patent landscape. February 2023. Apple, Google, Samsung patents

Hi all.

Time flies and another month has passed in the fight for innovation. Companies spent it calmer than

could be expected. There were not so many applications, but they did not become less interesting because of this. Let's see what the February selection will surprise us with. Go.

Apple
Google
Samsung
Huawei

Apple

A total of 44 applications and patents have been published. First, I propose to consider application CN115690306A filed in China. The company offers to combine viewing of three-dimensional objects with two-dimensional ones.

At first glance, it looks rather ridiculous.The explanation talks about some scenarios for quickly previewing objects in the real world, but I see the most likely use of this technology as overlays on existing objects. Like masks in a video chat or advertising posters on the wall.

Another application has already been filed in the US(US20230029775A1). We saw something similar at Apple in previous collections. It talks about the features of interaction with objects in the augmented reality (XR) environment. In the application, the company's engineers are trying to take into account such a phenomenon as sound directionality.

That is, if the sound source is set toso that the sound stream is directed directly at you, then the volume will be maximum. If it is turned away or something blocks it, then you will hear it less clearly. Admittedly, thinking through such trifles is simply bound to have a positive impact on the final product, whenever Apple releases it.

However, before widespreadthere is still time for augmented reality. And at this very time, the Internet will go out the old fashioned way. From smartphones and tablets. Quite old-timers will sit with macbooks.

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Do you know what needs to be done to make a macbook becomemost similar to a smartphone? Make him a touch screen. But, as company representatives once explained, this will not happen. So, you can just make a glass keyboard to look like a touch screen as much as possible:

In fact, the idea is to leavefamiliar keyboard, just place it under a flexible glass. It seems like this will contribute to the safety of both the keyboard and the laptop itself, because dust is an insidious thing and will crawl into any technological slot of the case (and there is also tea, crumbs, yogurts).

To be honest, after looking at the following illustration, I thought that the company was offering something innovative. For example, emulation of the bulge of the keys due to compressed air:

When there is a need to usekeyboard, air fills the cells, to the upper ends of which glass is attached with letters and special symbols printed on it. But alas. Inside, standard buttons with mechanisms such as "scissors" or "butterfly" are assumed. The ideal emulation of buttons on the touch screen, by the way, was offered by Nokia:

Next, we have an application for setting up notifications (US20230035905A1).

It describes the ability to change the priorityissuing notifications. Moreover, the setting involves not only manually setting the order and significance. The description also spoke of the time of day. I think that this function could be extended to match with geolocation data. To not be disturbed while driving or during out-of-town trips.

But the application US20230035643A1, in my opinion,unambiguously draws on innovation. And I'm not kidding. It's called Voice Trigger for Digital Assistant. On the one hand, what could be new here? “Hey Siri”, “OK Google” - who can be surprised by this? On the other hand, it was all the more interesting for me to learn that, it turns out, there is an opportunity to reduce energy consumption while waiting for the system to pronounce these phrases.

The thing is that while the system is constantlylistening to everything around (hello paranoid), trying to recognize the cherished words, she pretty much consumes the battery. And in order to maintain the image of the most optimized system, something urgently needs to be done about it. It turned out that much less precious charge is wasted when trying to catch sounds like clapping hands, whistling, snapping fingers, etc.

Everyone is accustomed to blaming Apple for what they alreadyhave not offered anything new for a long time, exclusively copying the decisions of the Android system. But maybe this is the innovative approach? Why be the first when you can be the best? And in this case, “best” is not about performance tests. This is just about such trifles, from which the perception of the product will be formed.

Google

Applications and patents, where the patent holderis Google, 50 were registered. Most of them concerned program heights of such a level that the thinness of the air there prevented me from soberly assessing their value. I chose simpler ideas.

The illustration above is from US11521909B2.It is called "Passive Thermal Management System for Electronic Loudspeaker and Associated Electronic Loudspeaker Devices". This is again from the category of those very little things that should not be overlooked. Everyone is used to looking at the power of the processor and the speed of the RAM, and then, when the device overheats and the performance drops, the realization comes that you won’t be full of nanometers. Well, at least in the Google column now you can be sure. There will be no throttling.

The company's next patent is for "Adaptive Artificial Neural Network Selection Method". It was naive to believe that the selection would do without AI, but this, oddly enough, is not the case.

