Apple has been granted a patent for advanced haptics under a patent titled "Self Adapting Haptic Device."

Apple notes their invention can allow an electronic device to autonomously observe its current operating condition and adjust its user alerts accordingly. The electronic device may determine its current operating environment (e.g., indoors, outdoors, contained in a purse or bag, etc.) through a series of sensor measurements. Based upon these sensor measurements the electronic device may both select and/or optimize the user alerts to suit the current operating environment.

For example, some embodiments may utilize the sensor measurements to determine which of the possible user alerts is best suited to the current operating environment of the electronic device--e.g., if the current operating environment is indoors in a conference room, then the auditory alerts may not be the most suitable user alert in this operating environment.

Other embodiments may utilize the sensor measurements to optimize the user alerts. For example some embodiments may include operating a motor to cause the electronic device to vibrate and obtain the user's attention through tactile sensation. In these embodiments, the sensor measurements may be utilized to actively tune the motor such that the electronic device achieves a target frequency that best corresponds to the current operating environment of the electronic device.

In Apple's patent FIG. 2 below, the electronic device may be lying flat on a table such as may be the case when the user is in a classroom or meeting. If the sensors #108 and #110 are implemented as an accelerometer and microphone respectively, then the electronic device may detect that it is in a classroom or meeting by the sensors reporting no movement from the accelerometer and/or a relatively low ambient noise level from the microphone. Upon detecting that it is operating in this environment, the electronic device may silence any audible alerts to the user, such as when there is an incoming phone call.

Apple's patent FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic device capable of self-adapting one or more of its alert devices to obtain the attention of a user in different environments; FIG. 3 illustrates a user carrying the electronic device in a purse where it may be jostled around. The strength of user alerts, both auditory and vibrations, may be increased in such a situation.

While Apple's work with advanced haptics may have had a humble beginning, they're now about to play a major role in the new Apple Watch.

Apple's marketing notes for Apple Watch states the following: "It’s called the Taptic Engine, a linear actuator inside Apple Watch that produces haptic feedback. In less technical terms, it taps you on the wrist. Whenever you receive an alert or notification, or perform a function like turning the Digital Crown or pressing down on the display, you feel a tactile sensation that’s recognizably different for each kind of interaction. Combined with subtle audio cues from the specially engineered speaker driver, the Taptic Engine creates a discreet, sophisticated, and nuanced experience by engaging more of your senses."

Patently Apple originally covered this invention as a patent application report back in 2011 titled "Future iPhones May Incorporate Smart Haptics." To review that report for more graphics and detail, click here. Apple credits Matthew Hill as the sole inventor of granted patent 8,860,562.

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