{"id":8593,"date":"2022-02-01T17:09:07","date_gmt":"2022-02-01T17:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/02\/01\/apple-tech-could-create-invisible-input-areas-on-bezels-to-replace-buttons\/"},"modified":"2022-02-01T17:09:07","modified_gmt":"2022-02-01T17:09:07","slug":"apple-tech-could-create-invisible-input-areas-on-bezels-to-replace-buttons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/02\/01\/apple-tech-could-create-invisible-input-areas-on-bezels-to-replace-buttons\/","title":{"rendered":"Apple tech could create invisible input areas on bezels to replace buttons"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Apple is continuing to develop technology that could allow virtually invisible input areas that can display information to a user while replacing physical buttons or controls on its products. <\/p>\n

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On Tuesday, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted a patent to Apple covering a “concealable input region for an electronic device.” The patent, U.S. Patent No. 11,237,655<\/a>, describes technology that uses microperforations to sense input. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Apple says the point of the patent is to do away with the “large buttons, keys, or other mechanically-actuated structures” used to sense inputs on a device. That’s because traditional input elements “may lack flexibility or adaptability and may permanently indicate the presence of the input device.” <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The solution is to add an input surface to a device’s exterior that includes an array of microperforations. When in an active state, these microperforations can display virtual keys, buttons, or notification graphics to illuminate an input region. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The patent says that the input regions would “be visually imperceptible when not illuminated.” In other words, the goal is to make these regions invisible when not in use. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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An invisible input area on an Apple Pencil.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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These invisible input regions can then be further configured to receive an input, detect touch, or use other methods like optical, magnetic, and capacitance-based sensors to otherwise enable device controls. Apple says it could also be configured with a haptic portion to simulate the tactile response of a key or button. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This input layer could also incorporate a translucent layer made of “glass, ceramic, plastic, or a combination thereof.” Apple says this translucent layer could be the “top case of a laptop.” <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Although portions of the patent’s text describe an Apple Watch<\/a>, there are figures in the patent that depict the microperforation technology applying to both iPhone<\/a>, Apple Pencil<\/a>, and MacBook<\/a> devices. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Apple could use the input area to replace the physical button on an Apple Watch.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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It’s worth noting that the technology appears similar to the kind seen on the HomePod<\/a>, which features a top input area that lights up when Siri<\/a> is activated. Apple iPhone and iPad<\/a> devices have also featured capacitive button that provides a tactile response despite not actually being a button. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Apple has been granted other patents related to microperforation illumination. A patent from 2012<\/a>, for example, described a system for using similar technology to create invisible device controls that can light up when activated to indicate a control area. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Apple is granted numerous patents on a weekly basis, and applies for even more. Because of that, patents are a poor predictor of the company’s future plans and also give little indication of when a described technology could make it to market.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n