ViewSonic showcased the world’s first “Made for iPod” desktop display, called the ViewDock, during the 2006 Apple Expo in Paris. From what I could gather, this has been dropped. The point being that not every digital device with an iPod docking station is bound to be a raving success, including Apple’s own iPod Hi-Fi. Yet today, the USPTO revealed a patent application from Funai, whose brands include Sylvania and Emerson. The patent details the inclusion of an iPod dock into future television designs. Although the design could be designed for any portable media device, the patent does in fact point to the Apple iPod my name. Although I’m surprised this hasn’t surfaced earlier, it’s not really a game changing feature considering that an AppleTV for only $229 works with any HDTV. Nonetheless, Funai’s patent simply conveys an idea and intent to create such a device and therefore we might not see the software features associated with the built-in iPod dock which could be appealing. Although I’m not holding my breath for such a unit, you have to give Funai a thumbs-up for effort.

It should also be noted that Funai has four patents on this design concept and a secondary patent further supports the iPod media player as their main focused media player being that they’re promoting the use of a Podcast folder within the TV interface.

Noted above are three iPod docking station orientations being considered. The middle one would be best in my opinion because it’s out of the way of the TV speaker area and isn’t visually distracting like the first design.

Perhaps in the bigger picture, the point to consider is that once one TV OEM introduces such a feature, it’s very likely that we could see others follow suit shortly after. Yes, it’s the trend to watch for here.

Jack Purcher, MacNN Senior Patent Editor.