While Apple won their fourth patent for a Major Glass iMac today, they surprisingly added a Major Twist to their invention
In 2020, Patently Apple was first to reveal a patent application from Apple that revealed a possible future all-glass desktop form factor. While Apple may not have the courage to bring such a beautiful beast to market, they continue to work on it with updates. In September 2021 Apple was granted a patent for their original patent. Then in December 2021, Apple was already updating their invention. On August 30th 2023, the European Patent Office published an update to Apple's invention. Today, the U.S patent office published an update to this invention from Apple that interesting and yet surprising.
As a refresher of some of the graphics, Apple's patent FIG. 11B below shows the keyboard #1185 transitioning to a use configuration in which the keyboard is positioned on or above the lower portion #1154 and is extended out of the opening #1186. The keyboard may be configured to slide out of the opening as part of the transition from the storage configuration to the use configuration, and slide into the opening as part of the transition from the use configuration to the storage configuration.
Apple's patent FIG. 12B below illustrates a keyboard #1285 may extend through the opening #1286 for access by a user.
Apple's patent FIG. 12C above illustrates a MacBook coupled to a lower portion of the desktop wherein the keyboard and trackpad could be used with the desktop.
Apple's patent FIG. 20B above illustrates how the lower section of the desktop could fold up for easy transportation; FIGS. 20C and 20G illustrates a flexure mechanism that may be a hinge #2030 positioned within the housing member 2050. The hinge may have one or more pivot points (e.g., pivot points #2032a and #2032b) about which various portions of the housing member #2050 may rotate.
Apple's patent FIG. 20G, illustrates a component of the electronic device that may be segmented into multiple segments #2094a-d, which are configured to flex or otherwise move relative to one another to variably conform to the curvature of the electronic device. In various embodiments, the segments 2094a-d remain operably coupled as they move.
Today the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially granted Apple a fourth patent that relates to a possible future Mac. At times an updated or continuation patent reveals something significant that wasn't mentioned in previous patents. Today is one such case.
Clearly, Apple's patent figures point to a glass based iMac or desktop. So the new patent claims opens another dimension. Either Apple is changing the nature of the glass device or is adding another devices to a family of future glass Macs.
In a surprising development, Apple's 20 new patent claims shifts the focus of the patent from supporting an all-glass desktop alone to adding a "laptop" category in the first 8 new patent claims; then patent claims 9-15 describes an "electronic device"; and finally, patent claims 16-20 references the glass device as being "A portable computer," as noted below:
Added Patent Claims
- A laptop computer comprising: a housing member defining: an inner portion; an outer side portion comprising a front flange that extends from a first side of the inner portion and a back flange that extends form a second side of the inner portion; a first glass sheet positioned on a front side of the inner portion, at least partially surrounded by the front flange and defining a front exterior surface of the housing member; and a second glass sheet positioned on a back side of the inner portion, at least partially surrounded by the back flange and defining a rear exterior surface of the housing member; and a display positioned between the first glass sheet and the inner portion, at least partially surrounded by the front flange and configured to provide a first graphical output at the front exterior surface.
- The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein: the display is positioned at an upper portion of the housing member; the laptop computer further comprises an input device; and the input device is positioned at a lower portion of the housing member.
- The laptop computer of claim 2, wherein the upper portion is coupled to the lower portion by a transition portion.
- The laptop computer of claim 3, wherein the transition portion is configured to bend in response to the lower portion being articulated between a first angular position relative to the upper portion and a second angular position relative to the upper portion.
- The laptop computer of claim 3, wherein the display extends along the upper portion, the transition portion and the lower portion.
- The laptop computer of claim 3, wherein: the upper portion defines a first planar region of the housing member; and the lower portion defines a second planar region.
- The laptop computer of claim 1, further comprising a second display positioned between the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet and configured to provide a second graphical output at the rear exterior surface.
- The laptop computer of claim 7, wherein: the display comprises a first touch-sensitive display that detects user inputs to the front exterior surface of the housing member; and the second display comprises a second touch-sensitive display that detects user inputs to the rear exterior surface of the housing member.
- An electronic device comprising: an upper housing member comprising: a frame; a front flange that extends from a first side of the frame and defines a first portion of a side surface to the upper housing member; a back flange that extends form a second side of the frame and defines a second portion of the side surface of the upper housing member; a first glass sheet at least partially surrounded by the front flange and defining a display area at a front exterior surface; and a second glass sheet at least partially surrounded by the back flange and defining a rear exterior surface; a display positioned between the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet and configured to provide a first graphical output at the front exterior surface; and a lower housing member comprising an input device.
- The electronic device of claim 9, further comprising a hinge between the upper housing member and the lower housing member, the hinge configured to allow the upper housing member to articulate with respect to the lower housing member.
- The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the hinge defines one or more pivot points about which the upper housing member and the lower housing member are articulated.
- The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the hinge is configured to maintain the upper housing member and the lower housing member in a selected orientation.
- The electronic device of claim 12, wherein: in a first orientation the upper housing member is substantially parallel to the lower housing member; and in a second orientation the upper housing member in not-parallel to the lower housing member.
- The electronic device of claim 9, further comprising a second display positioned between the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet and configured to provide a second graphical output at the rear exterior surface.
- The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the input device comprises a keyboard, a trackpad or both.
- A portable computer comprising: a housing comprising: an upper portion defining a first region of the portable computer, the upper portion comprising: a frame; a front flange that extends from a first side of the frame and defines a first portion of a side surface to the housing; a back flange that extends form a second side of the frame and defines a second portion of the side surface of the housing; a first glass sheet at least partially surrounded by the front flange and defining a display area at a front exterior surface; and a second glass sheet at least partially surrounded by the back flange and defining a rear exterior surface; a lower portion defining a second region of the portable computer; and a transition portion extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, the transition portion configured to bend in response to the lower portion being articulated between a first angular position relative to the upper portion and a second angular position relative to the upper portion; and a display coupled to the upper portion and configured to provide a graphical output at the front exterior surface.
- The portable computer of claim 16, further comprising an input device coupled to the lower portion and configured to detect an input at the lower portion of the housing.
- The portable computer of claim 16, wherein: in the first angular position, the upper portion and the lower portion are parallel; and in the second angular position, the upper portion and the lower portion are positioned in a non-parallel relationship.
- The portable computer of claim 18, wherein: in the second angular position: the lower portion is substantially parallel to a support surface; and the upper portion is positioned at a non-parallel orientation with respect to the support surface.
- The portable computer of claim 19, wherein the display is at least partially surrounded by the front flange.
At least on paper, Apple envisions their original glass iMac/desktop patent turning into a family of glass devices in the future to include a laptop and possibly anoter "portable computer." To review the full details of this invention, check out granted patent 12197246.
Apple Inventors
- Paul X Wang: Senior Manager, Product Design
- Adam Garelli: Senior Product Architect
- Chris Ligtenberg; Senior Director, Product Design Architecture
- Brett Degner: Senior Manager, Product Design, Homelabs at Apple
- Mathew Dinesh: director of product design
- Keith Hendren: Product Designer