Apple's 'smart bezel' hides portions of a device display until needed, acts as secondary input
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday granted Apple a patent for a touch-sensitive bezel that can serve as a secondary mode of input for devices with small screens, as well as change from transparent to opaque upon sensing a user's finger.
Source: USPTO
Apple's U.S. Patent No. 8,477,114 for "Electronic device, display and touch-sensitive user interface" describes a method of deploying a touch-sensitive bezel which extends over a portion of a portable device display, and can hide or reveal that area on command.
The patent describes a system in which a portable device's display is partly overlapped by a touch-enabled bezel that is either partially, or entirely, light-transmissive. In the patent, the screen is split into two sections, the uncovered "active viewing area" and the covered "second portion" of the display.
When embedded sensors detect a finger is in close proximity or touching the device, signals from the controller trigger the second portion to illuminate, thereby changing the appearance of the overlaid bezel. The patent outlines a number of bezel state changes, including simple color-changes and light transmission, to more complex embodiments where the bezel itself turns from opaque to transparent.
For example, the second portion to illuminate briefly to indicate a touch or near touch, or may remain lit until a second touch event is detected.
Illustration of display with active area (62), sensor (73), second screen portion (68) and bezel window (66).
In this implementation, the extended bezel area serves as a type of window through which a user can see the device's display. The bezel can be made from a number of materials such that the window disappears from view when the second portion of the screen is not illuminated. Thus an illlusion is created where the window portion of the display is "hidden" until a user triggers a touch event.
According to some embodiments, color changes and text or graphics can be displayed in the second portion of the display which, in concert with the bezel's touch-sensitive capabilities, can create a secondary form of input.
Any number of masking technologies can be applied to the bezel window, though the patent notes circular polarizers or electrowetting techniques as particularly viable potential candidates. In non-portable applications where power consumption is not a critical issue, plasma technologies can be applied.
Top-down view of display with bezel window.
Interestingly, the property appears to be from Apple's recent Kodak patent buy, as the application was divisional application to an invention assigned to the struggling photography pioneer. The technology jibes with other Apple patents regarding touch-sensitive or otherwise interactive bezels, however, including one dating back to 2006.
While mere speculation, the patent could conceivably be used in a wearable computing device, allowing for pleasing aesthetics while maximizing utility. Apple is widely rumored to be planning a wristwatch-like product, dubbed the "iWatch," which many believed will be dominated by a multitouch screen. Most recently, the company has been on a worldwide "iWatch" trademark application spree after making a number of filings earlier in June.
Apple's "smart bezel" patent was first filed for in September 2012 and credits Michael E. Miller, Jerald J. Muszak and Michael J. Telek as its inventors.
Source: USPTO
Apple's U.S. Patent No. 8,477,114 for "Electronic device, display and touch-sensitive user interface" describes a method of deploying a touch-sensitive bezel which extends over a portion of a portable device display, and can hide or reveal that area on command.
The patent describes a system in which a portable device's display is partly overlapped by a touch-enabled bezel that is either partially, or entirely, light-transmissive. In the patent, the screen is split into two sections, the uncovered "active viewing area" and the covered "second portion" of the display.
When embedded sensors detect a finger is in close proximity or touching the device, signals from the controller trigger the second portion to illuminate, thereby changing the appearance of the overlaid bezel. The patent outlines a number of bezel state changes, including simple color-changes and light transmission, to more complex embodiments where the bezel itself turns from opaque to transparent.
For example, the second portion to illuminate briefly to indicate a touch or near touch, or may remain lit until a second touch event is detected.
Illustration of display with active area (62), sensor (73), second screen portion (68) and bezel window (66).
In this implementation, the extended bezel area serves as a type of window through which a user can see the device's display. The bezel can be made from a number of materials such that the window disappears from view when the second portion of the screen is not illuminated. Thus an illlusion is created where the window portion of the display is "hidden" until a user triggers a touch event.
According to some embodiments, color changes and text or graphics can be displayed in the second portion of the display which, in concert with the bezel's touch-sensitive capabilities, can create a secondary form of input.
Any number of masking technologies can be applied to the bezel window, though the patent notes circular polarizers or electrowetting techniques as particularly viable potential candidates. In non-portable applications where power consumption is not a critical issue, plasma technologies can be applied.
