Tactile switch for an electronic device

• US 9,627,163 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2014
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): LEON MUNOZ, EDWIN A
• Application Number:
  US14/455,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20150041289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 200 4
• 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. An input module comprising:

an input button configured to receive lateral and rotational input from a user;

a shaft coupled to the input button;

an array of optical elements arranged around the shaft;

a sensing element configured to detect the rotational input from the input button using the array of optical elements;

a collapsible dome switch operable to collapse in response to the lateral input from the user; and

a shear plate positioned between the collapsible dome switch and an end of the shaft, wherein the shear plate;

is configured to transmit the lateral input from the input button to the switch; and

prevents the rotational input applied to the input button from being transmitted to the collapsible dome switch.

2. The input module of claim 1, wherein the shear plate is in electrical communication with the input button.

3. 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 positioned between the switch and in electrical communication with the input member, wherein;

the electrical contact is configured to isolate the switch from rotational forces produced by the input member; and

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

4. The input module of claim 3, wherein the input member comprises:

a button; and

a coupling operably connected to the button and moveable therewith.

5. The input module of claim 3, wherein the switch comprises a dome, wherein the input member is configured to collapse the dome when the input member translates.

6. The input module of claim 3, wherein the electrical contact is a brush contact switch.

7. The input module of claim 3, wherein the electrical contact is integrated with the switch.

8. The input module of claim 3, wherein the electrical contact is a shear plate.

9. A switch assembly comprising:

a rotatable and translatable input member;

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

an array of trackable elements arranged around the coupling;

an optical sensing element configured to produce an output using the array of trackable elements in response to a rotation of the input member;

a tactile switch operably connected to the coupling; and

an electrical contact positioned between the tactile switch and an end of the coupling, wherein;

the input member is configured to actuate the electrical contact 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.

10. The switch assembly of claim 9, further comprising a shear plate positioned between the coupling and the tactile switch, wherein the electrical contact extends from the shear plate.

11. The switch assembly of claim 9, wherein the electrical contact forms a nub for the tactile switch.

12. The switch assembly of claim 9, wherein the tactile switch comprises:

an actuatable dome; and

a switch circuit in selective communication with the dome.

13. The switch assembly of claim 9, further comprising a sensor operably connected to the input member and in electrical communication with the coupling.

14. The switch assembly of claim 13, wherein the sensor is configured to detect one or more biological characteristics of a user.

15. An electronic device incorporating the switch assembly of claim 9.

17. The wearable electronic device of claim 12, wherein:

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

the shaft rotates as the crown rotates; and

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

18. The wearable electronic device of claim 17, wherein the crown and the shaft are electrically isolated from the enclosure.

19. The wearable electronic device of claim 18, further comprising an insulating sleeve positioned within the button aperture.

16. 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, the input member comprising a crown positioned within the button aperture and a shaft extending into the cavity;

a shear plate contacting an end of the shaft during rotation of the input member; and

a non-contact based sensor configured to measure rotation of the input member using a portion of the shaft positioned between the shear plate and the crown.