Apple updates one of their original Foldable device patents for the 9th time to add things like instantly turning on the display when unfolded
With the knowledge that Apple is considering to bring foldable devices to market, every patent update could reveal aspects of their future foldables. Today, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a continuation patent from Apple that relates to one of the original foldable device patents dating back to 2011. Patently Apple was first to cover this patent back in April 2013. Today, Apple has updated this patent with 20 new patent claims as follows:
- An electronic device, comprising: a foldable housing configured to fold along an axis; a flexible display having first and second display regions separated by a bend region that overlaps the axis, wherein the flexible display is operable in a closed configuration in which the first and second display regions face each other and an open configuration in which the first and second display regions are oriented at a non-zero angle with respect to one another; and a hinge aligned with the axis and configured to hold the flexible display in the open configuration.
- The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the flexible display comprises a touch sensor.
- The electronic device defined in claim 2 wherein the touch sensor is configured to determine whether the flexible display is in the closed configuration or the open configuration.
- The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the flexible display is automatically turned off when the flexible display is in the closed configuration and automatically turned on when the flexible display is in the open configuration.
- The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the hinge comprises a locking hinge.
- The electronic device defined in claim 5 wherein the locking hinge is operable in an unlocked state in which the first and second display regions are free to rotate relative to one another and a locked state in which the first and second display regions are held in the open configuration.
- The electronic device defined in claim 1 further comprising a flexible printed circuit in the foldable housing that extends across the axis.
- The electronic device defined in claim 1 further comprising a flexible battery in the foldable housing.
- The electronic device defined in claim 1 further comprising a user input device configured to receive user input, wherein a shape of the foldable housing is adjusted in response to the user input.
- The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the user input device is selected from the group consisting of: a button, a switch, and a touch sensor.
- An electronic device, comprising: a foldable housing configured to fold along an axis; a flexible display having first and second display regions separated by a bend region that overlaps the axis, wherein the flexible display is operable in open and closed positions; and a locking hinge operable in an unlocked state in which the first display region is free to rotate relative to the second display region and a locked state in which the flexible display is locked in the open position.
- The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the flexible display comprises a touch sensor configured to determine whether the flexible display is in the open or closed position.
- The electronic device defined in claim 12 wherein the flexible display is automatically turned off when the flexible display is in the closed position and automatically turned on when the flexible display is in the open position.
- The electronic device defined in claim 11 further comprising a user input device configured to receive user input, wherein a shape of the foldable housing is adjusted in response to the user input.
- The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the user input device is selected from the group consisting of: a button, a switch, and a touch sensor.
- An electronic device, comprising: first and second rigid housing portions coupled by a flexible portion; a flexible display having first and second display regions respectively overlapping the first and second rigid housing portions, wherein the flexible display is operable in a first configuration in which the first and second display regions face each other, a second configuration in which the first and second display regions are oriented at a non-zero angle with respect to one another, and a third configuration in which the first and second display regions are parallel and face the same direction; and a configurable support structure configured to hold the flexible display in the first, second, and third, configurations.
- The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the configurable support structure is configured to form a stand that props up the flexible display in the second configuration.
- The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the configurable support structure is operable in an unlocked state in which the first and second display regions are free to rotate relative to one another and a locked state in which the first and second display regions are held in one of the first, second, and third configurations.
- The electronic device defined in claim 18 wherein the configurable support structure comprises a locking hinge.
- The electronic device defined in claim 16 further comprising a user input device configured to receive user input for adjusting the configurable support structure.
For those wanting to review the full details of one of Apple's original foldable device patents along with their 20 new patent claims, check out patent application 20240288897.