Apple patents screen touch detection that slows pixel updates
Apple describes a method for detecting touches on a screen by slowing down how often the pixels refresh. Instead of changing the hardware settings, the device displays the same image frames over longer periods to find where a finger is touching.
In the filing’s own words
This disclosure is generally directed to touch detection and positioning on a surface of a display panel of an electronic device. The electronic device may throttle a refresh rate of pixels of the display panel in response to detecting presence of a touch without re-programming driver circuitry of the display panel. As such, the electronic device may determine positions of a detected touch by throttling the refresh rate of display without re-programming the driver circuitry. The electronic device may throttle the refresh rate by generating image frames of image data using multiple refresh cycles without re-programming the driver circuitry. Moreover, the electronic device may substantially maintain a line time of the pixels when throttling the refresh rate.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An electronic device comprising: an electronic display comprising a plurality of pixels; and processing circuitry coupled to the electronic display, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to: output a first set of image frames to at least a portion of pixels of the plurality of pixels during a single pixel line time of each refresh cycle duration; detect whether a touch is present on a surface of the electronic display; and output a second set of image frames to the portion of pixels during the single pixel line time of every other refresh cycle duration based on the touch.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Pixel Refresh Rate Adjustment Based on Touch Detection
- Publication number
- US20260288282A1
- Application number
- 19571213
- Filed
- Mar 18, 2026
- Published
- Sep 24, 2026
- Inventors
- 12
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06F 3/04184 Physics & computingG09G 3/2092 Physics & computingG09G 2330/06 Physics & computingG09G 2340/0435 Physics & computingG09G 2354/00 Physics & computingMore from Apple in Phones & computers
- Apple patents foldable screen that warns you if you bend it too fast Sep 15, 2026
- Apple patents a button that senses pressure in three directions Oct 13, 2026
- Apple patents car key features inside its digital wallet app Sep 1, 2026
- Apple patents side button that vibrates sideways when pressed Sep 1, 2026
- Apple patents tablet cover that uses fabric to control folding angle Sep 15, 2026
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.