Apple Multi Touch: Apple’s Multitouch Plans – 1 Image That Tells You All You Need To Know

Page 1 of 2

Apple Multi Touch: When it comes to patent applications, nobody can deny the fact that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is always on the go. The Cupertino based company is always looking for a way to get a leg up on the competition.

With the smartphone and tablet industries heating up, Apple must continue to advance its technology as a means of staying one step ahead of the competition. By filing for patents related to new technology, such as multitouch features, the company is able to do just that.

Apple Inc (AAPL)Most recently, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has been granted the following patent: Contact tracking and identification module for touch sensing

As you can see, this is yet another multitouch related patent for Apple. The company has been putting a lot of time and resources into this type of technology, and for good reason: it drives most of its devices.

Here is the official abstract for a better idea of what the patent covers:

“Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device.”

This adds to the many patents Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) already holds for technology related to multitouch features. With a variety of the company’s devices relying on such technology, it only makes sense for Cupertino to continue spending time on the development of new ideas. This will ensure that competitors are unable to offer similar technology in its devices.

Another portion of the patent offers more information on what this technology brings to the table:

“A method of generating a control signal of a computing system having a touch sensitive surface, the method comprising: obtaining motion information of a plurality of contacts, the contacts corresponding to touch devices on or near the surface at the same time, the motion information including a first value of a first component of motion that is one of translation motion, rotational motion, and scaling motion, and a second value of a second component of motion that is a different one of translation motion, rotational motion, and scaling motion than the first component of motion; determining an input activity.”

While all this may sound confusing, you can be rest assured that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is always looking for new ways to improve its multitouch capabilities.

The patent was first filed for on June 5, 2009. The inventors are listed as John Elias and Wayne Westerman.

An image from the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) patent filing can be found on the next page:

Page 1 of 2