Tag: patent

Samsung Is Working On An Ingenious Foldable Phone Claims Patent

Late last month, the Korean Electronics giant, Samsung launched its first foldable smartphone called the Galaxy Fold. The device has an unconventional design with a large foldable inner display and a primary cover display. Soon after the launch of the Galaxy Fold, Huawei launched its first foldable smartphone that carries the Mate X moniker. The key difference between the two newly launched devices is the type of foldable display. The Samsung Galaxy Fold has an inner folding display while the Mate X has an outward folding display which the company refers as a falcon wing design. A freshly granted patent to Samsung proposes that the company is working on another foldable phone with an ingenious design. The patent also raises the question of whether the device is a successor to the Galaxy Fold or an entirely different smartphone.

Patent Disclosures

Samsung filed the patent for the aforementioned foldable smartphone with WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) on the 21st September 2018 which it was granted on the 4th of January 2019. The front of the device houses a large screen foldable display which is stabilised via a complex spring-loaded mechanism. The left and right halves of the foldable device are consolidated with the help of a flexible material which conceals the previously mentioned mechanism.

The spring that drives the mechanism stays in a rested position when the device is in its folded state. However, to maintain a flat unfolded state the user must turn a small latch at the rear of the device which tenses the spring to present a smooth and wrinkle-free display. As the display of the device from the patent stays exposed it is highly susceptible to scratches and scuffs. Therefore, the company is also expected to develop a protective case for the device. Surprisingly, the patent does not exhibit any camera sensor on the front or the rear of the device. Any details about the specifications of the foldable smartphone are currently unavailable. We will have to wait for the company to spread some light on the foldable smartphone from the freshly granted patent.

Is It The Galaxy Fold 2?

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The answer to this question is not certain, however, presumably the freshly patented device will co-exist alongside the Galaxy Fold. The market for foldable phones has just started to bloom and Samsung being a leader would want to take full advantage of the market that is soon expected to explode. Accordingly, the company is likely to launch several foldable phones with disparate sizes and forms to examine the choices of the consumers.

March 11, 2019
New Motorola Patents Suggest Thinner Bezels On Future Devices

Motorola launched the G7 series last month with an all-new design. The smartphones were first from the company to sport a waterdrop notch. In a fresh patent listing, the parent company of Motorola, Lenovo has filed for new designs that might make its way into future devices from the company.

Motorola Patent Listing

The patents were registered on the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) website on the 5th of March. These show the all-new designs Motorola is working on. All the designs show a waterdrop notch like the one last seen on the Moto G7 and Moto G7 Plus. But unlike G7 devices, some of the images show a smartphone with minimal or no chin. There is also a new, more trimmed notch size which will increase the screen to body ratio substantially. The camera placement on the devices seems to be the same as the current generation, two cameras placed horizontally with an LED Flash underneath. The fingerprint sensor seems to be located in the rear mounted Motorola Batwing logo.

More images from the Motorola patent show different camera placements in the smartphones. There is a vertically aligned camera sensor which is reminiscent of the Moto One Power launched last year. The second image shows a horizontal dual camera placement, but unlike the G7 it is placed on the top left corner at the back of the device. The third variation shows a single camera sensor and what possibly could be a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor underneath it. This may be used to capture 3D and depth information. Below it there is a standard LED Flash followed by a fingerprint sensor.

Also read: Best Wired Earphones In India Under Rs 1,000

The designs discovered in the latest Motorola patent may make its way into the next generation of smartphones by the company. It is expected to announce the next generation of its flagship Moto Z device in a few months, which may end up exhibiting a few of the design characteristics.

March 9, 2019
ZTE Is Working On A Foldable Phone With A Clamshell Design

ZTE is a Shenzhen based company that manufactures smartphones and telecommunication equipment. In the year 2017, the company launched an innovative smartphone, the Axon M that had dual displays which folded into a compact form factor. Although it cannot be truly termed as a foldable smartphone due to two separate displays, it definitely had a contribution in laying the foundation of modern foldable smartphones. Some of the modern-day foldable smartphones include the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X. A freshly granted patent to ZTE indicates that the company is developing a distinctive smartphone with a foldable display.

