Contents

Introduction............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3

Main features ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4

i. Apple Pay .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4

ii. Touch ID .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5

iii. Camera features ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

iv. A8 chip ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

v. LTE, VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling .......................................................................................................................................................................... 9

vi. Flexible displays .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 11

vii. Age monitoring ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 12

viii. Health tracking audio device .................................................................................................................................................................... 12

ix. Thin / Slim phone dimension ........................................................................................................................................................................ 13

x. Liquidmetal ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15

xi. AirPlay ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17

Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 20

Annexure ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 22

Introduction

The iPhone 6 is the latest smartphone launched by Apple on September 19, 2014. The iPhone 6 series jointly serves as a successor to theiPhone 5S and iPhone 5C. The iPhone 6 series includes a number of major changes over its predecessor, including a streamlined design, models with larger 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays, a faster processor, upgraded cameras, improved LTE and Wi-Fi connectivity, and support fornear-field communication (NFC) based mobile payment offering. This article evaluates various latest features introduced to iPhone 6 and their patent coverage. Our study involved technically analyzing the features of iPhone 6 series and then searching for similar patents/patent applications within Apple’s patent portfolio. This study was conducted on various available patent databases. Following features were evaluated to identify patent coverage:

iPhone 6 features Hardware

Development Software

Development Electronics +

H/W Networking

enhanced

Apple pay

Touch ID

Camera features

A8 chip

VoLTE

Wi-Fi calling

Flexible display

Age monitoring

Health tracking audio device

Thin slim phone design

Liquid Metal

Air play

Main features

i. Apple Pay

This feature introduces an easy way to securely pay for physical goods and services in stores or apps with just touch of a finger. Users can securely and conveniently pay in stores by simply holding the phone near the contactless reader while keeping a finger on Touch ID. There is no need to unlock iPhone or launch an app, by simply holding iPhone 6 to a sensor and activating Touch ID authentication is done and the transaction is completed. In our study we found Apple’s recently granted patent similar to this feature, patentUS8810367 B2 (Electronic device

with multimode fingerprint reader).The patent mentions about capturing fingerprint in a stationary mode while user is swiping finger. And also mentions about making wireless payments using wireless cicuitry and near field communication (NFC) as operated by iPhone 6.

Apple Pay US8810367

Source

“An electronic device may operate a fingerprint reader in a stationary finger mode in which the fingerprint reader captures a fingerprint from a user's finger while the user's finger is in a stationary position and may operate the fingerprint reader in a moving finger mode in which the fingerprint reader captures a fingerprint from the user's finger while the user is swiping the finger across the fingerprint reader. The electronic device may use the moving finger mode when performing sensitive operations such as operations related to financial transactions. The electronic device may include near field communications circuitry. When activity is detected using the near field communications circuitry, the fingerprint reader may be operated in the moving finger mode. The fingerprint sensor may be activated when a proximity sensor detects the presence of a finger.”

ii. Touch ID

Touch ID is a unique feature that lets iPhone 6 users perform various actions only by validating fingerprint at the home button. There are a number of actions that can be performed using Touch ID:

Activate data transfers between an iPhone and equipment performing operations associated with authenticating a logon process.

allow users to directly open protected applications on an iPhone provide added security for point-of-sale purchases and/or any other important financial

transaction. This feature seems to be supported by Apple’s recent patent application US20140003679A1titled Enrollment Using Synthetic Fingerprint Image and Fingerprint Sensing Systems. The patent mentionsabout receiving fingerprint data at a secure enclave processor for validation and generating synthetic fingerprint image based on validation. Apple seems to own multiple patents to cover the feature of Touch ID as the functionality involves efficient scanning and secured processor as well. Some recent patent publications by the company may be considered around the feature. Patent US20130308838 A1(Efficient Texture Comparison) shows an exemplary process for efficiently and securely matching a scanned pattern. As shown in the table below, the patent application mentions a secure enclave processor (SEP) specifically designed to perform encrypted tasks, such as encrypting data associated with an authorized user's fingerprint/ID-pattern. Touch ID feature also utilizes Apple's iPhone Fingerprint Sensor equipped with NFC. This seems to be mentioned in another patent application by Apple US20130231046 titled Electronic device with shared near field communications and sensor structures. The patent discusses about a device with a switch under a button to detect button presses. The device uses sensors in the button to capture fingerprints, or other capacitive sensor data.

