User interface for manipulating user interface objects with magnetic properties

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12481420-B2
Application number	US-202318200335-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2023
Priority date	Sep 3, 2013
Publication date	Nov 25, 2025
Grant date	Nov 25, 2025

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to user interfaces for manipulating user interface objects. A device, including a display and a rotatable input mechanism, is described in relation to manipulating user interface objects. In some examples, the manipulation of the object is a scroll, zoom, or rotate of the object. In other examples, objects are selected in accordance with simulated magnetic properties.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A wearable electronic device, comprising:
a crown; a display; one or more processors; a memory; and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
displaying content on the display of the wearable electronic device;
detecting a rotation of the crown;
in response to detecting the rotation of the crown:
in accordance with a determination that the rotation is in a clockwise direction, navigating content through a stationary focus area in a first direction that is based on the rotation in the clockwise direction; and
in accordance with a determination that the rotation is in counter-clockwise direction, navigating content through the stationary focus area in a second direction that is based on the rotation in the counter-clockwise direction, wherein the second direction is different from the first direction, wherein navigating content through the stationary focus area changes what content is aligned with the focus area, wherein the focus area corresponds to a same respective portion of the display as the crown is rotated;

after navigating through the content, detecting a press input on the crown, wherein the press input on the crown is in a direction, and wherein the rotation of the crown is about an axis in which the direction of the press input is detected; and
in response to detecting the press input on the crown, performing a selection operation corresponding to a respective portion of the content that is aligned with the focus area.

2 . The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:
in response to detecting the press input on the crown:
in accordance with a determination that a first portion of the content is aligned with the focus area, selecting the first portion of the content; and
in accordance with a determination that a second portion of the content is aligned with the focus area, selecting the second portion of the content.

3 . The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein navigating content through the focus area includes moving the content along a predefined vertical path.

4 . The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein navigating content through the focus area includes moving the focus area through the content.

5 . The wearable electronic device of claim 2 , wherein a speed of a movement of the content is based on a velocity of the rotation of the crown.

6 . The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:
in accordance with a determination that the focus area is aligned with a beginning of the content, providing a tactile output; and in accordance with a determination that the focus area is aligned with an end of the content, providing a tactile output.

7 . The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the press input on the crown is detected on the crown that was used to navigate through content.

8 . The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the respective portion of the content is aligned with the focus area based on the rotation of the crown that occurred prior to detecting the press input on the crown.

9 . A method, comprising:
at a wearable electronic device with a crown and a display:
displaying content on the display of the wearable electronic device;
detecting a rotation of the crown;
in response to detecting the rotation of the crown:
in accordance with a determination that the rotation is in a clockwise direction, navigating content through a stationary focus area in a first direction that is based on the rotation in the clockwise direction; and
in accordance with a determination that the rotation is in counter-clockwise direction, navigating content through the stationary focus area in a second direction that is based on the rotation in the counter-clockwise direction, wherein the second direction is different from the first direction, wherein navigating content through the stationary focus area changes what content is aligned with the focus area, wherein the focus area corresponds to a same respective portion of the display as the crown is rotated;

after navigating through the content, detecting a press input on the crown, wherein the press input on the crown is in a direction, and wherein the rotation of the crown is about an axis in which the direction of the press input is detected; and
in response to detecting the press input on the crown, performing a selection operation corresponding to a respective portion of the content that is aligned with the focus area.

10 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of a wearable electronic device with a crown and a display, the one or more programs including instructions for:
displaying content on the display of the wearable electronic device; detecting a rotation of the crown; in response to detecting the rotation of the crown;
in accordance with a determination that the rotation is in a clockwise direction, navigating content through a stationary focus area in a first direction that is based on the rotation in the clockwise direction; and
in accordance with a determination that the rotation is in counter-clockwise direction, navigating content through the stationary focus area in a second direction that is based on the rotation in the counter-clockwise direction, wherein the second direction is different from the first direction, wherein navigating content through the stationary focus area changes what content is aligned with the focus area, wherein the focus area corresponds to a same respective portion of the display as the crown is rotated;
after navigating through the content, detecting a press input on the crown, wherein the press input on the crown is in a direction, and wherein the rotation of the crown is about an axis in which the direction of the press input is detected; and
in response to detecting the press input on the crown, performing a selection operation corresponding to a respective portion of the content that is aligned with the focus area.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the press input on the crown is detected on the crown that was used to navigate through content.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the respective portion of the content is aligned with the focus area based on the rotation of the crown that occurred prior to detecting the press input on the crown.

13 . The method of claim 9 , the method further comprising:
in response to detecting the press input on the crown:
in accordance with a determination that a first portion of the content is aligned with the focus area, selecting the first portion of the content; and
in accordance with a determination that a second portion of the content is aligned with the focus area, selecting the second portion of the content.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein navigating content through the focus area includes moving the content along a predefined vertical path.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein navigating content through the focus area includes moving the focus area through the content.

16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein a speed of a movement of the content is based on a velocity of the rotation of the crown.

17 . The method of claim 9 , the method further comprising:
in accordance with a determination that the focus area is aligned with a beginning of the

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Zambetti Nicholas
• Chaudhri Imran
• Dascola Jonathan R
• Dye Alan C
• Foss Christopher Patrick
• Guzman Aurelio
• Karunamuni Chanaka G
• Kerr Duncan Robert
• Wilson Christopher
• Wilson Eric Lance
• Yang Lawrence Y
• Butcher Gary Ian
• De Vries Nathan
• Ive Jonathan P

Classifications

• G06F3/0488

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

• G06F3/0484

  for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range · CPC title

• G06F3/048

  Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] · CPC title

• G06F3/016

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• G06F1/1694

  the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer · CPC title