Apple Patent Application: Disappearing Buttons

Apple has applied for a new patent which would create disappearing buttons on the system chassis, allowing for less protruding items to click, giving a smoother finish to their devices.

The button would work like the sleep indicator light on the front of the MacBook Pro that disappears when the notebook is awake.

The patent calls for pressure-sensitive capacitive touchscreen materials that can be added directly to the surface of aluminum based devices. These surface will work by implementing laser-cut, micro-perforated holes that shine through from inside the device.

Apple engineers would like to use the surface for “light-up controls” on the laptops lips. USB chraging, media playback, local head and sound sensors and anything else Apple can imagine could benefit from the new technology. [AppleInsider]