You are probably used to seeing at least once a week a new invention patent thought up by those from Cupertino, and this week I have for you a technology which could allow the implementation of "invisible" buttons in iPhone-hate. Those from Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC), they think that the design of the terminals could be improved by hiding the buttons of the terminals, they becoming visible only when illuminated with the help of light sources, this happening only if iOS activates their functionality.
A button would be made of the same material as the housing of the phone, so it would blend in seamlessly. But it could be selectively backlit through small holes to pinpoint its location, or the backlight itself could be activated when you tap the button. The button could also be activated if it senses the motion of your finger or detects heat or sound. A slider control would operate under the same principles, remaining invisible most of the time and popping up only when activated.
Apple says that these buttons would be manufactured using the same material used for the cases, and they would stand out only by illuminating the space left free between the button and the case. Think of illuminated keyboards whose keys you cannot see in the dark until the backlight is turned on and you will understand the idea of those from Apple. Of course, such a technology would be difficult to implement in iDevices, but when did we ask the question that a patent should contain something really capable of ending up in a future Apple product?
