6项令人向往的苹果专利

专利对于科技产业的重要性，就如同仙酒之于希腊众神。谷歌、苹果和微软每年都会新增几千项专利，这并不是什么稀罕事儿。尽管许多成功注册的专利还没有得到应用，但我们不妨了解以下那些最有趣的专利，一窥未来产品可能的模样。

苹果的专利数量可能不是业内顶尖，但许多专利都有与众不同的特色。例如，苹果有一项入耳式耳塞专利，这种耳塞在你运动时都不会掉出来！（苹果看上去正在继续开发这款产品。）

要是我们能做主的话，苹果应该考虑把以下6项专利变成现实。

1、续航时间达到几天（甚至几周）的电池

这项专利名为“供便携式计算设备使用的便携低成本燃料电池系统”，今年3月提交申请，目前已经得到了许可。它证明这家科技巨头正在进行探索，试图为旗下各类产品延长电池续航时间。

该燃料电池主要利用氢和氧的结合来产生电能，它的效能比其他类型的电池要高得多。苹果在专利中写道，它有可能“让便携式电子设备运行几天甚至几周时间，而不需要充电。”

即使苹果继续深入开发这项专利，要想把它应用到消费品上，很可能还需要相当长一段时间。不过，这并不意味着续航时间长达一天——不，是一周好吗——的电池是不可能实现的，它只是暂时还没有问世而已。

2、生物追踪耳机

该专利是一种拥有内置感应器的耳机系统，可以探测使用者的心率、体温和出汗情况，从而追踪其运动和活动程度。这项专利在2008年首次提交，去年冬天获得批准。

这听起来简直太棒了，不过也有点恐怖，尤其是把它与苹果的另一项专利应用结合起来看——后者计划根据消费者的生物特征数据，给他们定向投放广告。

3、防水电子器件

今年3月，苹果申请了一项专利，旨在添加疏水涂层，以保护“对水敏感”的电子器件。防水的苹果设备？没错，要的就是它。

4、走路发短信的功能

早在2012年，苹果就申请了一项“透明界面”的短信系统专利，意图让使用者在走路时也能轻松发短信。它的理念十分简单：当iPhone用户低头发短信时，设备将会显示他或她面前的视频图像（由手机背面的摄像头拍摄），而传统短信界面的不透明界面也将被替换成半透明的文本气泡。

这项专利有点傻，的确如此，不过我们还是希望看到它变成现实。

5、语音信息过滤器

这项专利早在2003年就已提交申请，但直到去年，苹果才终于获得专利批准。该技术能让iPhone用户收听留下的语音信息，还能选择是否在信息播放期间接听电话。这几乎让你回到了座机时代。

6、找车功能

在拥挤的停车场中找不到自己的车，是一种让人非常不愉快的经历。它让你感到沮丧，甚至无语。

与上述专利一样，在2013年申请的两项专利说明，苹果也许想要解决所有困扰大众的常见问题。这项专利可以让iPhone与汽车建立蓝牙连接，利用打开的门或关闭的点火装置等触发条件，确定汽车的停车位置，然后用数码导航指引车主找到自己的车。（财富中文网）

译者：严匡正

审校：任文科

As nectar was to the Greek gods, patents are to the tech industry.

It’s not atypical for big players – your Googles, Apples, Microsofts – to add thousands of them to their portfolios every year. While many are granted only to remain unused, the most interesting ones offer sneak peaks at possible future products.

Apple may not lead the tech pack in terms of quantity, but many of its patents have a distinctive ‘it’ factor. For example, take Apple’s patent for earbuds that—get this—actually stay in your ears! (Apple seems to have followed through on this one.)

If we had our way, the company would consider doing the same on all five patents listed below.

1. A battery that lasts days (or even weeks)

Filed in March and already approved, this patent for a “portable and cost-effective fuel cell system for a portable computing device” suggests the tech giant is exploring ways to increase battery life for its array of devices.

The referenced fuel cells, which most often combine hydrogen with oxygen to create electrical energy, can be far more efficient than other battery types, potentially enabling “continued operation of portable electronic devices for days or even weeks without refueling,” Apple notes in the patent.

Even if Apple does pursue this patent, it’ll likely be awhile until it’s incorporated into consumer products. But that doesn’t mean that a day-long—nay, week-long—battery life is an impossibility—just that it hasn’t happened yet.

2. Biometric-tracking headphones

Approved last winter but originally filed back in 2008, this patent refers to a headphone system with built in sensors that can detect a wearer’s heart rate, temperature and perspiration to track his or her movements and activity level.

This sounds pretty cool—but also kind of creepy, especially when you pair it with another one of Apple’s patent applications, which lays out plans to serve consumers targeted ads based on their biometric data.

3. Waterproof electronics

In March, Apple applied for a patent that details plans to protect “water sensitive” electronics parts by coating them with a hydrophobic coating. Water-resistant iGadgets? Yes, please.

4. A ‘walk-and-text’ feature

Back in 2012, Apple filed a patent for a “transparent based” texting system that would, presumably, streamline the difficult process of texting while walking. The idea is fairly simple: when an iPhone user texts, the device will display video images of what’s directly in front him or her (captured by its rear-facing camera), with semi-transparent text bubbles replacing the typical opaque texting backdrop.

It’s a silly one, yes, but we’d still want to see it in action.

5. Voicemail screener

Originally filed all the way back in 2003, last year Apple was finally granted a patent that would enable iPhone users to listen to voicemails as they’re being left, with the option to pick up mid-message. Almost takes you back to the landline era.

6. Car-finder

Losing your car in a crowded parking lot is a uniquely hellish experience. It’s frustrating, but it also makes you feel kinda dumb.

As with the other listed items, a pair of patents filed in 2013 suggests Apple may be working to solve an all-too-common problem. The patents detail how an iPhone could establish a Bluetooth connection with a car and, using triggers such as open doors or shuttered ignitions, determine where it is parked and guide its owner to the location via digital breadcrumbs.