Apple has been granted a patent for a “Hinged Keyboard Accessory Having Multiple Installation Modes For A Computing Device.” The patent talks of a tablet, yet accompanying images show the computing device having a Mac Finder.
About the patent
The patent relates generally to accessory devices for electronic devices. More particularly, the described embodiments relate to an accessory device for a tablet computing device, the accessory device having multiple installation modes.
In the patent, Apple says that tablet computing devices are becoming ever more powerful and useful in a wide range of activities. In some situations, it is desirable to use a keyboard or other auxiliary input device in addition to build-in input devices of a tablet computing device.
Many traditional auxiliary input devices are difficult to use and undermine the advantages provided by a tablet computing device. The keyboard accessory described in the patent is intended to overcome such limitations. However, the accompanying images seem to hint at a iPad-like device running macOS.
Summary of the patent
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent: “An accessory device for a tablet computing device may include a base portion having one or more input devices (e.g., keyboards, trackpads, touchscreen displays, and the like) for providing inputs to the tablet computing device. The accessory device may include a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling the base portion of the accessory device to a tablet computing device in multiple different installation modes. The coupling mechanism may include an auxiliary display for providing a graphical output along a surface of the coupling mechanism. Additionally or alternatively, the coupling mechanism may include a recess for receiving a stylus.”
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