This morning another Apple website posted a patent report wherein the writer states: 'Disappearing Button or Slider,' is a newly-revealed patent application that shows Apple wants to make controls as invisible as lights, when that's the right thing to do.'" Newly what? Patently Apple covered this Apple invention back in 2013 in a report titled "Apple Granted a Patent for Invisible Backside Button and Slider Controls for Future iDevices & Beyond." The patent's history actually goes all the way back to 2008 or 13 years ago. It's far from being a new patent and saying so is simply deceitful if no context is provided. 

You could review our report linked to above or review today's clear marked "Continuation Patent" 20210109567. So, what is Apple's continuation patent really about? Simply to update its patent claims, which is always what a continuation patent is about. Updating an invention to better protect it should it come to market.

To know what Apple actually updated, you have to compare its previous granted patent 10901559 (Nov. 2018) to the current one published today. What stands out first and foremost is that the patent claims are deadly focused on the invention apply to a "laptop computer" and not an iPhone. The first 9 patent claims are on a Laptop, as follows:

Patent Claim #1: A laptop computer, comprising: a lid housing; a display positioned in the lid housing; a base housing coupled to the lid housing and having an outer surface; a touch input device positioned in the base housing, the touch input device comprising a first capacitor plate spaced apart from a second capacitor plate by a dielectric medium; wherein displacement of the outer surface of the base housing deflects the first capacitor plate relative to the second capacitor plate.

Patent Claim #2: The laptop computer of claim 1, further comprising: a wall positioned in an internal portion of the base housing; a set of supports disposed between the outer surface and the wall; a set of holes in the outer surface; a light source positioned in the internal portion of the base housing and configured to emit light through the set of holes; and wherein the dielectric medium is positioned between the outer surface and the wall.

Patent Claim #3: The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the outer surface is part of a trackpad or touchpad input device.

Patent Claim #4: The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the displacement of the outer surface is configured to induce at least three levels of functionality for the touch input device.

Patent Claim #5: The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the displacement of the outer surface is configured to induce continuous output functionality for the touch input device.

Patent Claim #6: The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the displacement of the outer surface is configured to induce at least two levels of functionality for the touch input device.

Patent Claim #7: The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the outer surface comprises metal.

Patent Claim #8: The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the outer surface comprises a plurality of micro apertures.

Patent Claim #9: The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein an air gap is defined between the first and second capacitor plates.

To review the remaining 11 patent claims, review Apple's continuation patent 20210109567.

At the end of the day, it's interesting to see Apple updating their continuation patent considering how long they've been working on this invention. But it being described as a "newly revealed" patent application by another Apple site isn't factual. The actual continuation patent is mainly focused on a single device, a "Laptop," not a HomePod mini, Mac mini or iPhone.

While it's fun to imagine where Apple could take this technology, today's continuation patent is presenting specific facts about this invention and not about day dreams of what could be.