By Staff Writer (media@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Jun 22, 2015 08:26 AM EDT

Apple may be aiming to replace the unflattering antenna lines on the iPhone 6 soon.

Business Insider stated that Apple recently filed for a patent on a composite material that appears like anodized metal. However the material still lets wireless signals come in easily. As a result, a new design for iPhone may be in the works, featuring a cleaner appearance without compromising the device reception. The material may also be used to blend other surfaces into a particular product, such as the trackpad on a laptop, giving it sleeker and neater appearance.

BGR reported that despite the focus placed by Apple on the aesthetics of the iPhone 6, there are still a couple of plastic strips that remain obvious on the rear of the product. These are the anodized aluminum strips that allows different antennas in the iPhone to send and receive radio signals properly. The iPhone 5 and 5s also have the plastic strips on the back. The new material appears like the anodized aluminum surface of the smartphone, which will ultimately improve the aesthetics more should Apple decide to use it.

The patent was first filed in February 2014, but only published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in mid-June 2015. The abstract notes describe the new metal to provide the enclosure a metallic appearance without interfering with the function of a number of electrical components on the product, such as touch pads, RF antennas and touch screens.

Apple indicated that one design challenge that they dealt with involved maintaining a sleek and consistent appearance of a metallic outer enclosure to contain the different internal components. Since metal is not radio frequency transparent, it is generally a poor choice of material when the product uses electromagnetic wave transmission. Metal is also a high capacitive material and not used to cover touch screens, touch pads and other capacitive sensors. Plastic and glass surfaces also have different visual traits compared to metals, causing a visible break in the metallic surface of the housing. Such visible break can take out the consistency and smooth appearance of the metallic housing.

It is not yet certain whether the Cupertino-based company will be using the new patented material in its next line of smartphones and devices. Several Apple patents actually involve new technologies that never surface in any of their products. Apple users will only have to wait if the iPhone 7 will lose the two strips on its back.

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