# US 2026/0086643 A1 · Virtual intersection haptic feedback for electronic pointing devices

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- Number: US 2026/0086643 A1
- Document ID: US20260086643A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 19/297,969
- Filed: 2025-08-12
- Published: 2026-03-26
- Earliest claimed: 2024-09-25
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Benjamin R. BLACHNITZKY; Arun Rakesh YOGANANDAN; Nicolai GEORG; Carmine ELVEZIO; Matthew J. SUNDSTROM
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260086643A1

## CPC

- G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user}
- G06F 3/011: {Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00)}
- G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)}
- G06F 3/0346: with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

Some examples of the disclosure are directed to systems and methods for generating a haptic feedback response at an electronic pointing device based on virtual intersections between a simulated tool and virtual content. In one or more examples, an electronic device (e.g., computing system) has an electronic input device that is communicatively coupled (e.g., wired and/or wirelessly) to the electronic device and is configured to receive commands from the electronic to generate haptic feedback (e.g., vibration) patterns based on characteristics of the simulated tool and/or the virtual content that present a virtual intersection.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
at an electronic device in communication with one or more input devices and one or more displays, wherein the one or more input devices include an electronic input device:
while presenting, via the one or more displays, a three-dimensional environment including a first virtual object, and while a user of the electronic device is interacting with the electronic input device, detecting, via the one or more input devices, an indication of a first movement of the electronic input device causing an interaction with the first virtual object while the electronic input device corresponds to a simulated tool;
in response to detecting the indication of the first movement of the electronic input device, and that one or more criteria are satisfied:
in accordance with a determination that the simulated tool is a first simulated tool, causing the electronic input device to output a first haptic pattern; and
in accordance with a determination that the simulated tool is a second simulated tool, different from the first simulated tool, causing the electronic input device to output a second haptic pattern, different from the first haptic pattern.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first virtual object includes a virtual texture, and the first haptic pattern and the second haptic pattern are based upon one or more characteristics of the virtual texture.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic input device corresponds to a first volume in the three-dimensional environment when the electronic input device corresponds to the simulated tool, and the first movement causes intersection between a first portion of the first volume and the first virtual object.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic input device corresponds to a first volume in the three-dimensional environment when the electronic input device corresponds to the simulated tool, the method further comprising:
in response to detecting the indication of a second movement of the electronic input device, different from the indication of the first movement, while the electronic input device corresponds to the simulated tool, and in accordance with a determination that the first volume and the first virtual object are not intersecting, forgoing causing the electronic input device to output the first haptic pattern and the second haptic pattern.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
in accordance with detecting a first velocity of the simulated tool relative to the first virtual object, the first haptic pattern includes a first haptic magnitude, and
in accordance with detecting a second velocity of the simulated tool relative to the first virtual object, the first haptic pattern includes a second haptic magnitude.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
in accordance with a determination that the simulated tool has a first orientation relative to the first virtual object when the indication of the first movement is detected, the first haptic pattern includes a first series of haptic feedback, and
in accordance with a determination that the simulated tool has a second orientation relative to the first virtual object when the indication of the first movement is detected, different from the first orientation, the first haptic pattern includes a second series of haptic feedback, different from the first series of haptic feedback.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
while presenting the first virtual object within the three-dimensional environment, detecting, via the one or more input devices, one or more inputs requesting movement of the first virtual object; and
in response to detecting the one or more inputs:
moving the first virtual object relative to the three-dimensional environment in accordance with the one or more inputs; and
in accordance with a determination that the one or more criteria are satisfied, including a criterion that is satisfied when a first volume corresponding to the electronic input device virtually intersects with the first virtual object, generating a third haptic pattern at the electronic input device.

