ApplePatent
Latest
Apple patent apps describe 'smart' pens for notetaking and long-distance doodling
Apple's knack for filing patent applications has struck again, offering a pair of digital pens that could become a competitive one-up for HTC's Scribe pen. Both filed apps revealed by the USPTO involve styli for iOS displays, but if you're imagining a magical item that helps (or hinders) your typing, this is another ball of wax. The first stylus is appropriately called "stylus for touch sensitive devices" and includes a rechargeable battery that could be stored and charged by placing it in a dock embedded directly in the device. Curiously, the stylus is heated for "more consistent interaction between the capacitive-sensors in the computing device and the stylus," which sounds mighty nice on a cold day. By allowing the user to easily write real notes and draw pictures, this patent turns out to be much more than just a different method of inputting text. Next up is the "communicating stylus," a digital pen equipped with accelerometers and wireless transmitters that send position data. This would enable it to be used for an iOS device without any physical contact or other accessories. In theory, you could take the stylus (shown after the break) across the room and still jot down notes or doodle on your iPad, even if it's out of sight. Finally, "the greatest pointing device in the world" -- our fingers -- will get a chance to rest.
Apple patent application shows keyboard that doesn't require contact, blows air
We've been generally satisfied with the chiclet-style keyboards that have become omnipresent in laptops and Apple's latest generation of desktop keyboards, but Cupertino feels that these thinner, lower-profile input devices limit tactile feedback. A patent application from Apple, filed in 2009 but only now revealed, aims to improve the user experience by "expelling air from the input device proximate the key when user selection is imminent." That's right -- your keyboard could blow on your fingertips as you blow our minds in the comments. Another solution in the patent would function like a vacuum to pull keys away when a proximity sensor detects that you're about to type, providing simulated feedback. If this concept takes off in the future, your next MacBook Air could really live up to its name.
Apple granted patent behind new iTunes extras features
Today, Apple was granted a patent covering the ability to sync movie extra features with particular times or locations in videos. This is the same technology Sony is quietly testing now in the iTunes store with The Other Guys, Salt, and Resident Evil: Afterlife in which movie buyers can enter search terms to see scenes in the movie where that term was used. Since the extra features are only available for iTunes content, like iTunes LP, Apple clearly hopes to woo bonus feature-loving consumers to purchase digital copies over Blu-rays or DVDs. Of course if this strategy is going to succeed, you'd think Cupertino would want to expand support for iTunes extras beyond the original Apple TV and the desktop to include the one million second generation Apple TVs sold and three million plus iPhone 4s out there. But hey, what do we know?
Apple attempts to patent a smarter camera flash
There's always something intriguing cooking in Cupertino, even if Apple's ovens are full, and the latest item on the list is a novel camera flash assembly you might one day see on an iPhone. Where camera flashes are typically fixed in a single spot on a device, Apple's trying to patent a flash redirector that could whip them around, letting you frame a dimly-lit picture the way you want and automatically adjust the intensity and direction of the flash to get better results. The patent application suggests that devices would have a dedicated lens for the flash, and then a pivot on either that lens or the flash itself to aim, plus an "evaluator" that figures out what needs to be lit and by how much. Alternatively, Apple imagines you might be able to just select an area on a touchscreen camera device (wonder where we'd find one of those?) with your finger and aim the flash yourself, but if we know anything about Apple's love of simplicity they'll try the AI solution first. Either way, it seems like an excellent nighttime equivalent to iOS 4.1's HDR, and something we might like to see on all sorts of shooters, not just those on phones.
Apple granted patent for handheld that recognizes your hands
You could probably fill a book with Apple patent applications that never amounted to anything, but here's one that's at least been granted -- a "handheld device" that uses capacitive sensors to recognize your identity just by the way you hold it, and subsequently personalize the device's buttons and settings to your hand based on your user profile. That's all that's actually been patented here, but the general idea is a little more grand -- you could theoretically grip a handheld with either hand, and it would automatically generate "button zones" under each finger using sensors (or disappearing buttons, perhaps) baked right into the chassis, making cries of "you're holding it wrong" hopefully fade into obscurity. Still, it's not the first time we've seen Cupertino reaching for digit recognition and we're sure it won't be the last, so we'll just file away our enthusiasm until or unless Jobs announces it on stage.
