Tactile switch for an electronic device

• US 10,175,652 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2018
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• 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, Edwin A.
• Application Number:
  US15/969,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20180246469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 251 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

An electronic watch includes an input device capable of receiving rotational and translational inputs. The watch may include a crown positioned along an exterior of an enclosure and a shaft coupled to the crown and extending into the enclosure. The watch may include a tactile switch, and/or one or more sensors for detecting rotational and translational inputs received at the crown. The watch may include a display configured to produce graphical outputs that may change in response to rotational inputs, translational inputs, and/or touch inputs received at the display.

Claims

1. A watch comprising:

an enclosure having a sidewall and an opening in the sidewall;

a crown positioned along an exterior of the sidewall;

a shaft coupled to the crown and extending through the opening;

an optical sensor positioned within the enclosure and configured to detect a rotation of the shaft; and

a tactile switch positioned within the enclosure and configured to;

detect a depressed position of the shaft when the crown is pressed inward toward the enclosure; and

bias the shaft outward toward an undepressed position.

2. The watch of claim 1, further comprising:

a display at least partially positioned within the enclosure; and

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

3. The watch of claim 2, wherein the display is configured to produce graphical outputs that are configured to change in response to each of:

the rotation of the shaft;

the depressed position of the shaft; and

the touch input of the display.

4. The watch of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect the rotation of the shaft using reflected light.

5. The watch of claim 1, wherein:

the tactile switch includes a collapsible dome positioned at an end of the shaft; and

the collapsible dome is configured to provide a return force that biases the shaft outward toward the undepressed position.

6. The watch of claim 5, wherein:

the collapsible dome is deformed by the shaft when the crown is pressed inward toward the enclosure;

the tactile switch is configured to produce a haptic output when the collapsible dome deforms; and

the haptic output is propagated through the crown.

7. The watch of claim 1, wherein the crown and the shaft are integrally formed.

8. A watch comprising:

an enclosure having an opening;

a crown positioned along an exterior of the enclosure and configured to receive a rotation and an inward translation along an actuation direction;

a shaft coupled to the crown and extending into the opening;

a spring coupled to the crown and configured to bias the crown outward in a return direction that is opposite to the actuation direction;

an optical sensor positioned within the enclosure and configured to detect at least one of the rotation or the inward translation; and

a processing unit positioned within the enclosure and configured to control a function of the watch in response to the rotation or the inward translation.

9. The watch of claim 8, further comprising:

a tactile switch positioned at an end of the shaft and configured to detect the inward translation.

10. The watch of claim 9, wherein:

the tactile switch comprises a collapsible dome; and

the shaft causes the collapsible dome to collapse in response to the inward translation and close electrical contacts of a switch.

11. The watch of claim 8, wherein:

the opening is a first opening in a sidewall of the enclosure;

the enclosure has a second opening; and

the watch further comprises;

a display positioned at least partially within the second opening; and

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

12. The watch of claim 11, wherein:

the display is configured to depict icons; and

the icons move in response to the rotation.

13. The watch of claim 8, wherein the crown defines a hollow portion configured to receive an electrical component of the watch.

14. The watch of claim 8, wherein the optical sensor is positioned proximate an end of the shaft.

15. The watch of claim 8, further comprising a shelf connected to the shaft and configured to limit an outward translation of the shaft along the return direction.

16. A watch comprising:

an enclosure having an opening;

a tactile switch assembly extending into the opening and configured to receive a rotational input and a translational input, the tactile switch assembly being biased toward an undepressed position;

a first sensor positioned within the enclosure and configured to detect the rotational input using reflected light; and

a second sensor positioned within the enclosure and configured to detect the translational input.

17. The watch of claim 16, wherein:

the tactile switch assembly comprises;

a crown positioned along an exterior of the enclosure and configured to receive the rotational input and the translational input; and

a shaft connected to the crown and extending into the opening.

18. The watch of claim 17, wherein the second sensor includes a collapsible dome positioned at an end of the shaft.

19. The watch of claim 17, wherein the reflected light is reflected off a surface of the shaft.

20. The watch of claim 16, wherein:

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

the display is configured to;

display movement of a first group of graphical objects, in response to the rotational input; and

display a second group of graphical objects, in response to the translational input.