Tactile switch for an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9836025-B2
Application number	US-201715637949-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2017
Priority date	Aug 9, 2013
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to a watch having a touch-sensitive display and a switch assembly positioned along or within an enclosure. The switch assembly includes a shaft extending into an opening of the enclosure and is configured to receive rotational and translational input. A first sensor, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the rotational input. A second sensor, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the translational input. The watch also includes a touch-sensitive display configured to receive touch input and to depict a graphical output of the watch. The graphical output may be responsive to various inputs, including a touch input provided at the display, the translational input provided at the switch assembly, and the rotational input provided at the switch assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A watch, comprising:
an enclosure defining an interior volume and an opening extending into the interior volume;
a switch assembly, comprising:
a button configured to receive translational input and rotational input;
a shaft coupled with the button and extending into the opening of the watch;
a first sensor positioned within the interior volume and configured to detect the rotational input; and
a second sensor positioned within the interior volume and configured to detect the translational input; and

a touch-sensitive display configured to receive touch input and to depict a graphical output of the watch, wherein the graphical output is responsive to each of:
the translational input of the button;
the rotational input of the button; and
the touch input of the touch-sensitive display.

2. The watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the graphical output includes a group of icons that are selectively modifiable in response to one or more of: the translational input, the rotational input, or the touch input.

3. The watch of claim 2 , wherein:
an icon of the group of icons corresponds to a received message; and
a position of the icon can be varied in response to one or more of: the touch input; the translational input; or the rotational input.

4. The watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the first sensor is positioned proximate an end of the shaft and is configured to detect translational movement of the shaft resulting from the translational input; and
the second sensor is positioned along a side of the shaft and is configured to detect rotational movement of the shaft resulting from the rotational input.

5. The watch of claim 4 , wherein:
the first sensor is a dome switch that is configured to collapse in response to the translational movement; and
the second sensor is an optical sensor configured to detect the rotational movement of the shaft.

6. The watch of claim 5 , wherein the dome switch is configured to produce a tactile feedback in response to the translational movement.

7. The watch of claim 5 , wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect the rotational movement of the shaft during the translational movement of the shaft.

8. A watch, comprising:
an enclosure having sidewalls that define an interior volume and an opening;
a touch-sensitive display at least partially positioned within the interior volume and configured to depict a graphical output;
a switch assembly having a shaft that extends through the opening;
a first sensor positioned within the interior volume proximate an end of the shaft and configured to detect a translational movement of the shaft; and
a second sensor positioned within the interior volume along a side of the shaft and configured to detect a rotational movement of the shaft, wherein:
the graphical output is configured to change in response to each of the detected translational movement and the rotational movement.

9. The watch of claim 8 , further comprising:
a processing element configured to:
control a first function of the watch using the detected translational movement of the shaft; and
control a second function of the watch using the detected rotational movement of the shaft.

10. The watch of claim 9 , wherein one or both of the first or second functions is associated with a notification function of the watch.

11. The watch of claim 9 , wherein one or both of the first or second functions is associated with a time-keeping function of the watch.

12. The watch of claim 8 , wherein:
the switch assembly further comprises a button coupled to the shaft and positioned along an exterior of the enclosure; and
the button is configured to receive an inward translational input that causes the translational movement of the shaft.

13. The watch of claim 12 , wherein:
the first sensor is a dome switch;
translational input at the button causes the shaft to plunge into the dome switch, thereby causing the dome switch to collapse; and
the dome switch is configured to generate a tactile response when the dome switch collapses.

14. The watch of claim 12 , wherein:
the second sensor is an optical sensor;
the shaft includes a patterned surface; and
the optical sensor is configured to track movement of the patterned surface.

15. A watch, comprising:
an enclosure defining an interior volume:
a switch assembly configured to receive rotational and translational input, the switch assembly comprising:
a shaft that extends into the interior volume;
a first sensor positioned within the interior volume along an end portion of the shaft; and
a second sensor positioned within the interior volume along the end portion of the shaft; and

a touch-sensitive display configured to receive touch input and produce a graphical output, wherein:
the graphical output is configured to be modified in a first manner in response to the translational input;
the graphical output is configured to be modified in a second manner in response to the rotational input; and
the graphical output is configured to be modified in a third manner in response to the touch input.

16. The watch of claim 15 , further comprising:
the enclosure defines a first opening and a second opening;
the touch-sensitive display is at least partially positioned within the first opening;
the switch assembly includes a button coupled to the shaft; and
the shaft extends from the button and into the enclosure through the second opening.

17. The watch of claim 16 , wherein:
the first sensor includes a tactile dome;
the translational input plunges the shaft inward toward the tactile dome; and
an output of the first sensor occurs when the tactile dome collapses.

18. The watch of claim 17 , wherein the button is biased outward such that when the translational input ceases the button moves away from the enclosure.

19. The watch of claim 18 , further comprising:
a shelf positioned about the shaft and configured to limit movement of the button in a direction away from the enclosure.

20. The watch of claim 19 , wherein the shelf is integrally formed with the shaft and defines an outer diameter that is larger than a diameter of the second opening.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H01H2223/002

  sealed · CPC title

• H01H2209/006

  Force isolators · CPC title

• H01H9/16

  Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off" · CPC title

• H01H2221/01

  also rotatable · CPC title

• H01H3/122

  with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor · CPC title