Patently Apple

Stunning Nano-Phone Surfaces in Patent

 
A belated US Patent via an Australian filing mysteriously surfaced this month revealing a stunning nano-phone concept in development at Apple. The design involves a very sophisticated yet complicated dual-surface user interface. The full face-side of this device will be nothing more than a display, much like the iPhone is today, while the back-side will be primarily dominated by a force-sensitive touch based surface. Your fingers, which act as a cursor, control the face-side UI by the back-side etched controls. The dramatic design will offer users a variety of interfaces or modes to work with including one for a phone, text messaging, a traditional iPod, a camera mode and more.  The design may also, according to Apple, simply offer consumers with a dual-sided display option in lieu of a force sensitive controller surface. On one hand, the design appears to be nothing shy of being revolutionary once again. On the other, the concept seems to be overly complicated. I'm sure that once we see it, it'll all make sense. Yet until that time it arrives, I think that Apple's design could be hotly debated.

Apple Reveals Dual Purpose Apertures on New Standalone Camera Design

 

On July 23, 2009, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals various concepts behind the design of a dual-purpose hardware aperture on a portable electronic device. The dual apertures could be used to incorporate a microphone and speakers or used as a dual card slot. Although Apple emphasizes that multiple devices such as the iPhone, iPod or even MacBooks could be utilize this invention, the only key embodiment presented in the patent is that of a new upright camera design/concept.  

Apple Reveals a One-Touch Ejection System for iPod/iPhone

On July 23, 2009, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals a new one-touch concept for ejecting your iPod or iPhone from iTunes on your computer. In the future, the USB cable connector supplied with your new iPod or iPhone will come with a built-in capacitive-sensing system that includes conductors that generate fringing electric fields. When your fingers approach the USB cable to eject your device, the system will sense this and immediately go into shut down mode to prevent data loss. 

Apple Wins Key Ink Engine Patent for Future Tablet Applications

The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of nine newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The notables within this group include several industrial design wins for Apple covering Airport Extreme, earphones, Universal Dock and iPhone's retail packaging. Yet the one that hits a homerun today covers an Ink Phase Termination Engine that supports Apple's Inkwell technology and a future Tablet device supporting handwriting applications. The evidence for an Apple based Smartbook-Tablet hybrid device is certainly mounting.

 

Apple Advances iPhone Adaptive Navigation System Patent

On July 16, 2009, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals one of the next chapters for Apple's iPhone in-vehicle navigation systems and services.  This particular patent covers estimated time travel and is a direct follow through patent to one published on June 18 concerning the operational state of the vehicle.  This is Apple's fourth in-vehicle navigation patent this year.  The other patents were covered in reports titled A Future iPhone could Advance Sophisticated In-Vehicle Navigation System Functionality and Apple Intros In-Vehicle Cryptographically Paired Technology. With scores of vehicles already offering iPod integration, the next wave of in-vehicle navigation systems working with Apple's iPhone is likely in the works at this very moment.