Apple patents system to switch between 2D and 3D displays
Apple has filed a patent for a system that lets an electronic device connect to both standard flat screens and three-dimensional displays. The system automatically decides which screen to use based on specific conditions, allowing it to show some parts of an app in 3D and other parts in 2D simultaneously.
In the filing’s own words
In some embodiments, an electronic device is in communication with a two-dimensional display device and/or a three-dimensional display device. In some embodiments, the electronic device displays a two-dimensional rendering or a three-dimensional rendering of a user interface element. In some situations, the electronic device uses the two-dimensional display device to display the two-dimensional rendering of the user interface element. In some situations, the electronic device uses the three-dimensional display device to display the three-dimensional rendering of the user interface element.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An electronic device comprising: memory; and one or more processors coupled to the memory and to one or more output devices, the one or more processors configured to: while the electronic device is in communication with a two-dimensional display device and a three-dimensional display device included in the one or more output devices, display, using the one or more output devices, content associated with an application running on the electronic device, including: in accordance with a determination that one or more criteria are satisfied, transmitting instructions to the three-dimensional display device to display a three-dimensional rendering of the content; in accordance with a determination that the one or more criteria are not satisfied, transmitting instructions to the two-dimensional display device to display a two-dimensional rendering of the content; and in accordance with a determination that one or more second criteria are satisfied, transmitting instructions to the three-dimensional display device to display a first portion of the content in a three-dimensional container, and to display a second portion of the content in a two-dimensional container.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TWO-DIMENSIONAL AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL DISPLAY
- Publication number
- US20260277385A1
- Application number
- 19667365
- Filed
- May 4, 2026
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 1
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06F 3/04815 Physics & computingH04L 51/046 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in AR, VR & displays
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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.