When it comes to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) patents, you never know what the company is going to come up with next. One thing is for sure: Cupertino is always looking for a way to protect its technology, ensuring that it has a leg up on the competition in the future.
A couple weeks back, we brought you this story which detailed five interesting patents awarded to Apple.
A system including a capacitive array element capable of sensing touch from either side is described. A connected processor unit, either in the device or the host system, may be adapted to interpret signals from the capacitive array element as a cursor or view movement with six degrees of freedom. The track pad device may include a display element and the capacitive array element may be translucent. The display element and the array element may be configured with respect to each other, where different configurations can be associated with different operating modes. For example, when the array element lies over the display screen so that the display screen is viewable through the array element, the array element can function as a touch screen. In another configuration, the array element may generate signals indicating a user’s touch from one or the other or both sides of the array element.
Visualization and interaction models
Visual representations of system objects are associated, and one or more association characteristics of the associated visual representations are identified. Interaction models and/or visualization models are automatically selected from a plurality of interaction and/or visualization models based on the identified one or more association characteristic, and the selected interaction and/or visualization model is applied to the associated visual representations.
Methods, apparatus, and circuits for managing power among portable computing devices and one or more accessories. One example provides commands to improve power management between a portable computing device and one or more accessories. Other examples provide commands that may allow a portable computing device to charge at a maximum available current level while providing an accessory with sufficient current for its proper operation. Another may help prevent a portable computing device from drawing a high level of current that could be detrimental to an accessory, while others provide commands that may allow a battery pack to instruct a portable computing device to not charge its internal battery. Another example may allow a portable computing device to determine which power supply among multiple power supplies should be used to power an accessory, while others may allow an accessory to retrieve charging current parameters from a portable computing device.
What are your thoughts on these three Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) patents? Which one do you feel has the best chance of making it ways to a common device in the near future?
Even though many patents awarded to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) are never put into effect, these are still valuable to the company. If nothing else, it keeps the competition from using the technology to their advantage.
On the next page, you will find an image associated with the dual-sided track pad patent.
