Earlier this morning we posted a patent report about a new glass shell Apple Watch invention. The Apple glass team is very active considering that another glass-centric device patent was published today that refreshes their patent for an all-glass iMac design.

Over time, Apple continually adds protections to patents of potential future products. For instance, Apple filed 5,000 patents for Vision Pro to protect every single aspect of the design and function and the same is true for today's all-glass iMac.

For those unfamiliar with this invention, Apple notes that traditional desktop computers typically include discrete displays and input devices (e.g., keyboards, mice, and the like). This patent relates to a new desktop computer design that includes a single glass member that defines a surface that includes one or more interface areas, such as an output area (e.g., a display area) and an input area.

In various embodiments, a housing or structure of an electronic device may be formed from a housing member (e.g., an optically transmissive member) that encompasses both a display area and an input area of the electronic device.

One or more display components (e.g., OLED displays, LED displays, and the like) may be coupled to the housing member and configured to provide a graphical output at the display area.

Similarly, one or more input components (e.g., touch sensors, force sensors, biometric sensors, and the like) may be coupled to the housing member and configured to detect inputs at the input area. Additional input and output components are envisioned.

In some embodiments, the housing member defines a continuous exterior surface of the electronic device. The exterior surface may include one or more interface areas for providing outputs, receiving inputs, or some combination thereof.

The housing member may be formed from a single piece of glass that has been molded (e.g., slumped) to form the various portions of the housing member. The electronic device may take the form of or be included in any suitable computing device, including a desktop computer, a laptop, a tablet, a smartphone, an Apple Watch, an appliance or accessory.  

In various embodiments, one or more interface areas (e.g., display areas, input areas, and the like) may be defined by the housing member and/or one or more components of the electronic device. Interface areas may be defined at a portion of the housing member (e.g., an upper portion, a lower portion, or a transition portion), or extend across multiple portions of the housing member.

Further, the interface areas may include one or more of display areas where graphical outputs are provided or input areas where inputs are detected and/or received. The electronic devices may additionally or alternatively include one or more additional areas for providing device functionality.

For example, the electronic devices may include one or more output areas for providing outputs (e.g., visual outputs, audio outputs, haptic outputs, and the like), charging areas for charging electronic devices, data transfer areas for exchanging data and/or communicating with other devices, and the like. The electronic devices may include various components, as appropriate, to facilitate providing device functionality at the additional areas.

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.

(Click on image to Enlarge)

Apple's patent FIG. 5 below, Apple illustrates that the Glass iMac could provide a full secondary backside display; FIG. 11E illustrates the back of the new device with ports and speaker.  The device could double as a home automation system.

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. FIG. 11b shows that the keyboard may flip back down and slide into the opening.

Expand the two large graphics below to read the notes pertaining to the other patent figures.

Our cover graphic and those below are from Yanko Design. You could view a variety of additional rendering on their site here.

Today, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published this patent update with 20 new patent claims to further protect specific aspects of the design of this glass iMac from a single piece of glass, Apple claims. Apple has been working on this glass iMac concept since at least 2019.  Most major devices took ten years or more to come to market.

Apple's list of Inventors

• Paul Wang: Senior Manager, Product Design
• Chris Ligtenberg: Senior Director, Product Design Architecture
• Brett Degner: Mechanical Innovator
• Adam Garelli: Senior Product Architect
• Keith Hendren: Product Designer