Tactile switch for an electronic device

• US 9,836,025 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2017
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• 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:
  US15/637,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20170308039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 159 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 first sensor, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the rotational input. A second sensor, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the translational input. The watch also includes a touch-sensitive display configured to receive touch input and to depict a graphical output of the watch. 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 defining an interior volume and an opening extending into the interior volume;

a switch assembly, comprising;

a button configured to receive translational input and rotational input;

a shaft coupled with the button and extending into the opening of the watch;

a first sensor positioned within the interior volume and configured to detect the rotational input; and

a second sensor positioned within the interior volume and configured to detect the translational input; and

a touch-sensitive display configured to receive touch input and to depict a graphical output of the watch, wherein the graphical output is responsive to each of;

the translational input of the button;

the rotational input of the button; and

the touch input of the touch-sensitive display.

2. The watch of claim 1, wherein:

the graphical output includes a group of icons that are selectively modifiable in response to one or more of;

the translational input, the rotational input, or the touch input.

3. The watch of claim 2, wherein:

an icon of the group of icons corresponds 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.

4. The watch of claim 1, wherein:

the first sensor is positioned proximate an end of the shaft and is configured to detect translational movement of the shaft resulting from the translational input; and

the second sensor is positioned along a side of the shaft and is configured to detect rotational movement of the shaft resulting from the rotational input.

5. The watch of claim 4, wherein:

the first sensor is a dome switch that is configured to collapse in response to the translational movement; and

the second sensor is an optical sensor configured to detect the rotational movement of the shaft.

6. The watch of claim 5, wherein the dome switch is configured to produce a tactile feedback in response to the translational movement.

7. The watch of claim 5, wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect the rotational movement of the shaft during the translational movement of the shaft.

8. A watch, comprising:

an enclosure having sidewalls that define an interior volume and an opening;

a touch-sensitive display at least partially positioned within the interior volume and configured to depict a graphical output;

a switch assembly having a shaft that extends through the opening;

a first sensor positioned within the interior volume proximate an end of the shaft and configured to detect a translational movement of the shaft; and

a second sensor positioned within the interior volume along a side of the shaft and configured to detect a rotational movement of the shaft, wherein;

the graphical output is configured to change in response to each of the detected translational movement and the rotational movement.

9. The watch of claim 8, further comprising:

a processing element configured to;

control a first function of the watch using the detected translational movement of the shaft; and

control a second function of the watch using the detected rotational movement of the shaft.

10. The watch of claim 9, wherein one or both of the first or second functions is associated with a notification function of the watch.

11. The watch of claim 9, wherein one or both of the first or second functions is associated with a time-keeping function of the watch.

12. The watch of claim 8, wherein:

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

the button is configured to receive an inward translational input that causes the translational movement of the shaft.

13. The watch of claim 12, wherein:

the first sensor is a dome switch;

translational input at the button causes the shaft to plunge into the dome switch, thereby causing the dome switch to collapse; and

the dome switch is configured to generate a tactile response when the dome switch collapses.

14. The watch of claim 12, wherein:

the second sensor is an optical sensor;

the shaft includes a patterned surface; and

the optical sensor is configured to track movement of the patterned surface.

15. A watch, comprising:

an enclosure defining an interior volume;

a switch assembly configured to receive rotational and translational input, the switch assembly comprising;

a shaft that extends into the interior volume;

a first sensor positioned within the interior volume along an end portion of the shaft; and

a second sensor positioned within the interior volume along the end portion of the shaft; and

a touch-sensitive display configured to receive touch input and produce a graphical output, wherein;

the graphical output is configured to be modified in a first manner in response to the translational input;

the graphical output is configured to be modified in a second manner in response to the rotational input; and

the graphical output is configured to be modified in a third manner in response to the touch input.

16. The watch of claim 15, further comprising:

the enclosure defines a first opening and a second opening;

the touch-sensitive display is at least partially positioned within the first opening;

the switch assembly includes a button coupled to the shaft; and

the shaft extends from the button and into the enclosure through the second opening.

17. The watch of claim 16, wherein:

the first sensor includes a tactile dome;

the translational input plunges the shaft inward toward the tactile dome; and

an output of the first sensor occurs when the tactile dome collapses.

18. The watch of claim 17, wherein the button is biased outward such that when the translational input ceases the button moves away from the enclosure.

19. The watch of claim 18, further comprising:

a shelf positioned about the shaft and configured to limit movement of the button in a direction away from the enclosure.

20. The watch of claim 19, wherein the shelf is integrally formed with the shaft and defines an outer diameter that is larger than a diameter of the second opening.