# 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. - **Patent:** US 10942571 - **Original title:** Laptop computing device with discrete haptic regions - **Owner:** Apple - **Granted:** 2021 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 9 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, software, mechanical, telecommunications ## What it does 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. ## 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). ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Apple MacBook Force Touch trackpads 2. Gaming laptop palm rests providing specific in-game feedback 3. Virtual keyboards on flat surfaces that simulate key presses ## Why it matters 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. ## 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. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10942571/laptop-computing-device-with-discrete-haptic-regions **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US10942571 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Apple Embeds Haptic Actuators Directly Into Device Layers](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10013058/face-id) — 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. - [Precisely Stopping Device Vibrations for Better Touch Feedback](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9652041/haptic-device-with-linear-resonant-actuator) — This patent describes a method for precisely stopping the tiny vibrations in a device, like a phone, by sending a special 'braking' signal to make touch feedback feel sharper and more controlled. - [How Devices Give Haptic Feedback While You Hover Your Finger](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8898564/siri-intelligent-automated-assistant) — This patent describes a system that triggers physical vibrations or sensations on a device when your finger hovers near the screen without actually touching it. - [Adjusting Touchscreen Sensitivity Based on Device Tilt Angle](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20160291760/contact-discrimination-using-a-tilt-angle-of-a-touch-sensitive-surface) — This patent describes how a computing device can decide if a touch on its screen is intentional or accidental by changing its sensitivity settings based on how much the device is tilted. - [How a Multi-Touch Screen Detects Multiple Fingers and Palms](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6323846/aqua-user-interface) — This patent describes the underlying electronic circuits and methods for a multi-touch surface that can track multiple fingers and palms simultaneously, even before they fully touch the screen.