Latest Apple patent will turn all antennas invisible on iOS and Mac products

No more antennas in Apple products, seems to be the hint behind the recent acquisition of patent 20150167193, titled: “ Non-capacitive or radio-frequency transparent-transparent material with anodized metal appearance“.

The patent, secured June 18, described a metal-like material that is completely transparent to wireless signals. The abstract hints to a composite structure, in the form of a metal oxide layer, on which a non-capacitive layer has been placed, to minimize or eliminate interference.

The method described in the patent could allow iPhone, iPad and even MacBook products, to benefit from stronger Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signal, without compromising on the outer appearance of the device. By the same token, a very likely application of this principle could be seen in the next iteration of the iPhone, which might no longer show the two horizontal plastic strips necessary to prevent interference with the iPhone’s antenna.

On MacBook and iPad devices, this type of material could be integrated in key areas, such as the trackpad and even touchscreens. In theory, this would allow for WiFi signal and other wireless communication to pass through touchscreen displays.

Apple’s big picture

Apple has been very busy updating its patent portfolio, and while in the past, patents have been merely acquired as part of a preemptive strategy, recent reports indicate that Apple is gearing up for a much faster rate of applications of at least a blend of these patents, in products that could be introduced as early as this year.

With Microsoft getting ready to release its Surface Pro 4, Apple is expected to be working on what some are speculating as the next MacBook Air, although, thinking back to the 12 inch MacBook Retina, we wouldn’t be surprised if the device Apple is planning to pitch against Microsoft, could be something just as unique as the new MacBook Retina, or a blend of the new 12 inch MacBook Retina and the new 15 inch MacBook Pro.