ZTE Foldable Smartphone Design

ZTE filed a patent for a clamshell-style foldable smartphone with WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office) in the month of April last year which it was granted on 5th March 2019. The patent exhibits that the foldable smartphone being developed by ZTE is completely different from Samsung and Huawei’s offerings. In fact, it has a similar form factor to the unreleased foldable Moto RAZR.

As previously mentioned, the foldable ZTE phone has a clamshell style design which folds vertically. Distinguishingly, the display has an asymmetric fold with the top part being slightly shorter than the bottom. When the device is in its folded state, a small portion of the larger screen remains visible which might be used to display important notifications like phone call alerts.

The rear of the foldable ZTE smartphone is as unconventional as its front. The bottom half of the rear accommodates dual cameras along with an LED flash. Inversely, the top half is free from any components except for two unexplained circular cutouts. The right side of the device is occupied by volume rockers and power button while the bottom is occupied by a connector port which is flanked by grilles on either side.

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The foldable ZTE smartphone surely seems promising, however, it is hard to predict the launch date of such a device. Though we expect more information to be available when the company openly talks about it.

March 7, 2019
Samsung Patents A Wireless Television

Samsung is a leader in several fronts of technology including smartphones and televisions. Earlier this year the company had launched the world’s first smartphone with an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor in the form of Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10+. Another interesting product that the company is expected to launch is wireless Television. A freshly granted patent demonstrates how the aforementioned Television operates and functions.

Patent Revelations

Samsung filed a patent with WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office) for a wireless power transceiver and display equipment in the month of March last year. The patent was granted to the company on the 28th of February 2019, which details how Samsung envisions to power the TV wirelessly. Traditionally, wireless power transfer can be achieved with the help of using a wide coil. But, it is not feasible to accommodate the apparatus in thin televisions of the modern day.

The patent granted to Samsung exhibits a slim bar-shaped wireless power transceiver which is mounted horizontally behind the TV unit. A transceiver is a device that can both transmit and receive connections. The power transceiver is provided with dual coils which are wound in opposite directions. The patent also details a power supply unit which is placed below the TV but does not physically touches the display unit. Except for this information, other details like the size of the display, type of the display are currently unavailable. According to reports, the TV with this technology will take a few more months to turn into consumer-ready products. Accordingly, the company can showcase such a TV at the upcoming IFA 2019 event or CES 2020.

Also Read: Samsung Is Readying Two More Foldable Phones

March 6, 2019
Huawei Is Also Readying A Smartphone With Sliding Display

To accommodate large screen displays on smartphones, OEMs have begun to minimise the bezels surrounding it. However, choosing this type of design leads to the predicament of where to place the front facing selfie camera. Smartphone manufacturers have tried several means to get around this issue. Some of which include a pop up selfie camera like on the newly launched Vivo V15 Pro or the sliding screen on the Mi Mix 3. Huawei, a leader in smartphone technology also seems to be developing a similar device with an edge-to-edge display that excludes a notch. A freshly granted patent to the company demonstrates a smartphone with sliding screen that conceals the front facing cameras.

Huawei Patent Disclosures

The patent granted to Huawei exhibits a modern looking smartphone with thin bezels around the display. The key highlighting feature of the handset clearly is its sliding display which conceals a couple of front facing selfie cameras. The device has minimal bezels on all sides except for the bottom chin which is comparatively thicker. The earpiece to receive phone calls is built into the top bezel above the display of the device. The power button and volume rockers are placed on the right side of the handset while the SIM card slot is on the left.

The rear of the handset has a well-recognised design with vertically aligned dual cameras and an LED flash. The device has a bottom mounted USB Type C port which is flanked by two grilles on either side. Unfortunately, any specifications of the smartphone are currently unavailable but are soon expected to follow.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy M30 Review

The launch date of a Huawei smartphone with this design cannot be correctly predicted. However, the patents strongly suggest that such a device is under development.

March 4, 2019
Apple Working On A Foldable Smartphone With A Magnetic Mechanism

Last month saw a bunch of smartphone manufacturers showcasing their take on a foldable smartphone. Samsung announced the Galaxy Fold and Huawei showed off its Mate X. There is another major OEM which is reportedly working on a foldable device. Fresh patents filed by Apple reveal what the company has planned as a folding mechanism on its long rumoured foldable smartphone. The company may be planning to put magnets under both sides of the display to make the device fold completely flat.

