Apple Patent Explores Idea of Liquid-Cooled MacBooks
03 December 2008 08:06 EST
Chris Barylick
This may be a bit down the road, but it could be spiffy.
According to AppleInsider, a 12-page patent request originally filed in May of 2007 was published for the first time last week. In the patent, Apple notes the the computational performance of electronic devices over the past few years has made it harder to maintain acceptable internal and external operational temperatures in those devices.
"Portable devices, such as laptop computers, cellular telephones, and personal digital assistants have additional design constraints which make it even harder to manage thermal load," the company said.
The company then goes on the point out that size and weight limitations in such devices can make it difficult to achieve desired operational methods, especially in cases where the size and weight of metal heat sinks may be prohibitive and where battery life constraints limit the number of fans that can be included.
Thus, the spiffy idea: liquid cooling.
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Apple Patent Suggests Possible Voice Commands for iPhone, iPod Touch and/or Apple TV
10 October 2008 09:22 EST
Chris Barylick
According to a recently published patent, Apple may be looking to introduce voice recognition as a standard option with its iPhones, iPods and Apple TV devices. Per iPodNN, the filing concentrates on the concept of the iPhone supporting the technology but also suggests that it could be applied to other devices as well.
They key addition to Apple's hardware would be the presence of a "voice-to-command analyzer," which would determine whether audio is meaningless or represents an action request as well as save other processors the burden of deciphering speech.
After the initial sorting, recognized commands could trigger a macro manager, which could then execute actions from a predetermined library. Voice commands could also trigger the name of a menu or other context-sensitive commands, such as "telling" a calendar applications to display assorted contacts, etc.
More iPhone-specific commands might involve controlling the camera, or choosing how to deal with voicemail or incoming calls. On devices such as an Apple TV, users might have to make use of a separate microphone, such as that on a headset to pass along commands along to another portable device, with a speaker included somewhere in the pathway to provide feedback.
As of now, an unofficial form of voice recognition is already available on the iPhone through third party applications such as Vocalia.
If you've heard anything about this or have your own ideas about recognition potential, let us know in the comments or forums.
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Apple Files Cursor-Based QuickLook, Advanced Function Patent
02 October 2008 11:13 EST
Chris Barylick
Your operating system is about to become more interesting.
According to AppleInsider, the company is exploring new ways to use the Mac OS X cursor to provide additional information and usability files residing on a hard drive or linked over the Internet prior to their being triggered or activated.
A patent published on Thursday describes a user's wish to know more about a file prior to opening it as well as a lack of information to state whether the item is useful.
Per the patent, the appearance of an on-screen cursor may change to a text entry cursor (vertical bar) when positioned in a text entry field, or morph into a hand or arrow when positioned over a movable object, which offers some information as to the type of input operation that can be performed.
"However, such limited information generally fails to provide useful information about a target item referenced by a user-activatable element," Apple wrote. "In particular, current user interfaces do not generally provide any technique for providing detailed information about a target within a cursor in a manner that is responsive and dynamically controllable by the user."
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Apple Files Distance-Based Pairing, Auto Contact Data Patents
29 September 2008 08:08 EST
Chris Barylick
A pair of recently published patents shows the potential for some cool features on the horizon, the patents focusing on tasks such as pairing wireless devices just by bringing them together as well as filling out missing address book data via a simple e-mail request.
According to AppleInsider, the first patent, known as "Method and system for pairing of wireless devices using physical presence", describes a means of synching two devices. In the past, paired devices often required a PIN number to prevent accidental pairings or to prevent other devices from hopping on the peripheral network. The patent goes on to point out that many Bluetooth headsets, input devices and handhelds have become too small or too unwieldy to enter these codes.
The proposed solution would solve this problem by determining the range of the wireless link between the new device and its host. If both devices are within a foot of each other and are receptive to a new link, the two will automatically pair and potentially exchange extra data as long as neither hardware item wanders out of range. This would create a secure connection without accepting the wrong device.
The idea bears a strong resemblance to a subset of the Bluetooth 2.1 spec known as Near Field Communications, which is designed around the idea of pairing two devices with each other once they were in a given distance of one another or allowing automatic payment at a store.
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Apple May Add More Stringent Controls, GPS to Nike+iPod System
11 September 2008 12:45 EST
Chris Barylick
Via a patent recently filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Apple may be installing more stringent controls to its Nike+iPod system used by the iPod nano and now the iPod touch.
According to Electronista, the patent seems to reflect a concern that customers might buy the Nike+iPod kit and use it with non-Nike shoes or in different locations. The patent goes on to describe using RFID tags and similar sensors built into shoes or other clothing to pair the transmitter with its intended destination. Should garments or technologies be swapped, the device would refuse to work unless close to authorized clothes.
