Apple Wins another Core Multi-Touch Patent

Apple has received a Granted Patent that relates to one of Apple's core patents relating to touch sensor panels used on Apple's iPhone and iPod touch. The invention that was initially filed in 2007 and updated in 2010 is fully described in Apple's patent Abstract as follows:

"The identification of low noise stimulation frequencies for detecting and localizing touch events on a touch sensor panel is disclosed. Each of a plurality of sense channels can be coupled to a separate sense line in a touch sensor panel and can have multiple mixers, each mixer using a demodulation frequency of a particular frequency, phase and delay. With no stimulation signal applied to any drive lines in the touch sensor panel, pairs of mixers can demodulate the sum of the output of all sense channels using the in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals of a particular frequency. The demodulated outputs of each mixer pair can be used to calculate the magnitude of the noise at that particular frequency, wherein the lower the magnitude, the lower the noise at that frequency. Several low noise frequencies can be selected for use in a subsequent touch sensor panel scan function."

To review Apple's fourteen patent claims, see granted patent 8,120,591 titled: "Detection of Low Noise Frequencies for Multiple Frequency Sensor Panel Stimulation." Apple credits Christoph Krah, Steve Hotelling, Sean O'Conner and Carl Wayne Westerman as the inventors of this patent which was originally filed in June 2007 and later refilled in Q4 2010.

Apple Wins Patent for a Possible Future Built-in Multi-Positional Stand for the iPad

Apple has received a Granted Patent relating to a possible future built-in multi-positional stand for the iPad. The proposed built-in stand would be able to pivot so as to provide the user with the versatility of working in either landscape or portrait modes while allowing the unit to be further angled just right for use with the iPad's virtual keyboard. The original patent was only revealed a year ago this month. For those interested in more details and graphics, review our original analysis of Apple's patent.

To review Apple's thirty-eight patent claims, see granted patent 8,118,274. Apple credits Stephen McClure and Joshua Banko as the inventors of this patent which was originally filed in Q3 2009. The question is: Did Apple decide on the iPad Smart Cover over the new design laid out in this patent or could they still deliver this design that offers users a superior portrait mode option? Time will tell.

Apple Wins a Patent for their Rather Fun & Goofy Photo Booth Application

Apple has received their second Granted Patent for Photo Booth, an application which debuted back in 2005. Apple's first patent win for Photo Booth was granted to them in December 2011. The application has come a long way from its original special effects for photos taken with the built-in iSight camera in Macs. Today's Photo Booth is as fun and Goofy as it's ever been and Apple is promising to bring it to their handheld devices in the future with new advancements.

To review Apple's twenty-six patent claims, see granted patent 8,122,378. Apple credits Jean-Pierre Ciudad, Erika Misaki, Michael Stochosky and Mike as the inventors of this patent. The last filing date of Q2 2007 is listed on the patents though there are so many other dates associated with this patent that's it's too difficult to figure out its first filing date. The names listed on this patent suggest that Apple may have acquired this application from the listed inventors.

Apple Wins Design Patent for Sixth Gen iPod nano

Apple's sixth generation iPod nano has been granted design patent D654,506 by the US Patent and Trademark Office. This particular iPod nano design is the first to bring a multi-touch display.

Apple credits VP Industrial Design Jonathan Ive and team members Jody Akana, Bartley Andre, Jeremy Bataillou, Daniel Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Evans Hankey, Richard Howarth, Duncan Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Christopher Stringer, Eugene Whang and Rico Zorkendorfer as the inventors of design which was filed in Q2 2011.

Final Patent Round-Up

Over and above the granted patents that were specifically reported on today, we present you with links to all of the other granted patents in our Final Patent Round-Up as follows:

Apple has been granted patent 8,118,617 for their invention of a new audio Jack assembly that we originally covered in April 2011. The timing from patent application to granted patent only took ten months. Apple's patent figures 1, 3C and 3D are from today's granted patent.

Apple has been granted their second granted patent (8,118,269) relating to the iMac's hinge assembly. The hinge mechanism is adaptable to an industry standard mount and a non-industry standard mount. A system and method in accordance with the present invention allows for the replacement of a non-VESA standard compatible display mount with a display mount that is compatible with the VESA standard. We covered a more detailed version of a hinge patent with a slightly different angle covering the iMac's Magnetic Release Latch Mechanism & Stand Hinge in May 2011. Patent Figures 1 and 4 noted above relate to Apple's latest granted patent.

8,121,294 - System and method for a derivation function for key per page. Apple's invention relates to digital rights management (2008).

8,121,901 - Method and apparatus for providing compatible components for purchase. Apple's invention relates to online purchasing of products, and more particularly to ordering and purchasing components compatible with particular hardware devices of a computer system (2005).

8,122,029 - Updating an inverted index

8,122,157 - Managing read requests from multiple requestors

8,120,377 - Integrated circuit having secure access to test modes

8,120,208 - Impedance-based power supply switch optimization

8,122,380 - Multi-repository display system using separate presentation, adaptation and access layers. Apple's invention relates to software systems for providing the display and access to software objects in a computer system (2002).

Notice: Patently Apple presents only a brief summary of granted patents with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each Granted Patent is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any Granted Patent should be read in its entirety for full details. About Comments: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit comments.

Here are a Few Sites covering our Original Report: MacSurfer, Twitter, Facebook, Apple Investor News, Google Reader, Macnews, iPhone World Canada, MarketWatch, MacDailyNews, iPhoneItalia Italy, iSpazio's iPadevice Italy, and more.