專(zhuān)利對(duì)于科技產(chǎn)業(yè)的重要性，就如同仙酒之于希臘眾神。谷歌、蘋(píng)果和微軟每年都會(huì)新增幾千項(xiàng)專(zhuān)利，這并不是什么稀罕事兒。盡管許多成功注冊(cè)的專(zhuān)利還沒(méi)有得到應(yīng)用，但我們不妨了解以下那些最有趣的專(zhuān)利，一窺未來(lái)產(chǎn)品可能的模樣。

蘋(píng)果的專(zhuān)利數(shù)量可能不是業(yè)內(nèi)頂尖，但許多專(zhuān)利都有與眾不同的特色。例如，蘋(píng)果有一項(xiàng)入耳式耳塞專(zhuān)利，這種耳塞在你運(yùn)動(dòng)時(shí)都不會(huì)掉出來(lái)！（蘋(píng)果看上去正在繼續(xù)開(kāi)發(fā)這款產(chǎn)品。）

要是我們能做主的話(huà)，蘋(píng)果應(yīng)該考慮把以下6項(xiàng)專(zhuān)利變成現(xiàn)實(shí)。

1、續(xù)航時(shí)間達(dá)到幾天（甚至幾周）的電池

這項(xiàng)專(zhuān)利名為“供便攜式計(jì)算設(shè)備使用的便攜低成本燃料電池系統(tǒng)”，今年3月提交申請(qǐng)，目前已經(jīng)得到了許可。它證明這家科技巨頭正在進(jìn)行探索，試圖為旗下各類(lèi)產(chǎn)品延長(zhǎng)電池續(xù)航時(shí)間。

該燃料電池主要利用氫和氧的結(jié)合來(lái)產(chǎn)生電能，它的效能比其他類(lèi)型的電池要高得多。蘋(píng)果在專(zhuān)利中寫(xiě)道，它有可能“讓便攜式電子設(shè)備運(yùn)行幾天甚至幾周時(shí)間，而不需要充電。”

即使蘋(píng)果繼續(xù)深入開(kāi)發(fā)這項(xiàng)專(zhuān)利，要想把它應(yīng)用到消費(fèi)品上，很可能還需要相當(dāng)長(zhǎng)一段時(shí)間。不過(guò)，這并不意味著續(xù)航時(shí)間長(zhǎng)達(dá)一天——不，是一周好嗎——的電池是不可能實(shí)現(xiàn)的，它只是暫時(shí)還沒(méi)有問(wèn)世而已。

2、生物追蹤耳機(jī)

該專(zhuān)利是一種擁有內(nèi)置感應(yīng)器的耳機(jī)系統(tǒng)，可以探測(cè)使用者的心率、體溫和出汗情況，從而追蹤其運(yùn)動(dòng)和活動(dòng)程度。這項(xiàng)專(zhuān)利在2008年首次提交，去年冬天獲得批準(zhǔn)。

這聽(tīng)起來(lái)簡(jiǎn)直太棒了，不過(guò)也有點(diǎn)恐怖，尤其是把它與蘋(píng)果的另一項(xiàng)專(zhuān)利應(yīng)用結(jié)合起來(lái)看——后者計(jì)劃根據(jù)消費(fèi)者的生物特征數(shù)據(jù)，給他們定向投放廣告。

3、防水電子器件

今年3月，蘋(píng)果申請(qǐng)了一項(xiàng)專(zhuān)利，旨在添加疏水涂層，以保護(hù)“對(duì)水敏感”的電子器件。防水的蘋(píng)果設(shè)備？沒(méi)錯(cuò)，要的就是它。

4、走路發(fā)短信的功能

早在2012年，蘋(píng)果就申請(qǐng)了一項(xiàng)“透明界面”的短信系統(tǒng)專(zhuān)利，意圖讓使用者在走路時(shí)也能輕松發(fā)短信。它的理念十分簡(jiǎn)單：當(dāng)iPhone用戶(hù)低頭發(fā)短信時(shí)，設(shè)備將會(huì)顯示他或她面前的視頻圖像（由手機(jī)背面的攝像頭拍攝），而傳統(tǒng)短信界面的不透明界面也將被替換成半透明的文本氣泡。

