Rotary input mechanism for an electronic device

• US 10,234,828 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2017
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ely, Colin M., Rothkopf, Fletcher, Werner, Christopher Matthew, Morrell, John B., Moussette, Camille, Kerr, Duncan, Shedletsky, Anna-Katrina
• Primary Examiner(s): Wicklund, Daniel P
• Application Number:
  US15/854,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20180136613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 3/04 Rigidly-mounted keys, knobs or crowns jointed winding-stem G04B37/06
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/00 Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means synchronisation G04C11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/004 Magnetically controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/04 wherein movement is regulated by a balance construction thereof G04B17/063
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/08 Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/00 Switches operated by change of a physical condition operated by change of magnetic or electric field H01H36/00; thermally-actuated switches H01H37/00

Abstract

One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device includes an enclosure having a sidewall with a button aperture defined therethrough, a display connected to the enclosure, a processing element in communication with the display. The device also includes a sensing element in communication with the processing element and an input button at least partially received within the button aperture and in communication with the sensing element, the input button configured to receive two types of user inputs. During operation, the sensing element tracks movement of the input button to determine the two types of user inputs.

Claims

1. A watch comprising:

a watch enclosure having an opening;

a touch-sensitive display at least partially surrounded by the watch enclosure and configured to depict a graphical output;

a pair of watch straps coupled to the watch enclosure;

an input device having a crown and a stem that extends into the opening, the input device being biased outward from the watch enclosure and configured to receive a rotational input and a translational input;

an optical sensor positioned within the watch enclosure along a side of the stem and configured to detect the rotational input using reflected light that is reflected from the stem; and

a tactile switch positioned within the watch enclosure and configured to detect the translational input when the tactile switch is deformed by the stem, wherein

the watch is configured to modify the graphical output of the touch-sensitive display in response to both the translational input and the rotational input.

2. The watch of claim 1, wherein:

the tactile switch comprises a collapsible dome; and

in response to the deformation caused by the translational input, the collapsible dome is configured to complete a circuit.

3. The watch of claim 2, wherein:

the tactile switch is configured to produce a haptic output when the collapsible dome deforms; and

the haptic output is propagated through the stem to the crown of the input device.

4. The watch of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect a speed of the rotational input using the reflected light.

5. The watch of claim 1, wherein the crown and the stem are integrally formed portions of a one-piece structure.

6. The watch of claim 1, wherein the crown includes ridges formed along a perimeter of the crown to enhance friction between a user'"'"'s finger and the crown.

7. The watch of claim 6, wherein:

the crown includes a cylindrical body; and

the crown includes a series of tactile features formed along a perimeter of the cylindrical body.

8. The watch of claim 1, wherein

the input device is biased outward from the watch enclosure by the tactile switch.

9. A watch comprising:

a watch enclosure;

a watch strap coupled to the watch enclosure;

a display coupled to the watch enclosure and configured to display a graphical output;

an input device, comprising;

a crown positioned along a side of the watch enclosure and having a textured surface; and

a stem attached directly to the crown and extending into the watch enclosure;

an optical sensor positioned within the watch enclosure and facing a side of the stem, the optical sensor configured to detect a rotation of the input device; and

a tactile switch configured to detect a depressed position of the input device as the stem moves inward and collapses a dome of the tactile switch, wherein;

the dome is configured to provide a return force that biases the stem outward; and

the graphical output of the display is responsive to both the rotation of the input device and the depressed position of the input device.

10. The watch of claim 9, wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect the rotation of the input device using reflected light.

11. The watch of claim 10, wherein:

the stem includes a trackable element along a surface of the stem; and

the optical sensor is configured to detect the rotation of the input device by detecting the reflected light, which is reflected off the trackable element.

12. The watch of claim 9, wherein:

the watch enclosure defines an opening;

the stem is positioned within the opening;

the watch further comprises a c-clip coupled to the stem; and

the c-clip has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the opening.

13. The watch of claim 12, wherein:

in response to the return force, the c-clip contacts an interior surface of the watch enclosure.

14. The watch of claim 13, wherein:

the stem defines a groove inward of the opening; and

the c-clip is received within the groove.

15. The watch of claim 9, wherein:

the display is configured to receive a touch input and depict graphical objects of the watch; and

in response to the rotation of the input device or the touch input of the display, the graphical objects are configured to scroll.

16. A watch, comprising:

a watch enclosure defining an interior volume and an opening extending into the interior volume;

a display positioned at least partially within the interior volume and configured to display a graphical output;

an input device comprising a crown and a stem coupled to the crown and extending through the opening and into the interior volume of the watch enclosure;

an optical sensor positioned along a side of the stem and configured to detect a rotation of the input device using light reflected off the input device; and

a tactile switch configured to detect an inward translation of the input device using a dome deformed by the stem in response to the inward translation, wherein

the watch is configured to modify the graphical output in response to the rotation of the input device and the inward translation of the input device.

17. The watch of claim 16, wherein:

the watch enclosure includes a sidewall;

the opening extends through the sidewall;

and

the opening guides the stem during the inward translation of the input device.

18. The watch of claim 17, wherein

the dome is configured to produce a return force that causes an outward translation of the input device.

19. The watch of claim 18, wherein:

the watch further comprises a c-clip that is positioned within the watch enclosure and coupled to the stem; and

the c-clip is configured to prevent the stem from exiting the opening by contacting an interior surface of the watch enclosure.

20. The watch of claim 16, wherein:

the inward translation of the input device advances the crown toward a portion of an exterior surface around the opening; and

the portion of the exterior surface is configured to contact the crown, thereby limiting the inward translation.