Touch ID US20140003679

Source

“A fingerprint sensing system. The fingerprint sensing system includes: at least one sensor; at least one display device; at least one application processor; and at least one secure enclave processor. The application processor(s) receives fingerprint data from the sensor(s) and provides the fingerprint data to the secure enclave processor(s). The secure enclave processor(s) decodes the fingerprint data and provides a signal indicative of at least one matched node. The application processor(s), responsive to receipt of the signal indicative of the matched node(s), presents at least a portion of a synthetic fingerprint image via at least one display device corresponding to the matched node(s).”

Touch ID US20130308838

Source

“Embodiments described herein relate generally to a device and process for efficient texture pattern comparison and matching, and more specifically to fingerprint matching on a portable device.”

Touch ID WO 2013130396 A2

Source

“An electronic device may have electrical components such as sensors. A sensor may have sensor circuitry that gathers sensor data using a conductive structure. The sensor may be a touch sensor that uses the conductive structure to form a capacitive touch sensor electrode or may be a fingerprint sensor that uses the conductive structure with a fingerprint electrode array to handle fingerprint sensor signals. Near field communications circuitry may be included in an electronic device. When operated in a sensor mode, the sensor circuitry may use the conductive structure to gather a fingerprint or other sensor data. When operated in near field communications mode, the near field communications circuitry can use the conductive structure to transmit and receive capacitively coupled or inductively coupled near field communications signals. A fingerprint sensor may have optical structures that communicate with external equipment.”

iii. Camera features

iPhone 6 is equipped with refined cameras especially designed to support user friendly applications. Apple seems to be keen to improve the camera capabilities of its iOS devices. Various advanced features introduced in camera section of iPhone 6 may be listed as:

Optical image stabilization Faster autofocus FaceTime HD camera (for conferencing) Burst mode added to FaceTime camera

Users will benefit from optical image stabilization technology that compensates for hand shake in low light and works with iOS 8 to reduce subject motion. Apple’s recent patent applicationUS20140125825 A1 (Super-resolution based on optical image stabilization) discusses an image capturing device with optical image stabilization processor. Therefore, image stabilization is achieved at a real time while the image is captured.

Advancements are introduced in the FaceTime HD camera that now captures over 80 percent more light with a new sensor, larger f/2.2 aperture and advanced new features including burst mode and HDR video. High-definition video on iPhone improves with faster frame rates up to 60fps for 1080p video and 240fps for slo-mo, as well as continuous autofocus, cinematic video stabilization and time-lapse video.Consider patent no. US20120212481 A1 (Video Acquisition with Integrated GPU Processing) that describes efficient image capture and real time processing.

iPhone 6 also aims at better on the fly video conferenceswhich are no more restricted to conference rooms and closed areas. Users can take video conferences while travelling and while lighting conditions areconstantly changing. This feature seems to be covered by Apple’s patent US8724017 B2 (Auto exposure techniques for variable lighting conditions). The patent discusses about performing auto exposure (AE) techniques that are beneficial in variable lighting conditions.

Optical Image Stabilization US20140125825

Source

“The image capturing device 100 includes, but is not limited to, a camera module110, an actuator 115, a position sensor 120, an optical image stabilization (OIS) processor 125, an inertial sensor 130, a shutter release 135, a display screen 140, storage 145, a super-resolution engine 150 and an processor 160. The processor 160 may drive interaction between a plurality of the components comprising device 100. The processor 160 may be any suitably programmed processor within device 100.”

Auto-focus US8724017

Source

“Systems, methods, and a computer readable medium for performing auto exposure (AE) techniques that are beneficial in variable lighting conditions—and particularly applicable to handheld and/or mobile videoconferencing applications—are disclosed herein. Handheld and/or mobile videoconferencing applications—unlike their fixed camera counterparts—are often exposed to a wide variety of rapidly changing lighting and scene conditions, and thus face a difficult trade-off between adjusting exposure parameter values too frequently or not frequently enough.”

Image in Video Conferencing US 20120212481

Source

“Systems and techniques for processing sequences of video images involve receiving, on a computer, data corresponding to a sequence of video images detected by an image sensor. The received data is processed using a graphics processor to adjust one or more visual characteristics of the video images corresponding to the received data. The received data can include video data defining pixel values and ancillary data relating to settings on the image sensor. The video data can be processed in accordance with ancillary data to adjust the visual characteristics, which can include filtering the images, blending images, and/or other processing operations.”

iv. A8 chip With iPhone 6, Apple introduces A8 processors that offer faster performance, energy efficient processing, and great battery life. The A8 chip also includes a new, powerful Apple-designed image signal processor that enables advanced camera and video features.Low-light photos should be a little cleaner thanks to the iPhone 6's A8 image signal processor.