Apple patent app hints at iPod-based phones, Peel 520 turns shades of green, red, blue and yellow
Looking for that elusive CDMA iPhone? You won't find it here -- but you might hear about a device Apple's trying to patent that could enable it one day. This spring, Cupertino filed an application for an "accessory transceiver" clearly intended to bring mobile calling, data and the requisite APIs to the likes of the iPod touch, not wholly unlike a certain Chinese case you might have heard of. What's more, the patent filing clearly states that this accessory isn't limited to MIDs and PMPs, but could be applied to "any type of mobile computing and/or communication device without limitation," including the iPhone itself... and specifically calls out CDMA as a possibility "because mobile telephone network quality and contract plans can vary" on GSM. Fancy that! To be clear, patent filings typically try to speak as broadly as possible to assist lawsuits down the road, and as you're probably aware a patent doesn't mean an intent to bring a device to market. Still, we have to wonder whether these veiled jabs mean Jobs and company hit upon a workaround for that AT&T exclusivity deal, and what ZTE might do if Apple puts such a device on sale. Oh, and speaking of the Apple Peel 520 cellular case for the iPod touch, MIC Gadget's reporting that it now comes in eight colors at least as far as a Chinese launch is concerned. Think you'll buy one?
Apple patent application details universal iPhone / iPod dock
Don't get your hopes up too much just yet, but it looks like you might one day no longer need to detangle a USB cable or fiddle with a plastic dock adapter the next time you want to charge or sync your iPhone or iPod. That's if this recently revealed patent application for a new type of universal dock from Apple turns into an actual product, at least. The secret to the dock, such as it is, is that the base would be made of an elastic, sponge-like substance that could conform to any device and hold it in place. What's more, the dock would apparently even be able retain the imprint of your device for convenient use next time, and be reset at the push of the button to let you use it with another device -- we're not quite sure how this thing is supposed to hold up a tablet, though.
Apple patent application promises means to detect gadget abuse
Apple's already put liquid submersion sensors in some of its recent products, but a recent patent application seems to suggest that it has some considerably grander plans in mind to detect and prevent gadget abuse. Described as a "Consumer Abuse Detection System and Method," the new system would apparently make use of a whole range of sensors to various issues that might void the warranty of the device, like exposure to extreme cold or heat, drops, or submersion in liquid. What's more, unlike the current liquid sensors that simply change color when something bad happens, the new system would apparently store the damage digitally in memory which, presumably, wouldn't be as susceptible to damage as the device itself. The system would also apparently do its best to protect the devices by disabling them if it detects some imminent danger, although Apple doesn't make any bones about the fact that it's primarily designed to save money on returned products that have been abused by the user.
Apple patent filing details "touch and go" USB devices
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/apple/Apple_patent_filing_details_touch_and_go_USB_devices'; We already caught sight of a whole batch of Apple patent applications earlier this month, but it looks like the company still has a few more big ideas up its sleeve, which may or may not actually come to fruition. The most interesting of those is what's described as a "Portable Device Capable of Initiating Disengagement from Host System," or a "touch and go" system as AppleInsider calls it. That, as you may be able to discern, is essentially a touch sensor tied to a USB drive or other USB device, which would be able to sense when you touch it (or even when you're about to touch it, apparently), and then disconnect the device from the computer before you're able to cause any data corruption. Better still, the system could apparently also double as a fingerprint sensor in some implementations, and completely lock down the device if an unauthorized user grabs it.[Via AppleInsider]
Apple patent applications offer glimpses of haptic screens, RFID readers, fingerprint ID
Alright, so you know the drill by now. A patent application doesn't necessarily mean an actual product is on the way -- but it's always fun to speculate, right? And this latest trio of applications from Apple certainly provides plenty of speculation fodder. The most notable of the lot is an application for a "multi-touch display screen with localized tactile feedback," which Apple seems to be at least considering as a possibility for the iPhone (or iPod touch). Like some similar systems, Apple's application covers a screen that uses a grid of piezoelectric actuators that can be activated at will to provide vibrational feedback when you touch the screen. Apple even goes so far as to use a virtual click wheel on an iPhone as an example. Other patent applications include a fairly self-explanatory RFID reader embedded in a touch screen, and a fingerprint identification system that could not only be used for security, but to identify individual fingers as an input method -- for instance, letting you use your index finger for play/stop and your middle finger to fast forward.
