Apple iPhone Patent Revealed?
Apple filed a patent in August that was just recently made public by the US Patent and Trademark Office describing a mobile device that “may correspond to the iPod.” This is just another development in a long line of major clues that confirms earlier speculation of the iPhone. The application describes a “tube-like” player constructed with “Zirconia” and “alumina,” and a device that would be “cost effective, smaller, lighter, stronger and aesthetically more pleasing” than competitive mobile music phones.
Zirconia
In a hint to the iPhone’s design, Apple went to lengths to describe Zirconia, a material often used to replicate diamonds for costume jewelry. Zirconia has many advantages over other materials, such as aluminum, in that it is structurally strong, stiff and radio transparent.
“This is especially important for wireless hand held devices that include antennas internal to the enclosure,” Apple revealed in the Patent application. “Radio transparency allows the wireless signals to pass through the enclosure and in some cases enhances these transmissions.”
Other reasons for using ceramics cited in the filing are that they are highly scratch resistant, can be embedded with a wide variety of colors (no paint or coatings), and provide a variety of surface finishes including smooth and rough. (Sounds good to us! –Ed.)
“In one embodiment, the device is or includes functionality for supporting cellular or mobile phone usage,” the company said. “In this embodiment, the device includes processors, transmitters, receivers, and antennas for supporting RF, and more particularly GSM, DCS and/or PCS wireless communications in the range of about 850 to about 1900 MHz.”
Although not shown in the filing, the iPod maker said internal components of some of the described devices could include support for FM, RF, Bluetooth, and 802.11 wireless frequencies. Of course Apple should incorporate them, it’s a wireless party thrown by Apple! Invite them all! Come on down bring the kids!