Apple has tied up with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) for high scale production of A8 processors. These are 64 bit system-on-chip processors manufactured on 20nm process. In our study, we could locate many patents by Apple related to faster processing, but any specific patent for A8 processor could not be found.

v. LTE, VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling

With faster LTE download speeds of up to 150 Mbps, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users can browse, download and stream content faster. The new iPhones also support high-quality voice calls over LTE (VoLTE) as well as Wi-Fi calling. With support for up to 20 LTE wireless bands—more than any other smartphone in the world—the new models make it easier to experience high-speed networks around the world. Both iPhones also include 802.11ac Wi-Fi with speeds up to 433 Mbps and Bluetooth 4.0.Next-generation speeds are now up to 150 Mpbs, compared to 100 Mbps in previous models.

One of the new, interesting features on theiPhone 6 is called Wi-Fi calling. It lets you use your home Internet network to make calls and send texts, rather than route them through traditional cell towers. But while Wi-Fi calling is undoubtedly useful to many, not all carriers are able to support it yet. At the iPhone 6 launchonly T-Mobile had placed the infrastructure to allow Wi-Fi calls. This seems the reason for iPhone 6 launch with Wi-Fi Unleashed deal that bundles iPhone 6 purchases with a free 802.11 AC router that prioritizes data from the phone. On the networking side Apple owns many patents related to LTE, Wi-Fi, etc. but the company is also involved in a litigation with WiLAN.

On December 6, 2012, WiLAN announced that the company had commenced litigation against Apple Inc. (“Apple”), HTC Corporation (“HTC”) and Sierra Wireless Inc. (“Sierra Wireless”) claiming infringement of WiLAN’s U.S. Patent Nos. 8,315,640 (Methods and systems for transmission of multiple modulated signals over wireless networks) and 8,311,040 (Packing source data packets into transporting packets with fragmentation), related to LTE technologies. To date, two of the three defendants, HTC and Sierra Wireless, have signed license and settlement agreements to resolve this litigation. The litigation, involving remaining defendant, Apple, is being tried in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. One of the Apple’s patent in this regard is US 8279836 B2 (Soft handoff in OFDMA system)The patent relates to the delivery of data via a wireless connection and, more particularly, to the accurate delivery of data at high rates via a wireless connection.

Networking US 8279836

Source

“The present invention relates to the delivery of data via a wireless connection and, more particularly, to the accurate delivery of data at high rates via a wireless connection.”

vi. Flexible displays Apple has introduced flexible displays with iPhone 6 plus which seem to be covered in patent,US 8787016 B2 (Flexible display devices). Another patent that explains flexible displays is US 20140218856 A1 (Electronic Devices with Flexible Displays having Fastened Bent Edges).

Flexible Display US 8787016

Source

“Electronic devices may be provided that contain multiple housing portions. The housing portions may be coupled together using hinges. The hinges may include hinges based on a three-bar linkage, hinges based on a four-bar linkage, hinges with slotted members, hinges formed from flexible support structures, and hinges based on flexible housing structures. Flexible displays may be mounted to the housing portions overlapping the hinges. When the housing portions in a device are rotated relative to each other, the flexible display may bend.”

Flexible Display US20140218856

Source

“An electronic device may be provided with a display having a flexible substrate with fastened bent edges. The flexible substrate may have an active region that includes an array of light-emitting elements such as organic light-emitting diodes. The flexible substrate may also have inactive regions that lie outside of the active region. The bent edges may include portions of the inactive regions and portions of the active region. The bent edges may be wrapped to conform to the shape of an internal support structure.”

vii. Age monitoring

As gadgets age, the performance of those gadgets worsens. Apple has acknowledged this in a patent that aims to help the aging process of a device happen slower, by monitoring the condition of the device and modifying parameters to maximise its performance, battery efficiency and user experience. The aim is to help the device meet its life expectancy.

