Oct 04, 2019 11:32:00

Future iPhone and iPad may be equipped with a “feeling screen keyboard”

by

FirmBee

It turns out that Apple has applied for a patent for a “feeling screen keyboard” at the US Patent and Trademark Office. The new technology, which is officially named “Static Pattern Electrostatic Haptic Electrodes”, can be touched by expressing the irregularities of the keyboard with the touch of static electricity on the screen. It is possible to realize a possible keyboard.

United States Patent Application: 0190302889
http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=20190302889

Future iPad Virtual Keyboards may use Next-Gen Haptics Technology giving users a Superior Typing Experience-Patently Apple
https://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2019/10/future-ipad-virtual-keyboards-may-use-next-gen-haptics-technology-giving-users-a-superior-typing-experience. html

Until now, touch-sensitive screen keyboard technologies include “ Touch Surfaces ” that generate friction by electrical vibration to reproduce a three-dimensional feel, and “ Aerial tactile touch panel that generates a tactile sensation in the air with nothing in the air” Etc. 'appeared.

Meanwhile, Patently Apple , a news media specializing in Apple's patents, reported that `` Apple's application has been published by the Patent and Trademark Office on patents for tactile technology that can express the virtual keyboard with a real touch '' .

The following image is an image of the screen keyboard attached to the actual patent application. You can see that a keyboard-like pattern is displayed on the screen of a device that looks like an iPad.

Also, another document obtained by Patently Apple shows that keys can be expressed in various patterns.

About the principle of this technology, Apple says, “By applying a controlled voltage to the Static Pattern Electrostatic Haptic Electrodes, variable friction is created as the conductive object moves over the insulating material. Even if the surface of the body is actually a plane, it will be perceived as a depression by the user. ' It is said that it is possible to express the feel of the keyboard by the change of friction caused by static electricity flowing on the screen.

The image shown in the application documents is from the iPad, but the application documents are examples of devices equipped with new technologies such as “PCs, smartphones, tablets, wearable devices, kitchen appliances, etc. 'It will not be done', so it is possible that various Apple devices such as smartwatches and appliances will be equipped with a realistic touch screen keyboard.

Patently Apple said, “This patent was filed on February 26, 2019. However, considering that the patent application document is just a concept, what products are actually put on the market? I do n’t know the details or when, ”he said, saying that the launch of products with new technology would be a long way off.