Capacitive gap sensor ring for an input device
First Claim
1. A wearable electronic device comprising:
- a multi-directional input device comprising;
a shaft;
a cap operable to move with respect to the shaft;
a sensor coupling the cap to the shaft and comprising;
an outer set of capacitive elements; and
an inner set of capacitive elements; and
a returning structure operable to;
in response to a force applied to the cap, allow movement of the outer set of capacitive elements with respect to the inner set of capacitive elements; and
in response to the force being removed from the cap, return the outer set of capacitive elements to a default position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An input mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a rotational manipulation mechanism, such as a cap or shaft. The input mechanism also includes a sensor having first capacitive elements coupled to the manipulation mechanism, second capacitive elements, and a dielectric positioned between the first and second capacitive elements. Movement of the manipulation mechanism alters the positions of the first and second capacitive elements with respect to each other and is determinable based on capacitance changes resulting therefrom. In some implementations, the second capacitive elements may be part of an inner ring or partial ring nested at least partially within an outer ring or partial ring.
377 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wearable electronic device comprising:
a multi-directional input device comprising; a shaft; a cap operable to move with respect to the shaft; a sensor coupling the cap to the shaft and comprising; an outer set of capacitive elements; and an inner set of capacitive elements; and a returning structure operable to; in response to a force applied to the cap, allow movement of the outer set of capacitive elements with respect to the inner set of capacitive elements; and in response to the force being removed from the cap, return the outer set of capacitive elements to a default position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electronic device, comprising:
an input device comprising; a rotational manipulation mechanism; a first array of capacitive elements coupled to the rotational manipulation mechanism; a second array of capacitive elements; and a dielectric positioned between the first and second arrays of capacitive elements;
wherein;the electronic device is operable to determine either a linear translation or a rotation of the rotational manipulation mechanism based on a change in capacitance between the first and second arrays of capacitive elements. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An input device comprising:
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a rotational manipulation mechanism; a first array of capacitive elements coupled to the rotational manipulation mechanism; a second array of capacitive elements; and a dielectric positioned between the first and second arrays of capacitive elements;
wherein;movement of the rotational manipulation mechanism results in a change in a first overlap area between a first pair of the first and second arrays of capacitive elements and movement of the rotational manipulation mechanism results in a change in a second overlap area between a second pair of the first and second arrays of capacitive elements, the first overlap area being different from the second overlap area. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An electronic device having an input device, the input device comprising:
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a manipulation mechanism; a first array of capacitive elements coupled to the manipulation mechanism; a second array of capacitive elements separated from the first array of capacitive elements; and a dielectric positioned between the first and second arrays of capacitive elements; wherein; movement of the manipulation mechanism results in a change in a first distance between a first pair of the first and second arrays of capacitive elements; movement of the manipulation mechanism results in a change in a second distance between a second pair of the first and second arrays of capacitive elements; and the first distance is different from the second distance. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification