# US 10,372,221 B2 · Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for generating tactile outputs

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- Number: US 10,372,221 B2
- Document ID: US10372221B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/240,684
- Filed: 2019-01-04
- Published: 2019-05-09
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-06
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc
- Inventors: Julien Y. Robert; Tyler M. Fox; Camille Moussette; Viktor Miladinov; Jean-Pierre M. Mouilleseaux; Madeleine S. Cordier
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10372221B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user}
- G06F 1/1684: {Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675}
- G06F 1/325: {Power saving in peripheral device}
- G06F 3/0485: Scrolling or panning
- G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
- G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
- G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
- G06F 3/04845: for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
- G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
- G06F 40/177: of tables; using ruled lines
- G06F 2203/014: Force feedback applied to GUI
- G06F 2203/04806: Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

An application-independent module associates a first type of event with a first tactile output and a distinct second type of event with a different second tactile output. An electronic device receives and generates a response to first information from a first application by generating the first tactile output using one or more tactile output generators if the first information corresponds to an application event of the first type; and generating the second tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators if the first information corresponds to an application event of the second type. The electronic device receives and generates a response to second information from a distinct second application by generating the first tactile output if the second information corresponds to an application event of the first type; and generating the second tactile output if the second information corresponds to an application event of the second type.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, comprising:
at an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and one or more tactile output generators:
while a first type of event is associated with a first tactile output and a second type of event that is distinct from the first type of event is associated with a second tactile output that is different from the first tactile output by an application-independent module:
receiving first information from a first application;
in response to receiving the first information from the first application, generating a response to the first information, including:
in accordance with a determination that the first information corresponds to an application event of the first type, generating the first tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators; and,
in accordance with a determination that the first information corresponds to an application event of the second type that is distinct from the first type, generating, using the one or more tactile output generators, the second tactile output that is different from the first tactile output;
after generating the response to the first information, receiving second information from a second application that is distinct from the first application; and
in response to receiving the second information from the second application, generating a response to the second information, including:
in accordance with a determination that the second information corresponds to an application event of the first type, generating the first tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators; and,
in accordance with a determination that the second information corresponds to an application event of the second type, generating the second tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, after generating the response to the first information and generating the response to the second information, changing the first tactile output associated with the first type of event by the application-independent module, including associating the first type of event with a third tactile output that is different from the first tactile output.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, including, after changing the tactile output associated with the first type of event by the application-independent module:
receiving third information from the first application;
in response to receiving the third information from the first application, generating a response to the third information, including:
in accordance with a determination that the third information corresponds to an application event of the first type, generating the third tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators;
after generating the response to the third information, receiving fourth information from the second application that is distinct from the first application; and
in response to receiving the fourth information from the second application, generating a response to the fourth information, including:
in accordance with a determination that the fourth information corresponds to an application event of the first type, generating the third tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the third information is received from an application-specific module for the first application, the fourth information is received from an application-specific module for the second application, and determining whether to generate the third tactile output is performed by the application-independent module.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, after generating the response to the first information and generating the response to the second information, changing the tactile output associated with the second type of event by the application-independent module, including associating the second type of event with a fourth tactile output that is different from the second tactile output.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, including, after changing the tactile output associated with the second type of event by the application-independent module:
receiving fifth information from the first application;
in response to receiving the fifth information from the first application, generating a response to the fifth information, including:
in accordance with a determination that the fifth information corresponds to an application event of the second type, generating the fourth tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators;
after generating the response to the fifth information, receiving sixth information from the second application that is distinct from the first application; and
in response to receiving the sixth information from the second application, generating a response to the sixth information, including:
in accordance with a determination that the sixth information corresponds to an application event of the second type, generating the fourth tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the fifth information is received from an application-specific module for the first application, the sixth information is received from an application-specific module for the second application, and determining whether to generate the fourth tactile output is performed by the application-independent module.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first information is received from an application-specific module for the first application, the second information is received from an application-specific module for the second application, and determining whether to generate the first tactile output or the second tactile output is performed by the application-independent module.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
generating the response to the first information includes, in accordance with a determination that the first information corresponds to an application event of a third type that is associated with a fifth tactile output that is different from the first tactile output and the second tactile output and that is distinct from the first type and second type, generating, using the one or more tactile output generators, the fifth tactile output that is different from the first tactile output and the second tactile output; and
generating the response to the second information includes, in accordance with a determination that the second information corresponds to an application event of the third type, generating the fifth tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of event is a success event and the second type of event is a failure event.

