Tactile switch for an electronic device

• US 9,709,956 B1
• Filed: 03/21/2017
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Morrell, John B., Kerr, Duncan, Ely, Colin M., Moussette, Camille
• Primary Examiner(s): LEON MUNOZ, EDWIN A
• Application Number:
  US15/465,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20170192391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 119 Days
• Field of Search: 200 4, 368 69, 368185-187, 368289, 368308, 368319
• 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

Embodiments are directed to a watch having a touch-sensitive display and a switch assembly positioned along or within an enclosure. The switch assembly includes a shaft extending into an opening of the enclosure and is configured to receive rotational and translational input. A switch, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the translational input. An optical sensor, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the rotational input. The watch also includes a processor positioned within the enclosure and configured to modify a graphical output of the display. The graphical output may be responsive to various inputs, including a touch input provided at the display, the translational input provided at the switch assembly, and the rotational input provided at the switch assembly.

Claims

1. A watch, comprising:

an enclosure having first and second openings;

a display positioned within the first opening and having a touch sensor configured to receive touch input;

a switch assembly having a shaft that extends into the second opening and configured to receive rotational input and translational input;

a switch positioned within the enclosure and configured to detect the translational input;

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

a processor positioned within the enclosure and configured to modify a graphical output of the display, the graphical output being responsive to each of;

the touch input provided at the display;

the translational input provided at the switch assembly; and

the rotational input provided at the switch assembly.

2. The watch of claim 1, wherein:

the graphical output of the display includes an icon corresponding to a received message; and

a position of the icon can be varied in response to one or more of;

the touch input;

the translational input;

or the rotational input.

3. The watch of claim 1, wherein:

the switch includes a tactile dome that is configured to provide a haptic output; and

the haptic output is transmitted through the switch assembly to an external surface of the watch.

4. The watch of claim 1, wherein:

in response to the translational input, the switch assembly is configured to move inward from an un-depressed position to a depressed position; and

the watch further comprises a spring coupled to the switch assembly and configured to provide a return force to return the switch assembly to the un-depressed position.

5. The watch of claim 1, further comprising:

a sealing member encircling the shaft and positioned within the second opening;

wherein;

the sealing member maintains a seal between the switch assembly and the enclosure while the switch assembly receives either or both of the translational input and the rotational input.

6. The watch of claim 5, wherein:

the shaft includes a groove; and

the sealing member is an O-ring positioned within the groove.

7. A watch, comprising:

an enclosure defining a first opening and a second opening;

a display positioned within the first opening and having a touch sensor configured to receive a touch input;

a switch assembly having a shaft extending into the second opening;

a switch configured to detect a translational motion of the shaft; and

an optical sensor configured to detect a rotational motion of the shaft;

wherein;

a graphical output of the display is responsive to each of;

the touch input provided to the touch sensor of the display;

the translational motion of the shaft; and

the rotational motion of the shaft.

8. The watch of claim 7, wherein the graphical output of the display includes an icon having a characteristic that can be modified in response to one or more of:

the touch input;

the translational motion;

or the rotational motion.

9. The watch of claim 7, further comprising:

a sealing member encircling the shaft and positioned within the second opening;

wherein;

the sealing member maintains contact with an interior surface of the second opening during the translational motion and the rotational motion of the shaft.

10. The watch of claim 9, wherein:

the shaft defines a groove; and

the sealing member is an O-ring positioned between a surface of the groove and the interior surface of the second opening.

11. The watch of claim 7, wherein:

the switch assembly further comprises a button positioned along an exterior surface of the enclosure and attached to the shaft;

the translational motion results in an inward translation of the button toward the exterior surface;

the shaft further comprises a shelf configured to limit an outward translation of the button away from the exterior surface; and

the button is configured to contact the exterior surface of the enclosure thereby limiting the inward translation.

12. The watch of claim 7, wherein:

the switch assembly further comprises a button positioned along an exterior surface of the enclosure and coupled to the shaft; and

the exterior surface of the enclosure defines a recess that receives a portion of the button.

13. The watch of claim 12, wherein:

the translational motion results in an inward translation of the button toward a surface of the recess; and

the button is configured to abut the surface of the recess, thereby limiting the inward translation.

14. The watch of claim 7, wherein:

the switch comprises a dome that is configured to collapse in response to the translational motion; and

the dome is configured to produce a tactile feedback in response to the translational motion.

15. A watch, comprising:

an enclosure defining an opening in a sidewall;

a display positioned at least partially within the enclosure and having a touch sensor responsive to touch input;

a switch assembly comprising;

a button positioned along the sidewall; and

a shaft connected to the button and extending through the opening into the enclosure;

a switch positioned within the enclosure and responsive to an inward translational input applied to the button; and

an optical sensor positioned within the enclosure and responsive to a rotational input applied to the button, wherein;

in response to the inward translational input, a graphical output of the display is modified in a first manner;

in response to the rotational input, the graphical output of the display is modified in a second manner; and

in response to the touch input, the graphical output of the display is modified in a third manner.

16. The watch of claim 15, further comprising a shelf positioned within the enclosure and configured to limit an outward translation of the button away from the sidewall.

17. The watch of claim 16, wherein the shelf is integrally formed with the shaft and defines an outer diameter that is larger than a diameter of the opening.

18. The watch of claim 16, wherein:

the inward translational input results in a movement of the switch assembly from an un-actuated position to an actuated position;

the watch further comprises a spring configured to return the switch assembly to the un-actuated position; and

the shelf contacts an inner surface of the sidewall when the switch assembly is in the un-actuated position.

19. The watch of claim 15, wherein:

the sidewall of the enclosure defines a recess that receives a portion of the button; and

the button is configured to abut a surface of the recess to limit an inward translation of the button due to the inward translational input.

20. The watch of claim 15, wherein:

the switch comprises a collapsible dome that is configured to buckle in response to the inward translational input of the button to an actuated position; and

the watch further comprises a spring coupled to the switch assembly and provides a return force that biases the switch toward an un-actuated position.