New Patent Applications Detail the Use of Liquidmetal in Future Apple Products

[RaduTyrsina]

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We’ve previously covered news regarding Apple’s interest in Liquid metal alloys back in July, last year and more recently, in November 2013. Now, the MacRumors publication has discovered 17 new patent applications published this past Thursday which address additional innovations with Liquidmetal alloys. The inventors listed on the patents are Apple employees, so this is clear indication that Cupertino is looking to use this technology in future products.

One of the most important patent applications suggests the use of Liquidmetal alloys in pressure sensors such as those found in buttons and switches which could ensure greater durability.

Because switches on consumer electronic devices are operated frequently, the materials used to fabricate the switch must be capable of repeated deformation and return to their original configuration. The ability of a material to deform reversibly under stress is known as the material’s elasticity. Above a certain stress, known as the elastic limit of a material or the yield strength, the metal material may deform irreversibly, becoming inelastic, exhibiting plasticity and adversely affecting the function and utility of the switch. A proposed solution according to embodiments herein for pressure sensors is to use bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys as the deformable material, and to measure the pressure based on the physical changes of the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy as it is deformed.

Liquidmetal alloys could also be used as a way to secure devices against unauthorized access by deploying the new material in tamper-resistant screws.

A proposed solution according to embodiments herein for tamper resistance is a fastener having a head portion and a tamper resistant bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy interlock portion, wherein the fastener and the substrate into which the fastener is fitted into are permanently fastened via an interlock formed from the interlock portion during the fastening process.

Another interesting patent application details how the new material could be applied in the touch sensor grid for increased accuracy.

Most of the remaining patents are more technical in nature, addressing methods for working with Liquidmetal alloys or assessing their characteristics. One such patent application does, however, address methods for applying or transforming coatings to an amorphous material, allowing for increased durability and strength by protecting the underlying metal.

The patent applications were filed in June or July of 2012, which could be an indication of the fact that we might see a future iPhone or iPad carrying this innovative technology.

Source: MacRumors, iPhoneforums