Apple Foldable Smartphone

The patent filed by Apple suggests different folding designs that the company may be planning on using. The image in the patent exhibits the use of magnets under the display. These magnets may be used to make the foldable smartphone fold completely flat, which is a problem other OEMs seem to struggle to figure out. The magnets that may be used are expected to be electromagnetic in nature and spring into action when the device is folded, to keep both sides of the display latched together. As soon as the device is unfolded, the electromagnets will lose their charge, making it effortless to open the device.

According to reports, Apple is trying to develop a specialized display coating and new foldable sensors to make the folding mechanism work. Intriguingly, the patent suggests that the display panel makes use of some sort of heating technology to improve the operability of the panel. The heating method that is suggested is required every time the display is folded or unfolded, as a cold display is more susceptible to breaking or cracking when folded and unfolded repeatedly. The images also show a unique, circular hinge which consolidates both sides of the display. Unfortunately, other details about the Apple foldable device isn’t known yet.

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This technology employed by Apple is expected to be groundbreaking as the company is known to wait out on current trends until they are perfected. The foldable device from Apple may be a smartphone or a computing device, like an iPad which will turn into a compact device when folded. As per the reports, the company may release the device next year.

You can check out the patents filed by Apple here.

March 1, 2019
Apple Is Working On A Foldable Phone Claims Patent

Samsung will announce the first foldable smartphone of 2019 at the Galaxy Unpacked event on February 20. Several reports and leaks have revealed that many other major OEMs are also working on smartphones with a foldable display. Notably, Apple also may be looking to join the foldable smartphone bandwagon. A patent listing on the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website by Apple hints that the company is working on a foldable smartphone.

Apple Foldable Smartphone

While this patent for a foldable smartphone was filed by Apple on October 12 last year, the patent was granted to it on February 14. Interestingly, the patent by Apple for a foldable device goes back to July 2011, when it filed the first patent. The images posted by Apple in the patent show various concepts of how the smartphone could fold, with a different design shown in each image. Most of the designs show a smartphone fold into half. The Apple foldable smartphone is expected to make use of a flexible OLED display to provide it with the foldable functionality. Most of the devices in the freshly granted patent have a bottom mounted connector which is likely to be the lightning port.

While most of the patents show a device with a display folding outwards, some of them employ an inner folding display. According to some of these images, Apple may also be considering a device with an asymmetrical fold. The images do not disclose the position of the camera sensor. Hence, it cannot be confirmed whether the device will have one or not.

Also read: Xiaomi To Launch A Wireless Charger Power Bank Alongside The Mi 9

Past reports claimed that Apple is unlikely to launch a foldable smartphone in the year 2019. Going by its track record, it will wait until the technology is perfected for mass implementation. As of now, it is unclear whether the technology from these patents makes its way into future iPhones or not. Perhaps the iPad or MacBook will make use of this technology.

You can view the patent filed by Apple here.

February 18, 2019
Google Is Working On A Modular Smartphone Again

Google suspended the overly ambitious Project ARA in 2016, putting the dream of getting a fully modular smartphone to rest. Since then, we have seen smartphone makers try and recreate modularity and to an extent, they have succeeded too. Motorola launched the Moto Mods in 2016 as a way to attach accessories to improve the functionality of the smartphone. Now fresh patents filed by Google show that they are also working on a similar project to make a smartphone fully modular.

The patent was filed at the World Intellectual Property Organization or WIPO and was published on January 31, 2019. The patent is titled “MODULAR DEVICE AND METHODS THEREFOR”. This could mean that the next Google device may arrive with the option for modularity.

Google And Project ARA

When Google acquired Motorola, it used its patents to develop a modular smartphone concept. This eventually gave birth to Project ARA in 2014. It focussed on arranging the essential components of smartphones in modules or blocks. The idea was to replace the modules for better ones whenever an update was required. The project was short lived and was finally shelved in 2016. When Google finally sold Motorola to Lenovo, it kept most of the patents with themselves. Motorola, under Lenovo, launched Moto Mods in 2016 which was another idea on making smartphones modular.

