ROTARY INPUT MECHANISM FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20180136613A1
• Filed: 12/26/2017
• Published: 05/17/2018
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,234,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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

1-43. -43. (canceled)

44. A watch, comprising:

an enclosure having an opening;

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

an optical sensor positioned within the enclosure and configured to detect the rotational input; and

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

45. The watch of claim 44, 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.

46. The watch of claim 45, 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 head of the input device.

47. The watch of claim 44, wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect the rotational input in response to light reflected off the stem.

48. The watch of claim 44, wherein the head and the stem are integrally formed portions of a one-piece structure.

49. The watch of claim 44, wherein the head includes ridges formed along a perimeter of the head to enhance friction between a user'"'"'s finger and the head.

50. The watch of claim 49, wherein:

the head includes a cylindrical body; and

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

51. The watch of claim 44, wherein

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

52. A watch, comprising:

an enclosure;

an input device, comprising;

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

a stem attached directly to the head and extending into the enclosure;

an 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 toward an undepressed position.

53. The watch of claim 52, wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect the rotation of the input device using reflected light.

54. The watch of claim 53, wherein:

the stem includes a trackable element; 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.

55. The watch of claim 52, wherein:

the 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.

56. The watch of claim 55, wherein:

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

57. The watch of claim 56, wherein:

the stem defines a groove inward of the opening; and

the c-clip is received within the groove.

58. The watch of claim 52, wherein:

the watch comprises a display at least partially positioned within the enclosure;

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.

59. A watch, comprising:

an enclosure defining an opening;

an input device extending through the opening and into an interior volume of the enclosure;

an optical sensor configured to detect a rotation of the input device using light reflected off the input device within the enclosure; and

a tactile switch configured to detect an inward translation of the input device using a dome deformed by the inward translation.

60. The watch of claim 59, wherein:

the enclosure includes a sidewall;

the opening extends through the sidewall;

the input device comprises a stem positioned within the opening; and

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

61. The watch of claim 60, wherein

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

62. The watch of claim 61, wherein:

the watch further comprises a c-clip that is positioned within the 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 enclosure.

63. The watch of claim 59, wherein:

the input device comprises a head positioned along an exterior surface of the enclosure;

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

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