Apple patents touch-screen technology

Apple has filed a patent for a touch-screen technology that could be used in a media player or tablet PC. 

The patent application, entitled 'Proximity detector in a handheld device', was discovered by news and rumour site AppleInsider. 

An abstract for the claim describes the technology as a method that includes "sensing an object spaced away and in close proximity to the electronic device" .

According to the description, the technology could be used in many consumer electronics devices.

"The portable computing device may, for example, be a portable computer, tablet PC, PDA, media player (e.g. music player, video player, game player), digital camera, GPS module and the like," the application states.

Apple provides images showing how the technology could be used to accompany the application, and mentions the iPod and iTunes as example uses.

One image is described as a "graphical user interface displayed on an iPod manufactured by Apple", and another is a "graphical user interface associated with a music management program such as iTunes", the description reads.

The technology can function when items are placed close to the screen, but not touching it.

Apple describes an example where a user's finger is detected near to the display, causing an onscreen scroll wheel to appear.

"The finger is spaced away and not in contact with the touch surface. Once the presence of an object is detected, the user interface proceeds to where a virtual scroll wheel is activated," the company said.

"A virtual scroll wheel is displayed in addition to the list of songs and its functionality is enabled. The virtual scroll wheel can be made semi-transparent so that the media items can be viewed through the virtual scroll wheel."

The full application can be viewed on the AppleInsider website.

See also:

Apple iPod facing official patent probe

Spat with Creative gathers pace as US International Trade Commission steps in  14 Jun 2006

Apple iPod dominance makes DRM more restrictive

Content being used to lock in consumers, argues Electronic Frontier Foundation  01 Jun 2006

Apple countersues in Creative patent spat

'I'll take your patent threat and raise you four'  22 May 2006

Creative sues Apple over iPod interface

Zen maker demands halt to all iPod sales in the US  16 May 2006

Apple v. Apple opens in the High Court

Beatles label accuses Apple Computer of violating 1991 agreement  30 Mar 2006

Apple scales down iPod Nano

1GB music player added to Nano line-up  07 Feb 2006

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