IPS: All about Apple's iPad Display Technology

Many conventional liquid crystal display devices assume that the user is viewing the display at a normal axis (i.e., at 90.degree. relative to the axis of the display). When viewing the display from a different angle, the perceived image often appears distorted because of the nature of the display technology. In most cases, such "off-axis" viewing leads to contrast degradation and/or color aberrations in the perceived image.

Such limitations are not suitable for display devices, particularly handheld devices that are expected to tilt, shift, or otherwise change position many times in the course of a day. Moreover, since inclination sensing is expected to become a prevalent means of providing input to various software applications in the immediate future (for example, in gaming applications), it is unreasonable to continue requiring the user to assume the same vantage point every time the device is in use.

While certain liquid crystal display technologies presently offer ultra-wide viewing angles (e.g., in-plane switching and multi-domain vertical alignment devices), these technologies often suffer from lower light transmittance, lower yield, and higher prices compared to conventional twisted nematic technologies. Additionally, many portable designs simply cannot afford the power budget or the premium price associated with utilizing these technologies.

What is needed is a means or mechanism for correcting the effects of angular dependence in conventional liquid crystal display technologies. More specifically, what is needed is a means or mechanism for presenting graphical data at acceptable luminance levels for each of a plurality of display vantage points. Ideally, the system would be able to detect its orientation automatically and select an appropriate display setting in real time.

 
Apple's invention satisfies the foregoing needs by disclosing, inter alia (among other things), methods and apparatus adapted to present graphical data at acceptable luminance levels for each of a plurality of display vantage points. In some embodiments, the orientation is detected automatically, and display is adjusted in real time.

Apple's current patent is extremely detailed and geared for engineers in this specific field. For more information on this patent, view this temporary link.

Patently Apple's breaking news report about IPS prior to Apple's announcement of the iPad titled "Apple Reveals New Touch Screen Technology for iPhone & MacBook Tablet," could shed more light on this subject for most readers.

Apple credits Cheng Chen, Wei Chen, Victor Yin and John Zhong as the inventors of patent application 20100060667.

New Audio Plug Being Designed for iPhone, iPod Touch

Standard audio connectors or plugs are available in three sizes according to the outside diameter of the plug: a 6.35 mm (1/4'') plug, a 3.5 mm (1/8'') miniature plug and a 2.5 mm (3/32'') subminiature plug. The plugs include multiple conductive regions in distinct portions of the plug such as the tip, sleeve and one or more middle portions between the tip and sleeve and are thus often referred to as TRS (tip, ring and sleeve) connectors.

A standard receptacle or "jack" used to connect an audio plug, such as plug 10 or 20, to an electronic device includes an opening through which the plug is inserted that has an interior diameter sized to receive the plug. Taking into account the thickness of the housing in which the opening is formed as well as an appropriate amount of clearance for the plug to slide into the receptacle, a standard receptacle for a 3.5 mm audio plug has a thickness that is greater than 3.5 mm. As electronic devices get thinner, the diameter of the audio plug and corresponding receptacle have been found to be limiting factors in reduction of device thickness. While it is possible to develop plugs that are thinner than either the 3.5 mm miniature or 2.5 mm subminiature audio plugs that could be used with a correspondingly thinner receptacle, smaller connectors are not backward compatible and need to use an adapter for larger jacks.

 
Apple's present invention relates to audio plug receptacles having a thickness or height that is less than an outside diameter of an audio plug intended to be used with the plug receptacle. In one embodiment a low profile plug receptacle is provided that includes a connector housing with at least a front side and a bottom side, the front side including a partially circular opening which extends into a longitudinal passage inside the connector housing, the bottom side including a second opening which extends into the longitudinal passage, the second opening having a width which is smaller than the diameter of the partially circular opening, the connector housing being compatible with an elongated cylindrical plug which extends partially through the second opening when inserted into the connector housing, and a plurality of plug receptacle contacts within the longitudinal passage.

Apple's patent figure 5C, which isn't explained in the patent, clearly presents a new audio plug receptacle on the right side of an iPhone and/or iPod touch.

Apple credits Stephen Lynch and Anthony Montevirgen as the inventors of patent application 20100062656.

The Secret Sauce behind the Assembly of the iPod Touch – Patent

The outward appearance of a portable electronic device, including its design and its heft, is important to a user of the portable electronic device, as the outward appearance contributes to the overall impression that the user has of the portable electronic device. At the same time, the assembly of the portable electronic device is also important to the user, as a durable assembly will help extend the overall life of the portable electronic device and will increase its value to the user.

One design challenge associated with the portable electronic device is the design of the enclosures used to house the various internal components. This design challenge generally arises from a number conflicting design goals that includes the desirability of making the enclosure lighter and thinner, the desirability of making the enclosure stronger and making the enclosure more esthetically pleasing. The lighter enclosures, which typically use thinner plastic structures and fewer fasteners, tend to be more flexible and therefore they have a greater propensity to buckle and bow when used while the stronger and more rigid enclosures, which typically use thicker plastic structures and more fasteners, tend to be thicker and carry more weight. Unfortunately, increased weight may lead to user dissatisfaction, and bowing may damage the internal parts

Furthermore, in most portable electronic devices, the enclosures are mechanical assemblies having multiple parts that are screwed, bolted, riveted, or otherwise fastened together at discrete points. For example, the enclosures typically have included an upper casing and a lower casing that are placed on top of one another and fastened together using screws. These techniques typically complicate the housing design and create aesthetic difficulties because of undesirable cracks, seams, gaps or breaks at the mating surfaces and fasteners located along the surfaces of the housing. For example, a mating line surrounding the entire enclosure is produced when using an upper and lower casing. Not only that, but assembly is often a time consuming and cumbersome process. For example, the assembler has to spend a certain amount of time positioning the two parts and attaching each of the fasteners. Furthermore, assembly often requires the assembler to have special tools and some general technical skill.

Another challenge is in techniques for mounting structures within the portable computing devices. Conventionally, the structures have been laid over one of the casings (upper or lower) and attached to one of the casings with fasteners such as screws, bolts, rivets, etc. That is, the structures are positioned in a sandwich like manner in layers over the casing and thereafter fastened to the casing. This methodology suffers from the same drawbacks as mentioned above, i.e., assembly is a time consuming and cumbersome.

Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide a portable electronic device that is aesthetically pleasing and lightweight, yet durable. It would also be beneficial to provide methods for assembling the portable electronic device.

If you ever wanted to know the secret sauce behind the iPod Touch assembly, then read patent application 20100061055 or view this temporary link – 2. Warning: Don't try this at home.

Apple credits Teodor Dabov, HuiLeng Lim, Kyle Yeates and Stephen Lynch as the inventors of this patent.

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