The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 77 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report cover a possible future iPad and/or iPhone that will come with a backside touch-screen display. Apple placed emphasis on it applying to an iPad in the patent description and patent figures while their patent claims emphasized an iPhone. The second granted patent covered relates to possible new MacBook Pro Touch Bar configurations should this feature remain viable.

iPad with Backside Touch Display

Jumping right into it, Apple's patent FIG. 2 presented below illustrates a rear perspective view of a future iPad Pro with a new backside display. The iPad utilizes the back display (#200) to render images to convey information to the photography subject. The back display can be configured to show text, colors, line drawings, photographs, animations, video, and the like. The back display can be implemented with any suitable technology, including, but not limited to, a multi-touch and/or multi-force sensing touchscreen.

One of the key-focuses of the secondary display is that it could provide the photographer with "stimulus features" that could make subjects being photographed pay attention to the camera, to smile, laugh on cue as the shot is about to be taken.

Children at time will have their attention drift just as you're taking the photo leaving you with a missed shot.

It can be desirable to provide an iDevice with stimulus features for the benefit of the subject to be captured in an image. Such stimulus features can attract the attention of the subject toward the camera when provided by components that are integrated with or coupled to the electronic device.

The stimulus features that could be shown on the backside of an iDevice are designed to attract the attention and gaze of the subject prior to and during capture of the image.

For example, a stimulus feature can be any feature that is detectable by one or more senses (e.g., sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch) of the subject. The stimulus feature can be provided in a manner that directs the attention (e.g., gaze) of the subject toward the electronic device. The stimulus feature can be provided in a manner that elicits a desired response (e.g., smiling, laughing) from the subject.

As shown in Patent FIG. 4 above he back display can be configured to display a cartoon representation of the user in the form of a Animoji and/or Memoji.  A user may select a virtual avatar (#202 - e.g., a cartoon of a dog or panda's head). This stimulus feature presented on the back display could capture a child's attention and perhaps make them laugh while Mom or Dad takes the picture.

Additionally, or alternatively, the stimulus feature provided by the back display can also include a video clip comprising visual and/or audio aspects. The video clip can be selected by the user. For example, a video clip that is of interest to the subject can be displayed to attract the attention of the subject.

Further, the iDevice could also capture a subject's attention by having a strobe light flash at the subject or a loud sound generated towards the subject. Apple adds that the back speaker (#132 of FIG. 2) could provide a sound such as music, a prerecorded message, an alarm, animal noises, or any other sound that would draw the attention of the subject the user is trying capture.

Apple's granted patent 10,924,659 was issued to Apple today by the U.S. Patent Office.  

The MacBook Pro Touch Bar

Apple was also granted a patent today for the MacBook Pro's "Touch Bar" just as the feature may dropped, according to some rumors. Should the feature remain viable, Apple's granted patent presents two new configurations that Apple's engineering teams considered.

Apple's patent FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a MacBook Pro with a sensing strip (marketed as a "Touch Bar"); FIG. 3 is a top view of the illustrative sensing strip of FIG. 2.

In Apple's patent FIGS. 6 & 7 above we're able to see the Touch Bar in different configurations than its current form. In FIG. 6 you could see one Touch Bar on the keyboard and one set under the display. In FIG. 7 Apple we see a new bent ledge portion under the display that has not surfaced to date.

The Remaining Patents Granted to Apple Today