Transparent Electronic Device

• US 20160240119A1
• Filed: 04/26/2016
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Pance, Aleksandar
• Granted Patent: US 9,830,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1431 using a single graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/023 Display panel composed of stacked panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters

Abstract

A method and system for displaying images on a transparent display of an electronic device. The display may include one or more display screens as well as a flexible circuit for connecting the display screens with internal circuitry of the electronic device. Furthermore, the display screens may allow for overlaying of images over real world viewable objects, as well as a visible window to be present on an otherwise opaque display screen. Additionally, the display may include active and passive display screens that may be utilized based on images to be displayed.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a motion sensor that generates motion sensor data; and

a processor, wherein the processor generates a movable transparent window on the display, wherein external objects behind the electronic device are viewable through the movable transparent window, and wherein the processor positions the movable transparent window on the display based on the motion sensor data.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the motion sensor data indicates an amount that the electronic device has been rotated.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to change a position of the movable transparent window in response to the motion sensor data.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to change a size of the movable transparent window in response to the motion sensor data.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the movable transparent window is surrounded by an opaque portion of the display.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the display comprises first and second opposing surfaces connected by an edge, and wherein a flexible circuit is positioned on the edge.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 6, further comprising a power source and memory devices, wherein the power source and memory devices are coupled to the flexible circuit.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a housing, wherein the display, motion sensor, and processor are disposed in the housing.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

at least one display screen disposed within the housing, wherein the at least one display screen includes a touch sensor that receives touch input from a user; and

a processor disposed within the housing, wherein the processor positions a movable transparent window on the at least one display screen in response to the touch input and wherein external objects behind the electronic device are viewable through the movable transparent window.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 9, wherein the processor changes a position of the movable transparent window in response to the touch input from the user.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 9, wherein the processor changes a size of the movable transparent window in response to the touch input from the user.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 9, wherein the movable transparent window is surrounded by an opaque portion of the at least one display screen.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 9, wherein the touch sensor comprises a capacitive touch sensor.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 9, further comprising a flexible circuit positioned on an edge of the at least one display screen, wherein the processor is coupled to the at least one display screen through the flexible circuit.

15. A method of selectively rendering a portion of a display transparent, comprising:

receiving input signals at a processor, wherein the input signals are indicative of user input;

generating a movable transparent window on the display in a first location in response to the input signals;

receiving additional input signals at the processor, wherein the additional input signals are indicative of additional user input; and

generating the movable transparent window on the display in a second location that is different than the first location in response to the additional input signals.

16. The method defined in claim 15, wherein the display includes a touch sensor, and wherein receiving the input signals at the processor comprises receiving signals from the touch sensor.

17. The method defined in claim 15, wherein the display includes a touch sensor, and wherein the user input comprises a user touching the display.

18. The method defined in claim 15, wherein generating the movable transparent window on the display in the first location comprises driving pixels in an opaque region to a first voltage level and driving pixels in a transparent region to a second voltage level.

19. The method defined in claim 18, wherein generating the movable transparent window on the display in the second location comprises adjusting which pixels in the display are driven to the first voltage level and the second voltage level.

20. The method defined in claim 19, wherein driving pixels in the opaque region to the first voltage level comprises driving a voltage of the pixels in the opaque region to zero.