Apple seeks patent for Smart Cover with embedded secondary display

Engadget has discovered a new patent application filed by Apple published by the USPTO today.

The patent application titled "Cover Attachment With Flexible Display" reveals that Apple is looking at ways to add more functionality to the iPad Smart Cover by integrating it with thin flexible display made with AMOLED technology.

Here's an excerpt from the patent:

An accessory device that is arranged to communicate with a host device by way of a communication channel is claimed. The host device includes a host device display arranged to present visual information. The accessory device includes the following: a flexible flap having a size and shape in accordance with the host device display, where at least a portion of the flexible flap is covered by a flap display configured to present visual information; and a connecting portion, the connecting portion arranged to provide at least a communication channel arranged to convey information between the host device and the accessory device where at least some of the information is presented visually on the flap display.

In one example, the patent shows how the small cover display as shown in the diagram below could be used to display notifications such as recent emails, instant messages, or upcoming calendar events.

Apple believes it's possible to build a flexible display into an iPad cover in order to "greatly enhance" the functionality of the tablet itself. Taking power and data from a dedicated connector on the side of the slate, at least one segment of the name-deserving Smart Cover could be used to augment the main display with space for extra icons, or operate as a separate media control interface, or simply display notifications. Drawings collected in the gallery below also hint at using the entire inner surface of the cover as a keyboard (ala Microsoft Surface) or as a drawing area. As with all patent applications, there's nothing to say such an idea will ever see Californian sunlight, but it'd be crying shame if it didn't.