Apple exploring dual-mode screens with 'display' and 'touch' settings
The new patent application from Apple, entitled "Integrated Touch Sensitive Display Gate Driver," was revealed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office this week. It describes a circuit that would switch between display and touch modes, enabling and disabling an integrated touch sensitive display when necessary.
The filing notes that display and touch capabilities can conflict with one another. The proposed solution would be to switch between the two modes, allowing for an optimum experience in either display or touch settings.
"During touch mode, the circuit can be configured to switch the gate lines to connect to a more stable voltage supply," the application reads. "The circuit can also be configured to reduce or eliminate interference from the display circuitry that could affect touch sensing."
The addition of a "switchable gate driver" would be advantageous, the filing states, because disabling the touch capabilities would save power and also eliminate the need to correct or repeat erroneous or false touch sensing. A poorly grounded LCD driver could result in fluctuations that can cross over into the touch circuitry, and be incorrectly interpreted as a touch near the display.
The application also claims that the method could save costs, allowing the gate driver to be plugged into existing technology rather than requiring a complete redesign.
"The switchable gate driver can be compactly formed, disposed, and/or integrated with display and touch circuitry on a single LCD chip, thereby providing a thinner, smaller chip," it reads.
The filing even goes beyond multi-touch, and says the invention could be used to allow displays to switch into other unique modes. Some of the examples provided include "scan mode," "audio mode," and "text mode."
The application was first filed on Aug. 21, 2009. It is credited to inventors Marduke Yousefpor, Shih Chang Chang, Kevin J. White and Steven Porter Hotelling.
Public disclosure of the document comes as rumors of a touchscreen iMac have picked up steam. Reports from the Far East have indicated that Apple plans to build a new all-in-one desktop computer with a multi-touch capable screen measuring 20 inches or greater.
Earlier this year, a separate patent application filed overseas described an iMac-style computer that could operate in a traditional format, but could also be lowered via a hinge on the back that would allow easier access for a user's fingertips. Similar to this week's filing, it described two modes of operation: a "high-resolution" input for a mouse and keyboard, and "low-resolution" for touch.
15 Comments
That dude's name is CHANG CHANGE..
I could be wrong, but to me this reads as one of those patents that companies put out after they have a designed it and actively plan on using, not the typical whacky patent submission.
I could be wrong, but to me this reads as one of those patents that companies put out after they have a designed it and actively plan on using, not the typical whacky patent submission.
IMO, this one is plenty wacky.
I love the design of that laptop in the drawing. It looks like my old Atari 800 with a screen!
http://www.computercloset.org/atari800.htm
In 10.7 or 11.0 or who knows, I'm sure Apple plans to incorporate iOS technologies into Mac OS X. This type of screen would be a good way to do it-- both a laptop and an iPad put together, maybe.