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Apple Patent Applications: Input Device Gestures, Solar-Powered iPods and iPhones

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Apr 12, 2001
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The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today published several new patent applications from Apple, revealing research into several areas, including the use of gesture-based input devices and solar panel technology in the casings of iPods.


110311-kinematic_contact_gesture.png


110312-kinematic_lift_gesture.png


In the first application, entitled "Methods and Apparatus for Processing Combinations of Kinematical Inputs", Apple describes the use of force and velocity sensors included in an input device such as a mouse to record gestures, which can then be interpreted as input by a computer.
Some embodiments of the present invention therefore enable a user to provide a series of gestures as input to the receiving device. Such gestures may include, for example, brushing motions, scooping motions, nudges, tilt and slides, and tilt and taps. The application can then respond to each gesture (or gesture combination) in any number of ways.

Embodiments of the present invention may therefore have applicability to any electronic system or application capable of receiving input. For example, embodiments of the present invention may be useful with video games, file browsing, interactive navigation, communication systems, control systems, military systems, medical devices, and industrial applications.
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110312-kinematic_tilt_tap_gestures.png


The patent application, which was filed on July 18, 2008, is credited solely to Apple engineer Omar Leung.

The second application, entitled "Power Management Circuitry and Solar Cells", describes a power management system that would allow portable media devices such as the iPod and iPhone to operate primarily on solar power. The details of the application describe methods for integrating both solar and battery power sources, using switches to reconfigure sections of solar cells on the exterior of the device such that a constant voltage is generated even if certain solar cells are obstructed by a user's hand or device orientation.


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The patent application, which was filed on August 5, 2008, is credited to prominent Apple iPod engineer Michael Rosenblatt and iPod systems engineer Daniel Warren.

Apple has revealed an interest in solar technology for its portable devices in the past, previously filing a patent application describing the addition of solar cells behind the glass of an LCD screen. It is unknown, however, whether such technology will ever be included in shipping devices, as Apple has a history of applying for patents on technologies that never end up seeing the light of day.

Article Link: Apple Patent Applications: Input Device Gestures, Solar-Powered iPods and iPhones
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/21/apple-patent-applications-input-device-gestures-solar-powered-ipods-and-iphones/
miles01110 said:
A solar-powered iPod seems just about the worst idea ever. Maybe it's just me, but there's not a whole lot of sunlight in my pocket.
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This being Apple I assume they have thought this through. They must know something we don't, perhaps a new very low light level or even artificial light level system. Yes and the need for clear cases ;)
 
Do we really need a story on every patent application Apple files? Big tech firms like Apple file a bajillion of these - 99% of which never result in an actual product. Seems pointless to speculate about them.

Now, let's talk more iSlate rumors! ;)
 
Maybe it's just me, but there's not a whole lot of sunlight in my pocket.
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Which doesn't matter because it will only be on standby power when it's in your pocket.

I'm not sure why they don't have it so that the friction from using your finger on the touch screen can't also be turned into power charge for the battery.
 
The solar powered thing sounds cool. I wonder if it'll be able to work using solar power alone. If so, hello thinner battery & iPods! Or possibly same physical size iPod, but maybe more disk space or features.

Also, would it be able to recharge the battery, too.
 
While the novelty of having a solar panel on your phone is cool, there is the matter of practicality that doesn't really make it worth it. I believe the phone I'm thinking of (made by Sharp) requires it to be the sun for an hour and that will get your something around 10 minutes of talk time. Which is a pretty good ratio (6-1) , but that 10 minutes for every 1 hour is assuming prefect conditions. Which means you'll have to be outside on an non-cloudy day, walking around with your cellphone in your hand, positioning the solar panel so it faces the Sun at all times, gathering in direct sunlight. Otherwise that 6-1 ratio will probably drop down to a real world 1 hour of charging getting you maybe 1 minutes of talk time.

While I can imagine there are some situations where that would come in handy (maybe you are on an extended camping trip or you just broke down on some back-road with no battery life), but in most situations, the practicality of having that small of a solar panel this just isn't there. I certainly wouldn't object to having one though, assuming I'm not paying more because of it and assuming it isn't taking away from anything else. As I mentioned, the novelty of it is certainly cool. And having a cool solar panel on my cool smartphone would be... well... cool, lol.
 
Compile 'em all said:
"brushes motions"?

I am betting money we will see that gesture in the tablet.
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budselectjr said:
I dont even draw or paint, but this tablet could get me to start learning.
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Guys, I don't think this has to do with hand motions.

"Apple describes the use of force and velocity sensors included in an input device such as a mouse... Such gestures may include, for example, brushing motions, scooping motions, nudges, tilt and slides, and tilt and taps."

Rather, I think this has to do with registering a mouse's motions on more than just a 2-dimensional plane.

