USPTO Reveals Apple's Big Continuation Patent Fest
On January 10, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a series of twenty patent applications from Apple. Within this group, there are only four original low key patent applications to be found. These original patent filings cover such matters as the refinement of the MacBook's cover hinge, methods for making anodized electroplated aluminum iDevice structures and methods for managing lithium-polymer batteries. The sixteen remaining patent filings were found to be continuation patents. These are patents where Apple is basically tweaking older patent claims in order to get the patents approved by a USPTO examiner. As they say, if you don't get your patent approved the first time around, try, try again.
Four of Apple's Low-Key Patent Applications Published Today
1. Configuration of Accessories for Wireless Network Access
Apple's patent application 20130014232 generally relates to wireless communication between computing devices and more particularly to configuring an accessory for operation with a wireless network. See Apple's related patent figures 2 and 7a/b/c below.
2. Methods for Making Anodized Electroplated Aluminum Structures
Apple's invention relates to methods for making Anodized electroplated aluminum structures that are part of Apple's portable devices. Cosmetic structures of the invention are provided by electroplating a non-cosmetic structure with aluminum and then anodizing the electroplated aluminum. This produces cosmetic structures that may possess desired structural and cosmetic properties and that may be suitable for use as housing or support members of electronic devices. Apple's patent figure below is from that patent filing. For more details, see patent application 20130008796.
The other two low-key patent filings published today include a battery related patent and a patent relating to a refined MacBook Cover hinge.
Apple's Big Continuation Patent Fest
In addition to the four patent applications highlighted in today's report, the US Patent and Trademark Office did publish a series of older continuation patents dating back to between 2003 and 2008 with one exception being a 2011 entry. The continuation patents that we list below are specifically referenced as such under the section titled "Cross-Reference to Related Applications." Generally speaking, continuation patents represent tweaks made to patent claims in an effort to get the patents granted by the USPTO and don't represent any noteworthy new development from the original patent filing. Here's an extensive list of today's continuation patents should you wish to review them:
20130014245 tilted "Remotable Information Cards" is a 2008 continuation patent.
20130014252 titled "Portable Computer Accounts" is a 2006 continuation patent
20130013940 titled "Systems and Methods for Providing Device-to-Device Handshaking through a Power Supply Signal' is a 2008 continuation patent
20130012065 Titled "High-Speed Card Connector having wide Power Contact" is 2010 continuation patent
20130009898 Titled "Touchpad and Pick Button Assembly is a 2008 continuation patent
20130009899 titled "Display having a Plurality of Driver Integrated Circuits" is a 2008 continuation patent.
20130009975 titled "Method for Reducing Graphics Rendering Failures" is a 2008 continuation patent
20130010012 titled "Methods and Apparatus for Color Uniformity" is a 2008 continuation patent
20130010679 titled "Methods and Systems for Wireless Networks with Relays" is a 2008 continuation patent
20130012155 titled "Location-Based Emergency Information" is a 2008 continuation patent
20130013696 tilted "Devices and Systems for Outputting Contextual Information About an Event For Which an Alarm is Set on an Electronic Device" is a 2008 continuation patent
20130013908 titled "Parallelizing Multiple Boot Images with Virtual Machines" is a 2009 continuation patent
20130014207 titled "Policy-Based Auditing of Identify Credential Disclosure by a Secure Token Service" is a 2009 continuation patent
20130014208 titled "Changing Information Card Selectors" is a 2011 continuation patent based on a 2007 patent
20130014247 titled "Method and System for Authenticating an Accessory" is a 2006 continuation patent
20130014229 titled "Method for Performing Distributed Administration" is a 2003 continuation patent
NOTICE: Patently Apple presents a detailed summary of patent applications with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent application should be read in its entirety for full and accurate details. Revelations found in patent applications shouldn't be interpreted as rumor or fast-tracked according to rumor timetables. About Comments: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit comments.
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