The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 40 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we cover Apple's granted patent that surprisingly reveals that liquid metal, better known as 'Bulk-Solidifying Amorphous Alloys,' has been used in their iDevice's Home Button pressure sensor. We also cover Apple's design patents for the iPad Air and Apple Watch. We wrap up this week's granted patent report with our traditional listing of the remaining granted patents that were issued to Apple today.

Granted Patent: Bulk Amorphous Alloy Pressure Sensor

Apple's newly granted patent covers their invention relating to pressure sensors in Apple's iDevices Home Button comprising bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys and pressure switches comprising bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy materials.

Apple's invention covers pressure sensors using bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys as the deformable material, and to measure the pressure based on the physical changes of the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy as it is deformed. Further, Apple notes the following: "a pressure sensor comprising a bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy, a pressure measurement system electrically connected to the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy that measures the change in resistivity of the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy depending on the degree of deformation of the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy, and provides an output equal to the pressure applied to deform the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy."

Additionally, there is provided a switch comprising an actuator capable of being depressed, a bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy positioned adjacent the actuator, whereby pressing the actuator deforms the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy. The switch further comprises a pressure measurement and control system electrically connected to the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy that measures the change in resistivity of the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy, and presents a switching function when the pressure reaches a predetermined value.

In accordance with an additional embodiment, there is provided an electronic device that includes at least one switch comprising an actuator capable of being depressed, a bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy positioned adjacent the actuator, whereby pressing the actuator deforms the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy. The switch further comprises a pressure measurement and control system electrically connected to the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy that measures the change in resistivity of the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy, and presents a switching function when the pressure reaches a predetermined value.

Apple's patent FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a simplified dome switch in accordance with an improved embodiment.

For more on Apple's invention, see granted patent 9,279,733 that was published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Apple Granted Design Patents Today for iPad Air & Apple Watch

The Remaining Patents granted to Apple Today

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