Apple Granted ‘In-Cell’ Touchscreen Display Patent

Apple was issued a patent for an ‘in-cell’ touchscreen display, which minimizes the depth of the screen by integrating the touch-sensors directly in to the display. This technology could potentially be used in the rumored next-generation iPhone, which is thinner than its predecessors.

The patent, which was applied for back in June 2007, is based on another set of patents, which were first applied for all the way back in 2006. The patents are all focused on reducing the size of a touchscreen mobile device, while at the same time reducing complexity and costs in the manufacturing process.

The patent’s summary is as follows:

Disclosed herein are liquid-crystal display (LCD) touch screens that integrate the touch sensing elements with the display circuitry. The integration may take a variety of forms. Touch sensing elements can be completely implemented within the LCD stackup but outside the not between the color filter plate and the array plate. Alternatively, some touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates with other touch sensing elements not between the plates.

[Macrumors via AppleInsider]