Apple has been granted another patent by the United States Trademark and Patent Office (USPTO) for a rather weird iPhone and iPad design. It incorporates a touchscreen display on the side of the device. This is very reminiscent of the Touch Bar previously featured on MacBook Pro models, but with a wider range of functionalities, we’re hoping.

This could be a really good and a really bad idea at the same time

The side display would serve multiple purposes. It could display control buttons and user interfaces, offer status information like battery life and weather, and even provide additional control options. Imagine adjusting the volume or skipping songs on your iPhone through a dedicated display on the side, cutting down the need for physical buttons AND the primary display. Kind of like those dedicated play/pause/skip buttons on old Nokia phones, but modernized.

One example showcases a music player interface displayed on the side, complete with song titles, lyrics, and controls for volume and playback. This could suggest Apple’s intent to build a sleeker and more minimalist design in the future, something to complement their foldable devices if they ever bring one to the market.

The real innovation lies not just in a simple side display, but in its ability to adapt to context. Rather than simply replacing physical buttons with virtual ones, the side screens would be reconfigurable, displaying controls and information relevant to the current activity. This opens doors for a more personalized user experience. It will also be literal hell if the smartphone is dropped, adding another thing to worry about if this patent makes its way onto a future device.

While the official release timeline for this technology remains unknown (and will likely stay like this in the near future), this patent reminds us how companies like Apple are continually trying to build the next big thing in smartphones, considering how we are hitting new ceilings of smartphone design. For instance, check out Apple’s handheld device patent here, which is supposed to let the users control home devices with just gestures.

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(Via)

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In a bid to improve the user experience across its product lineup, Apple has recently been granted a patent by the United States Trademark and Patent Office (USPTO). The patent numbered US 20230195237 A1, showcases Apple’s attempt at enhancing interactive experiences through gesture navigation user interfaces. Addressing the limitations of existing interfaces, the tech giant aims to streamline user interactions, reduce cognitive load, and optimize battery life across its diverse range of devices, including the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac.

Fewer taps and swipes will directly translate to better power management on the device

Apple’s innovative patent challenges the current state of gesture navigation by highlighting the complexities present in current devices. According to the patent description quoted by IT Home, Apple believes that many existing gesture interfaces are cumbersome, requiring multiple clicks that waste user time and adversely impact battery life on mobile devices.

The patent proposes a unique approach that integrates screen generation components and optical sensors to deliver faster and more efficient gesture navigation methods. By supplementing or replacing conventional gesture navigation interfaces, Apple aims to provide users with an intuitive and seamless interaction experience. The ultimate goal is to reduce the cognitive load on users, resulting in a more efficient human-machine interface. This gesture navigation approach not only aims to enhance the user experience but also has significant implications for battery-powered devices. By implementing these methods and interfaces, Apple expects to achieve power savings, ultimately extending battery life on its devices.

The patent’s impact is far-reaching, potentially transforming the way users interact with their iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and Macs. As Apple continues to innovate and refine its user interfaces, customers can expect an even more intuitive and streamlined interface across their favourite devices.

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In a recent announcement, the United States Trademark and Patent Office (USPTO) unveiled Apple’s latest design patent, pointing towards tactile feedback technology. Apple has made a significant leap forward in device durability by enhancing the protection of its Taptic Engine, a vital component responsible for generating precise haptic feedback sensations.

A non-linear spring component acts like a Protective Barrier

While it may not sound like the most game-changing invention, this patent demonstrates Apple’s commitment to enhancing the user experience and pushing the boundaries of technological innovation. The Taptic Engine is crucial for delivering tactile feedback to users, allowing them to interact with their devices in a more immersive and intuitive manner.

Apple acknowledged that the current haptic feedback engine could be susceptible to damage when subjected to unexpected drops or forceful impacts. In such scenarios, the mass within the engine may surpass the threshold set by the spring, resulting in potential damage and impaired haptic feedback functionality.

