# US 9,437,132 B2 · Devices and methods for providing access to internal component

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- Number: US 9,437,132 B2
- Document ID: US9437132B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/308,119
- Filed: 2011-11-30
- Published: 2013-05-30
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2011-11-30
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Benjamin Mark Rappoport; Christopher J. Stringer; Fletcher R. Rothkopf; Jeremy C. Franklin; John Patrick Ternus; Julian Christoph Hoenig; Richard Paul Howarth; Scott Andrew Myers; Stephen Brian Lynch
- Inventors: Benjamin Mark Rappoport; Christopher J. Stringer; Fletcher R. Rothkopf; Jeremy C. Franklin; John Patrick Ternus; Julian Christoph Hoenig; Richard Paul Howarth; Scott Andrew Myers; Stephen Brian Lynch
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437132B2

## CPC

- G09G 3/3225: using an active matrix
- G06F 3/0481: based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
- G06F 3/0412: {Digitisers structurally integrated in a display}
- G06F 2203/04804: Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
- G09G 2300/0456: with a reflective area and a transmissive area combined in one pixel, such as in transflectance pixels
- G09G 2300/046: with an emissive area and a light-modulating area combined in one pixel
- G09G 2320/0626: for control of overall brightness
- G09G 2320/0686: with two or more screen areas displaying information with different brightness or colours
- G09G 2330/022: in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
- G09G 2354/00: Aspects of interface with display user
- G09G 2360/14: Detecting light within display terminals, e.g. using a single or a plurality of photosensors
- G09G 2360/144: the light being ambient light
- H10K 59/40: OLEDs integrated with touch screens
- 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)
- H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES

## Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for applying concealment of components of an electronic device. In one embodiment, an electronic device may include a component that is disposed behind a display (e.g., a transparent organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display) that is configured to selectively become transparent at certain transparency regions. Additionally, the electronic device includes data processing circuitry configured to determine when an event requesting that the component be exposed occurs. The data processing circuitry may control portions of the display to become transparent, to expose the component upon the occurrence of the event requesting that the component be exposed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic device comprising:
a display having a thin-film transistor layer formed on a substrate, wherein the display comprises one or more selectively transparent regions;
a component disposed behind the substrate and behind one or more of the selectively transparent regions, wherein the thin-film transistor layer overlaps the component; and
data processing circuitry that:
determines when an event requesting that the component be exposed occurs; and
causes the selectively transparent regions to become transparent to expose the component upon the occurrence of the event requesting that the component be exposed, wherein the component comprises a strobe flash, a biometric sensor, a solar panel, a reflective image, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a transparent organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the event comprises a camera application requesting that a camera, a strobe flash, or both be used or exposed.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more transparent regions comprises a global transparent region that encompasses the entire viewable area of the display.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more transparent regions comprises one or more local transparent regions configured to make transparent only portions of the viewable area of the display.

### Claim 6

An electronic display comprising:
a transparent-OLED panel, comprising:
a substrate layer;
one or more pixels disposed in a pixel arrangement on the substrate layer; and
one or more transparent regions configured to expose a component of an electronic device that is disposed behind the display; and
a circular polarizing layer configured to absorb reflected light from the OLED panel, wherein one or more portions of the circular polarizer layer are removed to tune the transparency of the display at the transparent regions.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The electronic display of claim 6, wherein the pixel arrangement is altered at the one or more transparent regions, such that the transparent regions are more transparent than other regions of the display.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The electronic display of claim 7, wherein the pixel arrangement is altered to decrease the pixel density of the electronic display at the transparent regions.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The electronic display of claim 7, wherein the pixel arrangement is altered to provide one or more regions where no pixels are disposed at one or more of the transparent regions.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The electronic display of claim 6, comprising a background layer configured to reflect ambient light and transmit a color, pattern, or image through the display.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The electronic display of claim 10, wherein one or more portions of the background layer are removed to tune the transparency of the display at the transparent regions.

### Claim 12

An electronic device comprising:
a touch sensitive component including a glass substrate, wherein the touch sensitive component has at least one region that is at least partially transparent to light; and
a component disposed behind the glass substrate and behind the at least one region of the touch sensitive component, wherein the component comprises a strobe flash, a biometric sensor, a solar panel, a reflective image, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The electronic device defined in claim 12 wherein the component comprises the solar panel.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The electronic device defined in claim 12 wherein the component comprises the solar panel and wherein the solar panel generates electricity from light that passes through the touch sensitive component.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the touch sensitive component comprises an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The electronic device defined in claim 12 wherein the touch sensitive component has a planar exterior surface.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The electronic device defined in claim 12 wherein the electronic device has first, second, and third exterior dimensions, each of which is orthogonal to the remaining dimensions, wherein the third exterior dimension is less than the first and second exterior dimensions, and wherein the touch sensitive component has an exterior surface that extends across the electronic device along most of the first dimension and along at least half of the second dimension.