Part 1: Patents reveal Apple’s plans for a notebook with RF and more
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Dec 9, 2005 at 9:28am
On Dec. 8, the US Patent & Trademark Office revealed Apple’s patent titled “Display housing for computing device.” In total, Apple has filed three such patents on the same day pertaining to the same title with varying details and emphasis. This three part report covers each of them.
This first report covers patent 20050270244 where Apple places emphasis on antennas being configured to transmit or receive RF signals. The second feature that stood out is their revelation of a track pad with two additional buttons described as follows:
“The base 102 also includes a keyboard 106 that allows a user of the portable computer 100 to enter alphanumeric data. The base 102 also includes a track pad 108 and associated buttons 110 and 112. The track pad 108 is an input device for the portable computer 100 and generally represents an input pointer device. The associated buttons 110 and 112 allow a user to make a selection with respect to a graphical user interface.”
While all three patents share a common body of illustrations, each specifically places emphasis on a single illustration as its covering graphic. Patent 20050270244 emphasizes illustration FIG.1.
Apple’s abstract
An improved housing for a computing device is disclosed. The improved housing can have one or more of the following aspects.
A first aspect of the invention pertains to a computer housing having a logo or other symbol that can be illuminated using light from the backside of a display panel. A second aspect of the invention pertains to a suspended frame is able to support a display panel within a display housing. A third aspect of the invention pertains to a computing device provided with an internal antenna. A fourth aspect of the invention pertains to a stiffener for a computer housing so as to increase the rigidity and strength of the computer housing. A fifth aspect of the invention pertains to a housing having a logo, symbol or other device that can be illuminated using light from the backside of a display panel. A sixth aspect of the invention pertains to a lid for a computing device, such as a portable computer, that is provided with a translucent housing.
Key excerpts from Apple’s claims
A computer system
A computer system, comprising: an antenna, said antenna being configured to transmit or receive RF signals; and a computer housing, said computer housing being configured to enclose said antenna such that said antenna is entirely contained internal to said computer housing and is operable while being internal to said computer housing without having to extend any portion of said antenna outside said computer housing.
A computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein antenna comprises: an antenna cable having first and second conductors; an outer conductor, said outer conductor being operatively coupled to said second conductor of said antenna cable; an inner conductor, said inner conductor being operatively coupled to said first conductor of said antenna cable; and an antenna housing, said antenna housing being disposed around the outer periphery of said outer conductor and said inner conductor, and wherein said antenna housing maintains a fixed separation between said outer conductor and said antenna cable.
An antenna device
An antenna device for transmitting and receiving RF for use by a computer, said antenna device comprising: an antenna cable having first and second conductors; an outer conductor, said outer conductor being operatively coupled to said second conductor of said antenna cable; an inner conductor, said inner conductor being operatively coupled to said first conductor of said antenna cable; and an antenna housing, said antenna housing being disposed around the outer periphery of said outer conductor and said inner conductor, and wherein said antenna housing maintains a fixed separation between said outer conductor and said antenna cable.
An antenna device as recited in claim 11, wherein said antenna housing is formed from polycarbonate. An antenna device as recited in claim 11, wherein said outer conductor is formed from copper. An antenna device as recited in claim 11, wherein said antenna cable is a coaxial cable. An antenna device as recited in claim 11, wherein an outer peripheral surface of said antenna housing is surrounded by shrink tubing.
A portable electronic device
A portable electronic device, comprising: a housing for enclosing functional components of the portable electronic device; and an internal antenna disposed entirely inside the housing and configured to transmit or receive RF signals from within the housing.
The portable electronic device as recited in claim 16 the inner surface of the housing being provided with a recess for receiving the antenna.
The portable electronic device as recited in claim 16 wherein at least a portion of the antenna is disposed at the outer perimeter edge of the housing around and spaced away from the functional components.
The portable electronic device as recited in claim 16 wherein the housing provides sufficient space at its sides for placement of the antenna away from internally located metal objects.
The portable electronic device as recited in claim 16 wherein the antenna comprises first and second poles connected to an antenna cable, and wherein the housing includes recesses for receiving the first and second poles, and a groove for receiving the antenna cable.
Miscellaneous
Elsewhere under claims it is noted that “The personal computing device as recited in claim 1 further including an antenna, said antenna being configured to transmit or receive RF signals, said housing being configured to enclose said antenna such that said antenna is entirely contained internal to said housing and is operable while being internal to said housing without having to extend any portion of said antenna outside said housing, the antenna being largely unnoticeable to the untrained observer from the exterior of the housing.”
NOTICE:
Macsimum News presents only a brief summary of patents with associated graphic(s) for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application and/or grant is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent applications and/or grants should be read in its entirety for further details.
The inventors listed on patent 20050270244 are Lawrence Lam, Jory Bell, Chris Stringer, Roy Riccomini for serial number 198820 filed on Aug. 4, 2005.
Macsimum Notes
Although I’ve done my best at breaking down all three of Apple’s patents separately, there’s simply no way to cover every last detail worth noting in a timely way. If you’re a sleuth and find that unique point missed in these reports, then be my guest in presenting it below for everyone’s benefit.
Hmm, on November 15, KT Launched Commercial WiBro Services in Korea, indicative of Mobile WiMAX Technology Potential— and late Wednesday Om Malik’s blog referenced information about the IEEE standards body approving the 802.16e standard. Yes, things are moving along quite nicely on the wireless over-the-air front indeed.
Apple already has a standing patent on future wireless—over-the-air capabilities involving the iPod and other interesting applications. They also have a patent on a camera laptop. So when you add in RF with a track pad and additional buttons, you have to wonder what on earth Apple could have in store for us in the coming months and years.
Being that television was described as being a future feature in one of the aforementioned patents; I wonder if we’ll be given an easy way to switch to live TV on a notebook with a simple click. Then again, it could be iTunes or taking an incoming phone call or iChat session. Will these buttons be programmable so that users’ get to make those decisions? Could it allow a user to instantly switch from OS X to Linux? Questions, questions and more questions.
I’m sure that you have an idea or two on this, so let’s hear it.
neo@macsimumnews.com
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Contributor
Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
