The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 15 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The notables within this group include battery assembly and motion sensing management for the iPhone along with patents for Apple's OS X Dashboard, AppleScript and Universal Dock. Yet the one granted patent that was a standout today by far was one covering Apple's work on a new "Light Display." The patent reveals a new contemplated light-reflecting structure that would be built right into the bezel of a device like the iPad to better detect touch from a finger or new light-pen.
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 17 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The notables within this group include two iPhone related User Interface designs, another for their Mini DisplayPort and others relating to iTunes and their fantastic LED backlit displays. Yet one of the star patents that were granted to Apple today, is definitely one that involves a futuristic 3D stereoscopic display. Is Apple whetting our appetite for a possible future 3DTV system? Here's to hoping that Apple could actually one day deliver something beyond a little black box called Apple TV.
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of eight newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today which includes two design patents relating to their Universal Dock. Yet there's no doubt that the key granted patent of the day belongs to one relating to a light sensitive display which one day may be used with iOS devices. The unique aspect of this display rests with its ability to work with laser and/or light pens. While Steve Jobs may have vetoed the classic dumbed-down stylus for iOS devices, he never discounted the future use of advanced light pens. This is Apple's second patent relating to laser pen technology which may very well indicate that this option remains viable for future implementation.
On July 19, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a series of ten meticulously detailed Apple patent applications covering the technology behind Apple's high-resolution LED-backlit IPS displays. These high-end displays could be found on today's iPad, iPhone 4 and even on the latest upgraded iMacs. According to Apple's newly published patents, it appears that Apple's MacBook line-up is destined to gain these incredible displays as well – even though they already possess a pristine LED-backlit display with wide-angle viewing, today. Yet the big news buried deep within all ten of this week's display-centric patents is a clear-cut fact that the MacBook is destined to also gain a multi-touch display. There's no wishy-washy lingo about it and today's report will show you the details.
We first learned of Apple's Head Mounted Display R&D project nearly two years ago to the month. Our first report titled Apple Preparing a Cool iPod Visual Head-Display System covered their preliminary work on their laser based binocular near-eye display and light engine systems. In today's patent we see that Apple is moving this project further along with a first overview of where the project is headed – in terms of ideas and basic objectives. Currently Apple is working on a couple of methods of making this work, including the concept of sliding a smaller iPod or even a smaller iPhone Nano into a dedicated frame which Apple views as a unique docking station of sorts. The Head Mounted Display system may contain its own video camera or accommodate a camera that is already integrated into your iPod touch or iPhone. The system will have some physical controls but other controls may be set off by voice commands and/or head movements that sensors could recognize as distinct commands. The system will likely offer a Picture-in-Picture (PIP) feature which I think is awesome. While you're viewing a movie, TV show or playing a game, you could always have your PIP set to the external world so that you could be aware of someone approaching you. The system will also offer advanced haptics in their earplugs area so as to enhance Movie sound effects. With Apple hiring a wearable computer guru of late – I would expect that this project could get fast tracked. Time will tell - but it sure looks promising.
On March 11, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published 28 patent applications from Apple and in this report we point to one of the patents behind Apple's iPad display technology, a new patent revealing a new audio plug for the iPhone and iPod touch that is positioned on the right side of the unit which may suggest that the audio had to be moved to make way for a new component such as a video calling camera perhaps? And lastly, Apple reveals their secret sauce behind the iPod Touch assembly – which I can't wait to try at home – ha!
On January 28, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals one of the next chapters for Apple's iPod Touch. The patent covers both the iPod touch and iPhone gaining a video camera. Being that the iPhone 3G-S now has that built-in, it's obvious that Apple's iPod touch is next in line. A secondary patent of interest relates to the iPod touch gaining an LED backlight display sometime in the future.
On May 28, 2009, the US Patent & Trademark Office published an Apple patent that generally relates to display systems, and more particularly to a desktop display system with a distributed LED backlight. Apple's iPod, MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and Cinema Display currently use LED based displays which provide substantial improvements over LCDs in brightness, energy efficiency, color range, life expectancy, durability and robustness. Yet creating the 24" Cinema Display was no small task, as larger LED display configurations create area-to-perimeter ratio difficulties. Additionally, Apple had to work around conventional printed circuit board problems which had proven to have bad thermal properties for LED production.Apple's patent greatly details their integratinga plurality of tile LED light sources into a thermally and mechanically structurally integrated distributed LED tile matrix backlight light source. At the end of the patent, Apple states that their new distributed LED backlight system has provided for a straightforward, cost effective and uncomplicated process that is readily suited for efficiently and economically manufacturing large size display devices. That should translate into delivering an LED based display for at least Apple's higher end iMac – if not for their entire iMac line-up - for this coming holiday season in time to coincide with the debut of OS X Snow Leopard: Sweet.
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of seven newly Issued Patents for Apple Inc. today, including two design wins. The notables within this group include a patent and design win for Apple's multi-button Might Mouse along with another design winfor their now defunct iPod Hi-Fi. Yet the most important granted patent published today is, without a doubt, Apple's powerful and secretive patent relating to integrated sensing display technology. This never released technology will one day introduce natural eye-to-eye video conferencing and eliminate the need for separate integrate cameras in computers and mobile devices like the iPhone.
On July 10, 2008, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a major Apple patent application that generally relates to a system and method of managing, manipulating, and editing media objects, such as graphical objects on a display, by using hand gestures on a touch sensitive device. More importantly however, is that Apple's patent presents us with a wide array of illustrations that would definitively confirm that touch technologies are coming to Apple's iMac and a notebook/tablet. Some of the more interesting touch related illustrations cover such aspects as working with the application dock, unique music and video applications and new ways to work with iPhoto and more.
On April 17, 2008, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple's patent application titled "Head Mounted Display System."Apple's patent generally relates to head-mounted display systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to improved arrangements for processing and displaying images in a head-mounted display system. Many have been calling for such an apparatus and the subject was covered in my 2006 report titled Apple, scrollable displays and iPod Shades. Apple's laser based binocular near eye display system could apply to glasses, goggles, a helmet or other gear not specified. The bottom line is that iPod Shades are on their way!
On March 20, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a new patent application of Apple's that reveals they're working on a next generation 3D Holographic-like display system. In one application, Apple's display system would automatically authenticate a user, greet them and provide a customized desktop for just that user. Something along the lines of how new computer car systems will adjust the seat and controls for a particular driver.The Holographic-like displays are based on a projection system and in many cases the impression given is that these systems would apply to applications as diverse as video conferencing, scientific modeling, entertainment and perhaps even forensics. Think of the TV show "Bones" and their use of a device called holographic "angelator."One of the unique aspects of this invention is that users won't be hassled with 3D glasses or headgear of any kind.
