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On Wednesday, Apple Inc. launched its anticipated iPad handheld device, which appears to have the functionality of an iPhone and more with nearly a ten inch screen. The day before, however, is also notable as U.S. Patent No. 7,653,883, entitled "Proximity detector in handheld device," was issued to Apple by the USPTO. According to the patent, the invention relates to an I/O platform having an I/O surface with I/O devices, including "a proximity detection system configured to detect when a finger is in close proximity to but not contacting the I/O surface," and in another embodiment, the invention relates to a portable computing device having such a proximity detection system. As noted by a recent PC Magazine article (available HERE through Yahoo! News), "the patent in question?doesn?t cover the tablet itself, but a means of data entry within it." If you have an interest in following Apple?s new patents, Jack Purcher?s Patently Apple blog (available HERE) may be of interest to you.

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