“The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday granted Apple a short but important patent relating to system-on-chip (SoC) design and manufacture, with the property likely aimed at protecting the company’s A-series mobile processors,” Mikey Campbell reports for AppleInsider.
“SoCs like Apple’s latest A6X found in the fourth-generation iPad allow for performance in a greatly reduced space, an optimal solution for mobile devices. The ‘704 patent outlines such a system, noting that each bare die can include processors, memory, CODEC circuity, I/O controllers, communications assets, accelerometers and more,” Campbell reports. “Also called for is a flexible printed circuit board, called a flex, which couples to the SoC to provide further component space. For example, the flex can extend beyond the die to provide for one or more components which are attached to the SoC. For example, memory can be located above or below the substrate in various embodiments.”
Read more, and see Apple’s patent application illustrations and diagrams, in the full article here.
Related articles:
iPad 4 graphics upgrade a serious horsepower increase; Apple’s A6X is one massive processing machine – November 2, 2012
Benchmarks: Apple iPad 4′s A6X beats all comers in GPU performance – November 2, 2012
Apple’s powerful A6 a unique CPU design that’s never been seen before – October 8, 2012
Analysis of Apple A6 core reveals exquisite, optimized custom layout done by hand – September 26, 2012
Apple A6 die reveals 3-core GPU – September 21, 2012
iPhone 5′s A6 SoC SunSpider performance fastest ever recorded on a smartphone – September 19, 2012
Apple’s custom A6 processor the result of years of effort, including a $500 million chip development program – September 18, 2012
A6 is Apple’s first with custom-designed CPU cores; iPhone 5 memory size and speed revealed – September 16, 2012
I don’t understand the continual push for patenting technology when these patents aren’t upheld in court.
This is technology, much more likely to be upheld than software or design patents, where prior art, or a subjective view can make a difference.
What are you suggesting? Do you think that Apple should just give up on submitting patents and let people copy their concepts? If someone is going to be armed with some backup, I would rather that it be Apple. Sometimes the patent decisions do go in Apple’s favor. For instance, the $1.05B jury recommendation against Samsung still stands. Meanwhile, Apple recently negotiated a highly favorable licensing agreement with HTC. Take a little of your own advice, payshunz, and give Apple some time to work things out.
Who cares? If it ever comes into question the USPTO will simply seem it invalid as they please.
Hey, Samsung! Here’s something else for you to steal!