Apple Wins Patent for Pressure-Sensitive Device CasingsApple was today granted a 2009 patent application to allow users to control a device by pressing on, or squeezing, parts of the casing. An illustration in the patent shows potential touch-sensitive areas across a whole range of different devices: The patent, discovered by AppleInsider, combines two different methods of detecting and measuring the amount of pressure applied: one physical, the other electrical. The capacitance test, which works in a similar way to touchscreens, would enable the device to tell human touch apart from accidental pressure applied while the device was carried in a pocket or bag. Sensors disposed within the housing, in some embodiments directly beneath the surface, can detect when deflection occurs, which in turn denotes stress or pressure. In some embodiments, the sensors are connected to a printed circuit board that can in turn illuminate a light or other indicator when a minimum amount of readable stress is applied … A processor can take the measurements with their corresponding deflection rates, and translate them into device actions. For example, a threshold stress level is reached when a user presses down on a certain area of a device's housing. The processor determines that the capacitance change is outside the bounds of normal readings and can trigger a UI event or other device feature in response. The system can be customized to detect patterns and varied sensitivities to support a broad range of tasks.Apple patents a great many technologies it never uses, either as potential solutions that are later rejected or to protect against competitor use, the metal casing of the iPhone 5 could make the system practical on any future iPhone models with a similar casing. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Former Apple Ad Man Says Apple Considered Calling the iPhone the 'TriPod', 'TelePod', 'Mobi', or 'iPad' • Project Amy Allows Users to Send App.net Private Messages via Messages for OS X • Twitter Kills Off TweetDeck for iPhone in Favor of Web Edition, Drops Facebook Integration • Apple Releases Java Update to Fix New Zero-Day Vulnerability • Strategic Puzzle Game 'Polymer' Available for Free for a Limited Time • Evernote Issues Password Reset After Security Breach • Over 40 Dr. Seuss Apps on Sale for Theodore Geisel's Birthday • Rovio to Release 'The Croods' iOS Game, Based on Upcoming DreamWorks Animated Movie
http://www.macrumors.com/2013/03/05/apple-wins-patent-for-pressure-sensitive-device-casings/
