After three years on the pending list of patent application, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is finally granted a new patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) titled “Electronic devices with sidewall displays.” It describes a method of positioning OLED or other flexible displays around the sidewalls of a portable device. The filing hints at Apple’s intentions to introduce sidewall displays with virtual buttons in their upcoming iPhones.
The patent calls for at least one sidewall to be fitted with an edge display that is an extension of the main front-facing touchscreen. Interactive or touch sensitive portions of the side displays can be left uncovered, while non-functional portions carrying circuitry may be masked. All sidewall displays may be outfitted with gesture-capable touch elements, further enhancing their capabilities.
“By extending an iPhone’s touchscreen to the edges of the device, users are afforded an expanded input interface that frees up space on the main screen. At the same time, the extra display real estate can be customized to show a variety of interactive virtual controls and features not possible with static physical buttons.
In some embodiments, the sidewall displays are assigned roles accessible in certain scenarios. For example, a number of app icons may be displayed when a user turns their phone on its side, or scientific functions may appear when a calculator app is in operation. Alternative uses include slide-to-unlock functionality, music player controls, messaging readout, caller ID and system controls, among many more.”
There is still a subject of speculation about integration of patented sidewall display in iPhone 6 by Apple. Companies like LG and Samsung are already using flexible display technology in smartphones, though their designs are more of a novelty than their utility.
Apple granted patent of positioning displays around sidewalls
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