“A new Apple invention that was discovered in Europe’s Patent Office database also showed up at the US Patent and Trademark Office in recent weeks. Apple’s patent, which was late coming to the public, covers an invention of theirs that relates to a track pad device which includes a capacitive array element capable of sensing touch from two surfaces and sending signals indicative of the touches,” Jack Purcher reports for Patently Apple.
“The capacitive array element may be able to sense multiple simultaneous touches and distinguish on which side the touches are occurring,” Purcher reports. ” A connected processor unit, either in the device or the host system, may be adapted to interpret the signals as a cursor or view movement with six degrees of freedom.”
Purcher reports, “The track pad device includes a display element whereby the capacitive array element is fully translucent.”
Much more, including Apple’s patent application illustrations, in the full article here.