How Laptops Create Localized Vibrations on Their Surfaces
Apple's patent describes a laptop design that delivers tiny, distinct vibrations to specific parts of its surface, like a trackpad or palm rest, without those vibrations being felt in the areas right next to them.
Original patent title: “Laptop computing device with discrete haptic regions”
Apple's patent describes a laptop design that delivers tiny, distinct vibrations to specific parts of its surface, like a trackpad or palm rest, without those vibrations being felt in the areas right next to them. Granted to Apple in 2021 with 23 claims and 9 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2039.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a laptop computing device that provides precise haptic (touch-based) feedback in very specific areas. The laptop's lower portion, which includes the keyboard and trackpad, is designed with multiple "discrete haptic regions" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1) that touch each other. Each of these regions has its own "haptic actuator" (Claim 1) that can make it vibrate. The key feature is that when one region vibrates, a user touching an "abutting" (next to) region will not feel that vibration (Claim 1). For example, a specific part of a trackpad could provide a click sensation, while the area immediately surrounding it remains still. Claim 2 specifies that the active region deforms by at least 10 microns, while an abutting region deforms by less than 10 microns.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Haptic feedback that is felt broadly across a large surface, like an entire trackpad vibrating uniformly.
- Devices where haptic output in one region is easily perceptible in an immediately adjacent region.
- Haptic feedback systems that do not involve distinct, separate haptic regions.
- Haptic feedback that does not cause a physical deformation of the device's outer surface (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 8).
- Haptic systems in devices that are not specifically laptop computing devices (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in creating haptic outputs that are highly localized and *imperceptible* in immediately adjacent areas. This precision is achieved by carefully coupling individual actuators to specific "discrete haptic regions" and potentially using techniques like destructive interference (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 6) to cancel out unwanted vibrations, ensuring a clean, precise tactile experience.
The Patent Drawing
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
Apple MacBook Force Touch trackpads
Gaming laptop palm rests providing specific in-game feedback
Virtual keyboards on flat surfaces that simulate key presses
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology allows for more nuanced and precise tactile feedback on laptop surfaces. Instead of a whole trackpad clicking, a user could feel distinct sensations in different parts of the trackpad, or even in the palm rest (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 9), providing richer interaction without distracting vibrations elsewhere. This could enhance virtual button feels or provide warnings in specific areas, making interactions more intuitive and immersive.
Filed
January 30, 2019
Granted
March 9, 2021
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Apple Inc., as the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is actively developing and integrating advanced haptic technologies into its products like MacBooks and iPhones. Other major laptop manufacturers, such as Dell, HP, and Lenovo, also invest in haptic feedback for their trackpads and keyboards, seeking to enhance user experience through more precise tactile sensations.
Market impact
This patent supports the trend towards more sophisticated user interfaces that rely on tactile feedback, moving beyond simple vibrations. It enables richer interactions by allowing specific parts of a device's surface to provide distinct sensations, potentially leading to more intuitive controls and improved accessibility. This precision can help differentiate products in a competitive market by offering a superior and less distracting haptic experience.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a laptop computing device that provides precise haptic (touch-based) feedback in very specific areas. The laptop's lower portion, which includes the keyboard and trackpad, is designed with multiple "discrete haptic regions" (Claim 1) that touch each other. Each of these regions has its own "haptic actuator" (Claim 1) that can make it vibrate. The key feature is that when one region vibrates, a user touching an "abutting" (next to) region will not feel that vibration (Claim 1). For example, a specific part of a trackpad could provide a click sensation, while the area immediately surrounding it remains still. Claim 2 specifies that the active region deforms by at least 10 microns, while an abutting region deforms by less than 10 microns.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in creating haptic outputs that are highly localized and *imperceptible* in immediately adjacent areas. This precision is achieved by carefully coupling individual actuators to specific "discrete haptic regions" and potentially using techniques like destructive interference (Claim 6) to cancel out unwanted vibrations, ensuring a clean, precise tactile experience.
What it does not cover
- Haptic feedback that is felt broadly across a large surface, like an entire trackpad vibrating uniformly.
- Devices where haptic output in one region is easily perceptible in an immediately adjacent region.
- Haptic feedback systems that do not involve distinct, separate haptic regions.
- Haptic feedback that does not cause a physical deformation of the device's outer surface (Claim 8).
- Haptic systems in devices that are not specifically laptop computing devices (Claim 1).
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
20/40
Early citations
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
$150K – $479K
Midpoint $300K · 12.4 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.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
23 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Cao, R. Y., Posner, B. W., Hendren, K. J., Lehmann, A. J., Endisch, D. H., & Mathew, D. C. (2021). How Laptops Create Localized Vibrations on Their Surfaces (U.S. Patent No. 10,942,571). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10942571/laptop-computing-device-with-discrete-haptic-regions
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Laptops Create Localized Vibrations on Their Surfaces cover?
Apple's patent describes a laptop design that delivers tiny, distinct vibrations to specific parts of its surface, like a trackpad or palm rest, without those vibrations being felt in the areas right next to them.
Who owns patent US 10942571?
Apple owns this patent, granted in 2021.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on January 30, 2039, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 10942571 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 9 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology allows for more nuanced and precise tactile feedback on laptop surfaces. Instead of a whole trackpad clicking, a user could feel distinct sensations in different parts of the trackpad, or even in the palm rest (Claim 9), providing richer interaction without distracting vibrations elsewhere. This could enhance virtual button feels or provide warnings in specific areas, making interactions more intuitive and immersive.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Haptic feedback that is felt broadly across a large surface, like an entire trackpad vibrating uniformly.
Patent monitoring