Tactile switch for an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12181840-B2
Application number	US-202318243257-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 7, 2023
Priority date	Aug 9, 2013
Publication date	Dec 31, 2024
Grant date	Dec 31, 2024

Abstract

An electronic watch may include a tactile switch and/or one or more sensors for detecting rotational and translational inputs. The watch may include a display configured to produce graphical outputs that may change in response to rotational inputs, translational inputs, and/or touch inputs received at the display. The watch include a crown positioned along an exterior of the watch enclosure and a shaft coupled to the crown and extending into the enclosure. The tactile switch and/or the one or more sensors may be used to detect rotational and/or translational inputs provided at the crown.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic watch comprising:
an enclosure defining a sidewall having an opening;
a cover coupled to the enclosure;
a display positioned below the cover;
a processor within the enclosure;
a crown positioned at the sidewall and configured to receive a rotational input, the crown comprising:
a head positioned at the sidewall and defining an external surface;
a touch sensor positioned at the head and configured to detect a touch input applied to the external surface of the head; and
a shaft extending from the head and through the opening in the sidewall, the shaft configured to rotate in conjunction with the head in response to the rotational input; and

a rotation sensor configured to detect the rotational input by detecting rotation of the shaft.

2. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein the rotation sensor is an optical rotation sensor configured to detect the rotational input based on light reflected from a component of the crown.

3. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor comprises capacitive sensing element.

4. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the shaft comprises a conductive material; and
the touch sensor is conductively coupled to the processor via the conductive material of the shaft.

5. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the enclosure defines a first electrically conductive surface;
the crown defines a second electrically conductive surface; and
the electronic watch is configured to measure an electrical parameter of a wearer's body using a first electrical signal received at the first electrically conductive surface and a second electrical signal received at the second electrically conductive surface.

6. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the head is configured to receive a translational input; and
the electronic watch further comprises a translation sensor within the enclosure and configured to detect the translational input.

7. A wearable electronic device comprising:
an enclosure;
a processor within the enclosure;
a touch-sensitive display positioned at least partially within the enclosure and operably coupled to the processor and configured to:
receive a touch input; and
display a graphical output;

a crown coupled to the enclosure and configured to receive a rotational input and a force input, the crown comprising a shaft extending into the enclosure and configured to rotate in response to the rotational input;
a rotation sensor at least partially within the enclosure and configured to detect the rotational input, the rotation sensor comprising an optical sensing element configured to detect the rotational input based on rotation of the shaft; and
a force sensor positioned in the crown, the force sensor configured to detect the force input.

8. The wearable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein:
the optical sensing element is configured to detect light reflected from the shaft; and
the rotation sensor determines a parameter of the rotational input based at least in part on the reflected light.

9. The wearable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the wearable electronic device is configured to produce haptic feedback at the crown.

10. The wearable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the force input causes the crown to translate relative to the enclosure.

11. The wearable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the crown comprises:
a head at an end of the shaft.

12. The wearable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein:
the shaft comprises a conductive material; and
the force sensor is conductively coupled to the processor via the conductive material of the shaft.

13. The wearable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the wearable electronic device is configured to determine a heart rate of a wearer based at least in part on an electrical signal received at the crown.

14. A watch comprising:
a display;
a cover covering the display;
a processor operatively coupled to the display;
an enclosure at least partially enclosing the display and the processor and coupled to the cover;
a crown coupled to the enclosure and configured to receive a rotational input, the crown comprising:
a head positioned at an exterior side of the enclosure and defining a crown surface;
a shaft coupled to the head and extending at least partially into the enclosure, the shaft configured to rotate in conjunction with the head in response to the rotational input; and
a sensor positioned in the head and configured to detect at least one of a touch input applied to the crown surface or a force input applied to the crown surface; and

a rotation sensor configured to detect the rotational input applied to the crown based at least in part on detecting rotation of the shaft.

15. The watch of claim 14 , wherein the sensor is a capacitive sensor configured to detect the touch input.

16. The watch of claim 14 , wherein:
the shaft comprises a conductive material; and
the sensor is conductively coupled to the processor via the shaft.

17. The watch of claim 14 , wherein the rotation sensor comprises an optical rotation sensor configured to detect the rotational input based at least in part on light reflected from a rotating surface of the crown.

18. The watch of claim 14 , wherein:
the crown surface is a conductive surface; and
the watch is configured to determine a physiological parameter of a wearer based at least in part on an electrical signal detected at the conductive surface.

19. The watch of claim 14 , further comprising a switch element positioned within the enclosure and at an end of the shaft and configured to be actuated in response to a translational input applied to the crown.

20. The electronic watch of claim 1 , further comprising a switch element positioned within the enclosure and at an end of the shaft and configured to be actuated in response to a translational input applied to the crown.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Ely Colin M
• Morrell John B
• Kerr Duncan
• Moussette Camille

Classifications

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G04G21/08

  Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces · CPC title

• G06F1/163 Primary

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

• H01H2221/01

  also rotatable · CPC title

• H01H2215/006

  Only mechanical function · CPC title