Apple's MacBook patent with touch screen has been approved, showing the return of controversial Touch Bar

Thanks to CTOnews.com netizen South China Wu Yanzu for the clue delivery! CTOnews.com July 21 news, according to the list published by the United States Trademark and Patent Office, Apple obtained the design patent number US 20230229252 A1, suggesting that the future MacBook notebook screen will support force sensitive 3D touch, and the controversial Touch Bar may also return.

Apple introduced the Touch Bar in 13-inch/ 15-inch MacBook Pro notebooks in 2016, but the feature was controversial among users and removed when the company launched 14-inch/ 16-inch MacBook Pro notebooks in 2021.

Apple describes the touch screen design in the patent, and the Touch Bar at the top of the keyboard acts as an auxiliary screen to meet the user's various interaction needs.

CTOnews.com cites Apple patents describing that the secondary screen may be used as an additional or auxiliary input device, which may in some embodiments extend the functionality of the primary input device.

It may also adjust one or more elements, icons, graphics, etc. shown on the display to provide content input to the user based on contextual changes in user interaction.

Apple also obtained a patent in June 2022 called "Installable Tools Computer," demonstrating a Touch Bar design that supports Apple Pencil.