New Apple patents include tactile/haptic feedback, fingerprint ID and RFID tag readers

By on Jul 2, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Services July 2, 2009

A trio of Apple patent applications unearthed this morning may help shed some light on future features and functionality headed to a new crop of iPhones. Then again we all know how easy it is for patents to lead absolutely nowhere. The first and most notable of the bunch is a haptic feedback concept employing a “grid of piezoelectronic actuators” that combine to form a fully tactile touchscreen. In theory, the device could vibrate these actuators in different combinations and at different frequencies to provide a variety of tactile responses. Interesting as it may be, this isn’t the first apple patent to cover a haptic feedback solution for a touchscreen — another notable concept came in late 2007 and has yet to bear fruit. At the same time, it’s good to see that Apple recognizes the downsides of touchscreen-only devices and is working on creative solutions for the problem. From the application:

However, one of a touchscreen’s biggest advantages (i.e., the ability to utilize the same physical space for different functions) is also one of a touchscreen’s biggest disadvantages. When the user is unable to view the display (because the user is occupied with other tasks), the user can only feel the smooth hard surface of the touchscreen, regardless of the shape, size and location of the virtual buttons and/or other display elements. This makes it difficult for users to find icons, hyperlinks, textboxes or other user-selectable input elements that are being displayed, if any are even being displayed, without looking at the display.

The other two patents covered this morning are also of interest, the second covering fingerprint identification as an input method. This concept also addresses the usage of a touchscreen without the need to look at it during operation — providing a system whereby a device will be able to identify different fingers by fingerprint and the mere touch with a specific finger will result in a corresponding function. In other words, while in a certain mode an iPhone might perform the following functions when touched anywhere by the following fingers:

Last up this morning is an application that places an RFID tag reader in the actual display panel of a device, allowing it to read RFID tags. We’re not sure exactly how a device will benefit from having the RFID antenna in the screen as opposed to in another area of the case but hey, patent attorneys need something to do on slow days, too.

[Via MacRumors]

Read (tactile touchscreen)
Read (fingerprint ID)
Read (RFID)

Tags:
, , , , , , , ,
38 Comments

Related Articles

  • Angel

    @slimjim lmao….. flash..
    Who cares apple? not this guy. At least this is better then them announcing WE NOW HAVE COPY AND PASTE!!….Blackberry FTW

  • Tinker
  • mondo cane
  • Rob

    a couple of applications spring to mind
    Retail…….medical…

    RFID’s in stickers, tags, labels…

    The application displays products which bounce to the server or via 3g to warehouse or suppliers…
    Include the barcode reader and you’ve got something really universal :-)

    I thought that would be obvious…

  • anonymousTSR

    @@IphoneGS,

    I agree, all these people are bitching about these patents but really people, no one gets to complain from now on unless you provide a comparison that’s worth while…

    … Oh wait, you can’t. Bottom line, Apple has one of the most solid touch screens on the market and they know what they’re doing… Plus, now that Steve is back, we don’t have to worry about Apple creating stupid shit anymore, like the new shuffle… Hopefully.

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Findlay United States

  • toursux

    hah apple will never be as big as microsoft!!!q

  • toursux

    nokia phones are fugly!

  • ~Phel

    You guys may have not know this but….apple actually invented the cell phone as well as the english written language and mathematics….

  • Hhill

    Huh huh, good one.

  • MarinerMB

    Its strange to hear so many people excited about fingerprint technology etc on our phones… Guess the government thought it would get too much slack if it put a chip into our arms. What’s next?

  • http://vancedecker.com Vance Decker

    Is this Mac Drone Sarcasm?

    There are lots of phones with haptic feedback.

  • http://www.symbian-freak.com christexaport

    @ Vance Decker,
    This is TACTILE haptic feedback. What is so funny is this is what sound like a copy of a Nokia patented technology called Haptikos, which they’ve already shown in a working device over 2 years ago. Not only does the device screen make noises and vibrations to signify activity, but with tactile haptics, the screen forms actual bumps to form buttons, a braille screen, if you will. This would negate the need for a keypad altogether if done right. Designers could simply draw their own custom controls.

  • http://www.symbian-freak.com christexaport

    The fingerprint input method is pretty interesting. I did some research, and apparently, Apple sees this as the future of inputting data on a touchscreen. I think it is limiting, since it assumes a user as x fingers, it seems cumbersome, since it’ll obviously require two hands, and privacy issues come up when such a connected device’s app can store your fingerprint data. It doesn’t sound intuitive, but you never know. I bet QWERTY didn’t seem intuitive either.

1 2
blog comments powered by Disqus