Patently Apple

Apple Pounds out a New Round of Camera Related Patents

Late last week the US Patent & Trademark Office published another round of patent applications from Apple that relate to cameras. In today's report we touch on all five of these new camera related inventions that cover such matters as adaptive lens shading correction, new flash exposure controls and more. Apple has been pushing iOS camera capabilities each and every time a new version of the iPhone debuts. Earlier this quarter we posted a report covering two of their latest patented technologies, and today's round of patents raises Apple's camera patent count to twenty for 2011 alone. There's also good news on the iOS camera front for 2012. Apple's iOS cameras will be supporting new advancements such as dynamic contrast enhancements, image sensor compensation and much, much more. These advancements were revealed in a new presentation slide from Imagination Technologies this month. Imagination Technologies is the company behind the graphics processor found in iOS devices today. 

Apple Patent Discusses FaceTime Advancements in the Works

One of the forty patent applications that were published by the US Patent & Trademark Office for Apple this past week focused on advancing FaceTime conferencing. Years ago, the vast majority of video conferences were conducted in controlled studios or conference rooms designed with specialty lighting for optimal viewing. Today that's all changed; the vast majority of video conferences are done on the fly, on the go, in a meeting, in a park, in your car, in a lobby or in your home office where lighting conditions could be insufficient or constantly changing. The standard Auto Exposure (or AE) features found in most mobile phones today weren't designed to adapt to those kinds of quickly changing lighting environments for mobile video conferences. Apple's invention illustrates the intent is to go far beyond the auto exposure standards of today to deliver a solid solution to this problem.  

Apple Patent Delves into New iPhone Camera Technologies

This past week the US Patent & Trademark Office published a pair of patent applications from Apple that revealed another round of iPhone camera technologies. One of Apple's latest inventions relating to a next generation auto exposure algorithm may have actually slipped into Apple's latest iPhone 4S. The second invention revealed this week relates to "Automatic Tone Mapping Curve Generation." Apple has made a number of great advancements in their latest iPhone 4S camera that now makes it even easier for consumers to capture those great at-the-moment photos that make everlasting memories. Other patented technologies that made it into this year's iPhone 4S include video stabilization and face detection. If you happen to be a camera aficionado, then you might just want to delve into an overview of Apple's latest goodies.  

Apple Invents Digital Device Handshake using Next-Gen Cameras & Invisible Inks

On December 1, 2011, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals an all new way of sharing data quickly and securely between two or more devices in consumer, retail and/or enterprise applications. Apple's new system will be used on hardware sporting next generation cameras capable of reading invisible inks and optical coatings – which will hold a special key code. On the iPad, the secret security code for sharing data could be hidden in its face side bezel where no one could even see it. The next generation digital handshake is envisioned to work in future retail stores and pharmacies and work with social networking sites like Twitter, Loopt, or 4square. And to top it all off, the new system will allow users to quickly log in to other devices using their iPhone – which sounds very cool indeed. 

Apple Reveals Facial Recognition/Signature & Encryption Systems

On October 13, 2011, the US Patent & Trademark Office published two patent applications from Apple that reveal that they're working on a new facial recognition/Signature system in addition to a new encryption system for a future implementation of iOS. Apple's new iPhone 4S offers new face detection capabilities but the next step appears to go one step further with tagging the photos for applications like your address book and so forth. In the case of Apple's newly proposed encryption, it's definitely a must have feature if Apple wishes to push further into the Fortune 500 and beyond.  

Apple's iPhone 4S Fulfills a Series of Camera Patents & More

Today, Apple introduced their next generation iPhone called the iPhone 4S. While the iPhone 5 is scheduled to be released in 2012 with likely enhancements such as LTE and/or NFC, there were still a few interesting technologies added to the new iPhone 4S that were worth noting. Apple introduced video stabilization for those that like to shoot videos on-the-go, a face detection feature and contextual voice commands via Siri to name but a few. Today's report focuses on a few of the features that fulfilled and/or touched on Apple's published patents.  Updated

Hallelujah! Apple's now working on a Video Stabilization Solution for iOS Cameras on the Move

Apple revealed today via a newly published patent application that they have a video stabilization system in the works. The system will be both hardware and software based and hopefully translate into an iMovie editing function. Now that would be both cool and greatly appreciated. I don't know about you, but I've taken a lot of video with my iPhone and the quality is great …until you start moving that is. Without a solid tripod-like solution for the iPhone, the next best thing will be to have a software editing solution. The good news is that Apple seems to have been working on this solution for about two years now, so hopefully we'll have some relief of video jitters sooner rather than later. While it'll never be perfect, especially when you're on the move, anything will be better than the way it currently stands today.  

