A patent is a document that grants its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using or selling an invention. These privileges are granted in exchange for an enabling disclosure of the invention.
To patent your invention, you will need to follow the steps below:
- Conduct a patent search: Before applying for a patent, you should search existing patents to ensure that your design is new and not already patented. You can conduct a patent search online using the USPTO website or seek the assistance of a patent attorney or agent.
- Prepare and file a patent application: Once you have confirmed that your design is new and eligible for patenting, you will need to prepare a patent application. You can prepare and file a patent application yourself or seek the assistance of a patent attorney or agent.
- Wait for examination: After you file your patent application, you will need to wait for it to be examined by the USPTO. This can take several months or even years, depending on the complexity of your design and the workload of the USPTO.
- Respond to office actions: During the examination process, the USPTO may issue office actions, which are official communications that provide feedback on your application. You will need to respond to these office actions to address any issues raised by the USPTO and to ensure that your application is approved.
- Receive a patent grant: If your application is approved, you will receive a patent grant, which provides you with exclusive rights to your design for a period of time, usually 20 years from the date of filing.
It is important to note that obtaining a patent can be a complex and lengthy process, and it may be helpful to seek the assistance of a patent attorney or agent to guide you through the process.
Some of the inventions recently patented are:
Solar cells
Solar cells have long been a trend in the electronic industry. Since their invention in the late 1800s, solar cell technology has steadily evolved from serving niche applications into an accessible energy source for everyone else – with worldwide solar photovoltaic capacity increasing by 27% annually in 2018 alone.
Apple recently filed a patent that could integrate solar cells into an iPhone or other mobile device. While this approach may not provide the same level of energy efficiency as a dedicated solar panel, it could extend battery life and eliminate the need to plug in at night.
Apple has already earned a patent for solar-powered technology in February. Their patent describes an “integrated touch sensor and solar panel configurations,” which would enable you to charge your device’s touchscreen using sunlight.
According to the patent, you could place a solar panel beneath your iPhone’s touchscreen and it would charge during the day. While the technology sounds interesting and could be beneficial, there’s currently no information regarding when it might become available for purchase.
Another intriguing idea is a smartphone concept that uses solar cells at the rear to charge your device. While this idea may not be as revolutionary as some of other OEM’s recent concepts, it still presents an exciting prospect that could benefit users in the future.
The patent also notes that using solar panels on portable devices, such as handheld smartphones, may present technical and/or design challenges. Since these gadgets tend to be small in size, the surface area of the solar cells is typically limited. This means less energy can be collected from a given panel which ultimately limits how much power it produces.
Apple’s patent offers two potential solutions to this issue: stacking multiple panels onto the front of a phone’s display can increase surface area; alternatively, making use of flexible solar panels such as those shown off by SunPartner and 3M at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show can create an under-screen solar panel.
Viscoelastic material
Viscoelastic materials, which possess properties between those of a viscous liquid and an elastic solid, can be used in the production of components like TV and smartphone accessories due to their mechanical damping capacity that reduces vibrations and noise levels.
When materials are stressed, their response typically consists of elastic deformation (storing energy) and viscous flow (dispersing it). This phenomenon has been observed in both natural materials such as wood and ice, as well as synthetic polymers.
However, it’s essential to recognize that not all materials behave in this way. For instance, toothpaste when squeezed out of its tube tends to act like a viscous substance; at rest however, it behaves more like an elastic substance. Paint also behaves similarly – spread out when touched with a brush but returning back to its original position when left on the wall.
Another example is play dough, which when rolled between palms and tossed on the floor exhibits mostly elastic characteristics when rolled between palms. On the other hand, when placed on a surface and left to dry, it behaves more like viscous material. Polymers also tend towards viscoelastic behavior since they contain long molecules which can form temporary connections with one another.
Different test methods exist to assess the mechanical and viscoelastic behavior of materials. The two most widely utilized tests are broadband viscoelastic spectroscopy and resonant ultrasound spectroscopy.
Testing materials at various temperatures and times allows us to assess their response. Results can then be interpreted in order to detect mechanical and viscoelastic characteristics like creep, relaxation, and hysteresis.
These results can help determine whether a material is vulnerable to wear and tear, fracture, and thermal shock. Furthermore, they help determine the stiffness and damping factors of a structure.
Therefore, it is essential to use the appropriate materials in order to achieve desired performance. Fortunately, many necessary details can be accurately modeled using computer-aided engineering (CAE) technology. This enables manufacturers to develop products which are efficient and durable as well as sterile and safe for field use.
Transparent display
Transparent displays are a popular feature on many smartphones, especially the back. These screens can be used to showcase other images or function as an always-on display for phone information.
Samsung recently patented an ultramodern smartphone with a transparent display. The device boasts narrow bezels and an expansive OLED panel for its display, according to LetsGoDigital.
Looks like Samsung may be getting ready to take its Galaxy smartphone line to new heights with this innovative design. The company’s patent application depicts a smartphone with an optically clear screen that can display different designs, information and more.
Samsung’s transparent panel can serve two roles: as a standard display and in an ambient role similar to an always-on screen. Furthermore, it can be customized with various designs and more for even further customizability.
The transparent panel can be constructed using LCD, OLED or even both. This type of technology offers superior display quality and low-light performance; however, it must use technology capable of blocking light so the pixels do not let any light in.
Another concept that could be implemented in a transparent smartphone is one that utilizes an array of tiny holes to create secondary screens. These could be utilized for attaching components like cameras and speakers.
Although transparent screen technology has been around for some time, this particular form factor stands out. It allows us to completely remove the top bezel and embed all components inside, eliminating the need for a separate display bezel altogether.
This concept has great potential and could be utilized in many devices, though it will need some refinements before production. Furthermore, transparent technology requires a lot of energy as its demands on battery life are quite high.
Voice control
Voice control is a new type of voice-based assistance that enables users to interact with their devices hands-free. It has become increasingly popular among consumers who wish to use their gadgets without relying on touch controls, making it ideal for people with disabilities or older adults who may have difficulty using traditional computer interfaces.
Voice-activated assistants can make it simpler to perform everyday tasks such as ordering groceries, setting reminders and accessing digital content more conveniently. Nevertheless, this type of technology comes with its own risks and potential hazards that should be considered before using it.
If you’re considering patenting voice control for a TV or smartphone accessory, there are a few things that must be understood first. Firstly, comprehend how this technology functions and if it proves beneficial to you.
Voice-activated assistance comes in many forms, such as Apple’s Siri and Google Assistant. Siri is Apple’s intelligent personal assistant that enables you to ask questions, make calls, text people, set reminders – all with just your voice! With Siri onboard you can do just about anything with voice command!
This is an ideal option for those who want to do their shopping, make calls or access information with ease and convenience. However, it does require either a stable data connection or Wi-Fi to function properly.
On the other hand, Google’s Voice Access app for Android lets you navigate and control your device with voice commands. It offers different language support as well as being able to open apps, edit text, and more hands-free.
Voice Control enhances speech recognition with natural language understanding technology to significantly enhance the usability of traditional voice interfaces. It accurately estimates a user’s intent from vague utterances, allowing drivers to operate in-vehicle equipment quickly and precisely without taking their eyes off the road.
Voice Control can be enabled by going to Settings, selecting Accessibility, and then turning on the toggle switch for ON. After doing this, code running Voice Control will download in the background.
Apple’s Siri and Voice Control are excellent voice-based assistive technologies that can be useful to those who require hands-free operation on their iOS devices. Unfortunately, both of them have security flaws which should be taken into account before incorporating them into your daily routine.