Apple patents laptop with touch screens on both sides of the keyboard
Apple has filed a patent for a laptop design that places a small display and touch sensor on the left and right sides of the keyboard. These side screens sit under a light-transmissive cover, allowing users to interact with content or controls directly next to the keys.
In the filing’s own words
A laptop computer includes a display portion comprising a primary display and a base portion coupled to the display portion. The base portion includes a keyboard and a light-transmissive cover defining a first touch-sensitive input region along a first side of the keyboard and a second touch-sensitive input region along a second side of the keyboard. The base portion also includes a first display under the first touch-sensitive input region and a second display under the second touch-sensitive input region.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A laptop computer comprising: a display portion comprising a primary display; and a base portion coupled to the display portion, comprising: a keyboard; a light-transmissive cover defining: a first touch-sensitive input region along a first side of the keyboard; and a second touch-sensitive input region along a second side of the keyboard; a first display under the first touch-sensitive input region; and a second display under the second touch-sensitive input region.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- PORTABLE COMPUTER WITH DYNAMIC DISPLAY INTERFACE
- Publication number
- US20260277348A1
- Application number
- 19671677
- Filed
- May 8, 2026
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 1
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06F 3/03547 Physics & computingG06F 1/1616 Physics & computingG06F 1/165 Physics & computingG06F 1/1662 Physics & computingG06F 1/1684 Physics & computingG06F 3/016 Physics & computingMore from Apple in Phones & computers
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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.