IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,928,301
Granted Patent B2
US 11,928,301 · App. 18/304,158 · Granted Mar 12, 2024

Electronic devices with sidewall displays

Inventors: Scott A. Myers (Saratoga, CA); Stephen Brian Lynch (Portola Valley, CA); Anthony S. Montevirgen (Redwood City, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
G06F3/0446G06F1/1652G06F3/041G06F3/0412G06F3/04817G06F3/0488G06F3/04886H04M1/0268H04M1/0269G06F2203/04102G06F2203/04112H04M1/0283H04M1/236H04M2250/16H04M2250/22
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,928,301
App. No.
18/304,158
Granted
Mar 12, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Electronic devices may be provided that contain flexible displays that are bent to form displays on multiple surfaces of the devices. Bent flexible displays may be bent to form front side displays and edge displays. Edge displays may be separated from front side displays or from other edge displays using patterned housing members, printed or painted masks, or by selectively activating and inactivating display pixels associated with the flexible display. Edge displays may alternately function as virtual buttons, virtual switches, or informational displays that are supplemental to front side displays. Virtual buttons may include transparent button members, lenses, haptic feedback components, audio feedback components, or other components for providing feedback to a user when virtual buttons are activated.

Claims (29)

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a display having an array of pixels that forms an active area;

an opaque masking material that forms an inactive area within the active area, wherein the opaque masking material has first and second openings; and

a lens located in the first opening.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the opaque masking material surrounds the first opening.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the active area has first, second, and third portions, wherein the inactive area comprises a first inactive area separating the first and second portions and a second inactive area separating the second and third portions.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 3 wherein the pixels are configured to display an icon between the first and second inactive areas.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 4 wherein the icon is touch-sensitive.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 1 further comprising a touch sensor that detects touch input on the first opening.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 6 further comprising control circuitry configured to launch a camera application in response to the touch input.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 6 further comprising an output device configured to provide feedback in response to the touch input.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 1 further comprising a light-emitting diode configured to emit light through the first opening.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the display comprises a flexible display having a bent edge.

11. An electronic device, comprising:

a display having an array of pixels;

an opaque masking material that separates a first group of the pixels from a second group of the pixels, wherein the opaque masking material has an opening; and

a lens located in the opening.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 11 further comprising a touch sensor configured to detect touch input on the opening.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 12 further comprising control circuitry configured to launch a camera application in response to the touch input.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the display has a bent edge.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the opaque masking material surrounds the opening.

16. An electronic device, comprising:

a display having an array of pixels that forms a first active area and a second active area;

an opaque masking material that forms an inactive area interposed between the first and second active areas, wherein the opaque masking material has an opening; and

a lens located in the opening.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the opaque masking material comprises an additional opening.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the array of pixels forms a third active area and wherein the opaque masking material forms an additional inactive area interposed between the second and third active areas.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 16 further comprising a touch sensor configured to detect touch input on the opening.

20. The electronic device defined in claim 19 further comprising control circuitry configured to launch a camera application in response to the touch input.

Continuity (12)
Continuation 17973658 · Oct 26, 2022
Continuation 17588072 · Jan 28, 2022
Continuation 17164611 · Feb 1, 2021
Continuation 16720257 · Dec 19, 2019
Continuation 16421892 · May 24, 2019
Continuation 16105744 · Aug 20, 2018
Continuation 15783272 · Oct 13, 2017
Continuation 14692365 · Apr 21, 2015
Continuation 14602199 · Jan 21, 2015
Continuation 14273315 · May 8, 2014
Continuation 13246510 · Sep 27, 2011
Related Publication 20230297200A1 · Sep 21, 2023
Cited By (1)
US 12,717,431