Apple patents next-gen Taptic Engine

Apple’s Taptic Engine
The Taptic Engine, Apple’s proprietary haptic feedback technology, is a cornerstone of its hardware-software integration, delivering precise, tactile responses that enhance user interaction across devices like iPhones, Apple Watches, and MacBooks. Introduced with the Apple Watch in 2015, it replaced traditional vibration motors with linear actuators, enabling nuanced feedback like a gentle tap for notifications or a click-like sensation in Force Touch and 3D Touch interfaces.
This seamless blend of hardware and software creates immersive experiences, such as simulating a physical button press on the iPhone’s solid-state Home button or providing contextual feedback in apps.
Now, Apple patented a next-generation Taptic Engine, promising even more advanced haptic capabilities. The patent outlines a compact, multi-coil design for finer vibration control, potentially enabling richer feedback patterns for gaming, accessibility, and augmented reality. This innovation could further blur the line between digital and physical interactions, reinforcing Apple’s lead in intuitive user experiences
Hartley Charlton for MacRumors:
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Apple has been granted a patent for a shock-resistant haptic engine design that aims to significantly improve the durability of future iPhones, Apple Watches, and other devices.
The patent is titled “Electronic device having a shock-resistant haptic engine” and was granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office earlier this week (via Patently Apple). The proposed system introduces a haptic engine that uses a system of non-linear cantilevered springs to protect delicate internal components from damage caused by drops or collisions. The design incorporates springs with varying thickness and chamfered edges, enabling them to respond softly to minor impacts while stiffening under heavy loads to absorb and distribute force more effectively.
Patent filings cannot be taken as evidence of Apple’s immediate plans, but they do indicate areas of active research and interest for the company, as well as what it is considering developing for future devices. As a mechanical component, the Taptic Engine is a vulnerable point of failure in iPhones and Apple Watches, so a more durable version arriving in the future seems plausible.

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MacDailyNews Take: We’ve never had a problem with any Taptic Engine, but we’ll certainly take an even more durable version!

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