這項(xiàng)專(zhuān)利有點(diǎn)傻，的確如此，不過(guò)我們還是希望看到它變成現(xiàn)實(shí)。

5、語(yǔ)音信息過(guò)濾器

這項(xiàng)專(zhuān)利早在2003年就已提交申請(qǐng)，但直到去年，蘋(píng)果才終于獲得專(zhuān)利批準(zhǔn)。該技術(shù)能讓iPhone用戶(hù)收聽(tīng)留下的語(yǔ)音信息，還能選擇是否在信息播放期間接聽(tīng)電話(huà)。這幾乎讓你回到了座機(jī)時(shí)代。

6、找車(chē)功能

在擁擠的停車(chē)場(chǎng)中找不到自己的車(chē)，是一種讓人非常不愉快的經(jīng)歷。它讓你感到沮喪，甚至無(wú)語(yǔ)。

與上述專(zhuān)利一樣，在2013年申請(qǐng)的兩項(xiàng)專(zhuān)利說(shuō)明，蘋(píng)果也許想要解決所有困擾大眾的常見(jiàn)問(wèn)題。這項(xiàng)專(zhuān)利可以讓iPhone與汽車(chē)建立藍(lán)牙連接，利用打開(kāi)的門(mén)或關(guān)閉的點(diǎn)火裝置等觸發(fā)條件，確定汽車(chē)的停車(chē)位置，然后用數(shù)碼導(dǎo)航指引車(chē)主找到自己的車(chē)。（財(cái)富中文網(wǎng)）

譯者：嚴(yán)匡正

審校：任文科

As nectar was to the Greek gods, patents are to the tech industry.

It’s not atypical for big players – your Googles, Apples, Microsofts – to add thousands of them to their portfolios every year. While many are granted only to remain unused, the most interesting ones offer sneak peaks at possible future products.

Apple may not lead the tech pack in terms of quantity, but many of its patents have a distinctive ‘it’ factor. For example, take Apple’s patent for earbuds that—get this—actually stay in your ears! (Apple seems to have followed through on this one.)

If we had our way, the company would consider doing the same on all five patents listed below.

1. A battery that lasts days (or even weeks)

Filed in March and already approved, this patent for a “portable and cost-effective fuel cell system for a portable computing device” suggests the tech giant is exploring ways to increase battery life for its array of devices.

The referenced fuel cells, which most often combine hydrogen with oxygen to create electrical energy, can be far more efficient than other battery types, potentially enabling “continued operation of portable electronic devices for days or even weeks without refueling,” Apple notes in the patent.

Even if Apple does pursue this patent, it’ll likely be awhile until it’s incorporated into consumer products. But that doesn’t mean that a day-long—nay, week-long—battery life is an impossibility—just that it hasn’t happened yet.

2. Biometric-tracking headphones

Approved last winter but originally filed back in 2008, this patent refers to a headphone system with built in sensors that can detect a wearer’s heart rate, temperature and perspiration to track his or her movements and activity level.

This sounds pretty cool—but also kind of creepy, especially when you pair it with another one of Apple’s patent applications, which lays out plans to serve consumers targeted ads based on their biometric data.

3. Waterproof electronics

In March, Apple applied for a patent that details plans to protect “water sensitive” electronics parts by coating them with a hydrophobic coating. Water-resistant iGadgets? Yes, please.

4. A ‘walk-and-text’ feature

Back in 2012, Apple filed a patent for a “transparent based” texting system that would, presumably, streamline the difficult process of texting while walking. The idea is fairly simple: when an iPhone user texts, the device will display video images of what’s directly in front him or her (captured by its rear-facing camera), with semi-transparent text bubbles replacing the typical opaque texting backdrop.

It’s a silly one, yes, but we’d still want to see it in action.

5. Voicemail screener

Originally filed all the way back in 2003, last year Apple was finally granted a patent that would enable iPhone users to listen to voicemails as they’re being left, with the option to pick up mid-message. Almost takes you back to the landline era.

6. Car-finder

Losing your car in a crowded parking lot is a uniquely hellish experience. It’s frustrating, but it also makes you feel kinda dumb.

As with the other listed items, a pair of patents filed in 2013 suggests Apple may be working to solve an all-too-common problem. The patents detail how an iPhone could establish a Bluetooth connection with a car and, using triggers such as open doors or shuttered ignitions, determine where it is parked and guide its owner to the location via digital breadcrumbs.