### Claim 11

An electronic device, comprising:
a display;
a touch-sensitive surface;
one or more tactile output generators;
one or more processors; and
memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
while a first type of event is associated with a first tactile output and a second type of event that is distinct from the first type is associated with a second tactile output that is different from the first tactile output by an application-independent module:
receiving first information from a first application;
in response to receiving the first information from the first application, generating a response to the first information, including:
in accordance with a determination that the first information corresponds to an application event of the first type, generating the first tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators; and,
in accordance with a determination that the first information corresponds to an application event of the second type that is distinct from the first type, generating, using the one or more tactile output generators, the second tactile output that is different from the first tactile output;
after generating the response to the first information, receiving second information from a second application that is distinct from the first application; and
in response to receiving the second information from the second application, generating a response to the second information, including:
in accordance with a determination that the second information corresponds to an application event of the first type, generating the first tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators; and,
in accordance with a determination that the second information corresponds to an application event of the second type, generating the second tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for: after generating the response to the first information and generating the response to the second information, changing the first tactile output associated with the first type of event by the application-independent module, including associating the first type of event with a third tactile output that is different from the first tactile output.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for: after changing the tactile output associated with the first type of event by the application-independent module:
receiving third information from the first application;
in response to receiving the third information from the first application, generating a response to the third information, including:
in accordance with a determination that the third information corresponds to an application event of the first type, generating the third tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators;
after generating the response to the third information, receiving fourth information from the second application that is distinct from the first application; and
in response to receiving the fourth information from the second application, generating a response to the fourth information, including:
in accordance with a determination that the fourth information corresponds to an application event of the first type, generating the third tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the third information is received from an application-specific module for the first application, the fourth information is received from an application-specific module for the second application, and determining whether to generate the third tactile output is performed by the application-independent module.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for: after generating the response to the first information and generating the response to the second information, changing the tactile output associated with the second type of event by the application-independent module, including associating the second type of event with a fourth tactile output that is different from the second tactile output.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for: after changing the tactile output associated with the second type of event by the application-independent module:
receiving fifth information from the first application;
in response to receiving the fifth information from the first application, generating a response to the fifth information, including:
in accordance with a determination that the fifth information corresponds to an application event of the second type, generating the fourth tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators;
after generating the response to the fifth information, receiving sixth information from the second application that is distinct from the first application; and
in response to receiving the sixth information from the second application, generating a response to the sixth information, including:
in accordance with a determination that the sixth information corresponds to an application event of the second type, generating the fourth tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the fifth information is received from an application-specific module for the first application, the sixth information is received from an application-specific module for the second application, and determining whether to generate the fourth tactile output is performed by the application-independent module.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the first information is received from an application-specific module for the first application, the second information is received from an application-specific module for the second application, and determining whether to generate the first tactile output or the second tactile output is performed by the application-independent module.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The electronic device of claim 11, wherein:
generating the response to the first information includes, in accordance with a determination that the first information corresponds to an application event of a third type that is associated with a fifth tactile output that is different from the first tactile output and the second tactile output and that is distinct from the first type and second type, generating, using the one or more tactile output generators, the fifth tactile output that is different from the first tactile output and the second tactile output; and
generating the response to the second information includes, in accordance with a determination that the second information corresponds to an application event of the third type, generating the fifth tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the first type of event is a success event and the second type of event is a failure event.

