RIM just received a patent for yet another filing they made back in November of 2007. This patent which has been 5 years in the patent approval process essentially modulates the volume on your smartphone based on how close your ear is to the speaker. That means it would have at least one touch sensor but probably more and based on how good of a seal your phone has in your ear it will adjust the volume. It can also remember the history of previous seals so it learns your usage patterns.
Its a very cool idea for a phone and definitely fits in with RIM’s engineering history like the magnetic holsters, light sensors, and trackpads. Kudos to the Engadget team for spotting this on the USPTO website.
