Patent

Apple Patent Suggests New Thinner Batteries on the Way

Oliver Haslam ∙ January 20, 2012

A new Apple patent application to be released by the United States Patent and Trademark Office suggest that our future MacBooks, iPhones, iPods and iPads could get even thinner thanks to improved batteries.

When building a portable device one of the most important parts is the battery. Too small and your device will not have enough power to last a reasonable length of time. Too big and you risk making the device too large as well as making it unnecessarily heavy.

This new patent application shows that Apple is well aware of the need for improved battery technology, and it seems it might be on to something...

Siri Patent Hints at More to Come from Apple’s Digital Assistant

Oliver Haslam ∙ January 19, 2012

If you've been reading the various editorials that we have been publishing of late then you'll probably already know that not all of us here at iDB are big fans of Siri. While some see it as a real paradigm shift, others think it has fallen short of its potential.

A new patent application may give an insight into where Siri could go from its current beta state however, and things look set to improve.

One possibility to come out of the patent is one which could see Siri, or software like it, react to external events and take appropriate action upon them...

Apple Files More Lawsuits Against Samsung in Germany

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

It's been nearly a year now since Apple filed its original patent infringement suit against Samsung, and the battle is still far from over. In fact, Apple has just filed a new set of lawsuits against the Korean manufacturer.

Bloomberg is reporting that Apple has just filed two new design-related lawsuits against Samsung in Germany's Dusseldorf Regional Court. The suits call out several Samsung products including 10 smartphones, and 5 tablets...

Samsung Wants Apple to Reveal Its Contract with Qualcomm

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated March 18, 2019

Samsung has requested details of the contract between iPad and iPhone maker Apple and the company which provides the chipsets for those machines, Qualcomm.

With Samsung currently locked in a legal battle with Apple over the Cupertino firm's possible patent infringement, the nature of the deal between them and Qualcomm could leave Apple almost immune from Samsung's claims.

If Qualcomm has licensed its technology to Apple directly then the company effectively has the same deal as Samsung, meaning "Apple's buying Qualcomm chips is as good as paying for the patents" and neutralizing any litigation in the process...

Samsung’s Efforts to Block the iPhone 4S in Italy Go Unrewarded

Cody Lee ∙ January 6, 2012

The back-and-fourth legal battle between Apple and Samsung continues today as the two companies have been handed down another decision from a presiding judge.

Following a similar ruling in France last month, the Mulan court has denied Samsung's preliminary request to ban iPhone 4S sales in Italy while the court listens to its patent infringement case...

Apple Pays Company $5 Million to Settle Patent Lawsuit

Guest Author ∙ January 5, 2012

In April of 2009, Taiwanese chip and touch screen maker Elan Microelectronics Corp. filed a lawsuit against Apple, claiming that the Cupertino-based company had infringed upon many of its touch-based patents. Apple counterclaimed in a Northern California district court with allegations that Elan had violated multiple Apple patents itself.

The patent in question, U.S. Patent Number 5,825,352, is described as a "multiple fingers contact sensing method for emulating mouse buttons and mouse operations on a touch sensor pad." The U.S. International Trade Commission investigated the claims in April 2010, but ultimately ruled in June 2010 that Elan had failed to establish that Apple was violating the patent.

The case remained unresolved, until today...

Patent Suggests Apple Could be Integrating Thunderbolt Into iOS Devices

Cody Lee ∙ January 5, 2012

Multiple patent applications by Apple were published by the US Patent and Trademark Office this morning. Three of the inventions revolve around Thunderbolt technology, and one in particular stands out: iOS device support.

Apple introduced Thunderbolt, an I/O platform that transfers data 20x faster than USB 2.0, last year in both its desktop and laptop computer lines. And now it looks like it could be bringing the tech to its popular mobile products...

Patent Shows Planned Facial Recognition in Upcoming iPad

Oliver Haslam ∙ December 29, 2011

One of the most popular negatives that people like to throw at the iPad is its single-user experience. There is basically no ability for a family to easily use an iPad. No user accounts, and thus no account switching.

Perhaps Apple planned for each member of a family to own their own iPad, but as we all know, that just isn't feasible with a $500 tablet, especially in these poor economic times.

The latest patent application to find its way out of the people at PatentlyApple shows that Apple is well aware of the way people want to use their iPads, and that we want to be able to hand the device to another person and have them be able to use it as their own. No sharing apps, no logging in and out of things constantly. This being Apple, they want to do it a little differently.

How Apple Could Make $10 for Every Android Device

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 27, 2017

The patent wars that Apple and leading Android device makers are fighting is costing a lot of money in legal fees for everyone. Intellectual property expert Kevin Rivette speculates on how Apple could stop wasting money on attorney fees, and start cashing in from Android:

Tim Cook, who took over in August when Jobs announced he would be unable to come back as CEO, has many other ways to take advantage of the company’s patent portfolio. The company could probably collect as much as $10 in royalties for every device sold, more than the amount analysts speculate Microsoft (MSFT) receives from Samsung and HTC, which use its mobile technology, said Rivette at 3LP.

Not a bad idea, except when we know that Steve Jobs swore to go on a "thermonuclear war" with Google instead of settling. There's a new boss at Apple, though...

Apple Awarded Core Multitouch Patent, Android Partners Beware

Cody Lee ∙ December 28, 2011

Apple had a hunch that its iPhone would be popular enough with consumers to "inspire" the competition. That's why the company was so adamant about protecting its technology in the handset, filing for over 200+ patents. But it didn't help.

Apple's legal team has seen mixed results in its ongoing patent war with Android manufacturers over the above-mentioned intellectual property. But the company was just awarded a core multi-touch patent that could turn the tide in its favor...

Apple Working On Major Interactive Fitness Center App

Cody Lee ∙ December 27, 2011

In the recently-released Steve Jobs biography, Walter Isaacson notes that the late CEO wanted Apple to re-invent three markets: TV, photography, and text books. Now it looks like the company has added another industry to the list: health.

PatentlyApple is reporting that Apple has just won a patent for a major fitness center app. Judging by the filing, the software is being built for the iPhone, and will allow users to virtually interact with their local gyms and fitness centers...