Apple has been granted a patent for an electronic device with a touch-sensitive surface that displays virtual touches and allows users to create custom virtual gestures. The device shows visual indicators for user inputs and provides a menu for selecting virtual multitouch contacts. The patent also includes instructions for performing predefined operations associated with the user-defined virtual gestures. GlobalData’s report on Apple gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Apple, Gesture-based recognition systems was a key innovation area identified from patents. Apple's grant share as of September 2023 was 66%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Patent granted for virtual multitouch gestures on electronic devices
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11775169B2) describes an electronic device with a unique virtual-gesture recording mode. The device includes a display, one or more processors, and memory storing programs to be executed by the processors.
In the virtual-gesture recording mode, the device receives user inputs indicating specific movements. It then displays visual motion indicators that correspond to these movements. The device allows users to create user-defined virtual gestures by associating the indicated movements with predefined operations. After creating a user-defined virtual gesture, the device displays an icon associated with the gesture. Users can select this icon by providing a corresponding user input. In response, the device performs the user-defined virtual gesture and executes the predefined operation associated with it.
The patent also includes additional features. For example, the device can display trails that correspond to the indicated movements in response to user inputs. It can display multiple trails concurrently while in the virtual-gesture recording mode. Additionally, the device can display an animated movement of the visual motion indicators when the user selects the icon associated with the user-defined virtual gesture.
The user-defined virtual gestures can be based on the absolute or relative positions of the visual motion indicators. The gestures can also be based on the movements of these indicators. Furthermore, the device allows for the user-defined virtual gestures to be performed at a speed different from the speed at which they were created.
Overall, this patent describes a novel electronic device that enables users to create and perform user-defined virtual gestures. These gestures can be associated with predefined operations, providing users with a customizable and intuitive way to interact with the device. The additional features, such as displaying trails and animated movements, enhance the user experience and make the virtual-gesture recording mode more engaging.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
