TACTILE SWITCH FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20170011873A1
• Filed: 09/10/2016
• Published: 01/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ely, Colin M., Morrell, John B., Kerr, Duncan, Moussette, Camille
• Granted Patent: US 9,620,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 27/002 The setting apparatus being crown shaped G04B27/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/08 Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• 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: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/006 Force isolators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/006 Only mechanical function
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/01 also rotatable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/002 sealed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/008 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being perpendicular to the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/06 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being along the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/122 with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/16 Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off"

Abstract

One embodiment of the disclosure includes an input module. The input module includes a switch, a rotatable and translatable input member operably connected to the switch and configured to actuate the switch, and an electrical contact operably connected to the switch and in electrical communication with the input member. During operation, the electrical connection between the input member and the electrical contact is maintained during translation and rotation of the input member. The input module may be used with a variety of electronic devices and can be used by a user to provide input to those devices.

Claims

1. A switch assembly comprising:

an input member;

a tactile switch operably connected to the input member; and

an electrical contact operably connected to the tactile switch and in electrical communication with the input member.

2. The switch assembly of claim 2, wherein the electrical contact extends from the tactile switch and forms a nub for the tactile switch.

3. The switch assembly of claim 2, further comprising a plate positioned between the tactile switch and the input member, wherein the electrical contact is connected to the plate.

4. An input module comprising:

a switch;

an input button operably connected to the switch and configured to activate the switch;

a shear plate positioned between the switch and the input button;

wherein

the shear plate transmits translational forces applied to the input button to the switch;

the shear plate prevents rotational forces applied to the input button from being transmitted to the switch.

5. The input module of claim 4, wherein the shear plate is in electrical communication with the input button.

6. An input module comprising:

a switch;

a rotatable and translatable input member operably connected to the switch and configured to actuate the switch; and

an electrical contact operably connected to the switch and in electrical communication with the input member;

wherein

the electrical connection between the input member and the electrical contact is maintained during translation and rotation of the input member.

7. The input module of claim 6, wherein the input member comprises:

a button; and

a coupling operably connected to the button and moveable therewith.

8. The input module of claim 6, wherein the switch comprises a dome, wherein the input member is configured to collapse the dome when the input member translates.

9. The input module of claim 6, wherein the electrical contact is a brush contact switch.

10. The input module of claim 6, wherein the electrical contact is integrated with the switch.

11. The input module of claim 6, further comprising a shear plate positioned between the input member and the switch, wherein the electrical contact extends from the shear plate.

12. A switch assembly comprising:

a rotatable and translatable input member;

a coupling operable connected to the input member and moveable therewith;

a tactile switch operably connected to the coupling; and

an electrical contact operably connected to the tactile switch and in electrical communication with the coupling;

wherein

the input member is configured to actuate the electrical component when the input member translates;

the coupling rotates as the input member rotates; and

the electrical connection between the coupling and the electrical contact is maintained during translation and rotation of the input member.

13. The switch assembly of claim 12, further comprising a shear plate positioned between the coupling and the tactile switch, wherein the electrical contact extends from the shear plate.

14. The switch assembly of claim 12, wherein the electrical contact forms a nub for the tactile switch.

15. The switch assembly of claim 12, wherein the tactile switch comprises:

an actuatable dome; and

a switch circuit in selective communication with the dome.

16. The switch assembly of claim 12, further comprising a sensor operably connected to the input member and in electrical communication with the coupling.

17. The switch assembly of claim 16, wherein the sensor is configured to detect one or more biological characteristics of a user.

18. The switch assembly of claim 12, further comprising a rotational sensor configured to detect rotation of the coupling.

19. An electronic device incorporating the switch assembly of claim 12.

21. The wearable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the input member comprises:

a crown; and

a coupling member operably connected to the crown and rotatable therewith, the coupling being electrically coupled to the input member;

wherein

the coupling is configured to actuate the switch when the crown translates relative to the enclosure;

the coupling rotates as the crown rotates; and

the electrical coupling between the input member and the coupling is maintained during translation and rotation of the input member.

22. The wearable electronic device of claim 21, wherein the crown and the coupling are electrically isolated from the enclosure.

23. The wearable electronic device of claim 22, further comprising an insulating sleeve positioned within the button aperture.

24. The wearable electronic device of claim 21, further comprising a shear member positioned between the tactile switch and the input member, wherein the contact is formed on the shear member.

25. The wearable electronic device of claim 21, further comprising:

a rotation sensor in communication with the processing element;

a trackable element operably connected to the input member and rotatable therewith;

wherein the rotation sensor is configured to detect rotation of the trackable element.

20. A wearable electronic device, comprising:

an enclosure defining a cavity and a button aperture defined through the enclosure;

a processing element received within the cavity;

a switch module operably connected to the enclosure, the switch module comprising;

a tactile switch in communication with the processing element;

a rotatable and translatable input member operably connected to the tactile switch; and

a contact operably connected to the tactile switch and electrically coupled to the input member;

wherein

the electrical coupling between the input member and the contact is maintained during translation and rotation of the input member.