“A fairly new filing from Apple discusses the advantages of using proximity sensors more generously to aid its multi-touch technology on devices larger than the iPhone, which would allow certain functions to be invoked without the user having to physically touch the display,” Sam Oliver reports for AppleInsider.
“More specifically, the electronics maker believes the combination of these two different types of sensors — multi-touch and proximity — could be used to detect the presence of one or more fingers, body parts or other objects hovering above a touch-sensitive surface,” Oliver reports.
“The detection of fingers, palms or other objects hovering near the touch panel is desirable, Apple says, because it can enable the computing system to perform certain functions without necessitating actual contact with the touch panel,” Oliver reports.
“The proximity sensors could be composed of IR transmitters for transmitting IR radiation, and IR receivers for receiving IR radiation reflected by a finger or another object in proximity to the panel. To detect the location of touch events at different positions relative to the panel, multiple IR receivers can be placed along the edges touch-screen’s blackened display bezel, like those on the latest iMacs and MacBooks, the company says,” Oliver reports.
More info and patent application illustrations in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Crabs” for the heads up.]
How dare you beat me to the punch Crabs?!
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” /> anyhow is this patent number 25x from the over 200 patents to stop the shysters of this world from stealing from Apple inc?
Quick, trademark Multi-AlmostTouch™…
How to have a touch screen iMac without getting a smudged screen or gorilla arms?
Interesting… I like the note about the design of the black bezel incorporating these sensors, so the design is thankfully here to stay. The white/black MacBooks were getting old and silver was getting cliché. It’s a good move for many reasons.
I forgot to say that the smear removal would also be good, but good ol’ Holy Mackerel beat me.
Minority Report.
@DWJ
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I was thinking the exact same thing
Nokia had that idea since 2007… now who is copying who…?
“body parts or other objects hovering above a touch-sensitive surface,”
Really??
“”The detection of fingers, palms or other objects hovering near the touch panel is desirable, Apple says, because it can enable the computing system to perform certain functions without necessitating actual contact “
I’m having visions of the “love scene” between Sylvester Stallone and Sandra Bullock in Demolition Man.
Is this a “good thing?”
It’s “whom.”
Who is copying “whom”
Doesn’t the big-ass Microsoft Table use sensors like this?
You mean no video cameras?
Steve Jobs in 2001: “We’re gonna innovate our way out of this!”
He was talking about the dot-com bubble bursting.
Good to see corporate philosophy carrying over from then to now, while the other guys are in a mad scramble to maintain their existence.
Peace.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”cool smile” style=”border:0;” />
Olmecmystic