You may remember Quantum Research from such lawsuits as the touch sensors on iPod’s Click Wheel. At the time, Quantum CEO Hal Phillipp said “I am hoping iPhone does not contain Quantum-patented charge-transfer technology.”
Perhaps he didn’t hope hard enough. Quantum is now alleging that from what they’ve seen of the iPhone, it uses “a rear-surface touch screen, and has proximity sensing which can tell if it is held to the ear.” According to Quantum’s licensing director, Duncan Bryan, “That’s a QR capability.” You know, it’s pretty impressive that he can tell that without ever presumably having held an iPhone.
Quantum apparently does sell some chips to Apple (they’re listed on Quantum’s customer page), though apparently not for the iPhone’s screen or iPod’s Click Wheel—what does that leave? MacBook/MacBook Pro trackpads are one possibility (they were formerly made by Synaptics, but since the introduction of the two-finger scrolling version have supposedly been constructed in house). Or—*dramatic music*—is there another mysterious touch-sensitive product on its way?
[via MacSurfer]