To address this concern, Apple has introduced a unique solution. Building upon the existing haptic feedback engine, they have incorporated a non-linear spring component that acts as a protective barrier against excessive forces during drops or collisions. This ingenious addition relieves the strain on the internal mechanisms, preserving the engine’s integrity and ensuring uninterrupted haptic feedback performance.

By strengthening the Taptic Engine’s design with this feature, Apple is demonstrating that it is continuously striving to improve the durability and reliability of its devices, ensuring that users can enjoy a seamless experience even in the face of unexpected accidents.

This patent is another testament to Apple’s dedication to refining its products and upholding its reputation as a pioneer in the technology industry. As users eagerly await the next generation of Apple devices, they can expect an even more robust and resilient Taptic Engine that will enhance their interaction with Apple’s future devices.

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Samsung is known for many innovative smartphones. The company’s Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ were the first mainstream phones to come with a variable aperture camera. The firm’s new utility patent demonstrates a new solution, which not only enables variable FoV (Field of View) but also variable aperture.

According to a report by LetsGoDigital, Samsung Electro-Mechanics filed a utility patent titled ‘Camera module and portable electronic device including the same’ with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in October 2020. The 19-page documentation for this patent was initially released on August 5, 2021.

According to the documentation, the patent uses multiple cameras that can move. Their movement helps in achieving variable FoV (Field of View) and variable aperture.

The patent sketches and images use a triple camera setup consisting of a wide-angle snapper, an ultra-wide unit, and a telephoto shooter. Users can move these cameras via touch input.

As per the example, when the wide-angle camera present in the middle moves downwards, the ultra-wide and telephoto cameras on the left and the right respectively slide inwards forming a triangle.

When the cameras are in a triangular shape, the aperture is narrow. This can be useful for landscape shots. Whereas, when the cameras are in a single line, the aperture is wide, which is useful for portrait photography. On top of this, the movement also changes FoV (Field of View).

We don’t think Samsung will ever release a mainstream smartphone with this tech. But maybe there could be a niche Galaxy smartphone with movable cameras in the future like the Galaxy A80 from 2019.

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Xiaomi’s Mi MIX series is known for its bezel-less design. Unfortunately, the company has not released a new model in a very long time. However, it has patented a wide variety of devices with full-screen design in the past few months. Now, yet another new design emerges with a unique slider display implementation.

As usual, this Xiaomi patent was first spotted by LetsGoDigtial. As per the publication, Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software filed this patent with the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office) and the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office). It got approved and published on October 29, 2020.

According to the documentation, this design includes a slider display similar to the Mi MIX 3 5G. But unlike that phone, this handset’s display covers the front and runs along the bottom side up until half of its back.

EDITOR’S PICK: Xiaomi patents a smartphone design with surround display and pop-up cameras

Hence, the only places without a screen on this design are the top, sides, and the top portion of the rear panel. This design is somewhat similar to the Xiaomi AI Super Camera smartphone patent from last year but with a magnetic slider.

Since this design’s display continues from the front to the back from the bottom side, it uses a roller mechanism inside the slider to slide down the front panel to reveal the selfie camera, an ambient light sensor, a distance sensor, a dot projector, and the receiver. This slider can also be moved by voice command.

In other words, this new Xiaomi patent is a combination of slider, rollable, and full-screen smartphone. That said, we don’t think the Chinese smartphone maker will ever release such a device for the commercial market but it may showcase it as a concept like the Mi MIX Alpha.

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Lastly, the renders included in this article are created by an industrial designer called Sarang Sheth, in collaboration with LetsGoDigtial. Also, it is worth noting that the rear camera setup from the Mi 10T Pro is just for reference.

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Recently, Xiaomi patented a wide variety of foldable smartphone designs. Now, another innovative patent by the company has emerged. This one is related to a unique pop-up camera module, which can be used to capture both regular and selfie pictures/videos.

