Apple, News/Rumors August 3, 2012

New iPad Smart Cover to Have Its Own Display and Controls

A patent filled by Apple about a year ago unveils a new, cutting edge iPad Smart Cover. Apple’s new Smart cover will use a multi-touch based flexible AMOLED Display and solar energy collectors, and may integrate a flexible keyboard. The communication between the cover and the iPad will be fulfilled either by a Wi-Fi connection or by a wired data connection and a customized connector will be able to send data and power both to the iPad and the Cover.

The aim of the next Smart Cover is to have a more interactive role with the iPad and to be more functional. For example, one can use the iPad as a screen and the cover as a keyboard that can have integrated also a drawing digitizer. The digital parts of the cover can include also touch sensitive areas. Opening documents, handling multiple apps, or adding extra icons will be much easier.

Patently Apple describes the patent as follows: “This future Smart Cover will include the following: a flexible flap having a size and shape in accordance with the size of the iPad’s 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 iPad and this future Smart Cover where at least some of the information is presented visually on the flap display.”