Apple patent filing suggests a safer in-car touchscreen
As the Tesla Model S has amply demonstrated, while in-car touchscreens can certainly turn a few heads, they aren't always the safest, or most practical solution. Apple seems to have a few ideas about how to change that, however, and one of its recently revealed patent applications details a new and improved touchscreen system that it says could cut down significantly on driver distractions. Apparently, Apple envisions a whole host of measures that would prevent the driver from operating the system while driving, or let only the passenger use the touchscreen while the vehicle is moving. To do that, the system would make use of a range of sensors tied to various parts of the vehicle, and apparently even take into account the angle at which the person's finger is approaching the screen. What's more, the application also suggests that the system could be applied to both vehicles with built-in touchscreens or cars that accommodate a detachable, presumably Apple-made handheld device. Or all of this could wind up in the same bin as Apple's world-changing RF network. Take your pick.[Via Autoblog]
Apple patent application reveals new display housing, mythical tablet nowhere to be found
We've seen plenty of patent applications from Apple describing a tablet and its interface over the years, and this morning another has been making the rounds, purported by many to give a glimpse at that device's internals. Sadly, after reading through the details, this "Display Housing for Computing Device" sounds like a plain 'ol laptop case to us. It describes "a portable computer including a base and a lid, the lid being coupled to the base via a hinge, and wherein the housing corresponds to the housing of the lid or the housing of the base." There are repeated mentions of a hinge and of the processor being separate from the display housing; one of the figures (included below) even shows a rather standard-looking -- if button-deprived -- laptop. So, sadly, we're thinking this isn't the super-slim keyboard-less Apple tablet/MID you've all been waiting for, more likely just a stiffer lid for a next-generation MacBook. One interesting note: the text spends quite a bit of time discussing means for a glowing logo on the back. Is this the beginning of another patent battle, this time with HP over its similarly illuminated dv5? We sure hope not.Update: Actually, on a second read through the claims, we'd say this has even less to do with a supposed tablet -- our guess is that this is a patent application for the unibody MacBooks.[Via Electronic Pulp]
Apple patent reveals 'iPhone gloves' for warmer hands-on experience
A new Apple patent has been found that will assuredly warms the hearts (and hands) of many iPhone users currently enduring a cold winter. Originally filed a day before the iPhone's June 28, 2007 launch, it details a glove with a thin, electrically conductive, "anti-sticky" inner layer that is able to function with a capacitive touchscreen. It also suggests the glove could have apertures on the fingertips for opening and closing the more protective outer layer. Of course, the concept is far from new -- just do a quick Google search for "iPhone gloves" to see a wide variety of choices -- and Apple doesn't really dabble in this sort of iPhone / iPod accessory, but if Phil keeps his hands in his pockets for the first half of the Macworld keynote, we're gonna start to get ideas.[Via Apple Insider; thanks, Shawn]
Apple patents motion-sensitive HMD concept in defiance of good taste
Apple has added to its legacy of zany patents a head-mounted display with head-tracking technology intended to reduce viewer fatigue and disorientation (and induce nausea, if we're lucky) by simulating a theater or other viewing environment. The wearer of the device can pick a seat in the fake theater and then manipulate the image, zoom in and out, and look around thanks to an accelerometer and gyroscope built into the goggles. Few of these patents make it to market, but if you're eager to throw social acceptability out the window, there are already iPod and iPhone-compatible head-mounted displays on the market -- you'll just have to do without the positioning gimmick until Apple is crazy enough to actually sell this thing. [Via TUAW]
Apple patent application reveals grandiose RF module plans
As should be clear by now, patent application land is quite a bit different than actual product land, but that's never stopped companies from devising their share of ambitious ideas and, in the case of Apple, perhaps more than its share. Its latest describes an all-encompassing "personal area network" that would make use of RF modules in everything to communicate with each other and connect to the internet. That would include devices with both short range (WiFi and Bluetooth) and long range (GSM, EDGE, etc) communications capabilities, as well as devices with just short range modules, which would be able to communicate with and identify themselves to any other modules around and, potentially, piggyback their way onto the internet. Ambitious, to be sure, but we think Apple may have to come up with a catchier t-shirt slogan if they really want to sell it.[Via Unwired View]