Xiaomi has patented many pop-up camera designs before. But this new design, filed by Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software with the USPTO (United States and Trademark Office) and the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office), is unlike any other. As per LetsGoDigital, the company calls it ‘Electronic device and concealed camera’ and it was approved on January 7, 2021.

This pop-up camera module is different than others as the sensors inside the module face upwards instead of sideways. Because it uses an adjustable reflective mirror to capture and record videos.

Due to the versatility of the reflective mirror with a help of a motor, the same camera sensors can be used to click both standard and selfie images/videos. Additionally, users can adjust the mirror as required to click pictures or record videos, which is not possible on traditional camera setup on regular smartphones.

That said, we don’t see Xiaomi implementing this tech in a commercial smartphone. That’s because it is planning to launch under-display camera smartphones in the near future. However, the firm could use this pop-up camera in a concept device.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi patents a rollable smartphone design with a secondary display

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For the past few years, smartphone OEMs have been trying their best to reduce display bezels. As a result, we get to see phones with a wide variety of notches and punch holes. However, the main goal has always been to remove these obstructions to achieve a full-screen device. 

The only way to achieve this is by placing the front camera underneath the display. We already have the first commercial handset with this design in the form of ZTE Axon 20 5G. But the list of products with this tech may soon grow as the world’s largest smartphone maker Samsung has patented an implementation regarding the same.

According to LetsGoDigital, Samsung Display filed a patent titled ‘Display Device’ with the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) in May 2020. Its documentation was later published on December 31, 2020.

This patent details the South Korean tech giant’s under-display camera implementation on smartphones. As per the documents, this solution includes two display parts. The first one is the primary screen with a better resolution, whereas the second smaller part has a comparatively lower resolution.

This second part can be either placed along the entire top side of the handset or any of the top sides. This section can be used not only to hide the front-facing camera but also LED flash and sensors.

Infrared sensors can be utilized to easily recognize objects/people as more light cannot enter underneath the display. This sensor can also calculate the distance between the phone and the objects/people.

That said, Samsung also makes reference to a similar patent filed in 2016 in the new one. Thus, we can say that the company has been continuously improving its implementation for years.

Anyway, it is not known when the tech behemoth will bring this solution to the market. Nevertheless, we can expect it to debut on a high-end Galaxy A series phone instead of flagships.

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Last week, a design panted by Google revealed that the search giant could be working on a fitness tracker similar to Amazon Halo. Now, a set of design patents has appeared showcasing a smartphone without a front-facing camera.

These design patents were filed by Google with the USPTO (United States Patents and Trademarks Office). They were unearthed by Patently Apple. According to the publication, there are a total of four similar patents with slight variations and they go by the numbers – D903,618, D903,619, D903,620, and D903,622 respectively.

All of them have one thing in common and that is the smartphone in the sketches does not feature a display cutout for the selfie camera. But some of them do have an indication of an under-display earpiece.

Hence, the publication suggests these smartphone designs to feature an under-display camera. Further, none of these four patents show a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor as found on all the Pixels except Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. Hence, we believe them to sport an under-display fingerprint sensor as well.

That said, apart from these two additions, the designs are similar to that of Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G. They have the same button placements and an identical dual-camera setup array. The only difference is that the LED flash sits below as the secondary microphone is located at the top.

Anyway, we are not sure if any of these four design patents will ever end up as a final product just like numerous other patents.

UP NEXT: Google removes astrophotography mode for ultra-wide camera on Pixel 5 & Pixel 4a 5G

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Last November, Google announced that it will be acquiring Fitbit for $2.1 billion. The acquisition is yet to complete but the search giant has already patented a design for a fitness tracker. Like any other patent, it is not sure if this will ever end up as a consumer product.

According to 91Mobiles, Google filed this design patent with the United States Patents and Trademarks Office (USPTO). The documentation with a  number of design sketches mentions it to be a “wristband for tracking fitness”.

