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patents
Sony Touchscreen Gaming Patent is Looking iPhone-ish
The image pretty much says it all, but Sony appears to be working on a gaming device that is all screen and all play. The touchscreen gadget in the patent would have haptic feedback, accelerometers, a microphone, and internet capabilities. Not sure how this fits in with the PSP phone rumors, but its interesting nonetheless. [PSP Fanboy via Electronista
patents
Sony Patent Hints at PlayStation Phone, Possible Mystery Device?
The prospect of a PSP phone looks even more likely now that we've seen Sony's patent for a touchscreen handheld. The patent describes a device with "digital tactile pixels" that respond to touch and give feedback via vibration. This patent was submitted by Sony Computer Entertainment, the group behind PlayStation, and not Ericsson, like the last alleged PSP phone patent. The mystery device is covered to play games and music and browse the web, but also make phone calls, so what else could it be? [patent via Tech Digest]
7:01 PM on Mon Jun 30 2008
By Benny Goldman
3,600 views,
13 comments
Latest by TUIRC: You touch the screen. The tactile pixels are on the perimeter of the screen. Then, what are tactile pixels for? more »
anti-terrorism gadgets
The 10 Strangest Anti-Terrorism Gadget Patents
These are dangerous times we live in—which is why I am sure that some of America's greatest minds are out there toiling away on new gadgets we can use to protect ourselves in the war against terrorism. Unfortunately, the people who patented these 10 anti-terrorism gadgets are not among these brilliant thinkers. Sure they are creative, but an airplane sleeping gas system and an explosion containment umbrella? Would a doggie earphone that helps you remotely contact your dog to give verbal instructions make you feel safer? Seriously, if this is the best we can come up with, this country is in serious trouble. Hit the link for the full list. [Neatorama]
apple
Apple Patents Cheapie iPod Classic Touchscreens
When Apple releases a new generation of iPod, it's smaller, but Apple aims to keep profit margins in check too. A new patent points to Apple possibly developing a lower-cost touchscreen for the iPod classic. Instead of utilizing thick glass panels, the design takes advantage of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic. We see this PET in the iPhone/iPod touch already, so the transition would probably be a positive one despite the use of, ick, more plastic. [Patent via MacNN]
motorola
Motorola Patents Biometric and Touch Sensitive Bluetooth Headsets
A series of Motorola patents recently made public reveal that the company has given some thought to incorporating biometric monitors into Bluetooth headsets and adding touch sensitive controls to the ROKR S9. Actually, there are two different versions of the biometric Bluetooth headset, both of which utilize a watch-like device to measure heart rate, temperature and other vital signs then transmit them to a cellphone and on to a distant server. More »
patents
Canon Patents Fuel Cells (For Cameras, Of Course)
A new patent application by Canon reveals that the company is interested in fuel cell technology for their cameras—or at least feel that they've developed an idea that no one else should use. Wired aptly compares the technology to inkjet printer cartridges, actually using multiple fuel cells to provide varying levels of current depending on camera function. These fuel cells can work alone or combine to tackle the especially power-hungry functions. But as you can see in diagram A, this news leaves the traditional Canon battery grip seething with anger. [Patent via Gadget Lab]
patents
Plasma-Powered Hovercraft Patent
The patent shown is for an aircraft to be powered off the ground using a plasma technology. Subrata Roy, a University of Florida aerospace engineer, proposes the existing technique of passing a magnetic wave through a conducting fluid can produce a force strong enough to lift an aircraft off the ground. Granted, the example in the patent is only 15 cm, and attempts by others haven't gone particularly well. But with phrases like magnetohydrodynamics being thrown around, I keep flashing back to the space travel scene in Contact and getting excited. Subrata Roy must be a poet. [WIPO via Ubergizmo]
oops
Oops! According to a law professor at George Washington University, all patent judges appointed after the year 2000 have been done so unconstitutionally, making thousands of patent rulings made by said judges null and void. This will have ramifications on patents worth billions and billions of dollars, and it's not clear exactly what's going to happen.
More »
Legal Snafu Makes Thousands of Patent Rulings Since 2000 Invalid
Oops! According to a law professor at George Washington University, all patent judges appointed after the year 2000 have been done so unconstitutionally, making thousands of patent rulings made by said judges null and void. This will have ramifications on patents worth billions and billions of dollars, and it's not clear exactly what's going to happen.
