Apple recently obtained 37 patent grants according to the US Patent and Trademark Office. The granted patents include five design patents and two major iDevice technologies. The patents also hint what people can expect from upcoming iPad series including the iPad 4 and the iPad Air 2. Two major iDevice technologies discuss the use of accelerometer and new touch sensor.

According to the patent listing, the tech giant has patented a technology allowing the company to use an accelerometer in its devices. The patent describes operating the mobile device through the accelerometer.

Apple filed the original patent in 2004. The patent describes a computer featuring an accelerometer to write on the hard drive or protect a read. Back then, the company did not specify as many applications of the accelerometer in relation to executable software in a smartphone or tablet device.

Apple filed the patent originally for navigation applications, future games and other related functions. The company was able to incorporate these accelerometer uses in the iPad series. This placed the iPad series ahead of other companies like Samsung. iPad became one of the best selling tablets across the globe. It appears this time that Apple wants to expand the use of accelerometer more.

Apple credits David Falkenburg, Louis Gerbarg, Aaron Leiba, Richard Williams, Ray Chang and Paul Wehrenberg for the invention. The patent goes by the number 8,698,744. It was filed in the second quarter of 2010. The new system should trickle down to the next iPad release.

New Touch Sensor Patent

Apple obtained another patent for a new multi-touch sensor. According to the abstract of the patent:

"Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device."

Apple has been applying for many patents about multi-touch sensors over the years. Apple has not made official announcements about the final features of the upcoming iPads. Looking at the company's patent history, these technologies should be included in the products soon.