How Devices React to Different Kinds of Presses and Swipes
This patent describes user interfaces that respond in various ways to how you interact with physical controls, like pressing harder or longer, or swiping near them, to perform different actions.
Original patent title: “User interfaces responsive to an input directed to an input device”
This patent describes user interfaces that respond in various ways to how you interact with physical controls, like pressing harder or longer, or swiping near them, to perform different actions. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes user interfaces that integrate various hardware inputs to trigger different actions. For example, a device might perform one operation if you press a button lightly and a different one if you press it with more intensity, even if you don't move your finger. It also covers media capture, where pressing a button for a short time might take a photo, while a longer press records a video. The patent also describes customizing controls by swiping near a physical button, adjusting media playback speed dynamically, and making adjustments both before and after you fully release contact with a hardware control.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover user interfaces that only respond to simple on/off button presses without varying intensity or duration.
- Does not cover purely software-based gestures on a touchscreen that are unrelated to physical hardware controls.
- Does not cover customizing controls by swiping directly on the screen, far from any hardware control.
- Does not cover systems where adjustments only occur during continuous contact with a hardware control, without considering actions before or after contact ends.
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 moving beyond simple binary inputs (on/off) from hardware controls. Instead, it leverages variable physical interactions like press intensity, duration, and proximity to a control to trigger a wider range of distinct operations, making interfaces richer and more flexible.
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's Force Touch or 3D Touch on older iPhones and Apple Watch
Camera apps that record video when you long-press the shutter button
Gaming controllers with pressure-sensitive triggers
Customizable side buttons on smartwatches that react to different press durations
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology allows devices to offer more nuanced and efficient ways for users to interact, making them feel more responsive and intuitive. By recognizing variations in how a user touches or presses controls, devices can pack more functionality into fewer physical buttons. This improves the overall user experience and expands the capabilities of compact electronic devices.
Filed
September 20, 2024
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major consumer electronics companies like Apple, Samsung, and Google continue to develop and integrate advanced input methods into their smartphones, smartwatches, and other devices. These companies are constantly refining how users interact with hardware, often incorporating pressure sensitivity, haptic feedback, and gesture recognition around physical controls.
Market impact
This patent's subject matter has contributed to a shift towards more sophisticated and intuitive user interfaces in consumer electronics. It has enabled devices to offer richer interactions without adding more physical buttons, leading to sleeker designs and more versatile functionality. This approach has become a standard expectation in many modern devices, enhancing user experience and device capabilities.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes user interfaces that integrate various hardware inputs to trigger different actions. For example, a device might perform one operation if you press a button lightly and a different one if you press it with more intensity, even if you don't move your finger. It also covers media capture, where pressing a button for a short time might take a photo, while a longer press records a video. The patent also describes customizing controls by swiping near a physical button, adjusting media playback speed dynamically, and making adjustments both before and after you fully release contact with a hardware control.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in moving beyond simple binary inputs (on/off) from hardware controls. Instead, it leverages variable physical interactions like press intensity, duration, and proximity to a control to trigger a wider range of distinct operations, making interfaces richer and more flexible.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover user interfaces that only respond to simple on/off button presses without varying intensity or duration.
- Does not cover purely software-based gestures on a touchscreen that are unrelated to physical hardware controls.
- Does not cover customizing controls by swiping directly on the screen, far from any hardware control.
- Does not cover systems where adjustments only occur during continuous contact with a hardware control, without considering actions before or after contact ends.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
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
$19K – $61K
Midpoint $38K · 17.9 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
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). How Devices React to Different Kinds of Presses and Swipes (U.S. Patent No. 12,737,107). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12737107/user-interfaces-responsive-to-an-input-directed-to-an-input-device
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 Devices React to Different Kinds of Presses and Swipes cover?
This patent describes user interfaces that respond in various ways to how you interact with physical controls, like pressing harder or longer, or swiping near them, to perform different actions.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology allows devices to offer more nuanced and efficient ways for users to interact, making them feel more responsive and intuitive. By recognizing variations in how a user touches or presses controls, devices can pack more functionality into fewer physical buttons. This improves the overall user experience and expands the capabilities of compact electronic devices.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover user interfaces that only respond to simple on/off button presses without varying intensity or duration.
Patent monitoring