Consider patent no. US7861122 B2 (Monitoring health of non-volatile memory) Another patent no. US8671170(Modifying operating parameters of a device based on aging information), also deals with age – monitoring of the device.

viii. Health tracking audio device

This describes a fitness monitoring system included in a set of headphones. People often wear headphones during workouts to listen to music. Once the user places the headset near their ears, the integrated sensor can track the perspiration, heart rate and temperature data. A patent related to this technology US 8655004 B2 (Sports monitoring system for headphones, earbuds and/or headsets) shows how the activity sensor may be included in the upper or lower part of the earbud. Apple's solution is to position the sensing apparatus just inside the earbud frame. Earphones and headsets can be used along with different devices like a smartphone, tablet or laptop. Another patent that deals with smart earphones is US20140146976 A1 (Ear Presence Detection in Noise Cancelling Earphones). And patent no. US8750527 B2 (Electronic device and headset with speaker seal evaluation capabilities) also deals with an electronic audio device.

Health Tracking Audio Device US 8655004

Source

“A monitoring system that can be placed proximate to the head or ear of a user is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the monitoring system can be used with headphones, earbuds or headsets. The monitoring system can, for example, be used to monitor user activity, such as during exercise or sporting activities. The positioning of the monitoring system can also facilitate sensing of other user characteristics (e.g., biometric data), such

as temperature, perspiration and heart rate. The monitoring system can also be used to control a an electronic device. In one embodiment, the monitoring system facilitates user control of the electronic device using head gestures.”

Health Tracking Audio Device US20140146976

Source

“The earphones may have ear presence sensor structures that determine whether speakers in the earphones are present at the ears of a user. In one suitable embodiment, control circuitry in the earphones may be used to adjust noise cancellation circuitry in the earphones based on information from the ear presence sensor structures.”

Health Tracking Audio Device US8750527

Source

“Electronic devices and accessories for electronic devices such as headsets are provided. The electronic devices may produce audio output. The headsets may include earbuds with speakers that play the audio output for a user while the earbuds are located in the user's ears. Circuitry in an electronic device and a headset may be used in evaluating how well the earbuds are sealed to the user's ears. In response to seal quality measurements, informative messages can be generated for the user, overall earbud volume may be increased, balance adjustments may be made to correct for mismatched balance between left and right earbuds, equalization settings may be adjusted, and noise cancellation circuitry settings can be changed.”

ix. Thin / Slim phone dimension

The iPhone 6 measures in at 6.9mm. According to the patent no. US20140226849 A1 (Long-throw acoustic transducer), the technology describes audio speaks featuring a moving magnetic piston. This serves as the sound producing element allowing devices to offer more vibrant sounds. This acoustic transducers are often included in "thin" units.

There are patents that state ‘thinner cameras mean thinner iPhones’. Patent no. US 8115825 B2 (Electronic device with two image sensors) describes a camera that uses two sensors, one to capture brightness data and the other to capture colour information, which would then be combined to create the

photograph. The splitting of two sensors, enables Apple to make an iPhone that is significantly thinner, in addition to improving image quality.

Next, a GRIN camera is presented, for the iPhone. The camera is one of the key items that determines the width of the iPhone, and is the reason why the camera on the iPhone is typically better than the one on the thinner iPod touch.Thinner cameras mean thinner devices, and one of Apple's patents outlines a camera system using the Super Advanced Gradient Refractive Index Optics (GRIN). The cutely named GRIN camera bends light before it hits the camera lens, so the lens can be much thinner. Consider patent no. US20130208169 A1 (Housing camera lens cover using grin technology)By using the GRIN material in the housing camera lens cover, the light rays are bent by the GRIN material before the light rays reach the camera lens. This bending of the light rays reduces the optical total track length (TTL) of the camera module and also reduces high Chief Ray Angle (CRA) such that the z-height of the camera module may be reduced while maintaining the camera's imaging performance.

As illustrated, once the incident light rays reach the housing camera lens cover made of GRIN material, the GRIN material bends the incident light rays as the light rays pass through the GRIN material.

Slim Dimensions US20140226849

Source

“Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of audio speakers; and more specifically, to an audio speaker that uses a moving magnetic piston as the sound producing element.”

Slim Dimensions US 8115825

Source

“An embodiment of the present invention relates to an electronic device for producing air image of an object. The electronic device may include a black-and-white camera having a first sensor area configured to receive luma data pertaining to the object. The first sensor area may correspond to a first pixel array, the luma data associated with the first pixel array.The electronic device may also include a color camera having a second sensor area configured

to receive chroma data pertaining to the object. The second sensor area may correspond to a second pixel array. The chroma data may be associated with the second pixel array.”

