How Devices Give Haptic Feedback While You Hover Your Finger
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.
Original patent title: “Haptic effects with proximity sensing”
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. Granted to Immersion Corp in 2014 with 27 claims and 11 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → a system that uses proximity sensors to detect when a finger or object is hovering over a touchscreen. Because the device knows exactly which button or menu item you are hovering over, it can trigger a specific haptic effect—like a vibration—before you even make contact. For example, as you move your finger over a virtual button on a screen, the device might provide a subtle buzz to confirm you are positioned correctly before you press down. This creates a tactile sense of depth or interaction in a space where no physical buttons exist.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover haptic feedback that only occurs after physical contact with the screen.
- Does not cover systems that lack a proximity sensor to detect the hovering object.
- Does not cover haptic effects that are not tied to specific selectable functionality on the display.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation is using proximity data to map a 'hover' state to a specific UI element, allowing the device to treat the air above the screen as an extension of the interface itself.
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
Hover-state UI feedback on high-end smartphones
Tactile confirmation in automotive infotainment touchscreens
Accessibility features for visually impaired users navigating menus
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology bridges the gap between static screens and physical interfaces by providing 'pre-touch' feedback. It is a foundational concept for improving accessibility and user confidence in touch-only devices, ensuring users know exactly what they are about to select. Immersion Corporation has long been a key player in haptic licensing, and this patent represents their effort to extend tactile feedback into the 'hover' space.
Filed
February 7, 2011
Granted
November 25, 2014
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Immersion Corporation continues to licenselicensePermission from the patent owner to make, use, or sell the invention — usually in exchange for payment. Doesn't transfer ownership.Read more → haptic technology to major smartphone manufacturers and automotive suppliers. Companies like Apple and Samsung have developed their own proprietary hover-sensing and haptic feedback systems, often building upon the fundamental concept of non-contact interaction.
Market impact
This patent helped formalize the 'hover' interaction model in the haptics industry. It provided a clear intellectual property framework for manufacturers to implement non-contact feedback, which has since become a standard feature for enhancing the precision and feel of modern touch-based interfaces.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent claims a system that uses proximity sensors to detect when a finger or object is hovering over a touchscreen. Because the device knows exactly which button or menu item you are hovering over, it can trigger a specific haptic effect—like a vibration—before you even make contact. For example, as you move your finger over a virtual button on a screen, the device might provide a subtle buzz to confirm you are positioned correctly before you press down. This creates a tactile sense of depth or interaction in a space where no physical buttons exist.
The clever bit
The innovation is using proximity data to map a 'hover' state to a specific UI element, allowing the device to treat the air above the screen as an extension of the interface itself.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover haptic feedback that only occurs after physical contact with the screen.
- Does not cover systems that lack a proximity sensor to detect the hovering object.
- Does not cover haptic effects that are not tied to specific selectable functionality on the display.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
22/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
18/20
Very broad protection
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
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
$87K – $280K
Midpoint $175K · 4.6 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.
The original legal language
Original claims
27 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Lacroix, R. A., Grant, D. A., & Gregorio, P. (2014). How Devices Give Haptic Feedback While You Hover Your Finger (U.S. Patent No. 8,898,564). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8898564/siri-intelligent-automated-assistant
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US8898564"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
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.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
More to explore
More in Consumer Electronics
US 7657849 · 2010 · Apple Inc
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
US 7479949 · 2009 · Apple Inc
How Touchscreens Understand Your Finger Swipes and Scrolls
US 4528643 · 1985 · FPDC Inc
How Stores Make Custom Products On-Demand with Remote Approval
US 7469381 · 2008 · Apple Inc
How Touchscreens Show and Snap Back When You Scroll Past an Edge
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Devices Give Haptic Feedback While You Hover Your Finger cover?
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.
Who owns patent US 8898564?
Immersion Corp owns this patent, granted in 2014.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on November 25, 2034, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8898564 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 11 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology bridges the gap between static screens and physical interfaces by providing 'pre-touch' feedback. It is a foundational concept for improving accessibility and user confidence in touch-only devices, ensuring users know exactly what they are about to select. Immersion Corporation has long been a key player in haptic licensing, and this patent represents their effort to extend tactile feedback into the 'hover' space.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover haptic feedback that only occurs after physical contact with the screen.
Patent monitoring