How Apple Embeds Haptic Actuators Directly Into Device Layers
A design for touchscreens that embeds vibration-producing actuators directly into a nonconductive material layer, paired with force sensors to detect how hard a user presses.
Original patent title: “Touch-based user interface with haptic feedback”
A design for touchscreens that embeds vibration-producing actuators directly into a nonconductive material layer, paired with force sensors to detect how hard a user presses. Granted to Apple Inc in 2018 with 23 claims and 18 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way to build a touch interface where haptic actuators—the parts that make your phone vibrate or click—are physically embedded inside a nonconductive material layer. By placing a printed circuit board (PCB) between this haptic layer and force sensors, the device can effectively separate the vibration mechanism from the pressure-sensing mechanism. This allows the device to provide tactile feedback while simultaneously measuring the intensity of a user's touch. For example, a screen could feel like a physical button by vibrating when pressed, while the sensors determine if the user performed a light tap or a deep press.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover haptic systems that use external vibration motors attached to the device chassis rather than embedded in the interface layer.
- Does not cover software-based haptic simulations that rely solely on screen animations without physical actuators.
- Does not cover touch interfaces that lack force-sensing capabilities.
- Does not cover systems where the actuators are not embedded within a nonconductive material layer.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in embedding the actuators directly into a rigid nonconductive material that acts as a structural layer, rather than just mounting them to the back of a screen, which allows for more precise and localized haptic feedback.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
iPhone 7 and 8 Home buttons
Apple Watch Force Touch screens
MacBook Force Touch trackpads
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is central to the 'Taptic Engine' and Force Touch features seen in Apple's modern hardware. It allowed for the removal of physical moving buttons, such as the home button on the iPhone 7, by creating a convincing illusion of a click through precise, localized vibration.
Filed
September 21, 2010
Granted
July 3, 2018
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Apple remains the primary user of this specific integrated haptic architecture. Other companies in the smartphone and laptop industry, such as Samsung and various high-end PC manufacturers, continue to develop competing haptic feedback systems, though they often use different mechanical arrangements for their vibration modules.
Market impact
This patent helped enable the transition from mechanical buttons to solid-state interfaces in consumer electronics. By providing a reliable way to simulate physical feedback, it allowed manufacturers to create more durable, water-resistant devices with fewer moving parts, setting a new standard for user interface expectations.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way to build a touch interface where haptic actuators—the parts that make your phone vibrate or click—are physically embedded inside a nonconductive material layer. By placing a printed circuit board (PCB) between this haptic layer and force sensors, the device can effectively separate the vibration mechanism from the pressure-sensing mechanism. This allows the device to provide tactile feedback while simultaneously measuring the intensity of a user's touch. For example, a screen could feel like a physical button by vibrating when pressed, while the sensors determine if the user performed a light tap or a deep press.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in embedding the actuators directly into a rigid nonconductive material that acts as a structural layer, rather than just mounting them to the back of a screen, which allows for more precise and localized haptic feedback.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover haptic systems that use external vibration motors attached to the device chassis rather than embedded in the interface layer.
- Does not cover software-based haptic simulations that rely solely on screen animations without physical actuators.
- Does not cover touch interfaces that lack force-sensing capabilities.
- Does not cover systems where the actuators are not embedded within a nonconductive material layer.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
26/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$164K – $524K
Midpoint $328K · 4.3 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
23 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Pilliod, M., & Puskarich, P. G. (2018). How Apple Embeds Haptic Actuators Directly Into Device Layers (U.S. Patent No. 10,013,058). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10013058/face-id
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US10013058"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
More to explore
More in Consumer Electronics
US 7657849 · 2010 · Apple Inc
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
US 7479949 · 2009 · Apple Inc
How Touchscreens Understand Your Finger Swipes and Scrolls
US 4528643 · 1985 · FPDC Inc
How Stores Make Custom Products On-Demand with Remote Approval
US 7469381 · 2008 · Apple Inc
How Touchscreens Show and Snap Back When You Scroll Past an Edge
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Apple Embeds Haptic Actuators Directly Into Device Layers cover?
A design for touchscreens that embeds vibration-producing actuators directly into a nonconductive material layer, paired with force sensors to detect how hard a user presses.
Who owns patent US 10013058?
Apple Inc owns this patent, granted in 2018.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on July 3, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 10013058 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 18 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is central to the 'Taptic Engine' and Force Touch features seen in Apple's modern hardware. It allowed for the removal of physical moving buttons, such as the home button on the iPhone 7, by creating a convincing illusion of a click through precise, localized vibration.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover haptic systems that use external vibration motors attached to the device chassis rather than embedded in the interface layer.
Same assignee
More from Apple Inc
Patent monitoring