Slim Dimensions US8750527

Source

“A mobile device having an external housing that includes a housing camera lens cover made of graded index (GRIN) material is described herein. The housing camera lens cover has one face that faces a camera lens of a camera module included in the mobile device and another face that is exposed to the exterior of the mobile

device. By using the GRIN material in the housing camera lens cover, the light rays are bent by the GRIN material before the light rays reach the camera lens. This bending of the light rays reduces the optical total track length (TTL) of the camera module and also reduces high Chief Ray Angle (CRA) such that the z-height of the camera module may be reduced while maintaining the camera's imaging performance.”

x. Liquidmetal

In late November, five new Apple patents were published relating to Liquidmetal, a material that Apple has the exclusive license to. So far, Apple has only used Liquidmetal in the iPhone SIM ejector tool, but the new patents suggest that Apple could be working to use Liquidmetal to build iPhones, iPads and also the iWatch. Consider patent no. US8738104 B2 (Methods and systems for integrally trapping a glass insert in a metal bezel)

The above figures illustrate a method of creating an integral assembly that includes a metal member and a transparent member, e.g., glass, using an insertion molding process. First shown, is a diagrammatic cross-sectional side-view representation of a transparent member (synthetic sapphire) and a metal member prior to a baking or shrinkage step. Next shown, is a diagrammatic cross-sectional side-view representation of a transparent member (synthetic sapphire) and a metal member, e.g., transparent member and metal member 708 of FIG. 7A after a baking or shrinkage step. Apple was way ahead with this invention that not only covered the use of liquid metal in future iPhones, but also the use of sapphire glass. Apple notes in this patent that "Although an integral assembly typically includes glass, it should be appreciated that an integral assembly may instead include substantially any suitable transparent material. In general, a suitable transparent material may include any synthetic transparent material, as for example, synthetic sapphire.

Another patent no. US20140139978 A1 (Laminated aluminum oxide cover component) relates methods of making a sapphire- based display cover glass.Apple's patent generally relates to display and cover glass components for electronic devices. In particular, the invention relates to laminated materials suitable for use in display and cover glass components for electronic devices. A display window is defined in the cover glass, and configured for viewing the electronic display through the sapphire and interface layers.

In the above figure, it is possible to see sapphire layers 50A-50D that could also be doped or implanted with a range of different materials to provide desired physical properties, including, but not limited to, color, density, hardness, thermal or electrical conductivity and resistivity, and magnetic permeability or reluctance. Apple has several patents that relate to the use of sapphire in iPhones, iPads and other products.In January 2014, USPTO published a patent no. US20140023430 A1 (Attachment techniques), which details methods of fastening sapphire to a device. Sapphire is already used for Apple's camera lens cover, but reports, and additional Apple patents, suggest the company could use the material for future displays, too. Another relevant patent related to this aspect is US 20140030443 A1 (Sapphire Window), where methods for creating sapphire windows are provided. The patent states that –“The present application generally relates to camera windows and more particularly relates to sapphire camera windows.”

Liquid Metal US8738104

Source

“Methods and apparatus for creating an overall assembly formed

from a transparent member and a metal member are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method includes positioning a transparent member in a mold configured for insertion molding, and providing a liquid metal into the mold. The method also includes hardening the liquid metal in the mold. Hardening the liquid metal includes binding the metal to the transparent member to create the integral assembly.”

Liquid Metal US20140139978

Source

“A cover glass for an electronic display comprises a plurality of layers of sapphire material, each of the layers having a substantially single crystal plane orientation, with adjacent layers having different substantially single crystal plane orientations. One or more interface layers are defined between adjacent layers of the sapphire material, with the adjacent layers of sapphire material bonded together at the one or more interface layers. A display window is defined in the cover glass, and configured for viewing a viewable area of the electronic display through the plurality of layers of the sapphire material bonded together at the one or more interface layers.”