It is completely possible that the concepts we are seeing in the patents once belonged to Motorola. Now that Google is has filed a patent for a modular technology in a smartphone, it might mean that a device in the near future may include this concept. A patent doesn’t necessarily translate into a finished product or a promise of there ever being one. It would just mean that Google is toying with the idea and it may make it to a consumer product in the future.

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But an idea like this is still exciting to look at. Maybe Google will eventually release a foldable smartphone or maybe it will get shelved again like its predecessor. But the fact that a shelved project is being experimented with again, makes it exciting and worth looking forward to.

You can view the patent listing by Google here.

February 13, 2019
Apple Working On A Secret 5G Chip, Claims Patent

The MWC 2019 will kick off soon in Barcelona in a few days. It is expected that a lot of new and unique technologies will make an appearance. The technology that most people are excited about, is the introduction of 5G. It is expected to enable faster mobile data and improved connections over mobile. Most smartphone manufacturers also have promised a device that will support 5G. One company that hasn’t is Apple. It is expected that Apple is not attending the MWC 2019 nor will it launch a 5G device in 2019. But rumors have started to rise up again as a 5G technology patent by Apple has been leaked.

Apple has been silent about its stance on 5G and iPhones that will eventually support it. Apple has been known to patiently wait until a technology achieves near perfection to implement it. But this patent leak proves that Apple is working on some 5G technology secretly and has named it ‘Apple Bald Eagle 5G’. The patent was filed earlier this month at the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property or BOIP.

iPhones With 5G in 2019?

Apple was earlier reported to skip the 5G hype bandwagon and wait until 2020 to implement it. It was attested to the fact that it would use Intel’s 5G modem in the 5G compatible iPhone. However, as Intel will not be able to supply the large number of Chips required by Apple, The implementation was expected to be pushed to 2020. This patent leak suggests that Apple has been trying to make one on their own. This would also mean that Apple may be able to launch a 5G compatible iPhone in September 2019.

The description offered with the patent said ‘Mobile telecommunication network services’. Apple has used the logo of the American Flag and its national symbol, the Bald Eagle combined with Apple Logo. This may be due to the fact that Apple is an American company and may name its modem after the national symbol.

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Apple doesn’t implement a piece of technology until it has been perfected for use to the general audience. So even if Apple decides to wait out till 2020 for 5G, it may be for the best.

February 11, 2019
Xiaomi Working On A Smartphone With A Quad-Edge Display

Xiaomi has been very successful lately. Its philosophy of giving great specs at an affordable price has resonated with the audience. But it is not really known to innovate, but rather is seen as a follower in technologies. But lately, Xiaomi is trying to catch up with some unique ideas of its own. Be it the Mi MIX 3’s manual slider and also the 48MP camera in the budget Redmi Note 7, Xiaomi is trying to differentiate itself. Patents filed by Xiaomi for a smartphone with a Quad-Edge display have been found.

The patent was filed on February 5, at the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO). The patent shows a full screen smartphone with a dual camera on the back. The idea of edge screens was started by Samsung with its Note Edge. Today, the Galaxy S and the Note series is available with a Dual edge display.

This patent shows a Quad-edge display, meaning display curved on all sides. This could mean that Xiaomi is working on a smartphone with this feature and also has figured out the technology.

Xiaomi Smartphone With A Quad-Edge Display

The patent images filed by Xiaomi show an all screen smartphone, without any buttons and just a Type-C port. There is no headphone jack, speaker or even an earpiece in sight. The smartphone could also be using the technology used in Meizu Zero or the Vivo Apex 2. The phone shows a dual camera at the back and no camera or fingerprint sensor in sight at the front. The fingerprint sensor can be embedded in the display. About the selfie camera, maybe Xiaomi has figured out how to put one inside the screen.

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This patent looks great and if Xiaomi releases a smartphone like this one before anyone else, they would blow everyone’s mind. Xiaomi just needs to keep the price tag right.

February 8, 2019
Elon Musk Releases All of Tesla’s Patents To Save Earth

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX is known for being a genius, motor mouth billionaire. Under his leadership, Tesla has transitioned from being just another wannabe electric brand to the best selling one. His social media presence is mostly controversial. However, there is no denying that he has done a lot for the planet.

