Content-Based Tactile Feedback for Efficient Touch Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques for managing content-based tactile outputs on electronic devices are cumbersome and inefficient, often requiring multiple key presses or keystrokes, wasting user time and device energy, particularly in battery-operated devices.

Innovation Solution

Implementing faster and more efficient methods and interfaces for managing content-based tactile outputs, which reduce cognitive burden and conserve power by providing sensory feedback based on the type of content displayed, using electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces and tactile output generators.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If existing techniques for managing content-based tactile outputs are used, then tactile feedback can be provided based on content type, but the user interface becomes complex and time-consuming requiring multiple key presses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interface simplicityVSAvoidtime for navigation operations
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single unified interface structure where content-based tactile output control is integrated directly into the navigation flow. This eliminates the need for separate menu accesses and multiple key presses by merging the tactile feedback configuration with the content display itself, allowing users to receive context-appropriate haptic feedback automatically during navigation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects content type and applies appropriate tactile output patterns without requiring user intervention to configure or select feedback modes. The device serves itself by autonomously determining when and what type of haptic feedback to provide based on the displayed content, eliminating the need for users to manually adjust settings or access complex control menus.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of energy

If existing techniques for managing content-based tactile outputs are used, then tactile feedback can be provided based on content type, but device energy is wasted through redundant operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery power consumptionVSAvoidnavigation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes tactile output patterns and content type classifications in advance, creating a pre-configured framework that automatically matches content to appropriate haptic feedback. This preliminary structuring eliminates the need for real-time processing decisions and redundant operations, allowing the system to efficiently retrieve and apply the correct tactile pattern immediately when content is displayed, thereby conserving battery power while maintaining high navigation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If existing techniques for managing content-based tactile outputs are used, then tactile feedback can be provided, but the cognitive burden on the user increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecognitive burdenVSAvoiduser understanding of system behavior
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different tactile output patterns to different content types (e.g., notifications versus media playback versus messaging), creating a localized and context-specific haptic language. This differentiation allows users to intuitively understand system state and content category through distinct tactile signatures, reducing cognitive burden by making system behavior predictable and interpretable without requiring users to learn complex control schemes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances user experience and convenience, increases efficiency in navigating content, and conserves power in battery-operated devices by reducing redundant user inputs and optimizing processor and battery usage.

Implementation Method 1

one or more tactile output generators for generating tactile outputs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromechanical transduction:

Data Source

PatentEP3623909B1Content-based tactile outputs
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 APPLE INC
  • EP3623909B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3623909B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3623909B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present disclosure generally relates to content-based tactile outputs. In some embodiments, user interfaces associated with content-based tactile outputs are described. In some embodiments, user interfaces associated with end-of-content tactile outputs are described. In some embodiments, user interfaces associated with moving a user interface in response to different types of input are described. In some embodiments, user interfaces associated with adjustable item-based tactile outputs are described. In some embodiments, user interfaces associated with input velocity-based tactile outputs are described.