The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of twelve newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The notables within this group include one relating to the Apple TV Remote controller, the hinge mechanism designed specifically for the MacBook Air, Apple’s 2D and 3D versions of the OS X Dock, Apple’s iPhone stereo headset and one relating to an iPhone’s animated image. .

Apple TV Remote

Apple’s patent FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a remote control system having an asymmetric pattern of predetermined light sources. The Remote in this figure is associated with a console which translates to that of Apple TV.

Apple credits Steven Porter Hotelling, Nicholas Vincent King, Duncan Robert Kerr and Wing Kong Low for granted patent 7,566,858 which was originally filed for in November 2006. Apple introduced Apple TV during MacWorld in January 2007.

Apple’s Abstract: Remote control systems that can distinguish predetermined light sources from stray light sources, e.g., environmental light sources and/or reflections are provided. The predetermined light sources can be disposed in asymmetric substantially linear or two-dimensional patterns. The predetermined light sources also can output waveforms modulated in accordance with one or more signature modulation characteristics. The predetermined light sources also can output light at different signature wavelengths.

MacBook Air’s Hinge Mechanism

Apple states in their patent that portable computing device profiles are continually shrinking along with integral computer components. As such, base thicknesses under approximately 20 mm are becoming increasingly common. In at least some of those examples, a pinned hinge mechanism’s structural requirements may exceed the structural capability of base materials given smaller size design requirements thus necessitating relocation of a hinge mechanism away from a base edge. Therefore improved hinge mechanisms are described herein. The measurements described herein would therefore relate to Apple’s MacBook Air which clocks in at roughly 19.3 mm (millimeters).

Apple credits Chris Ligtenberg and Joshua Banko for granted patent 7,565,720. Apple introduced the MacBook Air during MacWorld January 2008 describing it as the world’s thinnest notebook.

Apple’s Abstract: a base link pivotally connected with a base such that the base link rotates about a first axis of rotation, the base link being in sliding communication with a lid; a lid link pivotally connected with the lid such that the lid link rotates about a second axis of rotation, the lid link being in sliding communication with the base; and a center pin pivotally connecting the base link with the lid link such that the base link and the lid link rotate about a third axis of rotation wherein the base link, the lid link, and the center pin cooperatively function to translate the lid over at least two planes of motion with respect to the base.

Several Industrial Design Wins

Apple has been granted seven industrial designs today. The notables within this group include an animated image for a portion of the iPhone’s display screen (D597,101), two versions of Apple’s OS X dock (3D, shown, D597,100 and 2D, not shown, D597,099), the iPhone’s stereo headset (D597,071), Apple’s iPhone 3G Dock (D597,080) and an iPod Dock insert (D597,079).

Other Granted Patents Published Today: Apple’s Granted patent 7,568,087 relates to the field of processors and, more particularly, to handling load/store operations in processors; Granted patent 7,568,135 generally relates non-volatile memory devices, and particular implementations may relate to systems and methods for operating multi-level flash cells.

NOTICE: MacNN presents only a brief summary of patents with associated graphic(s) for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application and/or Issued Patent is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent application and/or Issued Patent should be read in its entirety for further details. For additional information on any granted patent noted above, simply feed the individual patent number(s) into this search engine.

Researched and Written by Jack Purcher