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Apple updates a Major Patent covering a Possible Next-Generation MacBook with 2-Way Charging & Removable Keyboard

1 Cover Macbook with wireless charger with wrist and palm biometrics + touch id

 

Last Thursday the US Patent & Trademark Office published a continuation patent from Apple that relates to a futuristic MacBook that includes a transparent, dielectric input surface integrated with the enclosure of the device that could be. formed at least partially from glass, ceramic and/or a plastic. The design will allow the face of the MacBook to support either a virtual keyboard or a physical keyboard that could magnetically align and attach to the keyboard area. The keys would also be able to receive touch inputs so that the user could draw a line or other figure simply by touching the screen in touch mode.

 

The revolutionary design would also allow for reverse charging so that an iPhone or Apple Watch could be charged when the MacBook is inactive while a user is at lunch or charging at night. New biometrics being considered include palmprint recognition.

 

With this next-gen MacBook having a glass input surface also means that the MacBook could take on completely new interfaces beyond a keyboard and trackpad, as you can see in patent FIG. 48F below. It could theoretically present users with a game controlling interface when playing a video game. It could provide DJ's with a touch-based turntable and audio controls. It may offer video editors with an interface that could take advantage of touch instead of a keyboard. It could be a clean canvas to allow artists to use their Apple Pencil.

 

As for a removable keyboard option being designed to be aligned to the base using a magnetic-based system, it's an idea that is already built into Microsoft's Surface Neo, a dual tablet device that's due to ship in Q4 2021, as the Surface Duo smartphone launches in mere days in the U.S.

 

I've set up the video below to begin where Microsoft illustrates how a physical keyboard will be an option to rest on top of one of the displays and be magnetically held in place for stability when typing and removable when not needed which Apple's patent describes as well. Microsoft is likely to beat Apple to market with this concept with the Surface Neo next year.

 

 

Below are a few of the patent figures from Apple's continuation patent. In Apple's patent FIG. 48F below we're able to see that Apple's engineers envision the use of a dual-display MacBook or iPad, depending how you look at it; FIG. 49A above illustrates a MacBook with an iPhone recharger built-into the palm rest area. The patent figure also illustrates that Apple may add future biometrics into the palm area.

 

3 apple patent figs for new MacBook features including a dual display model

 

Apple's patent FIG. 32A below presented below depicts a MacBook with an integrated finger sensing system; FIGS. 48A/B/C/E depict example of a user applying their finger in various ways and have it appear on the display the MacBook to make a quick line or a curved line or draw a box and so forth.

 

3 apple wins patent for Macbook's new features

 

Thursday's patent wasn't a new invention application but rather a continuation patent wherein Apple is updating and/or adding specific technology, features and/or methods that they want to legally extend into their original granted patent.  Any change and/or addition to this invention is restricted to Apple's patent claims.

 

Apple's original granted patent published in May 2020 was published with 20 patent claims broken into three themes as follows: (1) 8 claims focused on "Portable computer; followed by (2) 6 claims focused on "The device," and finally; (3) 6 claims focused on "The Notebook computer."

 

In Apple's continuation patent that was published last Thursday, Apple cancelled the 20 previous patent claims. Because this is a continuation patent, Apple couldn't start the number sequence of the patent claims starting at #1 because that would make it a new patent. So, Apple presents line one of the patent claims with "(1-20 cancelled)" followed by new patent claims #21-40 so that the original patent date is still preserved which is crucial in any patent dispute. The U.S. Patent Office provides this crucial extension mechanism to safeguard the original granted patent date.  

 

Apple's 20 new patent claims presented below now have a single focus instead of three which is "A portable computer system." All highlights in bold print and/or yellow highlighter was done by Patently Apple to highlight certain key points of interest.   

