Apple has updated their possible Future iMac with an exciting Curved Glass Design
Back in January 2020 Patently Apple posted an IP report titled "Apple invents an AIO Desktop Computer made from Glass that incorporates the Keyboard, Dual Trackpads & more." It was definitely one of the most exciting patents about a future Mac that I could remember. It's an industrial design that would put the "cool" factor back into the iMac lineup. Apple was granted its first patent for this back in July 2022.
Today the US Patent & Trademark Office published a continuation patent from Apple that updates their invention. Considering the value of this invention, we find it appropriate to post a report on Apple's update. But first a recap of the invention for those not familiar with this invention.
Apple's invention relates to a next generation all-in-one (AIO) desktop iMac that is made with a continuous glass body. The design is shown to have a number of twists with alternative ideas including a similar shaped desktop accessory designed for a MacBook. The current iMac design is growing a little stale for some and so it's great to see Apple's engineers beginning to stretch their imaginations in search for a next-gen iMac.
Apple's invention covers a new vision for a future iMac/desktop PC made with a glass housing that includes a continuous surface defined by the upper portion, the lower portion, and the transition portion.
This future iMac/desktop PC may include a display coupled to the glass housing member and configured to provide a visual output at the display area. The electronic device may include a keyboard coupled to the glass housing member and configured to detect an input at the input area. Alternative designs show the keyboard being separable.
A desktop computer may include a display, an input device operably coupled to the display, and a glass sheet. The glass sheet may include a first portion defining a planar display area, a second portion defining a planar input area, and a curved portion between the planar display area and the planar input area. The desktop computer may include a support structure coupled to the glass sheet and configured to support the glass sheet.
Apple clarifies that the glass housing could be made with materials that are transparent, coated, painted, or otherwise treated to produce a non-transparent (e.g., opaque) component; in such cases the material may still be referred to as transparent, even though the material may be part of an opaque component. Translucent components may be formed by producing a textured or frosted surface on an otherwise transparent material (e.g., clear glass). Translucent materials may also be used, such as translucent polymers, translucent ceramics, or the like.
The housing member may have properties that enable the diverse input and output functions described herein. For example, the housing member (e.g., the optically transmissive member) may be strong and may have a high resistance to scratching, and may provide a surface finish having a superior appearance and/or tactile feel as compared with other materials or components.
Apple's patent FIG. 3 below we see a continuous glass iMac/Desktop PC design that includes an OLED display, an integrated keyboard and left and right touch input zones like a seamless dual trackpad construction; FIG. 11E illustrates the back of the new device with ports and speaker. The device could double as a home automation system.
20 New Patent Claims
Instead of filing for a new patent each time, the U.S. Patent Office allows an inventor to update their invention while still retaining the original date of the patent that could be used in a challenging patent court case to prove the original date. The update covers the latest tweaks to an original patent to keep it up to date technologically and to ensure it's better protected from competitors and patent trolls alike. The following are the 20 new patent claims published today:
1. An electronic device comprising: a glass housing member comprising: an upper portion defining a display area; a lower portion defining an input area; and a transition portion extending between the upper portion and the lower portion and defining part of a continuous surface defined by the upper portion, the lower portion, and the transition portion; a display coupled to the glass housing member and configured to provide a graphical output at the display area; an input device coupled to the glass housing member and configured to detect an input at the input area; and a support structure coupled to the glass housing member and configured to support the glass housing member.
2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein: the upper portion defines a first planar region of the continuous surface; the lower portion defines a second planar region of the continuous surface; and the transition portion defines a concave, curved region of the continuous surface.
3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the glass housing member is a single piece of glass.
4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein: the glass housing member defines a rear surface opposite the continuous surface; and the display is coupled to the rear surface.
5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein: the display area extends along the upper portion, the transition portion, and the lower portion; and the display has a curvature that corresponds to a curvature of the glass housing member.
6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the display area extends to an edge of the glass housing member.
7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the glass housing member is movable, relative to the support structure, from a first configuration resulting in a first display angle to a second configuration resulting in a second display angle different from the first display angle.
8. A desktop computer comprising: a display; an input device operably coupled to the display; a glass sheet comprising: a first portion defining a planar display area; a second portion defining a planar input area; and a curved portion between the planar display area and the planar input area; and a support structure coupled to the glass sheet and configured to support the glass sheet.
9. The desktop computer of claim 8, wherein: the glass sheet is configured to move relative to the support structure; in a first configuration, the first portion has a first display angle; and in a second configuration, the first portion has a second display angle different from the first display angle.
10. The desktop computer of claim 9, wherein: in the first configuration, the second portion has a first input angle; and in the second configuration, the second portion has a second input angle different from the first input angle.
11. The desktop computer of claim 10, wherein an angular difference between the first display angle and the second display angle is equal to an angular difference between the first input angle and the second input angle.
12. The desktop computer of claim 8, wherein the glass sheet is flexible along the curved portion and configured to flex to change an angle between the planar display area and the planar input area.
13. The desktop computer of claim 8, further comprising a processing unit in the support structure and operably coupled to the display and the input device.
14. The desktop computer of claim 8, wherein the input device extends along at least a portion of the planar display area to form a touchscreen-style display.
15. An electronic device comprising: a slumped glass housing member defining: a continuous exterior surface of the electronic device; and an opening extending through the slumped glass housing member; a support structure coupled to the slumped glass housing member and configured to support the slumped glass housing member; a display coupled to an upper portion of the slumped glass housing member; and a keyboard having: a storage configuration in which the keyboard is positioned at least partially within the opening; and a use configuration in which the keyboard is extended from the opening.
16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the keyboard is: releasably coupled to the slumped glass housing member; and configured to detach from the slumped glass housing member in the use configuration.
17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein: the slumped glass housing member further defines an input area; the electronic device further comprises an input device configured to detect inputs at the input area; and in the use configuration, an actuation of a key of the keyboard causes an input to be detected by the input device.
18. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein: the opening is a first opening; a second opening is defined in the upper portion of the slumped glass housing member; the electronic device further comprises: a camera positioned at least partially in the opening; and a processing unit positioned in the support structure; and the camera is operably coupled to the processing unit by a camera trace coupled to the slumped glass housing member.
19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the camera trace is formed of an optically transmissive material.
20. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein: the slumped glass housing member is a first slumped glass housing member; the electronic device comprises a second slumped glass housing member; and the display is positioned between the first slumped glass housing member and the second slumped glass housing member.
For more details and patent figures, review our original report in full here or review Apple's patent published today under number US 20220357773 A1.
Renderings
The excitement for this new iMac concept had a number of renderers post images of what the design could translate to. Our cover graphic and those presented below are from Yanko Design. You could view a variety of additional rendering on their site here.
On Tuesday, Patently Apple posted a report titled "While Apple has stated that their Industrial Design Team has strong leaders with decades of experience, insiders voice their concerns." The report noted that Bloomberg sources were claiming that Apple's design team was currently in a state of flux.
With some thinking that Apple's device designs are getting a little stale at the moment, an exciting iMac design like the one in today's patent would definitely make waves in the industry and fire up Mac fans.
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