Liquid Metal US20140023430

Source

“Techniques for attachment of sapphire substrates with other materials and the resulting structures are provided. One embodiment may take the form of an attachment method including creating an aperture within a sapphire substrate and filling the aperture with an attachment material. The method also includes mechanically coupling a member to the sapphire substrate using

the attachment material.”

xi. AirPlay

Airplay is what Apple calls their proprietary audio and video streaming technology. AirPlay audio and video can be sent from any modern iOS device. AirPlay provides mirroring of anything from Facebook and Twitter, to racing and fighting games, to Apple TV and can be displayed on a big screen HDTV. This application relates to techniques for driving a remote display, using visualizations of gestures on an electronic device, as well as techniques for sharing gestures between the electronic device and the remote display. Apple states that "the display screen on a tablet computer may be too small to be used in a presentation to a large group of people. Instead, the user of the tablet computer may conduct the presentation by driving a large remote display using a screen sharing application on the tablet computer." This describes Apple's AirPlay Mirroring. Consider patent US20120262379 A1 (Gesture visualization and sharing between electronic devices and remote displays). Another Apple patent application US20130132848 A1discusses an interactive AirPlay update—one that lets a single AirPlay-enabled app simultaneously show multiple, different user interfaces on multiple display devices, co-ordinating separate interactivity with each display. User input through any display can make changes to the central app and/or modify the app’s data. In short, an app running on an iOS device could also be controlled via the second screen it’s displaying on, rather than just the iOS device itself. Recently, another patent US20140068520 A1 (Content presentation and interaction across multiple displays)was published byApple that reveals the advancement of their current AirPlay feature. The patent describes a touch device that can establish a connection with a non-touch device.

The above flow chart explains the process performed by a touch device for interacting with a non-touch device according to some embodiments of the present invention.

AirPlay US20120262379

Source

“The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates interaction between an electronic device and a remote display. The system includes a first application and an encoding apparatus on the electronic device, and a second application and a decoding apparatus on the remote display. The encoding apparatus obtains graphical output for a display of the electronic device and a first set of touch inputs associated with the graphical output from a first touch screen. Next, the encoding apparatus encodes the graphical output, and the first application transmits the graphical output and the first set of touch inputs to the remote display. Upon receiving the graphical output and the first set of touch inputs at the remote display, the decoding apparatus decodes the graphical output. The second application then uses the graphical output and a visual representation of the first set of touch inputs to drive the remote display.”

AirPlay US20130132848

Source

“Techniques for concurrently presenting multiple, distinct user interfaces for a single software application on multiple display devices. Each of the user interfaces can be interactive, such that user input received with respect to any of the user interfaces (presented on any of the display devices) can change the state of the application and/or modify data associated with the application. Further, this state or data change can be reflected in all (or a subset) of the user interfaces.”

AirPlay US20140068520

Source

“An application can generate multiple user interfaces for display across multiple electronic devices. After the electronic devices establish communication, an application running on at least one of the devices can present a first set of information items on a touch-enabled display of one of the electronic devices. The electronic device can receive a user selection of one of the first set of information items. In response to receiving the user selection, the application can generate a second set of information items for display on the other electronic device. The second set of information items can represent an additional level of information related to the selected information item.”

Conclusion

In the study, we could locate almost all the newly launched features of iPhone 6 well covered by the patents by Apple. The company is also involved in various acquisitions to ensure that the smartphone range is well protected by patents. The deep technical orientation of the company seems to lead the company to large set of consumers and at the launch only iPhone 6 could experience a record start. According to an estimate by RBC Capital Markets, analysts calculated that sales by the end of the first week could reach 10 million units. Apple could sell as many as 75 million new iPhones throughout the first quarter. This is higher than prior sales by the company for any iPhone series.

The study for patent coverage for iPhone 6 series is aimed at identifying possible patent protection for the newly introduced features in this smartphone. As the smartphone industry is aggressively moving towards highly advanced technologies and innovative developments, the industry is bound to comply with protection for intellectual property behind these developments. Therefore, receptivity to seek patent or design or trademark protections is increased amongst the industry players. Apple seems to be cautious of this fact and has filed protection for almost all the latest features attributed to the new smartphone series launched. Apple seems to be also cautious about the litigation war involved with smartphones if the features are not protected with proper patents. That’s why has won many litigation battles in this industry space. The study validates this as Apple is well involved in filing patents for almost every aspect of iPhone 6 series.