We now have one more reason to praise him. On Thursday, Elon announced that all of Tesla’s patent will be made public in a bid to save the planet.

All our patent are belong to youhttps://t.co/HPK5R5UMS6 pic.twitter.com/t99riofeCI
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 31, 2019

In a blog post shared by him on Twitter, Musk says “Tesla Motors was created to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport. If we clear a path to the creation of compelling electric vehicles, but then lay intellectual property landmines behind us to inhibit others, we are acting in a manner contrary to that goal. Tesla will not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology.”

Tesla Going Strong

This comes after a report in CNBC stated that Tesla has around 83 percent market share of electric cars in the US. The sales of the company also have increased over 50 percent since last year. With this step, Musk feels that more companies will make use of electric powered vehicles and would contribute to save the planet.

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Musk said in his blog post that he earlier filed patents to prevent big car companies from copying the technology. And also using the huge marketing and sales apparatus to take over the market. “We couldn’t have been more wrong. The unfortunate reality is the opposite,” he said, noting that electric or clean-fuel cars “at the major manufacturers are small to non-existent.”

The shares of Tesla declined following mixed reactions to the news.

February 1, 2019
Samsung Is Developing Smart Running Shoes With Fitness Tracking Capabilities

Samsung is a massive company that develops and manufactures a wide variety of products. It was one of the first companies to integrate smart health tracking sensors on modern smartphones. A leak reveals that Samsung is working on two different models of smart Running shoes.

Samsung Smart Shoe Patents

Earlier this year, Samsung applied for two design patents for smart running shoes to KIPO (Korean Intellectual Property Office) which have now been granted. Both models of the smart shoes seem to be made out of leather and synthetic materials. The Model A smart shoe has a sleek design with an elastic style ankle area. The shoes have a pull tab at the back that can be used to toggle the smart sensor. The Model B shoe has more of conventional sports shoe design with a back-mounted smart sensor. Unlike the Model A shoe, the smart sensor on the Model B has a plastic flap which when opened reveals two metal connectors. Perhaps these metal connectors will be used to charge the battery that powers the sensor. ( See top image)

Alas, the patent does not provide information about the functionality and features of the smart shoes. However, according to the source, these shoes will also have pressure sensors that will give users real-time feedback. In addition, Samsung can develop an ecosystem built around fitness which with the help of Artificial Intelligence can coach the user as per their custom goals.

Launch Date

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Even though Samsung has not yet commented about the launch date of the Smart running shoes, the company is expected to showcase them at the upcoming CES 2019 which is scheduled for 8-12 January.

January 1, 2019
LG Is Developing A Smartphone With Rollable Display According To A Patent

Smartphones with touchscreen displays were first launched in the late last decade. Brands across the globe have launched innumerable smartphones with this rectangular form factor. Although the size, thickness, weight of these devices vary from company to company; the overall design has not seen any radical changes. However, it is expected to change soon as manufacturers are developing smartphones with all new form factors. One notable form factor is smartphones with foldable displays that are about to launch soon. An LG patent reveals yet another type of smartphone form factor. According to WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office), LG has been granted a patent for a smartphone that has a rollable display.

Possibilities and Advantages Of A Rollable Display

LG’s patent provides a small pointer about the form factor of the future smartphones. It can open a whole new world of possibilities for a portable device. The concept smartphone from LG when in its rolled state will be small enough to easily fit inside a pocket which can be easily rolled out to reveal the main display. Although the LG device is quite small, due to its rollable form factor it can offer a similar experience to that of a large screen tablet. This type of device from LG will further blur the lines between a smartphone and a tablet as it will be capable to serve the purpose of both.

LG Patent Revelations

The patent for the LG smartphone with a rollable display was spotted by a Dutch website, Letsgodigital. The patent is detailed enough to reveal the functioning of the conceptual smartphone. LG has previously demonstrated a 77-inch transparent flexible OLED display which indicates that the company surely has the know-how of this technology. The patent reveals an intriguing device with two halves that are conjoined with a rollable display panel.

