Future iPhones Might Have Illuminated ‘Adjustable’ Apple Logo, Patent Shows

Some Apple devices proudly show that they are made by the Cupertino tech giant using an illuminated Apple logo. Older MacBook models, for example had the Apple logo lighting up every time the device was opened. A new patent recently published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, however, reveals that more devices will enjoy this logo, and more, in the future.

The patent, titled “Electronic Devices With Adjustable Decoration,” described devices that have an “adjustable decoration” formed on them. This decoration “may include a logo, or may be used to form other visual elements,” which will be adjustable based on control circuitry in the device. The patent was first spotted by Digital Trends.

The patent states that the technology generally relates to electronic devices such as computers and wearables. It also specifically mentions “cellular telephones,” which likely points to the iPhone. That said, this new patent indicates Apple’s desire to turn the Apple logo at the back of the iPhone and other Apple devices into something that’s more than just a decoration.

The patent said the adjustable decoration’s appearance will vary depending on the data gathered by the device’s control circuitry - or basically, what is happening to the device.

The decoration will look different when there’s an incoming call or text, a calendar reminder is coming up, electrical components such as cameras are turned on, or when the user is typing or doing something with the device. Simply put, the decoration will adjust itself to notify users of specific events or updates relating to the device.

The patent also said that the adjustable decoration can be “adjusted for aesthetic reasons.” Users might be able to change the color to correspond to certain circumstances, or “other appearance attribute.”

Patent images reveal that Apple plans to do this on a range of electronic devices including the iPhone, MacBook, Mac, iPad, a wristwatch device (likely the Apple Watch) and other wearable devices (like a “head-mounted device”). It’s easy to imagine Apple applying the tech to the logos on the iPhone, MacBook and iPad, but it’s unclear as to how Apple will apply this to the Apple Watch.