Gallery: Which of These Apple Patents Will Ever See the Light of Day?
01IPHONE-LOCK
The iPhone of tomorrow will be shaped like an ovoid, and it will have a wraparound screen and 3-D gesture recognition so you never again mar its stunning display with your grimy fingerprints. It also will work seamlessly with smartpens, heads-up displays and smartwatches. Well, it will if Apple actually acts on every patent wending its way through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The patent office publishes oodles of Apple patent applications each week. It also grants a ton of them, allowing Apple to protect its IP against competitors. Whether it actually *uses* any of that IP in its products is another matter entirely. Some of the designs and technologies do end up in an Apple store, of course. But a whole heck of a lot disappears into the files, and into the ether. Here's a look at a handful of Apple patents that have made headlines recently, and a look at whether the tech they describe is something we should expect in the Apple products of our dreams. *Photo: Ariel Zambelich/Wired* [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/about/#faq13)
02Apple-wraparound
iDevice With Wraparound Display ------------------------------- This conceptual iPhone is hot off the USPTO presses. It features a flexible, wraparound display that could show 3-D content or display images and video in a continuous loop. This iPhone of the future would ditch button-based controls in favor of "virtual controls" — things like holding your finger over the volume button area in order to turn it up or down. You also could use multi-touch gestures along the side to control things like locking and unlocking. Such an iDevice could be crafted of aluminum, aluminum and glass, or be completely transparent (elementary-age Christina gets [kind of giddy](http://www.etsy.com/listing/92624855/clarissa-explains-it-all-90s-see-through) at the thought of this). __When would we ever see this?__ In an iPhone? Probably never. The design doesn't look particularly ergonomic. However, I could see this used in a future [iPod nano](http://www.apple.com/ipod-nano/), where the side-based controls could be very useful with its smaller size. Based on where we currently are technologically, when the patent was filed (2011), and when the last iPod nano refresh was, I'd estimate that if we ever saw this, it'd be around two years from now.
03apple-watch-patent1
A Wrist-Worn Mobile Device -------------------------- The most popular rumored Apple device of late is the fabled [smartwatch](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/02/apple-patent-wearable-tech/), which got a boost in credibility after a patent filing describing a unique wrist-worn device was published. Apple's version of the smartwatch, per the patent application, would be slap bracelet-like, with a display encompassing its full circumference. The display would be able to work when the device was laid flat, or in a curved state around your wrist. It would be able to communicate with other devices, like your iPhone or iPad, relaying information on your wrist. Presumably, it would also heavily incorporate Siri's talents -- but of course that isn't mentioned in the patent description. __When would we ever see this?__ It would be foolish of Apple not to get into the wearables space. [90 million wearable devices](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/02/why-apple-smartwatch/) are expected to ship by 2017. It's a huge emerging segment of the mobile device space. And a number of factors will make creating such a wearable device more reasonable to manufacturer in coming years: smaller and smaller chipsets, 3-D printed and flexible components, curved glass technology. However, there are still technical hurdles, particularly relating to durability, that will need to be overcome before Apple would let something like this hit the mainstream. With that in mind, an Apple iWatch would be two to three years off.
04apple-smartpen
Smart Pen --------- Apple was awarded an expanded version of a patent for a [smartpen](http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57576348-37/apple-patent-points-to-pen-pc-with-cellular-and-gps-features/), a pen that acts as a "portable computer," on Tuesday. It would feature a built-in display for sharing e-mails, voice data, and texts. It also would feature a cellular connection and/or GPS chip, as well as accelerometers for handwriting recognition and text-to-speech conversion. Naturally, it also would include a mic and speaker. __When would we ever see this?__ This patent was first filed way back in 1998, and was first granted in September, 2011. Considering Apple's been sitting on it this long, we can safely say Apple's left the smartpen biz to third party companies like [Livescribe](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/10/hands-on-sky-wifi-smartpen/).
05wireless-charging-patent
Wireless Charging ----------------- Apple is dabbling with wireless charging in a variety of ways. One is through a [near-field magnetic resonance (NFMR) power supply](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/11/apple-wireless-charging-patent/) that would juice devices within a certain radius. The power supply could be hidden within the base of an iMac or MacBook and charge everything from your iDevice to wireless mice and keyboards. Another wireless charging idea from Apple is a [wireless charging smartcover](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/03/apple-patent-charging-smart-cover/). The premise is pretty simple: The smart cover would include a battery or some other power source that would allow it to charge your iPad or iPhone inductively. __When would we ever see this?__ While current inductive charging solutions are a bit lacking (having a wired charging pad on your desk doesn't make the charging wireless, it just changes where and what wires provide the power), Apple's solutions are more elegant, and perhaps not too far off. Considering we just saw an [iMac refresh](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/10/imac-tech/), for the first solution, 2014 to 2015 would be the earliest I'd expect such an embedded wireless charging solution. And while the iPad smart cover patent sounds good, I have a feeling there are too many practical hurdles like battery safety and heat management for it to ever become a reality.
