According to the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office publicized list, Apple has obtained the design patent number US 20230229252 A1, suggesting that the future of the MacBook laptop screen will support the force sensitive 3D touch, and the controversial Touch Bar may also return.
Apple introduced the Touch Bar in its 13-inch / 15-inch MacBook Pro laptops in 2016, but the feature was so controversial with users that the company removed it when it launched its 14-inch / 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops in 2021.
Apple’s patent describes a touchscreen design, with the Touch Bar on top of the keyboard acting as a secondary screen for a variety of user interactions.
Citing Apple’s patent description, the auxiliary screen can be used as an additional or auxiliary input device, can in some embodiments can extend the function of the main input device.
It can also adjust one or more of the elements, icons, graphics, etc. shown on the display to provide content input to the user based on contextual changes in user interaction.
Apple was also granted a patent in June 2022 for a “mountable tool computer” that shows a Touch Bar design that supports the Apple Pencil.