So far, Nike has partly defended the patent by claiming it would provide added security, preventing the transmitter from collecting or sending data should the sensor itself be stolen. RFID devices could also store a small amount of information and create backups in case the Nike+iPod device is ever lost; this would be helped along by a means of generating a small amount of energy to power an active tag that would restore the necessary data.
Also proposed in the system is the addition of more tracking data in the sensor and in shoes themselves. While the current Nike+iPod kit is essentially a pedometer, a GPS receiver could add extra information about a runner's movement and also trigger certain conditions, such as outlining runs specific to a given location or popping up places of interest that appear near the run, such as restaurants.
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Apple Patent Highlights Upcoming Multi-Touch Technologies
04 September 2008 12:25 EST
Chris Barylick
Per a 30-page patent filing released recently written by Wayne Westerman and John Elias, co-founders of the Fingerworks firm acquired by Apple to create the iPhone's multi-touch interface, Apple may have some interesting multi-touch advancements en route.
According to AppleInsider, the patent, entitled "Multi-Touch Data Fusion", highlights that while fingertip chording and movement data generated by current generation multi-touch devices can offer a fair amount of user control, additional information can be incorporated from other sources to improve the device's ease of use. The patent then goes on to outline additional sources such as voice fusion, finger identification fusion, gaze vector fusion, biometrics fusion and facial expression fusion:
Voice Fusion: In the case of Voice Fusion, it's proposed that voice input be applied to actions on a multi-touch device that are poorly served by manual input while manual input handles tasks poorly served by voice.For example, the filing presents the scenario where modifications to a mechanical drawing require resizing, rotation, and color change. Using voice commands to resize and rotate objects in the drawing would prove problematic because a verbal description of the intended size and rotation would be difficult to express. Therefor, those operations are best suited for manipulation by manual multi-touch gestures.
On the other hand, "using multi-touch to select a color is typically less efficient than using voice because the color has to be selected by traversing a list," Westerman explained. "Alternatively or additionally, voice input may be used to insert text in the object."
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Apple Files Patent for Instant Messaging Technology on iPhone
22 April 2008 09:00 EST
Chris Barylick
Since the moment of the iPhone's release, users have wanted instant messaging on the handset. With Apple's upcoming software development kit for the device, developers have been made to understand that such a program will most likely not be able to run in the background and won't be able to receive messages when the iPhone is sleeping or in the middle of other functions.
According to AppleInsider, Apple filed a patent in August of 2007 which was just granted that describes on instant messaging technology on the iPhone.
The drawing included with the patent filing looks identical to the SMS application on the iPhone, with some key differences. The first major difference is word suggestions that appear as bubbles above the keyboard. This service could be used as a substitute for MMS (multi media messaging), which the current iPhone is currently lacking.
Instant messaging is currently possible on the iPhone, albeit users need to jailbreak their iPhones in order to achieve this.
As always, let us know what you think over in the comments or forums.
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Apple Looking Into Autostereoscopic Hardware
21 March 2008 08:17 EST
Chris Barylick
Over in the "distant but cool technology" section, a recently discovered patent shows that Apple has been researching autostereoscopic hardware that would allow for three-dimensional images to be viewed by multiple users without the need for special headgear or glasses.
According to AppleInsider, the technology would consist of a projection screen with a predetermined angularly-responsive reflective surface function which would produce depth perception to the viewer, albeit the image is produced by a flat device.
"Modern three-dimensional (3D) display technologies are increasingly popular and practical not only in computer graphics, but in other diverse environments and technologies as well," Apple said in the 25-page filing. "Growing examples include medical diagnostics, flight simulation, air traffic control, battlefield simulation, weather diagnostics, entertainment, advertising, education, animation, virtual reality, robotics, biomechanical studies, scientific visualization, and so forth."
Current forms of such displays generally require shuttered or passively polarized eyewear, these approaches having not met with widespread acceptance given that observers do not like to wear equipment over their eyes. The new approach would allow for a 3D image to be projected to more casual passersby, a group of collaborators or an entire audience if desired.
Apple has proposed a three-dimensional display system having a projection screen with a predetermined angularly-responsive reflective surface function. Three-dimensional images would be respectively modulated in coordination with the predetermined angularly-responsive reflective surface function to define a programmable mirror with a programmable deflection angle.
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Apple May Include Illuminated Touchpads in Future iPod Models
25 January 2008 07:45 EST
Chris Barylick
An application submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office suggests that future generations of clickwheel-based iPods, including the Classic and nano models, may incorporate illuminated touchpads.
According to iPodNN, the technology would incorporate lights placed directly beneath the surface of a pad which would illuminate in different ways as a user touched them. One example would be a section of the pad lighting up to indicate a certain movement, though a section of the patent also suggests that the technology would only illuminate a single section of the touchpad in some cases.
