Apple has gotten approval for a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a dual foldable device. The patent relates to an iPad-like and Notebook-like future product with a foldable display. The futuristic device will be able to go into a joint operating mode where the image splits into two or presents data with one large image.

According to the patent documents, when the device is in the joint operating mode, images may extend across displays, speakers in respective devices may be used to play different channels of an audio track, cameras, and sensors in different devices may be used in cooperation with each other, and other resources may be shared.

The Cupertino-based tech powerhouse says the design concept is very close to Microsoft’s Surface Neo and could double as a notebook device. The patent covers multiple electronic devices and displays being used together in an expanded system. The pairing devices may use a combination of sensors and other details to detect when an edge of a first device is adjacent to an edge of a second electronic device. When the adjacency is determined between the edges, the devices may transition from an independent operating mode in which each device operates separately to the joint operating mode.

There will be magnetic components to secure the devices together in several orientations. In addition, the magnetic components will combine with the beveled housing edges for a greater grip. These structures will hold devices in planar and non-planar configurations.

The newly patented Apple foldable device may also function as a notebook-like device with a virtual keyboard. There are no indications yet as to the expected release date for the futuristic device.

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(source)

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