Every once in a while I check out various databases around the world for new trademark and patent filings and every now and then I'm rewarded by finding something interesting or something that somehow slipped through the cracks. One of these surprises has once again surfaced and it's an interesting one that touches on the subject of Liquidmetal. The Material's extraordinary ability to bond contrasting materials together with stunning precision will no doubt provide Apple with the ability to create a series of future devices that will be seen as aesthetic wonders. And within this patent application we learn a few new twists about Liquidmetal. And to top it all off, Apple provides us with an interesting list of possible products that could be aesthetically and functionally enhanced by using this exotic material in the future.
Last week the US Patent & Trademark Office published a series of patent applications from Apple covering some of their manufacturing processes, minor tweaks and more. Our patent report covers more than eight patent applications covering such things as Apple's pressure sensors that may be found in a next generation of their EarPods, display fracture and deformation systems regarding iDevices, a tampering detection system, an iDevice laser texturizing process and much more.
On March 28, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals another waterproofing idea for small portable devices. Apple has shown to have been working on a waterproof, or at the very least, a water resistant solution for over a year now. We covered this subject in a well-documented report last March. Today a new patent application illustrates that they're also working on a different angle to creating water resistant devices using a multi-layered ceramic enclosure mixed with Alumina to provide the enclosure with a good RF transmission capability. Our report also touches on another interesting process that Apple is working on called a "Shot Peening, Shot Blasting Process" for creating part flatness.
In late January Patently Apple reported that production of Apple' iPhone 5 at Hon Hai had begun to utilize a robotic workforce. Hon Hai is aiming to have more than a million robots on their production line over the next few years covering everything from precision work right down to finishing work like polishing. Today, the US Patent and Trademark Office revealed Apple's patent application for an invention relating to a robotic arm designed for the finishing process of products such as the iPhone. Today's patent report closes by presenting you with a wide range of other patent filings that were published today covering such matters as the MagSafe 2 connector and Apple's Internal LCD display testing methodology.
On February 7, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published 32 patent applications from Apple for which 12 of them were continuation patents. In this report we briefly cover two of Apple's latest inventions. The first relates to a future iPhone's hearing aid detection technology and the second relates to Apple's application of nano-silica fiber coatings in such hardware as the iPhone. We close out our report with a listing of ten additional patent applications with one of them relating to the original iPod Shuffle that lists Apple's Late Cofounder and CEO Steve Jobs as the lead inventor.
On January 31, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals new method for fabricating a sheet of metallic glass matrix composite. Metallic glass is a form of liquidmetal. In order to make cool products with this exotic material one must first invent equipment that could properly processes and control it. Today's patent relates to sheet casting of metallic glasses, and more particularly to twin roll sheet casting of bulk metallic glasses and composites in an inert environment. If you don't think that this is about liquidmetal, the conclusion of our report will make it crystal clear.
It appears that Apple is seriously thinking of taking their iDevice retail packaging to the next level, Transformer style. Apple's invention is all about providing for packaging with multiple uses and functions after opening. In one embodiment, the packaging includes a base and a removable lid. The base converts into being a docking station for the iDevice. I guess the Transformers idea came about after Ive was madly inventing a new robotic hand that could test out Single and Multi-Touch surfaces automatically so that he wouldn't have to do it all day himself (ha!). What will he think of next?
On September 20, 2012, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a series of 17 patent applications from Apple. In this report we cover three patent applications relating to various manufacturing processes related to iDevices. In our recent report titled Apple's Leadership and Magic Shine Through we presented a segment covering Sir Jony Ive on the iPhone 5 and the many manufacturing processes associated with it. Jony takes such pride in his work that it shines through in every product. And so it's always fascinating to see new processes being revealed in patent filings. If you happen to appreciate the making of products, like I do, then I think that you'll enjoy this report and the links to each patent. In other IP news, Apple has been granted a registered trademark for VoicePass.
Although it's another slow summer day on Apple's patent front, the US Patent & Trademark Office published did publish several patent applications of Apple's – and two of them are worth noting. The first relates to adressee based message prioritization for Apple Mail and the second relates to revelations about one of Apple's industrial design processing secrets.
On August 2, 2012, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a series of patent applications from Apple on the topics of SIM cards, radio transparent materials for portable devices, video editing and many other utility patents.
On June 28, 2012, the US Patent & Trademark Office published patent applications from Apple covering GarageBand, multiple camera sensors for iDevices, new optical display coatings and more. The US Patent Office has yet to publish the patent graphics for the patents we cover today. When they do, we'll update our report accordingly. Apple's dearth of patent applications now runs five straight weeks. Where oh where are Apple's talented engineers of late? This is the longest running patent drought since Patently Apple has covered Apple's patents.
On May 17, 2012, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple revealing a new manufacturing process. The main focus of this particular invention concerns the creation of devices with a unitary housing without seams or gaps. In March of this year we learned of Apple's use of ultrasonic welding in context with fastening parts within devices such as the iPhone. Today we learn of ultrasonic welding being used in conjunction with metal foil so as to create seamless form factors. It's the kind of stuff that keeps Sir Ive giggling in his sleep.