Source

Annexure

Patent/Publication No. Feature Inventor(s) Legal Status Title Application

Date

US8810367B2 Apple Pay Mullins, Scott Grant Electronic device with multimode fingerprint

reader 9/22/2011

US20140003679A1 Touch ID Han, Byron B. |

Marciniak, Craig A. Application

Enrollment Using Synthetic Fingerprint

Image and Fingerprint Sensing Systems

3/13/2013

US20130308838A1 Touch ID Westerman, Wayne C. |

Han, Byron B. | Marciniak, Craig A.

Application Efficient Texture

Comparison 3/12/2013

WO2013130396A3 Touch ID

POPE, Benjamin, J. | JARVIS, Daniel, W. |

MYERS, Scott, A. | MERZ, Nicholas, G.l.

Application

ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH SHARED NEAR

FIELD COMMUNICATIONS

AND SENSOR STRUCTURES

2/25/2013

US20140125825A1

Camera - Optical Image

Stabilization

Baer, Richard L. | Thivent, Damien J.

Application SUPER-RESOLUTION BASED ON OPTICAL

IMAGE STABILIZATION 11/8/2012

US8724017B2

FaceTime HD camera

Price, Douglas S. | Zhou, Xiaosong | Wu, Hsi-Jung

Grant Auto exposure

techniques for variable lighting conditions

11/15/2012

US20120212481A1

FaceTime HD camera

Zipnick, Jay | Bilbrey, Brett | Ouzilevski, Alexei V. | Urbina, Fernando |

Guo, Harry

Application Video Acquisition With

Integrated GPU Processing

1/13/2012

US8279836B2 Wi-Fi

Ma, Jianglei | Tong, Wen | Jia, Ming | Zhu, Peiying | Fong, Mo-Han | Zhang,

Hang

Grant Soft handoff in OFDMA

system 8/30/2011

US8787016B2 Flexible Display Rothkopf, Fletcher R. |

Janis, Andrew J. M. | Dabov, Teodor

Grant Flexible display devices 7/6/2011

US20140218856A1 Flexible Display Raff, John | Myers, Scott

A. | Stringer, Christopher Application

Electronic Devices With Flexible Displays Having

Fastened Bent Edges 4/7/2014

US7861122B2 Age monitoring Cornwell, Michael J. | Dudte, Christopher P.

Grant Monitoring health of non-volatile memory

1/27/2006

US8671170B2 Age monitoring Frank, Michael | Noorlag,

Date Jan Willem Grant

Modifying operating parameters of a device

based on aging information

5/17/2011

US8655004B2

Health tracking audio device

Prest, Christopher | Hoellwarth, Quin C.

Grant

Sports monitoring system for headphones,

earbuds and/or headsets

8/21/2008

US20140146976A1

Health tracking audio device

Rundle, Nicholas A. Application Ear Presence Detection

in Noise Cancelling Earphones

11/29/2012

US8750527 B2

Health tracking audio device

Victor Tiscareno, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi, Wendell B. Sander, Christopher

Todd Beauchamp

Grant

Electronic device and headset with speaker

seal evaluation capabilities

2/27/2013

US20140226849A1

Thin / Slim phone dimensions

Porter, Scott P. | Wilk, Christopher | Dave,

Ruchir M. Application

LONG-THROW ACOUSTIC

TRANSDUCER 2/11/2013

US8115825B2

Thin / Slim phone dimensions

Culbert, Michael F | Ligtenberg, Chris

Grant Electronic device with

two image sensors 2/20/2008

US8750527B2

Thin / Slim phone dimensions

Tiscareno, Victor | Terlizzi, Jeffrey J. |

Sander, Wendell B. | Beauchamp, Christopher

Todd

Grant

Electronic device and headset with speaker

seal evaluation capabilities

2/27/2013

US20130108906A1 Battery

Bhardwaj, Ramesh C. | Raff, John | McClure,

Stephen R. | Wang, Erik L. | Hwang, Taisup

Application

NON-RECTANGULAR BATTERIES FOR

PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES

10/28/2011

US20130108907A1 Battery

Bhardwaj, Ramesh C. | Raff, John | McClure,

Stephen R. | Wang, Erik L. | Hwang, Taisup

Application CURVED BATTERY

CELLS FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES

10/28/2011

US8738104B2

Liquid metal display

Yeates, Kyle H. Grant

Methods and systems for integrally trapping a

glass insert in a metal bezel

7/11/2008

US20140139978A1 Sapphire Display Kwong, Kelvin Application LAMINATED

ALUMINUM OXIDE COVER COMPONENT

11/16/2012

US20140023430A1 Sapphire Display

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