Published on: 2/7/2016IST

Anuj Tiwari Last updated on: 2/7/2016, Permalink

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© Provided by IBT US iPhone 7 Rumors Apple Patent

With 3D Touch, the iPhone gained the ability to detect different levels of pressure on its touchscreen display. But a new invention from Apple may take that even further, giving users the ability to control future iPhones — perhaps the anticipated "iPhone 7" — without actually touching the screen.

A patent titled “Proximity and Multi-touch Sensor Detection and Modulation,” was published and granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday, detailing a new invention which would enable the users to control a device by hovering their hand over a touchscreen display. The invention would use the iPhone’s built-in proximity sensor as well as additional sensors to detect the hand gesture.

© Provided by IBT USAn illustration of Apple's hovering hand gesture control invention with a keyboard and touchpad. Photo: USPTO/Apple Inc. 

Such applications could be used to trigger various controls on the iPhone, such as dimming the display, powering off the screen and other functions. In addition to touchscreen displays, Apple also extends the feature to devices such as iPads, iPods, Mac touchpads and Mac keyboards.

© Provided by IBT USApple's hovering gesture control invention could be used in a future iPhone. Photo: USPTO/Apple Inc. 

Outside of its own products, Apple proposes using the invention in applications such as ATMs, store registers, gaming machines, airline ticket terminals and more.

While such a hovering hand invention hasn’t made its way onto Apple’s iPhone just yet, a similar feature does exist, buried in the accessibility options of the device. After navigating over to the Settings > General > Accessibility > Switch Control, iPhone owners can enable “Switch Control,” which uses the device’s FaceTime camera to highlight on-screen items based on head movements.

© Provided by IBT USApple's iPhone has a built-in accessibility feature which lets users navigate their device by tilting their head left and right. Photo: Composite/International Business Times 

In addition to touchscreen applications, Apple also has several related motion-sensing patents, which it obtained through the 2013 acquisition of Primesense, the Israeli company behind the first Microsoft Kinect, released for the Xbox 360 in 2010.

As with many of Apple’s granted patents and patent applications, it’s unknown if or when it plans to use the feature in one of its products. Apple first filed the patent on March 23, 2015 and credits Apple engineers Steven Hotelling and Christoph Krah for the invention.