceled)

5 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the functional layer is a touch input functional layer configured to enable sensing a parameter for detection of user touch input.

6 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the functional layer is an electrically controllable layer.

7 . (canceled)

8 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises a plurality of capacitive touch sensors and conductive tracks.

9 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second layer is a functional layer.

10 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second layer is a display layer that defines a plurality of display pixels.

11 . (canceled)

12 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the laminate structure comprises a third layer, and the third layer comprises perforations that extend through the third layer.

13 . (canceled)

14 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein at least some of the perforations in the first layer do not overlap at least some of the perforations in the third layer.

15 . (canceled)

16 . (canceled)

17 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the first layer comprises perforations configured in a first pattern and the third layer comprises perforations configured in a second different pattern.

18 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises perforations configured in a first pattern, wherein the first pattern is a variable pattern that varies in a first direction.

19 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the first variable pattern of perforations is configured such that there is a greater density of perforations where flexing occurs compared to where flexing does not occur.

20 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the variable first pattern of perforations is such that the density of perforations varies with the function of the area at which the perforations occur.

21 . (canceled)

22 . (canceled)

23 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first layer is bonded to an adjacent layer in the laminate structure using adhesive.

24 . (canceled)

25 . (canceled)

26 . (canceled)

27 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising conductive tracks, wherein the conductive tracks meander around the perforations in the first layer.

28 . (canceled)

29 . (canceled)

30 . (canceled)

31 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flexible laminate structure comprises a protective window.

32 - 36 . (canceled)

37 . A method of manufacture comprising:

forming a flexible laminate structure comprising a first layer and a second layer and comprising perforations that extend through the first layer but not through the second layer, wherein the first layer is a functional layer used to enable user input to or output from the apparatus.

38 . (canceled)

39 . (canceled)

40 . A method as claimed in claim 37 , wherein the adhesive at least partially fills the perforations in the first layer.

41 . (canceled)

42 . (canceled)

43 . A method as claimed in claim 37 , comprising forming conductive tracks that meander around the perforations in the first layer.

44 . (canceled)

Assignments (8)