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Apple patents mouse that adjusts grip and lights based on hand rotation

Apple has been granted a patent for a computer mouse that detects how a user rotates the device in their hand. It uses internal sensors to track this movement and adjusts a ring of lights around the mouse to show the current orientation. The system also provides physical vibration feedback when the mouse is turned.

Why it mattersThis design could make standard computer mice more intuitive by helping users keep track of which way the device is facing without looking at it.

In the filing’s own words

A computer input system includes a mouse including a housing having an interior surface defining an internal volume and a sensor assembly disposed in the internal volume. A processor is electrically coupled to the sensor assembly and a memory component having electronic instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to determine an orientation of the mouse relative to a hand based on a touch input from the hand detected by the sensor assembly. The mouse can also have a circular array of touch sensors or lights that detect hand position and provide orientation information to the user.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A computer input system, comprising: a mouse, comprising: a housing having: a central axis oriented normal to a lower housing surface; and a sensor assembly disposed within the housing; an array of lights coupled to the housing and positioned about the central axis, each light of the array of lights being separately illuminable; and a haptic feedback actuator disposed within the housing; a processor electrically coupled to the sensor assembly and the haptic feedback actuator; and a memory component electrically coupled to the processor, the memory component storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: detect, using the sensor assembly, a rotational input to rotate the housing about the central axis; and transmit a signal to the haptic feedback actuator to cause the haptic feedback actuator to generate haptic feedback based on the rotational input, and wherein an illuminated light of the array of lights is configured to shift based on the rotational input.

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
Input device with adaptive grip orientation
Patent number
US12743162B2
Application number
18969607
Filed
Dec 5, 2024
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Inventors
15
Claims
18

Classified under

G06F 3/03543 Physics & computingG01P 13/00 Physics & computingG01S 5/30 Physics & computingG06F 3/016 Physics & computingG06F 3/0346 Physics & computingG06F 3/03544 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.