Straight from Apple's labs I have for you today a patent which promises to clean our iDevice screens no matter what particles settle on them. Apple thought of a new technology based on micro-vibrations that could clean the touchscreen surface of an iDevice. Apple thought of a system that would involve mounting some sensors on the sides of the iDevice, a sensor that would generate micro-vibrations that would be transmitted over the entire surface of the screen and would clean it of any substances deposited on it.
Apple's invention relates to an active barrier for use with an electronic device. The active barrier could prevent or reduce the deposition of foreign particles on an external surface of an electronic device, or could assist in the removal of foreign particles adhered to the external surface of the electronic device. In particular, this is directed to disposing wave sources within an electronic device operative to emit waves directed towards a surface of an outer component.
Of course, this is not the first time that Apple thinks "outside the box", but in general, patents of this kind never end up being implemented in a device. Apple has a habit of registering many patents for various technologies, yet they rarely end up in the company's products. Even so, the technology presented above is interesting, but it remains to be seen how practical it will be for those from Apple.