I could see these gestures being useful, if not necessary, for navigating through a 3D interface.
 
Hi,

The Sony WM-F107 (aka Solar Walkman) that I had in the late 1980's was very functional and useful. I wouldn't brush off the idea of a solar ipod as it could charge when it isn't in your pocket being used. I used to put my solar walkman next to a window to charge it up when I wasn't using it and if I needed the extra power while I was out I would just walk with it in my hand.

Besides, the iPod ads have the silhouette dancing with the iPod in hand or attached to the body somehow. ;)

s.
 
guzhogi said:
The solar powered thing sounds cool. I wonder if it'll be able to work using solar power alone. If so, hello thinner battery & iPods! Or possibly same physical size iPod, but maybe more disk space or features..
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Not gonna lie.. this sounds like the worst idea I've ever heard of. Imagine running out of juice and having to stand outside in the sun for half an hour while your phone recharges enough to make a call... yeah, that's what the people want.
 
MatLu said:
While the novelty of having a solar panel on your phone is cool, there is the matter of practicality that doesn't really make it worth it. I believe the phone I'm thinking of (made by Sharp) requires it to be the sun for an hour and that will get your something around 10 minutes of talk time. Which is a pretty good ratio (6-1) , but that 10 minutes for every 1 hour is assuming prefect conditions. Which means you'll have to be outside on an non-cloudy day, walking around with your cellphone in your hand, positioning the solar panel so it faces the Sun at all times, gathering in direct sunlight. Otherwise that 6-1 ratio will probably drop down to a real world 1 hour of charging getting you maybe 1 minutes of talk time.

While I can imagine there are some situations where that would come in handy (maybe you are on an extended camping trip or you just broke down on some back-road with no battery life), but in most situations, the practicality of having that small of a solar panel this just isn't there. I certainly wouldn't object to having one though, assuming I'm not paying more because of it. As I mentioned, the novelty of it is certainly cool. And having a cool solar panel on my cool smartphone would be... well... cool, lol.
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+1

Solar cells on an iPhone or iPod would be there solely for the "cool" and "green" factors, but would actually have little effect on maintaining battery charges in normal use.... people have a very poor understanding of how much electricity is generated by solar cells in different circumstances, compared to how much electricity the device actually consumes.
 
Solar Power charging can be very useful. You probably can't use it while you are walking or standing on line. But I can see someone using it while driving, enjoying the beach, office by the window, on an airplane with a window seat, camping, etc.

Once we get the processor and screen to use as little power as possible, I'm sure it will become practical. Probably not for another 3 - 5 years.
 
anubis said:
Not gonna lie.. this sounds like the worst idea I've ever heard of. Imagine running out of juice and having to stand outside in the sun for half an hour while your phone recharges enough to make a call... yeah, that's what the people want.
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But I don't have to imagine running out of juice and making a call! As long as it's an ADDED feature and not the only way of charging whats the big deal!:rolleyes:
 
anubis said:
Not gonna lie.. this sounds like the worst idea I've ever heard of. Imagine running out of juice and having to stand outside in the sun for half an hour while your phone recharges enough to make a call... yeah, that's what the people want.
Click to expand...

Imagine running out of juice and BEING ABLE TO stand outside in the sun for half an hour while your phone recharges enough to make a call since you're not near a power outlet.

It's a good feature, just like tethering is a good feature. But both are something I'd use rarely, and would not pay extra for.

But they would be invaluable in the right situation. Say your car ran off the road into a ditch - your cell phone battery was dead, and nobody could see your car from the road and you could not get out of the car. A cell phone like this could charge and you could make the call to save your life. Imagine the commercial! :)
 
Solar technology is a great option if and when you need it, and a waste to carry around when you don't need it or will not be supplying it with sun.

That being said I think this should continue to be an accessory, like the Solio stuff which I use now.
 
I sometimes wish these patent articles were split up more accordingly, especially when they relate to two different topics.

Why is no one else talking about the mouse gestures?? This is clearly the more intriguing, innovative, and (r)evolutionary patent of the two. Does no one else see what this means for OS navigation? We're talking about using a mouse beyond a 1:1 pointing device!

Don't get me wrong, the thought of solar iPods is cool, but the input device gesture patent represents a possible paradigm shift in the way we interact with our familiar GUIs. Discuss!!
 
The iPod in this context is arbitrary. The patent is about solar powered media devices. Not solar powered iPods. The iPod picture is purely for example.
 
MacRumors said:
...Apple has revealed an interest in solar technology for its portable devices in the past, previously filing a patent application describing the addition of solar cells behind the glass of an LCD screen. It is unknown, however, whether such technology will ever be included in shipping devices, as Apple has a history of applying for patents on technologies that never end up seeing the light of day.
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how very amusing
 
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