Patent

Apple granted patent for iOS docking station with flexible Lighting connector

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Tuesday published dozens of Apple patent grants on its website, among them an invention describing a docking station for portable devices with a flexible Lighting connector.

First revealed in March 2014 and then filed in October 2014, the U.S. Patent 8,986,029 titled 'Dock connector with compliance mechanism' outlines a compliance mechanism in the iOS device dock that flexes when the connector is stressed in order to pivot the connector at a point where the connector protrudes from the dock housing.

Apple patent outlines virtual Mac keyboard with haptic feedback

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 19, 2015

The United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) on Thursday published an interesting Apple patent application for a Mac keyboard that looks like an oversized Magic Trackpad accessory, but with virtual keys in place of the physical ones providing haptic feedback, similar to the new MacBook's Force Touch trackpad.

Filed in November 2014 and titled 'Method and Apparatus for Localization of Haptic Feedback,' the invention outlines a keyboard with a flat, touch-sensitive input surface incorporating multiple actuators to provide tactile feedback.

Apple ordered to pay $533 million in patent infringement trial

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

A federal jury in Tyler, Texas ruled on Tuesday that Apple must pay $532.9 million in damages to Smartflash LLC. Bloomberg reports that the jury found iTunes to infringe on its patents related to "managing access through payment systems."

The original complaint was filed in 2013, with Smartflash asking for $852 million. The company argued it was entitled to a percentage of sales of Apple’s devices, including the iPhone, iPad and Mac computers, that were used to access iTunes.

USPTO denies Apple’s petitions for review of VirnetX patents

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 18, 2015

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today denied five petitions for so-called inter partes review filed by Apple, which sought to challenged the validity of certain claims of three of VirnetX's U.S. patents at stake.

The patent board has determined that the five petitions were not filed within the time limit imposed by the statute and therefore has declined to institute review of these claims between the parties involved.

Apple granted PrimeSense patent related to 3D virtual keyboards

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

The United States Patent and Trademark Office published 41 patents today that it recently awarded to Apple. We've already covered one pertaining to VR headsets, and Patently Apple points us to another worth mentioning related to 3D virtual keyboards.

The patent is titled "Virtual keyboard for a non-tactile three dimensional user interface," and it covers a 3D capturing device that uses cameras to detect hand movements, allowing users to type on a virtual keyboard by simply moving their hands or fingers.

Apple granted new patent for virtual reality iPhone headset

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 21, 2018

The United States Patent and Trademark Office published over 40 new patents today that were recently awarded to Apple. These filings offer a glimpse at a variety of interesting inventions, including an Oculus-style Virtual reality headset.

The VR patent covers a headset that features a slot for an iPhone or iPod—similar to Samsung's Gear VR. It takes advantage of the device's display and camera for producing heads-up-display graphics set atop a constant live video feed.

Apple patent details advanced wireless car control

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 3, 2015

Apple's patent filings are usually more indicative of the company's aspirations in terms of the technologies they seek to protect rather than possible future products.

With that in mind, The United States Patent & Trademark Office on Tuesday granted Apple an interesting patent on advanced automotive control by linking your iPhone to your vehicle through Bluetooth.

Apple awarded patent for snap-on iPhone game controller with support for head-to-head gaming

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 27, 2015

As first discovered by AppleInsider, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) this morning awarded Apple a patent for a snap-on gaming accessory for the iPhone which imagines physical button controls such as miniature joysticks, action buttons and directional D-pads positioned at left and right of the screen.

The patent No. 8,939,838 titled “Accessory for playing games with a portable electronic device” even envisions added extras such as an additional multitouch display, cameras, microphones and speakers to elevate the experience.

Apple shows interest in eye-tracking and advanced gaze control interfaces

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 20, 2015

Not that Apple's patent filings are indicative of anything more than a vague direction it might take at some point in the future, but today's patent grant for an eye-tracking technology gives some hope that Apple is at least researching ways to enhance interactions in iOS and OS X.

Published today on the United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) website today, the invention titled “Systems and methods for counteracting a perceptual fading of a movable indicator” is rich in both breadth and scope.

Apple researching a Home button that pops up and transforms into a thumb joystick

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 12, 2018

On any given Thursday the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) would publish newly granted patents and patent applications and today was no exception.

We already told you about one invention for a technology that would make it possible to synchronize your fingerprint data between devices through iCloud in a secure manner.

And now, PatentlyApple points us to another Apple patent application describing a Home button that would pop up and transition into a tiny thumb joystick for playing games.

Apple patents Touch ID iCloud sync, Apple Pay POS with embedded fingerprint sensor

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 15, 2015

Thursday, the United States Patent and Trademark Office published a very interesting and curious patent application by Apple which describes a technology seeking to synchronize Touch ID fingerprint data between devices through iCloud.

Titled “Finger biometric sensor data synchronization via a cloud computing device and related methods,” the invention would permit biometric data to be collected on a primary device, say your iPhone, and then uploaded to iCloud for dissemination to secondary devices.

Apple files another patent for Kinect-like technology for Apple TV, Mac

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Apple was granted a patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday that puts new motion-sensing hardware and software to use, much like the Kinect for Xbox One.

The patent describes "three dimensional user interface session control," essentially, a software UI for use with PrimeSense's motion-sensing hardware.