### Claim 21

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions that, when executed by an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and one or more tactile output generators, cause the device to:
while a first type of event is associated with a first tactile output and a second type of event that is distinct from the first type is associated with a second tactile output that is different from the first tactile output by an application-independent module:
receive first information from a first application;
in response to receiving the first information from the first application, generate a response to the first information, including:
in accordance with a determination that the first information corresponds to an application event of the first type, generating the first tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators; and,
in accordance with a determination that the first information corresponds to an application event of the second type that is distinct from the first type, generating, using the one or more tactile output generators, the second tactile output that is different from the first tactile output;
after generating the response to the first information, receive second information from a second application that is distinct from the first application; and
in response to receiving the second information from the second application, generate a response to the second information, including:
in accordance with a determination that the second information corresponds to an application event of the first type, generating the first tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators; and,
in accordance with a determination that the second information corresponds to an application event of the second type, generating the second tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions when executed by the electronic device with the display, the touch-sensitive surface, and the one or more tactile output generators, further cause the device to:
after generating the response to the first information and generating the response to the second information, change the first tactile output associated with the first type of event by the application-independent module, including associating the first type of event with a third tactile output that is different from the first tactile output.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions when executed by the electronic device with the display, the touch-sensitive surface, and the one or more tactile output generators, further cause the device to:
after changing the tactile output associated with the first type of event by the application-independent module:
receive third information from the first application;
in response to receiving the third information from the first application, generate a response to the third information, including:
in accordance with a determination that the third information corresponds to an application event of the first type, generate the third tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators;
after generating the response to the third information, receive fourth information from the second application that is distinct from the first application; and
in response to receiving the fourth information from the second application, generate a response to the fourth information, including:
in accordance with a determination that the fourth information corresponds to an application event of the first type, generate the third tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the third information is received from an application-specific module for the first application, the fourth information is received from an application-specific module for the second application, and determining whether to generate the third tactile output is performed by the application-independent module.

### Claim 25 (depends on 21)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions when executed by the electronic device with the display, the touch-sensitive surface, and the one or more tactile output generators, further cause the device to:
after generating the response to the first information and generating the response to the second information, change the tactile output associated with the second type of event by the application-independent module, including associating the second type of event with a fourth tactile output that is different from the second tactile output.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the instructions when executed by the electronic device with the display, the touch-sensitive surface, and the one or more tactile output generators, further cause the device to:
after changing the tactile output associated with the second type of event by the application-independent module:
receive fifth information from the first application;
in response to receiving the fifth information from the first application, generate a response to the fifth information, including:
in accordance with a determination that the fifth information corresponds to an application event of the second type, generate the fourth tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators;
after generating the response to the fifth information, receive sixth information from the second application that is distinct from the first application; and
in response to receiving the sixth information from the second application, generate a response to the sixth information, including:
in accordance with a determination that the sixth information corresponds to an application event of the second type, generate the fourth tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the fifth information is received from an application-specific module for the first application, the sixth information is received from an application-specific module for the second application, and determining whether to generate the fourth tactile output is performed by the application-independent module.

### Claim 28 (depends on 21)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the first information is received from an application-specific module for the first application, the second information is received from an application-specific module for the second application, and determining whether to generate the first tactile output or the second tactile output is performed by the application-independent module.

### Claim 29 (depends on 21)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein:
generating the response to the first information includes, in accordance with a determination that the first information corresponds to an application event of a third type that is associated with a fifth tactile output that is different from the first tactile output and the second tactile output and that is distinct from the first type and second type, generating, using the one or more tactile output generators, the fifth tactile output that is different from the first tactile output and the second tactile output; and
generating the response to the second information includes, in accordance with a determination that the second information corresponds to an application event of the third type, generating the fifth tactile output using the one or more tactile output generators.

### Claim 30 (depends on 21)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the first type of event is a success event and the second type of event is a failure event.