Apple Granted 40 Patents Today Covering Fingerprint Sensors, Pressure Sensor Displays, the iPad Smart Case and More
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 40 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. Our report covers patents relating to a fingerprint sensor for applications beyond the Home Button such as a future Mac, a pressure sensitive display for a possible future smart pen accessory and a method of bonding a display to a device using lasers. Today's granted patent report concludes as always with a full list of the patents granted to Apple today that we didn't cover in detail. This list is designed for legal professionals and enthusiasts who wish to explore more of Apple's patents in future detail.
Apple Gains another Fingerprint Scanner Patent Relating to Bezel Structure Placement
Apple has been working on biometric sensors for fingerprint scanners for iDevices and the MacBook since at least 2009. In 2010 we reported that Apple was working on a fingerprint scanner that could work under a device's display and in late 2012 Apple revealed their fingerprint scanner for use as an e-commerce and general security feature for the iPhone. On June 13, the US Patent and Trademark Office revealed Apple's latest alternative fingerprint scanner design patent application that could be integrated directly into the bezel of a given device.
Today, AuthenTec was granted patent 8,569,875 which technically secures Apple's June patent application noted above because they now own the rights to AuthenTec's intellectual property. A granted patent for Authentec is a granted patent for Apple.
So within the blink of an eye, Apple now technically owns the very technology that they filed for just months ago which allows them to build a fingerprint scanner into the bezel structure or other device structures that don't have a home button, such as Apple TV or a Mac. The patent states that "The bezel may alternatively be a solid body or part of a bezel frame.
Noted in this granted patent are credits to inventors Robert Bond, Alan Kramer and Giovanni Gozzini. The granted patent was originally filed for in Q1 2013 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office. To review today's granted patent with 21 patent claims and details, see patent 8,569,875.
Apple Granted Patent for a Light Sensitive Display with Pressure Sensor
Another patent that was granted to Apple today relates to their invention concerning to a light sensitive display. This is Apple's sixth granted patent relating to a light sensitive display. Two of the others granted patents on this could be found here and here where you could find more details.
Apple has a great number of patents on hand regarding a smart pen and a light sensitive display with a pressure sensor is just one of the ingredients that Apple may wish to implement should that day ever arrives where the introduce a next generation smart pen for business applications.
Apple credits Adiel Abileah, Willem den Boer, Richard Tuenge and Terrance Larsson as the inventors of this granted patent which was originally filed in Q3 2009 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office. To review today's 19 granted patent claims and details, see Apple's patent 8,570,449.
Apple Granted Patent for Methods of Forming Display Modules
The last granted patent of Apple's that we cover today relates to their invention concerning methods of forming display modules. Display module damage such as damage from crack formation may arise from excessive stress in the glass layers when heat is applied to the periphery of the glass layers during bond formation. In order to reduce stress, a second heat source may be applied to the glass layers so that the glass layers are placed in an expanded state during bond formation. Tempering by heat or chemical treatment may also be used.
As shown in Apple's patent FIG. 11, heat for annealing and/or bond formation may be applied locally (i.e., in the vicinity of bond structure 24) using laser (#30B). The laser may be translated in direction (#66). The light beam (#48) may be an infrared laser light beam and may be focused onto bond structures (#24 as) shown in FIG. 11. The glass layers (#20 and #22) may be transparent to infrared light, which allows most of the power from the laser to be absorbed in the frit or other material that is used in forming bond structures (e.g., a solid glass gasket). The material of the bond structures may include light-absorbing components to facilitate infrared laser light absorption.
Apple credits Christopher Prest, Stephen Zadesky and David Pakula as the inventors of this granted patent which was originally filed in Q4 2009 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office. To review today's 11 patent claims and details, see Apple's patent 8,568,184.
We presented this patent to further illustrate the detail that Apple applies to the creation of its iDevices. Apple makes this a point in their latest iPad Air webpage verbiage.
"Every detail detailed: Pick up iPad Air, and you'll notice how balanced it feels. That's because everything about it is the result of careful consideration. Every detail services a purpose. And the sum of it all is the most refined iPad ever." This is why we cover some of these patents weekly so as to show you the care and the incredible attention to detail that applies to their products. It separates an Apple iDevice from the competition, handidly.
Apple Granted a Design Patent for iPad Smart Case
Apple was granted a single design patent today for their iPad Smart Cover. Apple credits VP Industrial Design Jonathan Ive and team members Andre Bartley Jody Akana, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniel Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Evans Hankey, Julian Hoenig, Richard Howarth, Duncan Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Christopher Stringer, Eugene Whang and Rico Zorkendorfer as the inventors of Granted Design Patent D692,433 which was originally filed in Q1 2012.
The Remaining Patents granted to Apple Today
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.
New on Patent Bolt this Week
Samsung Seeks Patent for Smart Transparent Displays
Google Seeks Patent for Functional Carrying Case for "Glass"
Google Invents a New Way of Creating a Wall Size Display
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