PatentBrief

Multipoint touchscreen

A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce dist…

Granted 2010activeExpired 2024Owned by Apple IncInvented by Steve Hotelling, Joshua A. Strickon, Brian Q. Huppi

Original patent title: “Multipoint touchscreen

What this patent covers

The actual claim

A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches is disclosed.

What this patent does NOT cover

The boundaries

    These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.

    Multipoint touchscreen(Primary claim)

    Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.

    Patent Abstract

    Patent abstract

    A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches is disclosed.

    Patent Journey

    From filing to expiry

    Patent Filed

    2004

    Patent Granted

    2010 · 6yr after filing

    Highly Cited

    1,995 patents cite this

    Patent Expired

    2024

    PatentBrief Score

    Impact Score

    74/ 100

    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 technology company

    PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.

    The original legal language

    Original claims

    13 claims as filed with the patent office.

    Citations

    Patent lineage

    Cites earlier patents

    215

    earlier patents this invention cites as foundations

    View prior art →

    Cited by later patents

    1,995

    later patents that build on this invention

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