The left half of smartphone from the patent has a tall and narrow display which shows date, time and battery details. On the other hand, the right half seems to have a small circular button in the middle which might function as the home button. According to the patent, the rollable display can be stretched to multiple lengths. Each length showing a separate set of controls and icons. The left rear view of the device is completely free from any controls or buttons while the right half houses the volume controllers and another small circular button.

Expected Launch Date

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The patents are just an indistinct description of how LG conceptualises a smartphone with a rollable display. Therefore, it is hard to guess when such devices can make their way to the real world. However, LG can surprise the world by showcasing such a device at upcoming tech events like MWC, Design Thinking and Innovation Week.

December 29, 2018
Samsung Granted Patent For 3D Hologram Display

Earlier this year, Samsung had filed a patent for a Hologram reproducing display which has now been granted. The patents were submitted to WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office) and USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office). The patent was published on 29th November and it explains how a 3D image can be projected on the screen.

How Does It Work?

The display has a relay lens which contains a series of microlenses. The relay lens has a spatial light modulator (SLM) with a filter which ensures the hologram pattern is correctly reproduced. By using the intervention of light, a high-quality holographic image can be projected. The patent is well comprehended and it explains in detail how various lenses are used to project the image.

Will We See It?

It is hard to predict when a Samsung smartphone with this display technology will be officially released. Although the patent shows concrete evidence that Samsung can make the technology work, packing this technology into a fully functional smartphone will take some time.

3D Displays From Other Companies

A lot of companies in the past have experimented with 3D Hologram displays but nobody has been successful to make it mainstream. Earlier this year, Red showcased their Hydrogen One smartphone which can produce a 3D image without having to use a pair of 3D glasses. The 3D images are just displayed on the screen and not projected in the air.

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Additionally, Microsoft had showcased a pair of mixed reality glasses which is called HoloLens. The HoloLens is a fully untethered VR headset with which the users can experience 3D holographic images. The level of immersion enables new forms of computing in which the user’s desktop could be the living room.

December 17, 2018
Apple Patents Design For Interchangeable AirPods With Biometrics And Brand New Design

The AirPods are the most popular accessory manufactured by tech giant Apple, till date. A pair of wireless earbuds, which connect to your device via Bluetooth, they are one of the most, of not the most popular wireless earbuds. Additionally, they also have Siri connectivity and of course, the excellent design and build quality from Apple. However, the AirPods have been long overdue for an upgrade. This upgrade seems to be near. A recent report stated that we will get to see upgraded AirPods next year. However, a patent by Apple has given us insight as to what the AirPods might look like in 2020 and beyond.

The Patent

The new patent talks about interchangeable AirPods, which will use biometric sensors to make this come true. According to the patent, this will give the AirPods the ability to fit into any ear, regardless of the orientation. This is a step closer to the ‘Golden Bud’ fit Apple had dreamt of, years back. The term refers to a pair of earbuds which will be the perfect fit, for any user. Regardless of the shape and size of their ear.

Apple did go through a lot of steps to ensure the the design of the existing AirPods gives the most universally fitting shape. But there is always room for improvement. The patent describes that the earbuds will be configured with one or more biometric sensors. If at least one of the sensors is pressed up against a portion of the ear, it can then use biometrics to detect which side it is. This will allow to configure and alter the settings for that ear. Hence, the issue of having to see which goes into the left ear and which goes into the right will be eliminated.

New Design

From the images in the patent, we can see that the new AirPods will be totally different in design. They will be more compact, similar to the PixelBuds in terms of size. The patent also included a foam ring which will apparently expand to establish contact with the skin. This is done as some part of the earbuds need to be in contact with the skin to carry out the biometric processes. The company could have chosen plastic, but the foam ring will be more convenient and easier on the user’s ears.

This could also result in a lesser cost of manufacturing and replacement for the AirPods. As now Apple would not have to manufacture Left or Right side specific components. However, whether that will translate to the retail prices of the AirPods is still not known.

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As is with every leak and patent, it is best to take this news with a pinch of salt. We might not see this technology for a while and it is also possible that it may never come into production, as is the case with many patents. But with the demand for the AirPods on the rise, we hope that Apple does implement these new features.

December 5, 2018