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AppleGranted patentPhones & computersInterest 6/10

Apple patents screens that hide extra info when you fold a device

Apple describes a system for devices with two screens that work together to show different parts of an app. When the angle between the screens changes, like when folding a laptop or tablet, the system automatically hides secondary information on the main screen to keep the view clean.

Why it mattersThis could make foldable or multi-screen devices feel more intuitive by adjusting what you see based on how you are holding the hardware.

In the filing’s own words

In some embodiments, an electronic device displays and allows user interaction with content on multiple displays. In some embodiments, an electronic device displays three-dimensional content using coordinated views on multiple displays. In some embodiments, an electronic device shares content while displaying a video conferencing user interface. In some embodiments, an electronic device facilitates the display or keeping private of content on multiple displays. In some embodiments, an electronic device facilitates the display of information from applications using a shared graphical input coordinate space. In some embodiments, an electronic device presents indications of notifications. In some embodiments, an electronic device presents representations of items of content that are related to content presented on the one or more electronic devices. In some embodiments, an electronic device presents user interfaces including a soft keyboard.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A method comprising: at an electronic device in communication with a first display, a second display, and one or more input devices: concurrently displaying: first content on the first display; auxiliary content on the first display; and second content associated with the first content on the second display; while concurrently displaying the first content and the auxiliary content on the first display and the second content on the second display, receiving, via the one or more input devices, an input corresponding to a request to change currently-displayed content on the electronic device; in response to receiving the input, updating the first display in accordance with the input to include respective content along with the auxiliary content, wherein the respective content was not displayed prior to receiving the input; while concurrently displaying the respective content and the auxiliary content on the first display, detecting that a relative angle between the first display and the second display has increased above a threshold angle; and in response to detecting that the relative angle between the first display and the second display has increased above the threshold angle, updating the first display to cease displaying the auxiliary content on the first display while maintaining display of the respective content.

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
User interfaces for devices with multiple displays
Patent number
US12743244B2
Application number
18634130
Filed
Apr 12, 2024
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Inventors
7
Claims
32

Classified under

G06F 3/1423 Physics & computingG06F 3/0482 Physics & computingG06F 3/04845 Physics & computingG06F 3/0485 Physics & computingG06F 3/04883 Physics & computingG06F 2203/04803 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.