Apple Patents: Apple Goes Invisible With This Patent

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Apple Patents: While some companies wouldn’t mind being invisible from time to time, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is not one of them. After all, the Cupertino based tech giant is used to be in the public eye at all times.

However, Apple has been looking into technology that appears to give some features of its devices a bit of invisibility.

A Leading Company Cheaper Than 90% Of Blue Chips... And It Recently Bounced 12%Here is one of the most recent patent filings by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL): Disappearing button or slider

While this may sound like something that can cause more headaches than anything else, once you learn more about the technology you will get a better idea of what the company is trying to accomplish.

Here is the patent abstract, explaining exactly how the technology would work:

“An input device includes a deflection based capacitive sensing input. Deflection of a metal fame of the input device causes a change in capacitance that is used to control a function of an electrical device. The input appears selectively visible because it is made of the same material as the housing it is contained in and because it is selectively backlit through tiny holes. “

While it would make most sense for this type of technology to be used in the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone, it is safe to say that it could translate into other devices, such as the MacBook lineup, as well.

In the patent, Apple provides more information on how the technology would work stating that “the backlight can be activated when a user taps or presses down on button.”

Another example is that “a motion sensor may interface with LED and activate it when motion is detected. In another embodiments heat and/or sound sensors can interface with and activate LED  when heat and/or sound is detected.”

This is one of those patents that appear to have a lot to offer, but we never really know for sure if it will make its way into a future Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) device.

With all that being said, there is no denying that there are many ways the technology could be used.

The patent was first filed for on October 24, 2008. The inventors are listed as Omar Leung and David Amm.

For those who are still having a difficult time understanding what this technology is all about, the images on the next page will go a long way in clearing up any confusion. Check these out now:

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