# US 12,183,307 B2 · Electronic device display with extended active area > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,183,307 B2 - Document ID: US12183307B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/487,814 - Filed: 2023-10-16 - Published: 2024-02-01 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-28 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Mikael M. Silvanto; Dinesh C. Mathew; Victor H. Yin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12183307B2 ## CPC - G09G 5/14: Display of multiple viewports - G06F 1/1605: {Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones} - G06F 1/1686: {the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera} - G06F 1/1688: {the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers} - G09G 3/3208: organic, e.g. using organic light-emitting diodes [OLED] - G09G 3/36: using liquid crystals - G09G 2300/04: Structural and physical details of display devices - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An electronic device may be provided with a display. The display may be formed from liquid crystal display pixels, organic light-emitting diode pixels, or other pixels. The display may have an active area that is bordered along at least one edge by an inactive area. The active area contains pixels and displays images. The inactive area does not contain any pixels and does not display images. The inactive area may have a layer of black ink or other masking material to block internal components from view. The active area may have an opening that contains an isolated portion of the inactive area or may contain a recess into which a portion of the inactive area protrudes. An electrical component such as a speaker, camera, light-emitting diode, light sensor, or other electrical device may be mounted in the inactive area in the recess or opening of the active area. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device, comprising: a display having an array of pixels that forms an active area; first and second islands of inactive area in the display, wherein the first and second islands of inactive area are each surrounded by the active area; opaque masking material in the first and second islands of inactive area, wherein the array of pixels is configured to display a black strip that matches the opaque masking material and that extends across the first and second islands of inactive area; and an optical component in the first island of inactive area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the optical component comprises an infrared light-emitting diode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the array of pixels is configured to display an icon on the black strip that conveys media playback information. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the opaque masking material has an opening in the first island of inactive area. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electronic device defined in claim 4 wherein the opening is circular. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic device defined in claim 1 further comprising a touch-sensitive component in the second island of inactive area. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the optical component comprises a visible light camera. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the display includes data lines and gate lines and wherein at least some of the gate lines are shortened to accommodate the first and second islands of inactive area. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the display includes data lines and gate lines and wherein at least some of the gate lines are routed around the first and second islands of inactive area. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the display comprises a polarized layer having an unpolarized region in the first island of inactive area. ### Claim 11 An electronic device, comprising: a display having an array of pixels including first and second groups of pixels separated by a gap; opaque masking material in the gap, wherein the opaque masking material has an opening and wherein the first and second groups of pixels are configured to display at least one icon on a black background that surrounds the opening and that matches the opaque masking material; and an optical component aligned with the opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the display includes data lines and gate lines and wherein at least some of the gate lines are shortened to accommodate the gap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the display includes data lines and gate lines and wherein at least some of the gate lines are routed around the gap. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the display comprises a polarized layer having an unpolarized region aligned with the gap. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the at least one icon conveys media playback information. ### Claim 16 An electronic device, comprising: a display having an active area with an array of pixels and having an isolated inactive area without pixels that is surrounded by the active area; an opaque masking material located in the isolated inactive area and having an opening, wherein the array of pixels is configured to display a black background on opposing sides of the opaque masking material such that the opaque masking material blends in with the black background; and an optical component aligned with the opening. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the black background matches the opaque masking material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the optical component is selected from the group consisting of: an infrared light-emitting diode, a light sensor, and a visible light camera. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the display includes data lines and gate lines and wherein at least some of the gate lines are shortened to accommodate the isolated inactive area. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the display includes data lines and gate lines and wherein at least some of the gate lines are routed around the isolated inactive area.