Some illumination effects would include a halo patten, leading and trailer edges or assorted colors via the lighting. Swiping around the pad may also produce special motion effects, such as generating a "comet" design. Sensors incorporated into the design may be able to detect acceleration, and increase or decrease the brightness of lights as users scroll faster.
The technology, if successful, could be applied to full trackpads such as those found in Apple's notebook lineup and something similar is said to already exist on the MacBook Air.
Have some feedback on this? Let us know over in the comments and forums.
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Apple Files Patent for Possible Sub-Notebook Docking Unit
03 January 2008 02:05 EST
Chris Barylick
A recent Apple patent, quickly filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, has proposed a new notebook docking station wherein a notebook computer could be inserted into the side of an iMac-like chassis, thereby allowing the notebook access to desktop-level components when docked.
While traditional notebook docking stations typically require an external monitor to be connected to the docking station as opposed to being directly integrated, the design may help to reduce the amount of space needed, according to the filing.
According to AppleInsider, the solution calls for an essentially hollow iMac chassis, complete with its display and input/output connectors. The housing would include an internal docking area configured to receive a notebook computer as well as an LCD screen that could display images rendered by the laptop once it had been inserted into the dock.
As of now, only the following sketch has been released, leaving one to wonder just how much the docking cavity (as it were) would completely consume the notebook. In some instances, the notebook appears to go almost completely into the docking station, whereas in others a significant portion remains outside the dock itself:
The filing was originally created on July 3rd, 2006 and credits Apple engineer Augustin Farrugia.
I'm going to let you guys see what you make of this over in the comments and forums.
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Apple Files Patent for Wireless Ordering Technology
28 December 2007 12:51 EST
Chris Barylick
The Apple shopping process may become even more mobile as an application filed on December 20th with the United States Patent and Trademark Office describes a wireless system that would allow customer to place an order at a store using a wireless device such as a media player, PDA or cell phone hand set.
Such a system could go beyond the idea created to allow for iTunes purchasing via various Starbucks locations and according to Forbes, is described as a system in which an oder is placed and the customer is then notified when the order is ready to be picked up.
According to U.S. Patent Application #20070291710, such a device would also keep tabs on where a user shops as well as their purchase habits.
Customers might tap a button on their iPhone to order their favorite drink, say a double-shot mocha, as they head towards a Starbucks. When the drink is ready go to, the device would signal when their drink is ready.
Such a technology could move into wider categories of ordering, purchase and pickup, although Apple remains tight-lipped about the patent and its applicable uses.
Let us know what you make of this over in the comments or forums.
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Patents: Possible Apple Anti-Piracy Technology and Automatic iPod Volume Lowering?
24 December 2007 11:44 EST
Chris Barylick
Just before the holidays, a pair of interesting Apple patents have surfaced which could change the Mac user experience in the next year.
According to Macworld UK Apple has filed an updated application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office describing a product activation and anti-piracy technology that would allow the company control of its software. The technology, which seems similar to the much-criticized Windows Genuine Advantage technology used by Microsoft, would reportedly compose a "digital rights management system" that would "restrict execution of that application to specific hardware platforms."
The patent application makes note of how easily digital information can be copied and cites that copy-protection technologies such as hardware dongles or encryption software won't stop an adamant user from gaining access to the data. The document then cites the benefits of a mechanism capable of restricting the execution of one or more applications to a specific hardware platform that remains transparent to the user.
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Apple Files Additional Multi-Touch Patents
23 November 2007 09:30 EST
Chris Barylick
Multi-touch is working in the iPhone and iPod touch, now it may be time to advance upon it and bring it to other devices.
According to MacNN, Apple may extend its multi-touch technology to larger displays by implementing new technologies which allow users to use different parts of their hands as well as different kinds of presses to trigger various actions.
The first patent, published yesterday, points towards a sensor arrangement that addresses different parts of the hand. Additional patents were also discovered for accompanying conductors and sensors that could create an array of capacitive sensors that not only detect the proximity of hand contact but also determine which part of the hand is in use by the surface area. The system would also be sensitive to pressure across multiple areas, according to the patent's description.
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Apple Snags Dynamic Input Patent for iPhone, Other Patents
17 October 2007 08:30 EST
Chris Barylick
On Tuesday, the guys over at MacNN found that Apple has secured a patent for "remote client devices" (most likely the iPhone, iPod and other mobile devices yet to be released) that describes the ability to dynamically upload input sensors such as buttons from host computers to the aforementioned devices.
The patent describes how, in certain cases, a button can be associated with a given function and mentions how a preference file could be passed along to the remote client device to automatically update programmable buttons.
A second patent awarded to Apple describes a method for labeling pixels within a selected area on a single frame of video so the area could be located over and over again and accurately reproduced later via an external program. The company was also awarded a patent for its USB modem design.
