How Multi-Touch Screens Track Multiple Fingers at Once
Apple's 2010 patent describes a touch screen that uses two layers of transparent conductive lines to detect several fingers touching the screen simultaneously.
Original patent title: “Multipoint touchscreen”
Apple's 2010 patent describes a touch screen that uses two layers of transparent conductive lines to detect several fingers touching the screen simultaneously. Granted to Apple Inc in 2010 with 13 claims and 1,995 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a system using a grid of transparent conductive lines, typically made of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), arranged in two separate layers. These layers are stacked so the lines in the top layer run perpendicular to the lines in the bottom layer. By monitoring the charge coupling at the intersection points of these lines, the system can pinpoint exactly where multiple fingers touch the screen at the same time. This allows a device to distinguish between a single tap and complex gestures like pinching or zooming.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover single-touch screens that only detect one point of contact at a time.
- Does not cover resistive touch screens that rely on physical pressure to connect two flexible layers.
- Does not cover non-transparent touch sensors used in trackpads or other non-display surfaces.
- Does not cover the software algorithms used to interpret the touch data into specific gestures like pinch-to-zoom.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The innovation lies in using a cross-grid of transparent conductive lines to create a coordinate system that can report multiple distinct touch events simultaneously, rather than just the average location of multiple touches.
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
Original iPhone and subsequent iPhone models
iPad touch displays
Modern capacitive smartphone screens
Multi-touch tablet interfaces
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent was a cornerstone of the modern smartphone era, enabling the intuitive multi-touch interface introduced by the iPhone. It provided the hardware foundation for replacing physical keyboards with dynamic, gesture-based touch displays. It has been a central piece of intellectual property in numerous high-stakes patent battles within the consumer electronics industry.
Filed
May 6, 2004
Granted
February 16, 2010
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Apple continues to refine this technology in its latest devices, while major display manufacturers like Samsung Display and LG Display have built upon these foundational concepts to create increasingly sensitive and thinner touch-integrated panels.
Market impact
This patent effectively standardized the multi-touch interface for mobile computing. It forced competitors to either licenselicensePermission from the patent owner to make, use, or sell the invention — usually in exchange for payment. Doesn't transfer ownership.Read more → similar technology or develop alternative capacitive sensing methods, triggering a decade of intense litigationlitigationA lawsuit over patent infringement. Litigated patents often signal commercial importance.Read more → and shaping the design of virtually every modern smartphone.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a system using a grid of transparent conductive lines, typically made of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), arranged in two separate layers. These layers are stacked so the lines in the top layer run perpendicular to the lines in the bottom layer. By monitoring the charge coupling at the intersection points of these lines, the system can pinpoint exactly where multiple fingers touch the screen at the same time. This allows a device to distinguish between a single tap and complex gestures like pinching or zooming.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in using a cross-grid of transparent conductive lines to create a coordinate system that can report multiple distinct touch events simultaneously, rather than just the average location of multiple touches.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover single-touch screens that only detect one point of contact at a time.
- Does not cover resistive touch screens that rely on physical pressure to connect two flexible layers.
- Does not cover non-transparent touch sensors used in trackpads or other non-display surfaces.
- Does not cover the software algorithms used to interpret the touch data into specific gestures like pinch-to-zoom.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
9/20
Moderate scope
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 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
$90K – $288K
Midpoint $180K · expired or expiring · 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.
Patent Claims
0 independent claims · 1 dependent
Claims are the legal boundaries of the patent. An independent claim stands alone. A dependent claim adds limitations to its parent, narrowing — but not broadening — the scope.
The original legal language
Original claims
13 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Huppi, B. Q., Hotelling, S., & Strickon, J. A. (2010). How Multi-Touch Screens Track Multiple Fingers at Once (U.S. Patent No. 7,663,607). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7663607/multipoint-touchscreen
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 Multi-Touch Screens Track Multiple Fingers at Once cover?
Apple's 2010 patent describes a touch screen that uses two layers of transparent conductive lines to detect several fingers touching the screen simultaneously.
Who owns patent US 7663607?
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 7663607 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1995 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent was a cornerstone of the modern smartphone era, enabling the intuitive multi-touch interface introduced by the iPhone. It provided the hardware foundation for replacing physical keyboards with dynamic, gesture-based touch displays. It has been a central piece of intellectual property in numerous high-stakes patent battles within the consumer electronics industry.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover single-touch screens that only detect one point of contact at a time.
Same assignee
More from Apple Inc
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