Apple Granted a Patent for Invisible Backside Button and Slider Controls for Future iDevices & Beyond
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 34 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we single out a patent that generally relates to input devices and device display systems, and more particularly to invisible input systems and device display systems. The input devices and display systems may become visible when illuminated from behind through microperforated holes that are invisible to the naked eye.
Apple has been working on this type of control since 2006. We first presented Apple's concept of using invisible backside controls for the iPad back in our January 2010 titled "Apple: The Tablet Prophecies." Then in April 2010 we reported on a new Apple patent application which is the basis for today's granted patent.
Apple's Invisible Backside Button Control for iDevices
Apple's patent FIG. 1 illustrates the backside of an iDevice like an iPhone. As you can see above, there's an integrated invisible button. Apple states that such controls could also apply to future applications on other devices such remote control, game player, MacBook and more.
The invisible button could be illuminated. Apple states that "the backlight can be activated when a user taps or presses down on the button. In another embodiment, a motion sensor (not shown) may interface with the LED and activate it when motion is detected. In another embodiments heat and/or sound sensors (not shown) can interface with and activate LED 95 when heat and/or sound is detected."
Apple's Invisible Backside Slider Control for iDevices
Apple's Invisible Controls Could be applied to many Future Functions
Apple's visible controls may be a contextual control, meaning that the function of control is dependent upon an operating state of the device such as when iTunes is active so as to control iTunes functions. In other implementations, invisible contextual controls (not shown) can be used to deactivate a camera, eject a disk or USB stick, or to illuminate the keyboard depending on the state of the MacBook. Even the entire keyboard of the MacBook can be replaced with an array of invisible buttons. In fact, all of the conventional keys, buttons, track pads, etc. on a MacBook or other electronic device can be replaced by invisible inputs according to the present invention. In this way, Apple states, "the truly seamless design has become a reality."
Considering that Apple's competition is upping the ante by providing new forms of controls for device functions like waving a hand over a smartphone interface to answer a smartphone, Apple's granted patent holds some potential for adding invisible controls for gaming, ebooks, iTunes and more. Whether Apple will ever bring this invention to market is unknown at this time.
Apple credits Omar Leung and David Amm as the inventors of this granted patent which was originally filed in Q4 2008 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office. To review today's granted patent claims and details, see US granted patent number 8,436,816.
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Patently Apple presents only a brief summary of granted patents with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each Granted Patent is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any Granted Patent should be read in its entirety for full details. About Comments: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit comments.
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