You may soon be able to hover a finger over an iPhone to make a phone call, check Twitter, or complete other tasks.
Apple introduced 3D Touch[1] force-sensing input with its iPhone 6s, but according to a newly published patent[2], the company wants to take that up a notch.
As reported[3] by AppleInsider, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today released a 2015 filing for "proximity and multi-touch sensor detection and demodulation." In other words, folks could hover their fingers or hand over a smart device to make a phone call, check Twitter, change settings, or complete a number of other tasks.
According to Patently Apple[4], this is actually a 2007 invention, which led to the company's Magic Trackpad[5]. The new iteration, however, takes the technology a step further, using infrared LEDs and photodiodes to recognize fingers, body parts, and other objects lingering above the surface.
With 3D Touch, a mobile version of Cupertino's Force Touch[6], the screen supports multiple pressure points; push slightly for a preview, and all the way to open it in full screen or the accompanying app. Similarly, the patent suggests this new tech can correspond to the amount of hover.
It is also likely that some areas of the display will remain touch-only, while other, specific spots are used for making floating requests.
Proximity sensors might also simulate the "pushing" of virtual buttons to "trigger functions without actually requiring contact with the touch panel." That could refer to apps on the home screen, or perhaps a virtual keyboard.
Apple did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment.
Instead of extending a screen's height or width, Apple is looking to expand into a third dimension, by fusing proximity-sensing hardware with traditional multi-touch displays.
References
- ^ introduced 3D Touch (www.pcmag.com)
- ^ newly published patent (patft.uspto.gov)
- ^ reported (appleinsider.com)
- ^ Patently Apple (www.patentlyapple.com)
- ^ Magic Trackpad (www.pcmag.com)
- ^ Force Touch (www.pcmag .com)
