Cover attachment with flexible display

• US 9,335,793 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2011
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rothkopf, Fletcher R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yang, Nan-Ying
• Application Number:
  US13/208,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20120194448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/002 Protective covers
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 15/00 Purses, bags, luggage or other receptacles covered by groups A45C1/00 - A45C11/00, combined with other objects or articles A45C1/08, A45C3/14, A45C11/321, A45C13/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/003 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2200/15 Articles convertible into a stand, e.g. for displaying purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0057 using magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1673 Arrangements for projecting a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 : Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 : Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 : Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 : for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 : display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 : specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence

Abstract

A tablet device with a flexible cover is disclosed. Thin flexible display technology can be integrated into the flexible cover without affecting the overall form factor of the cover or tablet device. Adding the integrated display to the flexible cover greatly enhances the overall functionality of the tablet device.

Claims

1. A flexible accessory device releasably attachable to a tablet device having a back surface and a front surface substantially all of which is a display having a size and a shape and configured to present tablet device visual content, the flexible accessory device comprising:

a single flexible flap having at least the size and the shape of the front surface of the tablet device and pivotally movable with respect to the tablet device, the single flexible flap comprising segments joined at a foldable region that renders the segments foldable with respect to each other and the tablet device, wherein a folded configuration comprises a first segment used to support the tablet device at the back surface and a second segment used to support the tablet device at an angle with respect to a support surface; and

a single non-segmented flexible display disposed over the foldable region and capable of communication with the tablet device and presenting flap visual content in a segmented manner, wherein the single non-segmented flexible display disposed over only a third segment is used to present the flap visual content in the folded configuration, the third segment different from the first segment and the second segment.

2. The flexible accessory device of claim 1, wherein the folded configuration comprises a triangular shape defined by the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment.

3. The flexible accessory device of claim 2, wherein the single flexible display is disposed on the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment.

4. The flexible accessory device of claim 3, further comprising a fourth segment, wherein the triangular shape includes the fourth segment and wherein the fourth segment engages one of the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment.

5. The flexible accessory device of claim 1, wherein the flap visual content disposed on the third segment comprises a touch sensitive area defining a user input capable of controlling the tablet device when the single flexible flap is in the folded configuration.

6. The flexible accessory device of claim 5, wherein the user input is selected from a group consisting of a play, a pause, a fast forward, and a rewind.

7. The flexible accessory device of claim 1, wherein when the single flexible flap is in the folded configuration, a portion of the single flexible display disposed on the first segment and the second segment is deactivated.

8. An accessory device releasably coupled with a tablet device having a tablet device display that substantially fills a front portion arranged to present tablet visual content, a rear portion opposite the front portion, and a sensor, the accessory device comprising:

a cover having a size and a shape to cover the tablet device display, the cover capable of folding into a folded configuration that is detectable by the sensor, the folded configuration rendering a first portion of the cover accessible and a remaining portion inaccessible; and

a cover display conformally attached with the cover, the cover display receiving power from the tablet device and presenting cover visual content only at a location corresponding to the first portion in the folded configuration.

9. The accessory device of claim 8, wherein the folded configuration includes a triangular shape.

10. The accessory device of claim 8, wherein the cover comprises:

a first segment;

a second segment;

a first foldable region separating the first segment from the second segment;

a third segment; and

a second foldable region separating the second segment from the third segment, wherein;

the first segment pivots about the second segment at the first foldable region, and

the third segment pivots about the second segment at the second foldable region.

11. The accessory device of claim 10, wherein the folded configuration is defined by the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment.

12. The accessory device of claim 10, further comprising a fourth segment and a third foldable region separating the third segment from the fourth segment, wherein:

the cover display is disposed over the third segment and the fourth segment, and

the first segment engages the fourth segment when the folded configuration includes a triangular shape.

13. The accessory device of claim 8, wherein the cover display receives power from the tablet device, and wherein the visual content is only at a location of the cover display disposed on the third segment.

14. The accessory device of claim 8, wherein the second segment engages the rear portion.

15. The accessory device of claim 12, wherein:

the cover display comprises a touch sensitive area located in the visual content, the touch sensitive area comprising a user input function selected from a group consisting of a play, a pause, a fast forward, and a rewind, and

the user input function is a control sent to the tablet device.

16. An accessory device suitable for use with a tablet device having a tablet display, the accessory device comprising:

a hinge assembly capable of releasably attaching with the tablet device;

a segmented cover pivotally attached to the hinge assembly at a first pivot;

a flap portion pivotally attached to the hinge assembly at a second pivot different than the first pivot; and

wherein;

in a closed configuration, the segmented cover and the flap portion include a size and a shape that covers the tablet display, and

in an open configuration, the segmented cover rotates about the first pivot and folds define a support structure for the tablet device and the flap portion rotates about the second pivot forming an obtuse angle with respect to the tablet display.

17. The accessory device of claim 16, wherein the flap portion comprises a cover display in electrical communication with the tablet device.

18. The accessory device of claim 17, wherein the flap portion further comprises a keyboard.

19. The accessory device of claim 17, wherein the cover display comprises a touch screen that allows a user input that can be received by the tablet device.

20. The accessory device of claim 16, wherein the flap portion is positioned between the segmented cover and the tablet display in the closed configuration.

21. The accessory device of claim 20, wherein the flap portion engages the segmented cover and the tablet display in the closed configuration.

22. The accessory device of claim 16, wherein the segmented cover comprises at least a first segment, a second segment, a third segment and a fourth segment.

23. The accessory device of claim 16, wherein the segmented cover comprises a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment, and wherein the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment are configured to fold to combine a triangular support to support the tablet device.