patent landscape. October 2022

Hello.

We continue to keep abreast of the latest patent research of the market giants. Many patentable

technologies are expected, some are partially known, but all without exception are curious. I read them with great interest, and I hope you will find them as such. Go.

Apple

Let's start traditionally with Apple.In October, the company filed 501 applications. The application WO2019125349A1 first caught my attention. It extends to the whole world and contains at the heart of the technology that is involved when using face unlock. Namely, depth sensors. Here they are used, only now not for the face.

The idea is that, at the expense of the knowndevices to get a new scenario for its use. Like the company, I have high hopes for this technology, because it seems that only Apple knows how to make ordinary things mainstream from ordinary things.

The ability to create 3D models of furniture and spaces is a dream come true for any 3D artist. Google had a similar initiative with their smartphone as part of the Tango project:

Image from CNET Japan website

But the project was closed. It was replaced by ARCore, but, as far as I understand, it did not gain much popularity.

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Apple received one patent in October for a “Device with light and voice control” (US11460622B1):

What kind of device, I'm not entirely clear, butthere will be LEDs inside it, which, through a curved transparent surface, will signal any event with a pleasant-looking color picture.

Patent US11462232B1 also seemed interesting to me.It claims a method that allows you to correct the directivity of the sound from its source. You can also adjust settings such as depth, volume, and so on.

A handy thing, I think.If only the directivity of the sound worked as well as that of microphones, focusing exclusively on you and distracting the rest to a minimum. Or you walk like this around the room, and the sound literally follows you. Move on and the music gets louder. Like with headphones, but without them.

The illustration above is from EP4068733A1.It describes how notifications are displayed on devices that are currently in use. I have seen such items in the settings a couple of times. It was necessary to choose whether to display a notification on the watch if a smartphone is being used at the same time. It seems logical, but if it happens by itself, and even without errors, it will definitely be better.

Another published application was for a camera block.

In it, the Cupertino team spoke in detail about the location and methods of securing. They even showed the shape of the trains. Apparently, the design is with us for a long time.

Google

Google said less, but also clearly did not sit idly by. 294 applications were published.

The illustration above is from WO2021145873A1 for "Word Recognition". The description assumes that the system will detect keywords in spoken phrases and perform programmed functions.

The idea described in US11461003B1 serves as a continuation of the concept of "understanding the user from a half-word".

In it, Google engineers describe the technology, withwhich the smartphone interface adapts to the user depending on the circumstances. As such, its location, running application, etc. are given. In addition, a version of the device is proposed that takes into account most scenarios of user interaction with the information field.

Application US20220321943A1 can also be attributed to interfaces. It describes the player with the ability to "drag" it off the screen.

I immediately have an association with Windows.When I drag a video player from the computer to the TV screen (connected to the computer), and then I forget to return it back. When the TV is turned off, the player starts “out there somewhere”, and the children are perplexed where their film has gone. It would be nice, it didn't work out here either. And then you drag it too far and you won’t pull it out later.

Here Google reminds that often devices still need wires to connect with each other, and offers its own version of the type-c connector.

Well, perhaps the most interesting application of the company:

The materials describe devices withthe ability to display information for placement, attention, on the skin. We're thinking about wearables and flexible smartphones here, and a revolution is just around the corner. The display is right on your hand!

Samsung

Koreans are traditionally pioneers.Published 1614 applications. And some have been filed so long ago that the patents now issued on them are somewhat discouraging. Here, for example, as a patent US11464119B2.

On the one hand, it's just an injection mold. The manufacturing method is described in detail, the design of the elements is thought out. But take a look at what is supposed to be produced:

If someone did not know, then this is the Galaxy S8.And don't be put off by the lack of a headphone jack in the illustration from the patent. They just didn't draw it. The description says that position 309 means a connector that can also be used to connect headphones. Smartphone, by the way, and today looks handsome. I couldn’t get used to the holes in the screens in a couple of years, but here it’s just a fairy tale:

Image from Samsung Galaxy S8|S8+ review

Patent US11463570B2 protects the design of the smartphone case. In particular, a frame configured to accommodate an antenna.

Depicts a smartphone with touch buttons incase. However, the application was still completed. Since sawing a metal circuit under plastic inserts for high-quality signal reception is still a relevant technology.

In patent US11463607B2, Samsung engineers describe the camera module. Here, a newer model is already used for demonstration. Galaxy S10+.

In real life, the smartphone looked like this:

Image from apple11 website

The filing date for the first two patents is 2019year. Examination does not always go quickly, hence the delay between filing and a positive decision. The priority of the latter is 2021. Here the image of an old smartphone may be due to the versatility of the solution and the reluctance to disclose current developments.

Next, Samsung suggests paying attention to virtual reality.

The technology described in the application US20220254312A1 involves improving the frequency characteristics of the picture shown to the user.

Many do not share the enthusiasm for virtual reality, but as someone who spends 4 hours every day on the road, I wait for it with my fingers crossed.

