There are curious patents and then there are the patents that surprise us yes or yes. We are talking about a patent filed by Apple that explores the possibility that MacBook cover can be opened stand-alone. A patent which, obviously, surprises and makes you want to see it applied to a real product in equal parts.
I open the door for you, I say the cover
With the suggestive title of “Self-Acting Hinge Mechanism for Electronic Device,” this new patent investigates how to make a device, let’s call MacBook, able to move the cover on its own. The reason for this ability, beyond the fact that our Mac could be opened with, say, for example, a few keys on the lid, is that of ensure a good viewing angle
Seen in this way, the patent takes on its full meaning. The position one takes in front of a computer is not always optimal for correctly viewing the content on the screen. A computer capable of opening or closing the camera knowing the position of our eyes would allow make sure we see the picture with the highest quality. Here comes the perception of the same luminosity as well as the sharpness. Sharpness which, although it gets higher and higher at more and more angles, undoubtedly has its optimum angles.
“The processing system can be configured to determine a target position for the display portion based at least in part on a location of the object in the image and cause the drive system to operate the mechanism. hinge to move the display part, relative to the base part, from an initial position to the target position “.
“The laptop computer may further include a position feedback system configured to determine an actual position of the display portion relative to the base portion.”
The second big advantage of this system would be that the camera was able to follow us more effectively in space. In this vein, Apple has already presented the Center Stage system which, thanks to an ultra wide angle lens and an artificial intelligence system, can move 120 degrees in space to focus at any time. Being able to move our MacBook’s screen would dramatically increase the range of degrees available, ensuring we’re always in the frame.
A patent with a dual application that would promote the use of the Mac in various scenarios.
Without going into detail, the patent explores some of the technologies that bring Face ID to life. In the text, Apple mentions that “the optical detection system may include a projector configured to project a pattern of light onto the user and a sensor configured to detect at least part of the pattern of light that the user reflects.” It’s too early to switch from there to facial recognition authentication, but it looks like the basic technology would already be there.
Texts like these often make us want to see patents applied to terminals. It is true that the idea is the most interesting, although it could still take years before we see, if ever we see it, the arrival of these technologies. We will be there in the meantime.
Imagen | Dmitry Chernyshov