6z IntzCell Phone ChannelNov. 1, 2012 - The latest news is that Apple may return to the illuminated logo on MacBooks in the future.The illuminated logo was on the lid of the third-generation PowerBook G3, introduced in 1999, and switched to a polished-metal logo in 2015, starting with the ultra-thin 12-inch MacBook, as seen on the iPad.In 2016, a new generation of MacBook Pro models continued the non-illuminated trend, and Apple hasn't released a Mac laptop with an illuminated logo since.
A new patent filed by Apple in May 2022 and issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office last week summarizes various implementations of "electronic devices with backlit partial mirror structures," but the illustrated examples leave little doubt in the reader's mind as to the specific use cases Apple has in mind.
An electronic device, such as a laptop or other device may have an enclosure. Components such as a monitor and a keyboard may be mounted in the enclosure. The rear portion of the enclosure may be provided with a logo. The logo or other structure in the device may be provided with a backlit partially reflective mirror. The mirror may provide the logo or other structure with a shiny appearance while blocking internal components from view. At the same time, the partial transparency of the mirror allows LED lighting from inside the device to pass through."
"One or more thin film layers may be configured to provide a partial reflector having a desired visible light reflection spectrum, a desired visible light transmission spectrum, and a desired visible light absorption spectrum. The reflectivity of said mirrors may be configured such that said mirrors act as unidirectional reflectors for signs or other structures. The mirror may be a neutral color, such as light gray, or a non-neutral color, such as gold."