In application GB2572435A, the company is trying to protectthe ability to edit faces in photos. As smartphones become more capable, more image editing options are a logical direction to take.

Will complete the selection of applications of the Korean company"Method of online shopping". An even greater integration of payment instruments into network interfaces is being announced. The idea is to completely save the user from having to enter a card number or go to the basket. So that any spontaneous desire to purchase something is converted into a paid check as quickly as possible.

Huawei

The Chinese giant, despite the sanctions, has submitted more applications than the first three participants combined. 2600 applications appear in publications.

In the illustrations from the application EP4070721A1, a wearable device is presented to our attention:

I don’t know about the rest, but for me the design of watches andHuawei has always liked fitness bracelets. I do not understand the desire to copy a mechanical watch, when the convenience of a rectangular display, as it were, should not be questioned.

Huawei has an application for a more secure authentication method (US20220182825A1). It is illustrated with the following image:

As conceived by the authors, the patented method will make it possible to better weed out bogus requests.

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But for the development of the direction in accordance with the following application, I personally am very grateful.

This is an illustration from application EP4068507A1 for"Electronic device". In fact, the fingerprint scanner sensor is protected, isolated from the effects of other sensors, to increase its efficiency.

Multi-window mode is still not new.It was implemented a long time ago, but, to be honest, I used it only by accident. Even on 6-inch displays, there is not enough space for the full use of two applications. However, with the start of the development of foldable smartphones, the idea is becoming more and more relevant.

An illustration from EP4071591A1 showsthe possibilities of such functionality on the example of a monoblock smartphone. But we all remember that the claims do not prohibit the implementation of the same on flexible.

And as if continuing the line of development of smartphones withflexible displays, Huawei proposes to speculate on the camera interface of such a smartphone, which displays the image of the previous frame in frame capture mode.

It's no secret that China is enougha closed country with a high level of internal control. Blocked European social networks immediately come to mind here (fortunately there are local analogues). In addition, control over the people themselves is very common in China. I read somewhere that in some cities there was even a social rating system, the level of which showed whether its owner could use public transport. The following application fits in well here.

The illustration demonstrates the face recognition system. We have already seen similar schemes in the previous article. Neural networks were discussed there.

In application EP4067701A2, Huawei moves away from the usual image of an IT giant and introduces a manual transmission to our attention.

The claimed technical result sets out the ideaincreasing engine safety due to the lack of the possibility of teeth not getting into engagement directly when shifting gears. The gearbox is two-stage. And judging by the following picture, it is used in some kind of car.

Amazon

The company is an outsider in terms of the number of applications published in October (149 pieces). However, I found them very interesting.

Surely everyone watched the video from the Amazon warehouses, where robotic carts plied between the racks. It was like a picture of a feature film about the future.

Image from wsjournal.ru

However, the company's engineers did not close on this idea and offered another option:

Instead of many robots moving racks withgoods, it is proposed to use a moving floor. The idea reminded me of a scene from the movie "On the Hook" (animation below). Oh, and then I broke my head to understand how this mechanism works. By the way, I recommend the movie. A high-quality action movie to unload the brains, stuffed to the eyeballs with our favorite gadgets from fifteen years ago. Nostalgic, in short.

Also, I think everyone remembers the company's initiatives intransportation of parcels using drones. But the matter was not limited to some conceptual developments. Amazon began to seriously think through the details. As, for example, in the application WO2018151990A1.

Declared adjustment of the "behavior" of the robot inin the event of an emergency. Continuing to develop the idea, the engineers proposed to take into account not only emergency situations like engine failure, but also force majeure weather conditions. Moreover, a method was proposed for orienting the drone to pointer objects, according to which it had to evaluate the wind in real time and, in accordance with the data received, adjust the roll and speed of movement.

I reviewed the Amazon application materials with specialpleasure, because I always like to see a variety of ideas. In October, it was especially felt. In addition to drones and automated flooring, there was patent US11465059B2 for "Non-Player Character Communications". The illustration was like this:

The company is actively exploring new niches.And when you approach the machine with a wealth of experience and considerable financial resources, then success is very likely (remember at least Amazon Prime Video). The application describes the observer mode in an online game, when you can move around the virtual world without participating in game events.

And, perhaps, we will complete the October landscape with patent US11470130B1 for a "Method for tracking user reactions to content creators' materials."

I'm sure someone has already told you howhe (or she) communicated in the company, discussing (not on the phone) urgent needs, and the smartphone, on the next visit to the Internet, gave out product advertisements in accordance with the topic of discussion. So, Amazon decided that such a scheme would be suitable for tracking user reactions to videos, songs, news, etc. Basically, it's logical. For example, I rarely like. But I can laugh heartily. According to the logic of the authors, my laughter will be analyzed and regarded as an encouragement for showing similar videos and news in the future.

Questions of personal space are not affected. Of course, everything will be analyzed exclusively by the neural network, and after the analysis and the recommendation to leave (no).

This is how October turned out. What technical solutions seemed interesting to you? Where do you think technology is heading? Share in the comments.

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