COMPRESSIBLE SEAL FOR ROTATABLE AND TRANSLATABLE INPUT MECHANISMS

• US 20180239306A1
• Filed: 04/23/2018
• Published: 08/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ely, Colin M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,845,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 27/02 by making use of the winding means winding by hand or mechanically G04B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 3/04 Rigidly-mounted keys, knobs or crowns jointed winding-stem G04B37/06
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/081 Complete encasings for wrist or pocket watches also comprising means for hermetic sealing of the winding stem and crown hermetic sealing of the stem or crown G04B37/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/106 of push buttons winding up by push button G04B3/001; crown in the form of push button G04B3/046; construction of push buttons G04B3/048
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/005 Multiple switches G04C3/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/025 actuated by sliding movement
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/08 Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 25/04 Sealing against entry of dust, weather or the like in selector apparatus for gearings, F16H59/0213
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/05 Means for returning or tending to return controlling members to an inoperative or neutral position, e.g. by providing return springs or resilient end-stops G05G5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/04 in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously
• 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 2300/016 Application timepiece
• 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 25/065 using separate operating parts, e.g. a push button surrounded by a rotating knob

Abstract

An electronic device has a housing and a rotatable and translatable input mechanism. The housing has an aperture and the rotatable and translatable input mechanism has a shaft positioned at least partially within the aperture and a manipulation structure coupled to the shaft. The manipulation structure may be manipulated to rotationally and translationally move the shaft to provide rotational and translational input to the electronic device. A compressible seal is positioned in a gap between the housing and the rotatable and translatable input mechanism. The compressible seal may resist and/or prevent passage of contaminants into the aperture and/or obscure one or more internal components. The compressible seal may be configured to collapse or bend when the rotatable and translatable member translates.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A watch comprising:

a housing having an opening;

a display positioned at least partially within the housing and configured to receive touch input and to produce graphical output;

a crown having a shaft that extends into the opening;

an optical sensor positioned within the housing and along a side of the shaft, the optical sensor configured to detect a rotation of the shaft; and

a tactile switch positioned within the housing and along an end of the shaft, the tactile switch configured to detect a translation of the shaft, wherein

the graphical output of the display changes in response to each of;

the rotation of the shaft;

the translation of the shaft; and

the touch input.

22. The watch of claim 21, further comprising a gasket positioned around the shaft and within the opening.

23. The watch of claim 22, wherein:

the gasket is a first gasket; and

the watch further comprises a second gasket positioned around the shaft and separated from the first gasket.

24. The watch of claim 21, wherein the tactile switch comprises a dome configured to collapse in response to the translation of the shaft.

25. The watch of claim 24, wherein the dome is configured to provide a return force that biases the crown outward from the housing.

26. The watch of claim 25, further comprising:

an extender coupled to the shaft and having a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the opening.

27. The watch of claim 24, wherein, upon collapse, the dome is configured to produce an audible output.

28. A watch comprising:

a housing having an opening;

a crown having a shaft that extends into the opening, the crown being biased along an outward direction to an undepressed position;

a sensor positioned within the housing and configured to detect at least one of a rotational input or a depressed position of the crown; and

an extender connected to the shaft within the housing and configured to limit a translation of the crown along the outward direction.

29. The watch of claim 28, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

30. The watch of claim 29, wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect the rotational input using reflected light.

31. The watch of claim 30, wherein:

the shaft includes trackable features arranged along a surface of the shaft; and

the reflected light is light reflected off of the trackable features.

32. The watch of claim 29, further comprising a tactile switch configured to detect the depressed position of the crown.

33. The watch of claim 28, wherein:

the watch further comprises;

a manipulation structure connected to the shaft and positioned outside of the housing, the manipulation structure configured to receive the rotational input and a translational input that causes the depressed position of the crown; and

a compressible seal positioned between the manipulation structure and an exterior of the housing.

34. The watch of claim 33, wherein the compressible seal defines a Y-shaped member that contacts the crown and the housing.

35. A watch comprising:

a housing;

a crown comprising;

a manipulation structure positioned along a sidewall of the housing; and

a shaft coupled to the manipulation structure and extending into the housing;

an optical sensor positioned within the housing and configured to detect a rotation of the crown; and

a tactile switch having a dome positioned within the housing and configured to detect a depression of the crown as the crown moves inward and collapses the dome.

36. The watch of claim 35, further comprising:

a display at least partially positioned within the housing; and

a touch sensor configured to detect a touch input received at the display.

37. The watch of claim 35, wherein the crown further comprises an exterior cap coupled to an end surface of the manipulation structure.

38. The watch of claim 35, wherein:

the sidewall has a first opening;

the shaft extends into the housing through the first opening;

the housing includes a second opening; and

the watch further comprises a display at least partially positioned with the second opening.

39. The watch of claim 35, wherein the optical sensor is positioned proximate an end of the shaft.

40. The watch of claim 39, wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect one or both of a speed or a direction of the shaft using reflected light.