US 7,633,076 · Granted 2009-12-15

The Patent That Taught Phones to Notice You're Holding Them

Apple patented a system where your device has sensors that detect what you're doing with it—like tilting it, shaking it, or picking it up—and then automatically responds without you tapping anything. It's the technology that lets your phone know when to flip the screen or wake up when you grab it.

Curated and verified by the IsItPatented Editorial team

The plain-English version

What it protects

The claim covers a portable device equipped with sensors that detect user activity (movement, orientation, proximity, pressure) and a processor that automatically triggers device responses based on that activity. What's protected here is the combination of sensing user behavior and having the device react on its own—like a phone rotating its screen when you tilt it, or dimming when you're not looking at it, without requiring a manual command.

Why it matters

This patent became foundational to how modern smartphones and tablets interact with users. By automating responses to physical gestures and proximity, it eliminated the need for constant button-pressing and created a more intuitive, responsive user experience. The technology underpins features like auto-rotate, wake-on-lift, and proximity sensing that competitors adopted industry-wide, making it a core defensive patent for Apple in the smartphone era.

Real-world use

Every time your iPhone's screen rotates when you turn it sideways, or dims when you hold it close to your face during a call, you're experiencing this patented technology in action.

Original USPTO abstract

The various methods and devices described herein relate to devices which, in at least certain embodiments, may include one or more sensors for providing data relating to user activity and at least one processor for causing the device to respond based on the user activity which was determined, at least in part, through the sensors. The response by the device may include a change of state of the device, and the response may be automatically performed after the user activity is determined.

Patent details

Publication number: US 7,633,076
Filing date: 2006-10-24
Grant date: 2009-12-15
Assignee: Apple Inc.
Inventor(s): HUPPI BRIAN, FADELL ANTHONY M., BARRENTINE DEREK, FREEMAN DANIEL
CPC class: H04B1/40

View original record on Google Patents →

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