Transparent electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10657857-B2
Application number	US-201715792427-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2017
Priority date	Jan 6, 2010
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

A method and system for displaying images on a transparent display of an electronic device. The display may include one or more display screens as well as a flexible circuit for connecting the display screens with internal circuitry of the electronic device. Furthermore, the display screens may allow for overlaying of images over real world viewable objects, as well as a visible window to be present on an otherwise opaque display screen. Additionally, the display may include active and passive display screens that may be utilized based on images to be displayed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
an adjustable opacity layer having a transparent portion and an opaque portion;
a processor configured to adjust a size of transparent portion and the opaque portion; and
a display configured to display content that overlaps the opaque portion of the adjustable opacity layer.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , wherein external objects behind the electronic device are viewable through the transparent portion of the adjustable opacity layer.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 2 , wherein the display is a transparent display that overlaps the adjustable opacity layer.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor that generates sensor data, wherein the processor is configured to position the opaque portion of the adjustable opacity layer based on the sensor data.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
a motion sensor that generates motion sensor data, wherein the processor is configured to position the opaque portion of the adjustable opacity layer based on the motion sensor data.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
a touch sensor configured to receive touch input, wherein the processor is configured to position the opaque portion of the adjustable opacity layer based on the touch input.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 1 , wherein the display comprises an organic light emitting diode display.

8. An electronic device, comprising:
an adjustable opacity layer;
a transparent display that overlaps the adjustable opacity layer;
a processor configured to adjust the adjustable opacity layer to have first and second regions having different opacities and display content on the transparent display that overlaps the first region of the adjustable opacity layer; and
a motion sensor that generates motion sensor data in response to movement of the electronic device, wherein the processor is configured to adjust a position of the first region of the adjustable opacity layer based on the motion sensor data.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 8 , wherein the first region of the adjustable opacity layer is transparent and the second region of the adjustable opacity layer is opaque.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 9 , wherein external objects behind the electronic device are viewable through the first region of the adjustable opacity layer.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 8 , wherein the first region of the adjustable opacity layer is opaque and the second region of the adjustable opacity layer is transparent.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 11 , wherein external objects behind the electronic device are viewable through the second region of the adjustable opacity layer.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 8 , wherein the transparent display is an organic light emitting diode display.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 8 , wherein the transparent display is a liquid crystal display.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 8 , further comprising:
a sensor that generates sensor data, wherein the processor is configured to adjust a position of the first region of the adjustable opacity layer based on the sensor data.

16. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing;
a first display in the housing, wherein the first display is transparent;
a second display in the housing, wherein the first and second displays are overlapping; and
a processor that generates a movable transparent window on the second display that is surrounded by an opaque portion of the second display.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 16 , further comprising:
a sensor that generates sensor data, wherein the processor is configured to position the movable transparent window on the second display based on the sensor data.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 17 , wherein external objects behind the electronic device are viewable through the movable transparent window.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 18 , wherein the first display is configured to display content that overlaps the opaque portion of the second display.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Pance Aleksandar

Classifications

• G09G2300/023

  Display panel composed of stacked panels · CPC title

• G06F1/1647 Primary

  including at least an additional display (G06F1/1692 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F3/0416

  Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers · CPC title

• G02F1/13

  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells · CPC title

• G09G3/003 Primary

  to produce spatial visual effects · CPC title