Apple’s shift toward solid-state buttons has been an ongoing subject of speculation, with patents offering a glimpse into its evolving technology roadmap. During Q2 (April–June), Apple’s patent activities suggest continued investment in refining haptic feedback, pressure sensitivity, and optimizing touch sensors.
Trend of Publication
| Month(count) | |
|---|---|
| April(11) | █████████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ |
| May(14) | ███████████████████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ |
| June(11) | █████████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ |
Top Publishing Geographies
| Country | ||
|---|---|---|
| US | 20 | ████████████████████████████████████████░░░ |
| China | 8 | ██████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ |
| Korea | 3 | ███░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ |
Other Key Innovations
1. Optimizing Touch Sensors
What could be Apple doing?
Apple might be working on optimizing touch sensors in to function seamlessly with reduced manufacturing costs, ensuring consistent touch sensitivity and accuracy.
What does this mean?
Apple is addressing challenges specific to enable more advanced and responsive touch inputs on devices.
Related patents: US11983371B2, US12013741B2, US12014003B2
2. Improving Multi-Touch Capabilities with Haptic Feedback
What could be Apple doing?
Apple might be working on integrating haptic feedback into touch inputs with certain intensity to enhance the multi-touch experience, providing users with tactile responses to their interactions.
What does this mean?
Integrating haptic feedbapples-solid-state-button-patent-activities-in-july-2024ack into touch inputs could result in more immersive and responsive user interactions.
Related patents: US12050770B2
Citations from Telecom Industry in this Quarter
| Company | What did they cite for? |
|---|---|
| Samsung | Touch interfaces, haptic feedback, and efficient virtual assistant triggering |
| Vivo | Touch input devices, haptic feedback, and efficient user interface design to enhance user experience and reduce power consumption |
| Xiaomi | Haptic feedback and improved touchscreen interfaces to enhance user interactions |