Looking at the sketches, we can notice that this fitness tracker is somewhat similar to the recently launched Amazon Halo. In other words, it does not feature a screen, and therefore, wearers will have to rely on their connected smartphone to known the readings.

EDITOR’S PICK: Google, OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi to launch foldable phones in 2021

Further, the strap of this wearable seems to be fitted with the tracker itself. If that is the case, then customers will have to buy a new unit if they want a different color. This suggests that this fitness tracker could be a part of a subscription service just like Amazon Halo.

That said, although the documents do not say anything about this product’s specs, we think that it will use a magnetic charger since there are pogo pins near a sensor that appears to be for heart-rate monitoring.

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Anyway, if Google is ever to release a such wearable, we expect to learn about it before its official announcement via leaks and certifications.

UP NEXT: Google to turn ART into Mainline module with Android 12 for quicker system updates

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Last month, OPPO X 2021 was unveiled as the world’s first rollable concept smartphone. On the other hand, LG has also confirmed to release such a device next year as part of its ‘Explorer Project’. Now, a Xiaomi smartphone design patent with a similar form factor has been published.

Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software filed this patent with the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) at the end of 2019. The patent titled ‘Terminal with flexible screen’ later got approved on October 29, 2020, and even got published in the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office) database.

According to patent documents, this smartphone design includes a rollable flexible panel and a secondary normal display at the back. The rollable screen present in this phone can be extended by up to 200% in width. Therefore, the device can be also used as a tablet.

EDITOR’S PICK: Xiaomi and Redmi to launch two flagship models with Snapdragon 888 SoC each

Also, the documents say that these displays will be activated based on what side of the phone is facing the user like Microsoft Surface Duo. However, it also has an option to use both the screens at the same time.

Further, since the patent is all about the user experience and durability, the design sketches do not showcase anything else. Hence, LetsGoDigital, the publication that found this patent partnered with Concept Creator (Jermaine Smit) to create 3D renders.

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Since the original sketches are barebone, the designer has added a vertically aligned triple camera setup along with an LED flash inspired by Mi Mix Alpha. Additionally, the renders also include the ‘Xiaomi’ branding.

Having said that, we think that there’s a probability of Xiaomi showcasing such a smartphone as a concept. But we are not sure if it will ever end up in consumer’s hands.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi aims to overtake Huawei and Apple next year with 240 million smartphone shipments

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The smartphone designing is not limited to the big corporations. Even, a single person can register the patents. Similarly, a qualified engineer from Germany at Inodyn NewMedia GmbH has registered a patent with quad notch display smartphone. The new patent has been spotted at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). If it’s believed than get ready to witness a new smartphone with quad notches.

It appears from the documentation that the new patent focuses on multiple notches at all corners rather than a single notch on the top side. It will give manufacturers an ability to extend functionality either by adding up quad cameras or introducing 3D display using those cameras. Alternatively, documents also mention a dual notch display device with more thinner bezels. The sensors can be organised in different ways, either by placing dual cameras on both the corners or by placing single cameras on all four corners. Although, the display has rounded corners around dual or quad notches.

Beside different notches, the smartphone’s earpiece will take place on top of the display or both sides of the display. Fingerprint sensor can be seen at the bottom right corner, and similarly, left side can be utilised for a UV sensor. Other sensors like infrared sensor, LED flash can make a place in any of the corners.

Moreover, the same design is applicable for foldable smartphones also. It can be further used in other devices such as wearables like watches, etc. The smartphone’s software can ensure that no content gets hidden under these notches. As an example, the text can be centre aligned, or it can be displayed little narrower. There might be many other ways through which these notches can be used to their fullest without hindering the user experience. Other media such as videos and images can be shown with a narrower border on top and bottom side in landscape mode.

• Read More: Google registers a new type of independent Stylus patent for cross-platform data portability

There are many possibilities that how the content can be shown. Now, it’s upon the manufacturer how they want to utilise the new Quad notch display.

Do you have any better idea of utilising these four notches on a smartphone?

(Source)

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