Apple was granted two new patents that were filed years back that could be a sign of things to come for Apple’s roster of mobile devices.
The first patent had to do with waterproofing acoustic ports filed back in 2014. The feature is described as something that would protect acoustic ports via an umbrella-like cover which would prevent liquids from entering the device.
The umbrella mesh calls to mind a common problem encountered by users as far as accidental seeping of liquids to the device which eventually render the device unusable. The Apple Watch had a similar approach in the form of better weatherproofing and the new patent is seen as something made for the iPhone or even the iPod Touch.
The second patent has to do with a noise-cancelling headset. The feature which will reportedly rely on vibration using a person’s vocal chords and vibrations in the bone and tissue in their head to employ a new kind of noise-cancelling feature pegged to improve voice quality as well.
Moreover, the headset will turn to an accelerometer to help detect the vibrations together with an array of microphones. The resulting output would then be fed to a special mixer resulting in better voice quality and echo cancellation.
Despite the long wait, the important thing is that the two patents have been finally approved by the US Patent and Trademark Office. But, the next thing that people may want to know is where these new patents will be used.
A safe bet is the iPhone 8, the next Apple flagship that will reportedly carry major design changes both inside and outside. Though the Cupertino company is scheduled to unveil the iPhone 7 this September, the patents are unlikely to be part of it given the time frame.
The patents offer a better protected and quality rendering device which will hopefully be something worth talking about whenever and to whichever device/s they may eventually be applied.