Apple trying to patent technologies for a wireless computing device

Apple Computer has filed a patent for a handheld computing device. And market analysts expect this to be related to upcoming upgrades to their Apple iPod range of digital music players.

This patent application can also be related to a potential Apple iPhone which the company is rumored to be working upon.

The recent launch of Microsoft Zune has also resulted in expectations that Apple would add some kind of wireless capability on their iPods.

The patent application says: “The portable computing device includes an enclosure that surrounds and protects the internal operational components of the portable computing device. The enclosure includes a structural wall formed from a ceramic material that permits wireless communications there through. The wireless communications may for example correspond to RF communications, and further the ceramic material may be radio-transparent thereby allowing RF communications there through.”

The filing further adds: “It should be noted that ceramics have been used in a wide variety of products including electronic devices such as watches, phones, and medical instruments. In all of these cases, however, the ceramic material (sic) have not been used as structural components. In most of these cases, they have been used as cosmetic accoutrements. It is believed up till now ceramic materials have never been used as a structural element including structural frames, walls or main body of a consumer electronic device, and more particularly an enclosure of a portable electronic device such as a media player or cell phone.”

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