Apple Wins Patents for a Sporting App & Camera Lens Baffle While Introducing us to iCloud Printing Services

 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 20 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In our third and final granted patent report of the day we take a look at Apple's yet to be released sporting app that Apple calls a "lifestyle companion" plus we take a look at a camera lens baffle for iOS devices. The last item in this report takes a brief look at a series of patent applications that cover Apple's upcoming iCloud printing services. No, Apple doesn't describe these services as being revolutionary – but rather as being a "cloud computing paradigm." I suspect that CEO Steve Jobs will retain the former for a future press release. What else is new? - ha!  

Apple Reveals Big Plans to Integrate Projectors into iOS Devices +

 
On August 11, 2011, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a grand patent application from Apple that reveals their plans of integrating mini or pico-like projectors into future iOS devices while introducing a likely projector accessory for MacBooks. Apple has been working on this idea for some years now. In June 2009 Apple first hinted that they would one day integrate a projector system into iOS devices. In March 2010 Apple's broad patent application came to light concerning networked projection systems and later in April 2010 we learned that Apple's research teams had begun working on integrating a projector into a MacBook. Today's incredibly detailed patent application reveals how they're working on pico-like projectors for iOS devices and how these projectors will work with a shared workspace in presentations. Apple's patent even details how they'll introduce advanced gesturing that will be able to interpret shadow and silhouette gesturing associated with presentations in a darkened environment. The level of detail associated with this patent would suggest that Apple's development teams are moving full steam ahead on the projection system project which will further push the likes of Apple's iPad into the enterprise. 

Apple Invents New iPhone Features for Today's iReporters

 
CNN's iReport is a citizen journalism initiative that allows people from around the globe to contribute pictures and video of breaking news stories from their own towns and neighborhood. According to Wikipedia, there were over 750,000 registered iReporters as of March 2011. That doesn't include other networks, blogs, community newspapers and so forth. This is a trend that's only going to grow over the coming years and it's a trend that Apple intends on tapping into. According to a new patent application that was recently published, Apple has invented two potential iPhone features simply referred to as "report" and "interview" modes. The new features creatively utilize multiplex video streaming techniques whereby dual cameras on the iPhone could automatically switch back and forth between interviewer and interviewee seamlessly for a live report. While Apple may be working on future iPhone features catering to iReporters, I think that their initial features will definitely capture the imaginations of iReporters everywhere.

 

Apple Developing Applications for Smart Transparent Displays

 
In early June a patent application from Apple surfaced describing a very sophisticated infrared camera system. One of the key aspects of that patent was its potential use with portable devices like an iPhone in places like a museum. The patent discussed the interrelation between an infrared camera in a future iPhone working seamlessly with infrared emitters located throughout a museum, for example. In that scenario, the iPhone user would hold their iPhone up to shoot a video or photograph an artifact while the museum's infrared emitter would send additional information to your iPhone describing said artifact. Marrying the live photo or video with descriptions of the artifact would appear as a seamless image on your iPhone. It would be like having a private tour guide of the museum with you at all times. Today, another piece of that puzzle came together in a new patent application from Apple describing the use of dual transparent displays working in conjunction with dual backside device cameras to provide users with the ultimate augmented reality application. 

New iOS Camera Features in the Works + Glass Apple Store TM on the Way

 
On June 23, 2011, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple's patent application titled "Image Capture Device Having Tilt and/or Perspective Correction. Apple's patent generally relates to image capture devices in electronic systems, and more particularly to image capture devices having the ability to correct for tilt and/or perspective distortion. Although it's not the most interesting patent application of the year, there was definitely a hint of camera watch that could use Apple's new camera technology that was worth noting. In other IP News, the application that Apple made last summer covering their stunning glass structured Apple Store is about to officially get trademarked. It's definitely the coolest retail store design that I've ever seen, and I think that most would agree.