 

20 New Patent Claims

 

  1. A portable computer system comprising: a display portion comprising: a display housing; and a display within the display housing; a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion and defining a top exterior surface; and a keyboard configured to be removably coupled to the top exterior surface and comprising: a magnetic alignment component configured to magnetically retain the keyboard to the top exterior surface of the base portion; a key; a sensing system configured to detect an actuation of the key; and a first wireless communication system configured to transmit, to a second wireless communication system of the portable computer system, an input signal corresponding to an actuation of the key.
  1. The portable computer system of claim 21, wherein: the key comprises: a keycap; and a support mechanism configured to movably support the keycap; and the sensing system comprises an electromechanical switch.
  1. The portable computer system of claim 22, further comprising a flexible cover positioned over the keycap and configured to deform in response to the actuation of the key.
  1. The portable computer system of claim 21, wherein the sensing system comprises a capacitive key make sensor.
  1. The portable computer system of claim 21, wherein: the base portion comprises a first wireless power transfer system; and the keyboard further comprises a second wireless power transfer system configured to inductively couple to the first wireless power transfer system to receive power from the first wireless power transfer system.
  1. The portable computer system of claim 21, wherein: the top exterior surface is a first top exterior surface; the base portion further defines a second top exterior surface; and the first top exterior surface is recessed relative to the second top exterior surface.
  1. The portable computer system of claim 21, further comprising a trackpad region configured to detect gesture inputs from a user.
  1. The portable computer system of claim 21, wherein: the sensing system is a first sensing system; and the base portion further comprises a second sensing system configured to determine whether the keyboard is coupled to the base portion.
  1. A portable computer system comprising: a display portion comprising: a display housing; and a display within the display housing; a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion and defining a top exterior surface; an input device configured to be removably coupled to the top exterior surface of the base portion and configured to receive inputs from a user, the input device comprising a wireless communication system configured to wirelessly transmit, to the portable computer system, input signals corresponding to received inputs; and a sensing system configured to determine whether the input device is removably coupled to the top exterior surface of the base portion.
  1. The portable computer system of claim 29, wherein: the base portion comprises a first portion of an alignment system configured to retain the input device to the base portion; and the input device comprises a second portion of the alignment system.
  1. The portable computer system of claim 30, wherein the alignment system comprises a magnet and a ferromagnetic material.
  1. The portable computer system of claim 29, wherein the base portion defines: a first exterior portion; and a second exterior portion recessed relative to the first exterior portion.
  1. The portable computer system of claim 29, wherein the input device is configured to begin responding to the input signals upon detecting that the input device has been removably coupled to the top exterior surface of the base portion.
  1. The portable computer system of claim 29, wherein the input signals are configured to navigate a user interface displayed on the display portion.
  1. A portable computer system comprising: a display portion comprising: a display housing; and a display within the display housing; a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion and comprising a top member, the top member defining: a first exterior portion; and a second exterior portion recessed relative to the first exterior portion; and a keyboard configured to be removably coupled to the second exterior portion of the top member.
  1. The portable computer system of claim 35, further comprising a coupling system configured to removably retain the keyboard to the base portion.
  1. The portable computer system of claim 36, wherein: the coupling system comprises: a plurality of magnets in the base portion; and a plurality of magnetic elements in the keyboard; and the plurality of magnets and the plurality of magnetic elements are configured to align the keyboard relative to the base portion.
  1. The portable computer system of claim 35, wherein: the keyboard comprises a movable keycap; and the base portion comprises a sensing system configured to detect movement of the movable keycap.
  1. The portable computer system of claim 35, wherein the keyboard comprises: a plurality of keys; and a polymer sheet covering the plurality of keys.
  1. The portable computer system of claim 35, wherein the keyboard comprises: a key; a key make sensor configured to detect an actuation of the key; and a first wireless communication system configured to transmit, to a second wireless communication system of the portable computer system, an input signal corresponding to the actuation of the key.

 

Apple's continuation patent 20200278747 that was published last Thursday by the U.S. Patent Office was originally filed back on May 13, 2020 or 6 days prior to the first granted patent being issued. Considering that this is a continuation patent, the timing of such a product to market is unknown at this time.

 

In late November 2019 Patently Apple posted a report titled "Apple reveals more on their 2-Way Charging Feature that they describe as a 'Hybrid Wireless Charging System.'" So, the concept of a future MacBook offering 2-way charging has been described in two completely different patents illustrating that this project is definitely on the minds of Apple's engineers. Whether it'll ever translate to an actual feature is unknown at this time.

 

10.51XF - Continuation Patent Report Bar

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