The illustration above shows us a diagram,explaining that, depending on the needs of the user and external conditions (we are talking about the speed of the Internet), an electronic device for, for example, image processing, can turn to different algorithms in order to obtain more optimal results. That is good quality in a reasonable time.

On the next application, the company assigns largehope. It has been published in several countries at once (WO2023009101A1) and is called Machine Learning Prediction Generation Using Multiple Domain Datasets.

Its essence boils down to a description of a machine learning model that allows, based on a set of training data distributions, to make changes to the original data.

The demo is used as an exampleimage enhancements with varying degrees of sharpness. In particular, using the described method, depth is added to the problem area based on monoscopic/monocular images:

Samsung

Koreans traditionally do better with patents. 205 applications and patents have been registered.

In application US20230030613A1, we are invited to consider a screen that responds to pressure:

Revelation failed.Similar technologies have been implemented for a long time. Apple has this technology for sure. I remembered it from Meizu Pro 6+. True, in the form that it was implemented there, I did not appreciate it and turned it off almost immediately. However, the pressure sensor, according to the diagram from Samsung's February filing, was definitely:

I once had an idea to implement a sensorpressure in the area of the screen where the Android operating system control buttons are located (running programs, "Home", "Back"). The buttons themselves could be drawn transparent and unresponsive to touch. But let them react to strong pressure. It would be an analogue of mechanical buttons. The technical result of such a solution would be the absence of interface jerks in some programs when a pop-up panel appears, as well as the elimination of the need to make an extra swipe across the screen. Do you think the idea would catch on?

Next, consider application US20230030320A1. In it, Samsung engineers defend the interface control features in foldable smartphones such as Fold.

The device is already quite familiar and recognizable.I think the opinion about premium and status is quite appropriate here. The smartphone looks expensive (however, as it costs). Its management, in principle, did not imply any complex contradictions. It's no more difficult than changing the interface when you rotate the screen of a regular monoblock smartphone from portrait to landscape orientation. However, we still decided to show traditional screen clicks and swipes.

One subtlety caught my attention in these illustrations. Do you notice?

In each image where the smartphone is opened up tomaximum diagonal, our attention is diligently focused on slight asymmetry. The interface is off-center. More precisely, regarding the hinge. And even more precisely - regarding the fold. Yes, I probably got it in order with it and have already heard many times that only fools pay attention to the fold. But judging by the illustrations from this application, the engineers of the manufacturer are still shy about this feature of folding screens and try not to place the interface design lines in the place where they could once again pay attention to it.

Let's go further.

These are traditional TWS earphones according toapplication US20230034018A1. The main distinguishing feature is that they are designed to be as energy efficient as possible. What does it mean? Only that it was decided to abandon any buttons. On the one hand, everything is logical. On the other hand, I will give an example from life. I am using TWS AC Robin Mist. By the way, we have an excellent review, thanks to which I bought them:

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The purchase happened after 1MORE let downColorbuds 2. They had a button, pressing which gives you many options. Synchronization, reset, shutdown, etc. AC Robin does not have such a button. Type you get out of the case, and they are automatically active for connection. I connected them to my smartphone and somehow caught an unusual situation. The cover sat down. The headphones, at the moment when the current stopped getting to their contacts, decided that they had been taken out of the case, and made an attempt to connect to the smartphone, which was in airplane mode. After several minutes of fruitless attempts, they turned off. In the morning before going to work, I took them out of the case and, not paying attention to the absence of the usual "Power on ... Connected" in a melodious female voice, jumped out into the street. As you may have guessed, I was driving, delving into all the vicissitudes of life of everyone I met. They turned on after connecting the case to the outlet and placing them in this same case. At the same time, they were loaded. Otherwise, the headphones are great. Super passive noise isolation, a capacious battery, withstand my radioactive sweat, do not fall out of my ears and, subjectively, sound cool.

The next application is also about headphones. And it also claims to be innovative.

The illustration shows us the positionearpiece during use. And depending on this position, engineers suggest adjusting the volume of the sound. The idea is great. The sensor will evaluate the pressure between the eardrum and the sound source and give the desired volume. In theory, this should eliminate the situation in which people press the earpiece deeper and deeper, hoping that it will become louder.

The next picture will cause nostalgia and, most likely, will remind once again who is to blame for the popularity of waterfall screens.

