Apple Granted a Futuristic 3D Patent for iPad

Apple has been granted a patent today for their invention relating to working with 3D objects.

Apple's granted patent reveals various concepts behind newly advanced 3D gesturing that will apply to CAD, gaming and consumer applications. According to Apple, next generation iPad and/or other iOS device displays will allow consumers to create avatars for 3D environments or assist homeowners in designing new landscapes and more by using simple 3D gesturing. The new 3D gesturing will control color and textures while allowing users to uniquely rotate objects to gain different perspectives of their designs.

Patently Apple first covered Apple's patent application back in July 2011. See our original patent report for more detailing and graphic illustrations.

Apple's patent also presents a gaming aspect to it as note below: 

"Computer games that require players to move objects may utilize 3D gesture inputs. For example, finger movements in the vicinity of display surface may be used to guide movements of objects through 3D mazes. For example, in a baseball video game, a user can use finger movements to control movements of a bat, in which swinging a finger forward and away from display surface causes the bat to swing forward and upwards, and swinging the finger forward and toward display surface causes the bat to swing forward and downwards."  

Apple credits Nicholas King and Todd Benjamin as the inventors of granted patent 8,514,221 which was originally filed in Q3 2012 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Apple Granted Patent for Quickstart Workout

Apple has been granted a patent today for their invention relating to systems and methods for generating a quick start workout template and calibrating an electronic device using the workout template are provided.

The electronic device may create and store a workout template to be used in conjunction with a workout. The workout template may be selected in a quick start fashion to restart the same workout. The workout template may be defined at least in part by a selection of any suitable workout goal and/or any suitable associated media. If the media associated with the workout goal is changed or is removed, a new workout template may be created. The electronic device may be calibrated or recalibrated using the workout template. If the electronic device is calibrated or re-calibrated with respect to a particular sensor, the electronic device may use the calibration in conjunction with any suitable workout template and the sensor to more accurately monitor the user's workout.

Patently Apple covered Apple's original patent application back in March 2010. To review the main points of the patent and to see an additional 18 interface graphics see our original report.

Apple credits Benjamin Rottler, Allen Haughay Jr. and Ryan Perry as the inventors of granted patent 8,512,211 which was originally filed in Q3 2008 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Apple Granted a Camera Patent: Cover for image Sensor Assembly with Light Absorbing Layer

For you camera buffs, Apple has been granted a patent today for their invention relating to the field of electronic image sensors; and more specifically, to electronic image sensors with means for attenuating spurious reflected light.

Technically, Apple's patent covers an image sensor assembly which includes an image sensor die attached adjacent to a cavity and a lower surface in a preformed package having substantially vertical surfaces extending from the lower surface to an upper surface of the package. The image sensor die provides the light receiving surface, such as an image sensor array, for capturing the image.

A light absorbing layer is applied to a cover such that the light absorbing layer prevents light from falling on the substantially vertical surfaces of the preformed package without preventing the passage of light that falls on the light receiving surface of the image sensor die. The light absorbing layer includes openings that provide a line-of-sight view of two opposing corners of at least one of the light receiving surface and the image sensor die to facilitate placing the cover over the upper surface of the package in registry with the image sensor die. The cover may be a glass cover or an infrared cut filter.

Apple obviously considers this to be an important invention, as they've just filed a follow-up patent for this image sensor assembly last month.

Apple credits Terence Tam and Jeffrey Gleason as the inventors of granted patent 8,513,757 which was originally filed in Q3 2012 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office. To review today's granted patent claims and details, see Apple's patent.

Apple Granted Two Design Patents Today

Apple was granted two design patents today covering the iPad Smart Case (D688,251) and an iDevice Virtual Keyboard (D688,256).

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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