US 11048299

The following is a concise summary of US Patent 11048299:

Title: Graphical user interface for flexible touch screen display devices

Assignee: Lepton Computing LLC

Inventors: Stephen E. Delaporte

Filing Date: September 20, 2019

Issue Date: June 29, 2021

Abstract: Reconfigurable touch screen computing devices with folding configurations that include flexible and/or rigid displays made up of segments reconfigured from a compact state to an expanded state are described. The compact state has a form factor similar to a handheld phone, with an integrated speaker and microphone. The expanded state has a form factor similar to a tablet computer, potentially including the mechanical functionality of a laptop. Both states offer a touch screen display on the front and a protective housing on the back. The computing devices incorporate sensors to indicate the configuration state and mechanisms for folding, alignment, and structural support, along with magnets for locking the devices in either the folded or unfolded state. A module attached to at least one segment can house substantially all processing, memory, and a communications system, all of which are usable in both states.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a reconfigurable computing device. It includes a display with multiple segments that can bend and a flexible electronic circuit connecting them. The device can change between a small, compact phone-like state and a larger, expanded tablet or laptop-like state. It has sensors that tell a processor which state it's in. This allows a graphical user interface to adjust content on the screen as the device changes shape. The device also has a processor, memory, and a communication system within at least one of the segments, all usable in either state.
• Claim 8: This claim focuses on a method for managing content on a reconfigurable computing device with a touch screen display made of segments. The method involves detecting when the device changes between a compact state (like a phone) and an expanded state (like a tablet or laptop). It then adjusts the displayed content on the touch screen based on the current state. This adjustment uses a graphical user interface.
• Claim 14: This claim outlines a reconfigurable computing device featuring a multi-segment touch screen display. The segments are linked by a flexible circuit, enabling the device to switch between a compact phone-like form and an expanded tablet/laptop-like form. The device includes a physical support structure with hinges and alignment mechanisms to facilitate the folding and unfolding of the segments. Sensors are present to detect the device's configuration state, and magnets help to lock the segments in either the folded or unfolded positions. A processing module, which contains core electronics and a communication system, is housed within one of the segments and functions in both compact and expanded states.

Legal Status:

The patent record indicates that US11048299B2 is "Active" with an anticipated expiration date of August 9, 2031. It is also noted that the "Family has litigation," with the "First worldwide family litigation filed." Specifically, a "US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court" is referenced: case 2:26-cv-00338. The CAFC 2026 dockets were reviewed for May and June 2026, and while many cases were listed, no direct match for patent 11048299 or case number 2:26-cv-00338 was found in the provided snippets. Therefore, I cannot provide details on the specific nature or current status of this litigation based on the available CAFC docket information.