Apple patents systems to warn of impending dropped calls, track down your keys
As always, Apple is busy at the patent office this week, with two recently uncovered filings to make life just a little bit easier for Mr. Joe Person Man. The first of these is a system to track how far away you are from a cell tower, and to warn you via your phone when you're about to drop your call -- with similar applications for GPS and WiFi devices. The other patent is a Bluetooth-based system to track down lost objects like keys or your Bluetooth headset via the age old method of "you're getting hotter" and you're getting colder." Sure, Apple's version might have a fancy readout on the phone display, but it's the same basic principle -- no triangulation going on here. Of course, Apple patents all sorts of crazy stuff that never makes it to market, but at least these two have a semblance of possibility.[Thanks, Mark]
Apple patent application hints at iPhone flip phone
You'll have to take this one with the usual patent application caveats but, as Unwired View reports, one of Apple's recent filings seems to indicate that it has at least considered the possibility of an iPhone flip phone of sorts, among other dual-screen possibilities. The application itself is for what's described as a "dual sided trackpad," which would be translucent and boast touch sensitive panels on each side, allowing it to be used both when it's opened or when it's covering the main display. In the case of the iPhone, that would seem to offer yet another option for the oft-discussed iPhone nano, but the patent application doesn't stop there, with it also offering up possibilities for laptops and tablets based around the technology. In the former case, the touchpad would open up a small window on the main display, allowing it to work like a SideShow display, while the tablet would boast a touchscreen encompassing the entire display. Needless to say, we wouldn't recommend getting your hopes up for any of that just yet but, if you want to whet your appetite a bit further, you can get a rough idea of what they might look like by hitting up the read link below.
Apple patent applications reveal updated multi-touch system
Apple has already expanded its multi-touch empire quite a bit in the form of various patent applications, and it now looks like it could be set to give the core system itself an update, at least according to a trio of just-revealed patent applications. he main one is an application that describes a "sensor arrangement for use with a touch sensor that identifies hand parts." Among other things, that'll apparently allow for simultaneous tracking of "multiple finger and palm contacts" which, according to the patent, should allow for "unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting." That last bit is apparently accomplished using a "pen grip detector," which can apparently detect if you're mimicking the position of holding a pen and adjust accordingly. Hit up the read link below for complete details in full-on patent-speak.[Via PC Joint, thanks Stasys]
Apple patent for notebook with widescreen touchpad
Another Apple patent filing came to light yestersday--this one for a widescreen touchpad for a notebook computer. The patent was filed back on August 25, 2004, but revealed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today. If you want to wade through the dense legalese, head over to Macsimum News, which has published excerpts from the patent filing. In a nutshell, the patent app concerns a wide touchpad that appears to stretch across the width of a notebook computer and may have multiple touch-sensitive regions. However, it isn't clear from the document exactly what Apple has in mind for this touchpad.The bulk of the text describes various methods for distinguishing a deliberate motion on the touchpad from a nondeliberate one--like resting your palms on the touchpad. One of the methods described involves an "imaging sensor" that happens to be in about the same place as the iSight on a MacBook Pro. The screenshot to the right is the illustration that accompanies that description, with labels added. Here's what the patent application has to say about this:"Imaging sensor 545 detects an area of base assembly 520 that includes keyboard 222 and touchpad 524. When activated, imaging sensor 545 may detect a particular hand location and establish accept/reject criteria as described above . . . In an alternative embodiment, imaging sensor 545 may also provide video-conferencing functionality when not operating as an imaging sensor."By the way, if you'd like some background on patent filings and a roundup of other Apple patent applications, catch the February 25 episode of The Mac Observer's Weekly Roundup podcast. Here's a link to the show notes, where you can get an mp3 of that episode.