If you have any thoughts or ideas on how the patents will be used, let us know in the comments or forums.
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Apple Files Second Force-Sensitive Display Patent
12 October 2007 10:20 EST
Chris Barylick
Following up on last week's discovery of an Apple patent entitled "Force Imaging Input Device and System," the guys at AppleInsider have recently discovered documents pertaining to a similarly focused technology entitled Force and Location Sensitive Display."
The documents, submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office on May 9th of 2006, begin by describing current touchscreens and touchpads as limited by relatively simple input mechanisms, mainly the location of the finger or stylus on the surface.
The described method would include the strength of the user's input as an input factor. Such a device would be capable of providing both force and location detection and would include "a first transparent substrate (having first and second sets of conductive traces oriented in a first direction), a second transparent substrate (having a third set of conductive traces oriented in a second direction) and a plurality of deformable members (e.g., rubber beads) arranged between the first and second transparent substrates."
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Apple Patents Force Input Device, Copy Protection Patens
04 October 2007 02:04 EST
Chris Barylick
On Thursday, the United States Patent and Trademark Office published several patent applications issued by Apple. Among the most prominent of these was a document entitled "Force Imaging Input Device and System", which describes multiple approaches to developing touchpads and touchscreens as input devices.
According to MacNN, one approach described a system in which two sets of conductive trace motions would be separated by a spring membrane. In another approach, the conductive traces could be replaces with one sense and two drive traces. The proposed approaches also describe a system in which the designs would contain inputs detecting the level of force applied and also mention a notebook, which suggests that this could be an upcoming feature on a MacBook, MacBook Pro or Apple's rumored subnotebook, said to be in development.
Also published was a separate patent entitled "Decoupling rights in a digital content unit from download". The document discusses the creation of a second, legitimate copy of an encrypted file and how two separate keys could be assigned to two separate users. Odds are this would allow for sharing of content purchased from the iTunes Store, which currently ties content to the buyer's identification.
The other patents published today included a design of an architecture used to adjust the clock frequency of memory and designs for new types of external USB connectors which seemed dissimilar to those being used for iPod units.
If you have any thoughts or feedback on this, let us know in the comments or forums.
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Apple Publishes Five New Patents, Three Relating to Wi-Fi iPod Systems
30 August 2007 12:23 EST
Chris Barylick
On Thursday, the United States Patent and Trademark Office published five new Apple patents under the titles "Methods and apparatuses for pixel transformations, Interface for defining aperture", "Power management in a portable media delivery system", "Dynamic power management in a portable media delivery system" and "Media delivery system with improved interaction."
According to MacNN, the final three patents focus on Wi-Fi functionality in an iPod. Such a feature has been anticipated for some time and may come to light with the new iPods due out on September 5th.
Patent details are as follows:
"iPod Wi-Fi: Power management in a portable media delivery system"Click the jump for the full story...
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Apple Files Movable-Interface Patent for iPhone
28 August 2007 04:10 EST
Chris Barylick
Even if you're not currently blown away with the iPhone, there's more to come.
According to MacNN, Apple has reportedly filed a patent with the World Intellectual Property Organization covering a user interface on portable devices with touchscreen interface that would allow for quick, tactile reconfiguration of on-screen elements such as icons.
In this case, a user could drag an icon to a desired location, such as with a widget under Dashboard. The method would allow for easy reconfiguration of icons as well as allow them to be automatically displaced by other icons.
The patent is currently filed under application number 60,755,368, was filed on December 30th of 2005 and credits Marcel Van Os, Freddy A. Anzures, Scott, Forstall, Greg Christie, Bas Ording, Imran Chaudhri and Stephen Lemay as inventors of the patent.
Stay tuned to the PowerPage for further details and if you have any thoughts or ideas on this, let us know in the comments or forums.
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Apple Files Patent for Retractable Port Technology
16 August 2007 02:16 EST
Chris Barylick
Opera's been updated and the Skype network is apparently barfing on itself, but there's still some cool news today. According to MacNN, Apple may be planning to offer a retractable set of ports on its future laptops.
A recently discovered patent submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office outlines a "Connection System" in which various ports located toward the rear of an Apple laptop would flip down to provide access when needed.
The patent also describes an alternate system in which access points to each port would open and close individually. Such a system might allow Apple to save space by recessing the connection points into the laptop and allow the company to create a tapered edge around the laptop when the ports were in a closed position.
No word has been given as to when this might make its way into a future Apple laptop and whether this would be focused on the consumer-oriented MacBook, the professionally-oriented MacBook Pro or Apple's long-awaited sub-notebook, which has been in the rumor mill for some time now.
If you have any thoughts or ideas on this, let us know in the comments or forums.
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