Samsung’s new patent puts a fresh spin on vibration and haptic feedback

Samsung is raising the bar on haptic feedback. In a recently published patent, the South Korean tech giant revealed plans for targeted vibration feedback, adding a touch of precision that could make every tap and swipe on future Galaxy devices feel more realistic than ever.

The 51-page document, filed in February 2023 and published by the US Patent and Trademark Office this November, details a setup where vibrations are designed to respond only at the exact point of touch. Samsung has gone all out here, equipping the display panel with specialized sensors and tiny vibration units that deliver feedback exactly where you interact. Pressing on your screen and feeling the sensation localized to that precise spot could become a possibility, almost as if you’re pressing a real button.

The intensity, duration, and even the rhythm of vibrations may adjust to different tasks — whether it’s typing, gaming, or browsing. This approach is more than a gimmick; it’s all about enhancing the sensory connection between the user and device, making interactions feel almost lifelike. This breakthrough is made possible by strategically placing force sensors and vibration motors along the curved edges of the display.

Samsung is no stranger to haptic advancements — its One UI already allows customization of vibration for different touch interactions and notifications. But this patent takes things up a notch. The tech described here could let users control the exact parts of the screen they want to vibrate, enhancing how we interact with devices. This is particularly promising for tasks like adjusting volume or toggling settings. Imagine pressing a virtual volume button and feeling a subtle click only at the spot where you pressed — a level of feedback that could make software buttons feel like physical ones.

To achieve this, Samsung employs adhesive layers and specialized shielding to focus and contain each vibration to specific areas, while waterproofing helps protect the inner components. So, besides adding immersion, this tech keeps your phone resilient to dust and moisture.

I can already picture a scenario where Samsung engineers design these haptics to integrate with other sensory cues, such as audio and visual feedback. This could make a button on your device feel different when you press it down for a photo versus scrolling through a menu.

Beyond enhancing everyday usability, this should be a decent addition to Samsung’s accessibility suite. The haptic feedback can act as a communication tool, providing unique sensations that help visually or hearing-impaired users navigate the device with more confidence. This should actualize things like having specific vibration patterns as alerts for different types of notifications — emails, messages, or calls.

The implications for gaming are huge as well. A first-person shooter game, for example, could have precise vibration feedback whenever you fire a weapon or press in-game controls. And if Samsung goes ahead with this plan, these immersive, localized haptic experiences could redefine how we engage with our phones by as early as 2025.

In other news, Samsung is also considering adding flash support for ultra-wide photos on Galaxy phones.