애플의 side displayt 관련 최신 등록특허

위 그림은 2015.3.10자로 등록된 Apple의 따끈따끈한 최신 미국 등록특허 US 8,976,141의 도 1과 도 7이다. 이 등록특허는 2011.9.27에 출원되어 등록된 US 8,723,824의 continuation application이다. 즉, 특허성 판단 기준일이 적어도 2011.9.27 이전이다(미국은 지금은 선출원주의를 취하고 있지만 2011.9.27에는 선발명주의를 취하였기에, 최소한 2011.9.27 이전이라는 의미).

최근 이슈(?)가 되고 있는 side display를 갖는 전자장치에 대한 것으로, 독립항이 여러개 있는데 그 중 제9항과 제21항의 내용이.. OTL..

9.   An electronic device having first and second exterior surfaces, wherein the first and second exterior surfaces are non-parallel to each other, comprising:      an organic light-emitting diode display having a substrate on which an array of display pixels is formed, wherein the substrate has a first portion parallel to the first exterior surface and a second portion parallel to the second exterior surface; and       a transparent cover layer formed over the organic light-emitting diode display, wherein the transparent cover layer has a first portion that forms the first exterior surface of the electronic device and a second portion that forms the second exterior surface of the electronic device.

21.   An electronic device having a front surface and a sidewall surface, comprising:       an array of display pixels configured to display images on the front surface of the electronic device; and       a touch-sensitive virtual button on the sidewall surface of the electronic device, wherein the touch-sensitive virtual button comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes; and       a transparent cover layer that covers the display pixels on the front surface and the touch-sensitive virtual button on the sidewall surface.