Panasonic's Dangerous Driving Predictor

Anyone who has ever taken a motorcycle safety class has learned the SIPDE method - Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute. According to this patent application, it looks like Panasonic has come up with a device that will do the SIP part for you. A self explanatory image from the patent application is below.

New Ford Engines Will Clean the Air

We all know Ford has quite a few engineers working on making sure that future vehicles will not produce any hydrocarbon emissions from their tailpipes. Apparently, they also have a few engineers working on capturing hydrocarbon emissions from the front end. According to this patent application, Ford has developed an air intake system that scrubs incoming air for hydrocarbons. An image from the patent application is below.

Apple Switching to Replaceable Batteries

Looks like Apple may finally start offering iPhones and iPods with user replaceable batteries. According to this patent application, Apple has developed an ultra thin battery with a connector that allows it to be user replaceable. The patent application does not explain why it took them so long. An image from the application is below.

Supreme Court Hears In re Bilski

The United States Supreme Court heard oral argument today for In re Bilski. The transcript of the oral argument can be found here.

Apple Bringing Multi-touch to iPhone

Looks like iPhone may soon do what Droid doesn't. According to this patent application, Apple has developed a multi-touch interface system for use in portable devices. Perhaps this is a preview of the next iPhone's technology. What is interesting is that these panels can be applied to the inside of a curved surface. Who knows what Apple has in mind with that little twist. An image from the patent application is below.

BMW Tries To Patent Creative Thinking

We've written about BMW's attempts to patent the concept of auto leasing before. Now comes an attempt to patent the concept of problem solving. According to this patent application, BMW thinks it has invented the concept of "identifying technology-based solutions in the context of technical component development includ[ing] identifying technical components for particular technical systems, as well as the corresponding technological functions associated with the identified technical components." An image from the patent application is below.