# 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. - **Patent:** US 7657849 - **Original title:** Unlocking a device by performing gestures on an unlock image - **Owner:** Apple Inc - **Granted:** 2010 - **Status:** Public domain (expired) - **Times cited:** 1,269 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, software, telecommunications ## What it does This patent describes a method for unlocking an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display. While the device is locked in a 'user-interface lock state,' it displays an 'unlock image,' which is a graphical, interactive object (Claim 1). To unlock the device, a user must make contact with the display and move this unlock image along a 'predefined displayed path' (Claim 1). If the detected contact corresponds to this specific 'predefined gesture,' the device transitions to an unlocked state (Claim 1). If the contact does not match the predefined gesture, the device remains locked and prevents other actions (Claim 2). For example, a user might drag a horizontal slider image across the screen to a specific endpoint (Claim 5, Claim 10). ## What it does NOT cover - Unlocking methods that do not involve moving a graphical 'unlock image' on the display. - Unlocking gestures that do not follow a 'predefined displayed path' (e.g., drawing a freeform pattern or shape). - Unlocking by simply tapping or pressing an image without moving it along a path. - Unlocking mechanisms that do not require continuous contact with the display, such as voice commands or biometric scans (Claim 4). - Unlocking by moving an image to a predefined location without following a specific displayed path. ## The clever bit The novelty lay in combining a visible, interactive 'unlock image' with a specific, 'predefined displayed path' that the user had to follow with continuous contact to unlock the device. This design made it intuitive for users while effectively preventing accidental unlocks from incidental screen touches. ## Real-world examples 1. Original iPhone lock screen 2. Early iPod Touch lock screens 3. Many early Android smartphone lock screens featuring a slider ## Why it matters This patent was a foundational element for the user experience of the original iPhone and subsequent touch-screen devices. It provided a simple yet effective way to prevent accidental device interactions while allowing quick access. The 'slide-to-unlock' mechanism became a widely recognized interaction model and was a key subject in major patent infringement lawsuits in the smartphone industry. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works cover? 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. ### Who owns patent US 7657849? Apple Inc owns this patent, granted in 2010. ### When does this patent expire? This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely. ### What is patent US 7657849 cited by? This patent has been cited by 1269 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent was a foundational element for the user experience of the original iPhone and subsequent touch-screen devices. It provided a simple yet effective way to prevent accidental device interactions while allowing quick access. The 'slide-to-unlock' mechanism became a widely recognized interaction model and was a key subject in major patent infringement lawsuits in the smartphone industry. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Unlocking methods that do not involve moving a graphical 'unlock image' on the display. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7657849/slide-to-unlock **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US7657849 --- _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 the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8046721/unlocking-a-device-by-performing-gestures-on-an-unlock-image) — Apple's 2011 patent describes a method for unlocking a touchscreen device by dragging a specific graphical icon from a starting point to a designated end point. - [How Touchscreens Understand Your Finger Swipes and Scrolls](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7479949/iphone-multi-touch) — This patent describes how touchscreens use smart rules, called heuristics, to figure out if your finger movement means scrolling up, moving around a map, or flipping to the next photo, especially by looking at how you start your swipe. - [How Multi-Touch Gestures Like Pinch-to-Zoom Work on Smartphones](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7812826/iphone-software-keyboard) — Apple's patent on using two-finger gestures to manipulate images and objects on a touchscreen, allowing for smooth zooming and rotation even if you lift your fingers briefly. - [How the iPhone's Jiggling App Icons Work](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7509588/os-x-spotlight-search) — This patent describes the 'jiggle mode' on iPhones, where app icons shake to show they can be moved or deleted. - [How Smartphones Organize Apps into Folders](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8423911/ios-control-center) — Apple's 2010 patent describing the logic for creating and interacting with app folders on a touchscreen device, specifically distinguishing between 'normal' use and 'editing' modes.