Top-down view of display with bezel window.
Interestingly, the property appears to be from Apple's recent Kodak patent buy, as the application was divisional application to an invention assigned to the struggling photography pioneer. The technology jibes with other Apple patents regarding touch-sensitive or otherwise interactive bezels, however, including one dating back to 2006.
While mere speculation, the patent could conceivably be used in a wearable computing device, allowing for pleasing aesthetics while maximizing utility. Apple is widely rumored to be planning a wristwatch-like product, dubbed the "iWatch," which many believed will be dominated by a multitouch screen. Most recently, the company has been on a worldwide "iWatch" trademark application spree after making a number of filings earlier in June.
Apple's "smart bezel" patent was first filed for in September 2012 and credits Michael E. Miller, Jerald J. Muszak and Michael J. Telek as its inventors.
Comments
2. If Apple is indeed implementing this, wait for the competition to do the same, saying it's just a logical and natural thing to implement. Just like build-in batteries and unibody design.
Yeah Apple, just patent every piece you guys are tinkering on. It might just help the competition, creating the need to innovate themselves as well.
[IMG ALT=""]http://forums.appleinsider.com/content/type/61/id/27796/width/500/height/1000[/IMG]
That's essentially what this patent is for. It's an edge to edge display of sorts with the edges looking opaque like a bezel but still being interactive elements for the device.
In one version of the patent it said the bezel could even become part of the display.
I would rather see just touch sensors extended into the bezel rather than display elements 'underneath' it (why bother? Just make the screen bigger). With an out-of-screen touch sensor you could implement edge gestures such as scrolling and swipe-in without getting your fingers in the way of what you're looking at.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogifan
The 3 inventors listed on this patent are from NY/NJ. I didn't know Apple had corporate employees working on the east coast. I thought all corp employees in the US were in California, Austin and Orlando.
Perhaps you missed it in the article, this is a patent assigned to Apple from Kodak. Kodak is located in New York.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogifan
The 3 inventors listed on this patent are from NY/NJ. I didn't know Apple had corporate employees working on the east coast. I thought all corp employees in the US were in California, Austin and Orlando.
There are many termed employees, or contractors, who work at Apple (not to mention all tech companies). They may not all be based in California.
Of course the same thing could be done on the iPad as well, but the screen resolution would be strange. I think at some point, screen resolution becomes independent of the actual design elements, so you could have a 1080p (x2) display on the iPad edge-to-edge and not have fragmentation as the OS handles the pixel translation.
This is a subject of prior art dated as early as 3/1/12 :-)
http://forums.appleinsider.com/t/144963/purported-ipad-3-front-panels-show-identically-placed-home-button-and-camera/30#post_2060263
Waiting for the inevitable stock downgrade from some short-happy analyst who will issue a report saying that "Apple's patent filings, although describing pie-in-the-sky products that might never see the light of day, leave me worrying about the ability of Cook and company to innovate in the near-term. I worry that their patent filings are not good enough. Recommendation: Sell."
The only obvious part of this patent is the fact that it's applied to an object that has a bezel.
Quote:
Originally Posted by xsmi
I overheard a comment in a coffe shop the other day in which one of the people called Apple a "Large Patent Troll". So any intellectual property Apple goes out and gets will be seen as second rate to the general public anyway. It's so frustrating at times.
What some people fail to understand is that a patent troll (or NPE if you're feeling cordial) doesn't make any actual products and instead make their money solely on lawsuits. Apple doesn't fit that description. To my knowledge Apple has only enforced patents that they use in their own products. There's a world of difference there.
And then decide what acts as bezel and whats fully used screen, in software, how ever it fits the current situation.
Or is this just their usual weaselly way to patent an already existing destination try to screw everyone already on the road there?
Because that's not what this is talking about in the slightest and all products already do that.
[QUOTE]And then decide what acts as bezel and whats fully used screen, in software, how ever it fits the current situation.[/QUOTE]
See, that's the part that isn't obvious. That's why the patent exists. You cannot possibly claim this is obvious.
I thought Android already used Smart BezeL
Have they emBezeled it somehow?