Switch module for electronic crown assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11550268-B2
Application number	US-202016890880-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2020
Priority date	Jun 2, 2020
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

A switch module for an electronic device detects translational inputs and defines at least portion of a conductive path from an input surface of the electronic device to a processing unit of the electronic device. The switch module may be a component of a crown assembly for detecting rotational inputs, translational inputs, touch inputs and/or biological signals such as electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. The switch module may include a conductive dome and a friction guard that is positioned between the conductive dome and the actuation member of the crown assembly. The conductive dome and/or the friction guard may define at least a portion of the conductive path from the input surface to the processing unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic watch comprising:
an enclosure defining an interior volume and an opening into the interior volume;
a processing unit positioned within the interior volume;
a display operably coupled to the processing unit and configured to provide a graphical output; and
a crown assembly positioned at least partially within the interior volume, the crown assembly comprising:
an actuation member extending through the opening and defining an input surface for sensing an input signal along an exterior of the electronic watch;
a rotation sensor positioned within the interior volume and configured to detect a rotational input at the crown assembly; and
a switch module positioned within the interior volume and comprising:
a switch housing defining a recess;
a persistent electrical contact positioned in the recess and conductively coupled to the processing unit;
a switch electrical contact positioned in the recess and conductively coupled to the processing unit; and
a conductive dome positioned at least partially in the recess and conductively coupled to the actuation member, the conductive dome configured to transition from an uncollapsed configuration to a collapsed configuration in response to a translational input at the actuation member; wherein:

in the uncollapsed configuration and the collapsed configuration, the conductive dome contacts the persistent electrical contact to at least partially define a conductive path between the input surface and the processing unit;
in the collapsed configuration, the conductive dome contacts the switch electrical contact to register the translational input; and
the graphical output is responsive to the input signal, the rotational input, and the translational input.

2. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the switch module further comprises:
a friction guard positioned between the conductive dome and the actuation member and defining a portion of the conductive path between the input surface and the processing unit;
a first conductive member that conductively couples the persistent electrical contact to the processing unit; and
a second conductive member that conductively couples the switch electrical contact to the processing unit;

the switch housing further comprises:
a base defining the recess;
a cover coupled to the base and extending around the actuation member; and
a bracket for coupling the switch module to the enclosure;

the first conductive member and the second conductive member are at least partially encapsulated within the base;
the switch electrical contact is positioned in a center region of the recess; and
the persistent electrical contact is positioned in a peripheral region of the recess that surrounds the center region.

3. The electronic watch of claim 2 , wherein the switch module further comprises:
a reference electrical contact positioned in the peripheral region of the recess and contacting the conductive dome, the reference electrical contact configured to transmit a bias voltage for detecting the translational input or the input signal; and
a third conductive member at least partially encapsulated within the base and conductively coupling the reference electrical contact to the processing unit.

4. The electronic watch of claim 3 , wherein:
the conductive dome defines:
a first conductive route that defines an additional portion of the conductive path; and
a second conductive route that conductively couples the reference electrical contact and the switch electrical contact when the conductive dome is in the collapsed configuration; and

the first conductive route is electrically isolated from the second conductive route.

5. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein, in response to an inward force applied to the actuation member, the actuation member translates from an unactuated position to an actuated position, thereby collapsing the conductive dome.

6. The electronic watch of claim 5 , wherein the conductive dome is configured to provide an outward biasing force to maintain the actuation member in the unactuated position absent the inward force.

7. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein the input signal comprises at least one of a touch input signal or a voltage signal for use in determining an electrocardiogram.

8. A switch module for a crown assembly for an electronic watch, comprising:
a switch housing comprising:
a base defining a recess; and
a bracket for coupling the switch module to a device enclosure;

a conductive dome positioned at least partially in the recess and defining a first portion of a conductive path between an actuation member and a processing unit, the conductive dome configured to transition from an uncollapsed configuration to a collapsed configuration in response to a translational input at the actuation member;
a friction guard contacting the conductive dome and configured to be positioned between the conductive dome and the actuation member, the friction guard defining a second portion of the conductive path;
a persistent electrical contact positioned in the recess and contacting the conductive dome, the persistent electrical contact defining a third portion of the conductive path;
a first conductive member at least partially encapsulated within the base and defining a fourth portion of the conductive path;
a switch electrical contact positioned in the recess and configured to contact the conductive dome in the collapsed configuration to register the translational input;
a second conductive member at least partially encapsulated within the base and configured to conductively couple the switch electrical contact to the processing unit.

9. The switch module of claim 8 , wherein:
the switch electrical contact is positioned in a center region of the recess;
the switch electrical contact is configured to contact a center portion of the conductive dome;
the persistent electrical contact is positioned in a peripheral region of the recess that surrounds the center region; and
the persistent electrical contact is configured to contact a peripheral portion of the conductive dome that surrounds the center portion.

10. The switch module of claim 9 , further comprising:
a reference electrical contact positioned in the peripheral region of the recess and contacting the conductive dome, the reference electrical contact configured to transmit a bias voltage for detecting the translational input; and
a third conductive member at least partially encapsulated within the base and configured to conductively couple the reference electrical contact to the processing unit.

11. The switch module of claim 10 , wherein:
the conductive dome defines:
a first conductive route that defines the first portion of the conductive path; and
a second conductive route that conductively couples the reference electrical contact and the switch electrical contact when the conductive dome is in the collapsed configuration; and

the first conductive route is electrically isolated from the second conductive route.

12. The switch module of claim 8 , wherein the conductive dome is configured to collapse in response to an inward force applied to the actuation member.

13. The switch module of claim 12 , wherein the conductive dome is configured to provide an outward biasing force to maintain the actuation member in an unactuated position absent the inward force.

14. The switch module of claim 8 , wherein the friction guard and the conductive dome are formed as a single component.

15. An electronic watch comprising:
an enclosure defining an interior volume and an opening

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Pandya Sameer
• Herrera Antonio
• Ely Colin M

Classifications

• A61B5/681

  Wristwatch-type devices · CPC title

• H01H19/14

  Operating parts, e.g. turn knob · CPC title

• H05K5/0017

  with operator interface units · CPC title

• G06F1/1671

  Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop (G06F1/1666 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/163 Primary

  Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt · CPC title