Last week we posted a report titled "Apple Invents an Alternative iPad Pro Magic Keyboard with Touch Sensitive Strips to replace the Trackpad & more." Today, Apple was granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office regarding Apple's new Magic Keyboard with a floating design. Apple's granted patent reveals possible next-gen improvements/additions including an insert for Apple Pencil for easy transportation and charging.

Apple's patent FIG. 1 below illustrates an isometric view of an electronic system that can include an accessory article (Apple Pencil) and a portable electronic device (iPad Pro); FIG. 2A illustrates a side view of the electronic system shown in FIG. 1, showing the system a closed configuration with a new Apple Pencil retainer and recharger.

Apple's patent FIG. 5 illustrates an isometric view of the electronic system shown in FIG. 1, showing the electronic device separated from the article along with a digital pen; FIG. 7C illustrates a transition of the electronic system transitioning from a closed configuration to a clipboard configuration. The design also illustrates that it could be lifted to a higher elevation with a second hinge configuration.

Apple's patent FIG. 7D further illustrates the "clipboard mode/configuration."; FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of a method 800 for automatically altering an operation state of a portable electronic device based on the configuration of an article removably coupled to the portable electronic device.

When in clipboard mode or third mode, Apple notes that the electronic device in the third mode can automatically launch an application such as a note-taking application or a drawing application because the clipboard configuration can be associated with a "scratch pad" configuration for users to use a digital pen. The exact application launched can be based on a user setting that is user selectable.

Apple's granted patent 10,664,012 was originally filed in Q3 2018 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office.