06apple-hud-patent
Head-Mounted Display -------------------- Google Glass, watch out, Apple's hot on your heels. Maybe. In August, Apple was granted a patent for a [head-mounted display system](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/07/apple-patent-hud-display/) that would project video or information before a user's eyes onto one or two small displays. This could be built into a helmet, pair of glasses, or even a super-stylish visor. The dual screen option would allow for stereoscopic 3-D images. And of course, the system could be used for augmented reality applications. Rather than the usual situations like pointing out landmarks or mapping out your front virtually in front of you, Apple described professional uses like overlaying MRI images on top of a patient's body when they're undergoing surgery. __When would we ever see this?__ Like we said before, Apple would be stupid not to get into the wearables space at some point in the future. [Google Glass](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/02/google-glass-ui-ifihadglass/), currently in the prototype phase, is set to debut some time in 2014. While it's possible Apple could reveal its own headworn iGadget around then, this seems too nerdy of a tech accessory for Apple to go after anytime soon. Apple's all about mainstream. Either a watch, or simply beefing up its current devices with new capabilities, seems more likely.
07apple-patent-3dgestures
3-D Gesture Controls -------------------- Sit back, relax and swipe your hands through the air to peruse the latest editions to your favorite [Flipboard magazine](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/03/flipboard-2-0-adds-creation/). Draw a question mark in the air to perform an internet search. These are two possible ways Apple could implement [3-D gestures](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/10/apple-patent-3-d-gestures/) to control an iOS device like an iPad. Apple could analyze your moves either using the front facing camera, as the above patent suggests, or with an [integrated projector](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/08/apple-patent-projector/), as a separate patent filing details. __When would we ever see this?__ 3-D gesture control systems [currently exist](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/01/3d-gesture-control-ces/), and a number of them, like the [Leap Motion](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/05/why-the-leap-is-the-best-gesture-control-system-weve-ever-tested/), actually work pretty darn well (Proof: Nasa is even [using the Leap](http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/27/4154900/nasa-athlete-leap-motion-GDC) for remotely controlling one of its rovers). So the tech is here, today, and Apple could implement it in a snap. But is it practical? With Apple's focus on tablets in education and the industry, 3-D gestures would make the iPad a greater utility for those whose hands may be dirty. Although it makes more sense in a living room scenario with the Apple TV, in my opinion, I think Apple could certainly bring some degree of 3-D gesture control to the iPad within the next two years.
08www.wired
An Integrated Projector ----------------------- Pico projectors can be useful for projecting presentations, photos, or videos on the fly onto walls or other flat surfaces. Apple patented a [mobile device with an embedded projector](https://twitter.com/ahemphill/status/315260340910845952) in 2011, but other pico projector-iPhone patent applications began surfacing as early as [2009](http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2009/06/future-iphones-will-gain-pico-projector-videoconferencing-advanced-content-sharing.html). With this feature, you'd be able to use advanced 3-D gestures to manipulate what's being projected. __When would we ever see this?__ In 2011, Apple purchased [Applepico.com](http://www.macrumors.com/2011/08/05/why-did-apple-register-applepico-com/), which sure made it seem like they might be getting into the pico projector area. Two iPhones later, and still no projector. My dilemma here: Is a pico projector more gimmicky, or more useful? I lean towards gimmick. If we don't see a projector embedded within the next two generations of iPhones, I don't think we'll ever see it.
09apple-biometrics
Biometric Applications ---------------------- Based on Apple patent filings, the company has been dabbling in biometrics for years. A patent granted in 2010 showed how biometrics could be used for [personalizing user accounts](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/09/apple-patent-biometrics/) rather than security. A [more recent filing](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/10/apple-patent-biometric/) described exactly how a biometric sensor could be hidden on an area of a mobile device. __When would we ever see this?__ Considering Apple's [acquisition of biometric identification company Authentec](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/rawfile/elsewhere/apples-authentec-takeover-suggests-fingerprint-security-for-iphone-5-20120910/) in 2011, it would seem Apple is definitely invested in implementing biometric technology in one way or another in future mobile products. In fact, I'd expect this tech to get utilized as early as iOS 7 and the next iPhone.
