Electronic device with wrap around display

• US 9,367,095 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2015
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Myers, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US14/680,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20150212784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• 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 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0268 including a flexible display panel
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0269 mounted in a fixed curved configuration, e.g. display curved around the edges of the telephone housing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/06 on insulating boards , e.g. wiring harnesses for printed circuits H05K1/18, H05K3/30
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 Means to assemble electrical device

Abstract

A consumer electronic product includes at least a transparent housing and a flexible display assembly enclosed within the transparent housing. In the described embodiment, the flexible display assembly is configured to present visual content at any portion of the transparent housing.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing comprising a transparent housing component having a curved interior surface formed of a single layer of transparent material;

a flexible display assembly coupled to the curved interior surface of the transparent housing component, the flexible display assembly being arranged to present visual content through the transparent housing component, wherein the transparent housing component provides a rigid support structure that prevents deformation of the flexible display assembly during use of the electronic device; and

a processor configured to direct the flexible display assembly to present a first user interface through a first portion of the transparent housing component and a second user interface through a second portion of the transparent housing component that is oriented in a different direction than the first portion.

2. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first user interface comprising a plurality of application icons.

3. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the second user interface comprises a slider control.

4. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the transparent housing component provides structural support for the electronic device.

5. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed within the housing, wherein the flexible display assembly is positioned between the transparent housing component and the PCB.

6. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second user interfaces are touch sensitive user interfaces.

7. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein a position of the first and second user interfaces shift in accordance with device orientation data provided to the processor by orientation sensors of the electronic device.

8. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein a curvature of the first portion of the transparent housing component is different than a curvature of the second portion of the transparent housing component.

9. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing; and

a flexible display assembly secured to and conforming with a curved interior surface of the housing, the flexible display assembly being positioned within the housing and presenting a first user interface through a first portion of the housing and a second user interface through a second portion of the housing that is oriented in a different direction than the first portion during operation of the portable electronic device wherein the first portion and second portion of the housing are formed of a single layer transparent material and provide a rigid support structure that prevents deformation of the flexible display assembly during use of the portable electronic device.

10. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 9, wherein the housing further comprises an opaque housing.

11. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the flexible display assembly is secured to the first portion and second portion.

12. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 9, wherein the first user interface is offset less than or equal to 90 degrees from the second user interface.

13. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 9, wherein a curvature of the first portion of the housing is different than a curvature of the second portion of the housing.

14. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 9, wherein the first and second user interfaces are touch sensitive.

15. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 9, wherein the first user interface is offset at least 90 degrees from the second user interface.

16. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing that includes a transparent wall formed of a single layer material and having a curved interior facing surface;

a flexible display assembly coupled with the curved interior surface, wherein the transparent wall provides a rigid support structure that prevents deformation of the flexible display assembly when coupled with the curved interior surface;

an orientation sensor; and

a processor configured to send a control signal to the flexible display assembly that directs the flexible display assembly to present a user interface through the transparent wall in accordance with data received from the orientation sensor,

wherein the control signal is adjusted to maintain an orientation of the user interface oriented towards a user during operation of the portable electronic device across a predetermined range of motion of the portable electronic device.

17. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 16, wherein the control signal is adjusted to accommodate motion associated with a single axis of rotation.

18. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 16, wherein the transparent wall wraps around the housing and wherein the control signal determines whether the user interface is displayed on a first portion of the transparent wall or a second portion of the transparent wall.

19. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 18, wherein the first portion of the transparent wall is positioned opposite the second portion of the transparent wall.