Apple has been issued a couple new patents by the USPTO today including one for hover touch sensing the likes of which we’re starting to see rolled out in Android-powered devices lately like the Samsung Galaxy S4. Another patent issued today covers an embedded heart rate monitor that could add one more sensor to the iPhone, with potential for biometrics and fitness apps.
Apple on Tuesday was granted two iOS device-targeted patents, one for a “touch and hover” display panel that is made more accurate by compensating for signal drift, and another for heart rate monitor that can be seamlessly integrated into a handset. The newer of Tuesday’s patents, Apple’s extensive U.S. Patent No. 8,614,693 for “Touch and hover signal drift compensation” describes a system in which a touchscreen display can accurately determine both hover and touch events.