More »
brilliance
Wearable Chair is the Ultimate Invention
Seriously, how is it possible that the wearable chair isn't the hottest accessory around today when it was patented 30 whole years ago? Look at it! You strap it to the backs of your legs and you can just sit back and rest easy whenever you want! I wouldn't have to submit to the cruel tyranny of standing under my own volition any longer! It'd be perfect for concerts, the subway or the unemployment line, where you'd presumably run into the inventor of these things, Darcy Robert Bonner. Now that this thing has been rediscovered after being lost for so long, it's time to make the dream a reality. [Patent via Book of Joe]
patents
Microsoft Wearable Mouse Patent Should Be Named "The Surf N' Jerk"
Microsoft continues their quest to bring Minority Report to life with a recently published patent for a wearable mouse from 2006. Now you too can wave your hands around like Tom Cruise—jumping optional—to control the cursor on your computer screen. The mouse is placed around the palm and activated by making a fist. The cursor moves based on a gyroscope inside which tracks the X and Y coordinates of your hand, much like a Wiimote. The handheld style opens our eyes to some interesting possibilities. More »
apple
Apple Patents Laser Head-Mounted Display, Sharks Rejoice
Apple has applied for a patent for a laser-based headset to use with its iPod and iPhone. And, unlike most headset displays, which can be bulky due to the light source and optical elements, the Cupertino company has come up with a way of slimming the device down. Here's how. More »
monster cable
Blue Jeans Cable Calls BS on Monster Cable Patent Suit, Vows to Fight to Bloody Death
Bullshit patent suits are annoying when it's a do-nothing patent holder trying to extract cash from fat corporate wallets, but even more so when it's a bigger company trying to muscle over little ones. Like Monster Cable suing Blue Jeans Cable for having connectors that looked like theirs. Blue Jeans' CEO, a former evil lawyer, has issued a ripping rebuttal, pointing out that "the gross morphology of the RCA plug is pretty well dictated by function" before throwing down, "I would rather spend fifty thousand dollars on defense than give you a dollar of unmerited settlement funds." Here's the whole ballsy letter: More »
tivo
Tivo Defeats Echostar for Stealing DVR Patent in Epic Court Battle Once and For All
Two years after initially smacking down Echostar (now just Dish Network) in court for stepping on its patent for a "multimedia time warping system" (aka a DVR) Tivo has clinched
patents
Apple Patents Nike + iPod on Steroids: It Wants to Pump You Up
The standard rule of Apple patents applies: Just because it's on file, doesn't mean they're going to put it out. But I hope they do, America's fat ass needs this. It's an advanced fitness suite, like Nike + iPod cranked up to 1100. There's hardware that keeps tabs on your heart rate and other vitals, a rewards tracker, and a component for syncing up groups. All of it's connected by an iTunes-like app that tracks your current fitness level, goals, schedule and a whole mess of other stats—it'll even make a workout for you—which it syncs to your iPod or iPhone to follow at the gym.charset="utf-8">galleryPost('ibod', 3, ''); More »
3d
Here's an unexpected patent from Apple: a system for projecting 3D images. Sure, we've seen 3D panels from Sharp and 3D projectors that require glasses, but this is a projector setup that requires no glasses. And this makes sense for Apple why?
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Apple Files Patent for Crazy 3D Projector Setup for Some Reason
Here's an unexpected patent from Apple: a system for projecting 3D images. Sure, we've seen 3D panels from Sharp and 3D projectors that require glasses, but this is a projector setup that requires no glasses. And this makes sense for Apple why?
More »
apple
Apple Sued for Time Machine Patent Infringement
Another day, another patent lawsuit for Apple. This time they're being sued by the firm Mirror Worlds. The patents at issue deal with a "document stream operating system," which means files are stored in a chronologically ordered stream, and whoa, are archived automatically. Sounds like Time Machine, even though the suit doesn't name Time Machine explicitly. In fact the whole suit's rather vague, except they say that Apple knew about their patents back in 2001. But like most patent suits, this one will probably go quietly into the night. [Ars, USPTO]
apple
