Transparent electronic device

• US 9,367,093 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2014
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Pance, Aleksandar
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALMEIDA, CORY A
• Application Number:
  US14/543,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20150070276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 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. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a display comprising first and second overlapping display screens disposed within the housing;

a motion sensor; and

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

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

3. The portable electronic device defined in claim 2, wherein the processor generates a new movable transparent window on the first display screen in response to the motion sensor data.

4. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the motion sensor comprises a three-axis accelerometer.

5. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the processor changes the position of the movable transparent window in response to the motion sensor data.

6. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the processor changes a size of the movable transparent window based on the motion sensor data.

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

8. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein in response to the motion sensor detecting that the device has been rotated the moveable transparent window is removed from the second display screen and generated on the first display screen.

9. The portable electronic device defined in claim 8, wherein when the processor generates the movable transparent window on the second display screen the second display screen is facing the external objects, and wherein the moveable transparent window is removed from the second display screen and generated on the first display screen when the motion sensor detects that the device has been rotated such that the first display screen is facing the external object.

10. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a display comprising first and second overlapping display screens disposed within the housing, wherein at least one of the first and second display screens 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 second display screen in response to the touch input and wherein external objects behind the electronic device are viewable through the movable transparent window and the first display screen.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 10, wherein the processor generates a new movable transparent window on the first display screen in response to the touch input from the user.

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

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

14. The electronic device defined in claim 10, wherein the movable transparent window is surrounded by an opaque portion of the second display screen.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 14, wherein the first display screen displays images that overlap the opaque portion of the second display screen.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 10, wherein the first display screen comprises first and second opposing surfaces connected by an edge, and wherein a flexible circuit is positioned on the edge such that the processor is coupled to the first display screen through the flexible circuit.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 16, further comprising a power source and memory devices, wherein the power source and memory devices are coupled to the flexible circuit.