Although the sound channel in the smartphone case is patented here. Despite the already outdated model, the device seems to be relevant today:

Usually Samsung does not abuse design delights, but here they have developed a whole invention, designed to revive the visual perception of the brand:

In the description, the applicants explain thatDue to the growing demand to meet the taste preferences of mobile device users, various methods for improving the color, texture and shape of mobile electronic terminals are gaining popularity. In the application, they propose to use the effect of light interference (holograms), which can be implemented on the surface of an electronic device to increase the aesthetic appeal. In particular, this effect may include the formation of micropatterns on the surface of a synthetic resin or UV-cured film. In the common people, this is called "playing in the light."

And finally - another patent about the hinge. In this case, a metal plate is patented at the bend:

Its main feature is a figured laser cut, which gives it flexibility.

Usually thin plywood is cut in this way to give it flexibility. I saw in children's designers:

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The Chinese this time worked hard and surpassed all the listed companies combined. Their result is 367 applications and patents.

The illustration above shows a battery device assembled from smaller cells. Its main distinguishing feature is the possibility of rapid cooling of its constituent elements:

Apparently, I will understand the batteries only then,when they bring them to patent. I don’t get it, in Russia it’s good for them that we have such frosts, or not? If in this application they are cooled, then the free cold of Oymyakon is a blessing or not?

And here is another development in batteries. Only this time smartphones:

The application describes a battery and a terminal device for increasing fast charging capability and reducing heat dissipation pressure in a charge/discharge line.

It is claimed that the configuration in the form of such a “roll” keeps the battery of the device longer.

The next application, apparently, owes its appearance to the decision of Apple, implemented in its flagship smartphones. In particular, the possibility of using satellite communications:

The key feature of the technical solution is that it is proposed to use the shortest route for transmitting data packets:

In the section about Apple applications, I noted that it is worth striving to become not the first, but the best. Meet the first:

This is Tecno Phantom X2 Pro. I liked the smartphone.Bright, unusual design of the camera unit, almost symmetrical screen frames. A fly in the ointment, I would call a cutout for the camera and a “waterfall”. The rest is an interesting option. The main "trick" here, without a doubt, is a retractable portrait lens. Read the review, we got:

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And here is what Huawei offers:

You won’t understand right away, but in the illustration above tooretractable lens shown. Frankly, by the name of the application, I first thought that we would talk about a retractable front camera (which is even better). But no.

Apparently, Huawei decided to give a chance to all lenses at once:

The concept of the following device I used when I invented a flexible smartphone without a wrinkle on the screen (once again):

How to remove the wrinkle on the screen of a flexible smartphone

We continue to rid flexible smartphones of the crease on the screen.

At Huawei, they used it in their Watch D watches. Roman talked about them. In the next application, the key element is improved:

Yes. Chinese engineers decided to improve the inflatable cuff for even greater user comfort. The main description is devoted to the cross section of the inflated part, but the watch is still mentioned:

And finally, the most fun application. It spreads the action to the whole world, and one of the illustrations looks like this:

You'll never guess what it's about.I've seen a lot of all sorts of crazy ideas, but it turns out that some of them are quite workable. For example, do you remember spy films where they showed a laser device, pointing which at a flexible surface, it was possible to determine the vibrations of this very surface, which occur as a result of a reaction to human speech? The computer compared this information and reconstructed the conversation from it. Experts quickly explained to me that in order for, for example, water to begin to oscillate from human speech, it is necessary to speak at a volume comparable to the engine of a muscle car.

In this case, experts will also be required:

Notice the unusual character on the right?Remember it. Now think about how many times you have heard that the speed of your home Wi-Fi depends not so much on the range, but on the thickness of the walls and the distance from the signal source. Looks like it's time to add another factor: sneezing.

I'm absolutely serious.The text of the application, which is being distributed to the whole world, explicitly says (fasten your seat belts) that it is possible to determine a sneezing person by the inconsistency of the router signal:

Of course, there are a number of conditions. There must be several devices so that distortions can be fixed.

I confess that the smallest drops can bring downsignal, was a discovery for me. Theoretically, such a possibility cannot be brushed aside, of course, but the fact that devices can fix this ... Here one involuntarily recalls the saying “the wind blew away the Internet”. Maybe it's not so stupid?

Bold ideas, great inventions and successful products. Good luck!

As I said at the beginning of the text, time flies. Don't put off anything for tomorrow. A new soccer ball is not worth keeping until better times.