### Claim 8

An electronic device comprising:
one or more displays;
one or more input devices;
memory;
one or more processors; and
one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and are configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
while presenting, via the one or more displays, a three-dimensional environment including a first virtual object, and while a user of the electronic device is interacting with an electronic input device, detecting, via the one or more input devices, an indication of a first movement of the electronic input device causing an interaction with the first virtual object while the electronic input device corresponds to a simulated tool;
in response to detecting the indication of the first movement of the electronic input device, and that one or more criteria are satisfied:
in accordance with a determination that the simulated tool is a first simulated tool, causing the electronic input device to output a first haptic pattern; and
in accordance with a determination that the simulated tool is a second simulated tool, different from the first simulated tool, causing the electronic input device to output a second haptic pattern, different from the first haptic pattern.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the first virtual object includes a virtual texture, and the first haptic pattern and the second haptic pattern are based upon one or more characteristics of the virtual texture.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the electronic input device corresponds to a first volume in the three-dimensional environment when the electronic input device corresponds to the simulated tool, and the first movement causes intersection between a first portion of the first volume and the first virtual object.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the electronic input device corresponds to a first volume in the three-dimensional environment when the electronic input device corresponds to the simulated tool, the one or more programs further including instructions for:
in response to detecting the indication of a second movement of the electronic input device, different from the indication of the first movement, while the electronic input device corresponds to the simulated tool, and in accordance with a determination that the first volume and the first virtual object are not intersecting, forgoing causing the electronic input device to output the first haptic pattern and the second haptic pattern.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The electronic device of claim 8, wherein:
in accordance with detecting a first velocity of the simulated tool relative to the first virtual object, the first haptic pattern includes a first haptic magnitude, and
in accordance with detecting a second velocity of the simulated tool relative to the first virtual object, the first haptic pattern includes a second haptic magnitude.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The electronic device of claim 8, wherein:
in accordance with a determination that the simulated tool has a first orientation relative to the first virtual object when the indication of the first movement is detected, the first haptic pattern includes a first series of haptic feedback, and
in accordance with a determination that the simulated tool has a second orientation relative to the first virtual object when the indication of the first movement is detected, different from the first orientation, the first haptic pattern includes a second series of haptic feedback, different from the first series of haptic feedback.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The electronic device of claim 8, the one or more programs further including instructions for:
while presenting the first virtual object within the three-dimensional environment, detecting, via the one or more input devices, one or more inputs requesting movement of the first virtual object; and
in response to detecting the one or more inputs:
moving the first virtual object relative to the three-dimensional environment in accordance with the one or more inputs; and
in accordance with a determination that the one or more criteria are satisfied, including a criterion that is satisfied when a first volume corresponding to the electronic input device virtually intersects with the first virtual object, generating a third haptic pattern at the electronic input device.

### Claim 15

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions, which when executed by an electronic device in communication with one or more input devices and one or more displays, wherein the one or more input devices include an electronic input device, cause the electronic device to:
while presenting, via the one or more displays, a three-dimensional environment including a first virtual object, and while a user of the electronic device is interacting with the electronic input device, detect, via the one or more input devices, an indication of a first movement of the electronic input device causing an interaction with the first virtual object while the electronic input device corresponds to a simulated tool;
in response to detecting the indication of the first movement of the electronic input device, and that one or more criteria are satisfied:
in accordance with a determination that the simulated tool is a first simulated tool, cause the electronic input device to output a first haptic pattern; and
in accordance with a determination that the simulated tool is a second simulated tool, different from the first simulated tool, cause the electronic input device to output a second haptic pattern, different from the first haptic pattern.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the first virtual object includes a virtual texture, and the first haptic pattern and the second haptic pattern are based upon one or more characteristics of the virtual texture.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the electronic input device corresponds to a first volume in the three-dimensional environment when the electronic input device corresponds to the simulated tool, the instructions when executed by the electronic device further cause the electronic device to:
in response to detecting the indication of a second movement of the electronic input device, different from the indication of the first movement, while the electronic input device corresponds to the simulated tool, and in accordance with a determination that the first volume and the first virtual object are not intersecting, forgo causing the electronic input device to output the first haptic pattern and the second haptic pattern.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein:
in accordance with detecting a first velocity of the simulated tool relative to the first virtual object, the first haptic pattern includes a first haptic magnitude, and
in accordance with detecting a second velocity of the simulated tool relative to the first virtual object, the first haptic pattern includes a second haptic magnitude.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein:
in accordance with a determination that the simulated tool has a first orientation relative to the first virtual object when the indication of the first movement is detected, the first haptic pattern includes a first series of haptic feedback, and
in accordance with a determination that the simulated tool has a second orientation relative to the first virtual object when the indication of the first movement is detected, different from the first orientation, the first haptic pattern includes a second series of haptic feedback, different from the first series of haptic feedback.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, the instructions when executed by the electronic device further cause the electronic device to:
while presenting the first virtual object within the three-dimensional environment, detect, via the one or more input devices, one or more inputs requesting movement of the first virtual object; and
in response to detecting the one or more inputs:
move the first virtual object relative to the three-dimensional environment in accordance with the one or more inputs; and
in accordance with a determination that the one or more criteria are satisfied, including a criterion that is satisfied when a first volume corresponding to the electronic input device virtually intersects with the first virtual object, generate a third haptic pattern at the electronic input device.