Electronic watch with obscured sensor for detecting an applied force

• US 10,295,562 B1
• Filed: 06/25/2018
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bushnell, Tyler S., Garg, Vikram
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Plumb, Nigel H
• Application Number:
  US16/017,226
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/04 Housings; Supporting members; Arrangements of terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0133 Elastomeric or compliant polymer elastomeric conductor H05K2201/0314
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0162 Silicon containing polymer, e.g. silicone
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 Sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/0014 Shaping of the substrate, e.g. by moulding
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/103 by bonding or embedding conductive wires or strips
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/105 by conversion of non-conductive material on or in the support into conductive material, e.g. by using an energy beam

Abstract

An electronic watch is described. The watch has one or more sensors, including a sensor that may be used to detect a force applied to a cover of the watch. The sensor may variously include a capacitive sensor assembly configured to detect a deflected position of the cover; a sensor having electrical components that move toward one another in response to an input applied to the cover; or a deformable component that is configured to compress in response to a press input, thereby allowing first and second electrical traces to move toward one another. Portions or all of the various sensors may be obscured by an ink layer on an underside of the cover.

Claims

1. An electronic watch, comprising:

a housing having an opening;

a button positioned along a side of the housing to receive user input to the electronic watch;

a cover disposed over the opening and defining an exterior face of the electronic watch;

a display disposed at least partially within the opening and visible through the cover;

an ink layer disposed around a perimeter of an underside of the cover; and

a capacitive sensor assembly positioned within the housing and visually obscured by the ink layer;

wherein,

the display comprises a touch sensor;

the capacitive sensor assembly is configured to detect a deflected position of the cover when the exterior face is pressed inward toward the housing; and

the display is responsive to user input received via the button, the touch sensor, or the cover.

2. The electronic watch of claim 1, wherein:

the capacitive sensor assembly comprises an electrical trace; and

the electrical trace is positioned at least partially within the ink layer.

3. The electronic watch of claim 2, wherein:

the capacitive sensor assembly further comprises a deformable component disposed within the housing below the cover; and

the electrical trace is configured to move when the exterior face is pressed inward.

4. The electronic watch of claim 3, wherein:

the housing comprises an electrically conductive region; and

the capacitive sensor assembly is configured to detect a change in capacitance between the electrical trace and the electrically conductive region.

5. The electronic watch of claim 3, wherein the deformable component comprises:

a first portion defined by a flex layer; and

a second portion defined by a silicone layer.

6. The electronic watch of claim 1, wherein the ink layer is disposed around an interactive area of the display.

7. The electronic watch of claim 6, wherein the cover comprises a sapphire material.

8. The electronic watch of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to depict a graphical output of the electronic watch, which graphical output changes in response to the deflected positioned of the cover.

9. The electronic watch of claim 1, wherein the capacitive sensor assembly is in electrical communication with the display.

10. An electronic watch, comprising:

a housing defining a watch body;

a button along a side of the housing;

a first sensor in electrical communication with internal components of the electronic watch and configured to detect a first input received at the button;

a transparent cover disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to receive a second input;

an opaque layer disposed on a surface of the transparent cover within the housing; and

a second sensor at least partially obscured by the opaque layer and having electrical components that move toward one another in response to the second input.

11. The electronic watch of claim 10, wherein:

the electronic watch further comprises a touch-sensitive display; and

the transparent cover forms an exterior surface of the touch-sensitive display.

12. The electronic watch of claim 11, wherein:

the touch-sensitive display is configured to depict a graphical output of the electronic watch; and

the graphical output is configured to change;

in a first manner in response to the first input; and

in a second manner in response to the second input.

13. The electronic watch of claim 10, wherein the first sensor comprises a tactile switch.

14. The electronic watch of claim 10, wherein the second sensor comprises a capacitive sensor assembly comprising a deformable component.

15. The electronic watch of claim 14, wherein the deformable component separates a first of the electrical components and a second of the electrical components within the housing.

16. The electronic watch of claim 10, wherein:

one of the electrical components is within the opaque layer, a deformable component, or an adhesive layer.

17. An electronic watch, comprising:

a housing having;

an internal volume; and

an opening along an exterior surface and extending into the internal volume;

a cover positioned over the opening;

an ink layer defining an opaque region about a perimeter of the cover;

a first electrical trace positioned along the ink layer and within the internal volume;

a deformable component within the internal volume; and

a second electrical trace connected to the deformable component and capacitively coupled to the first electrical trace, wherein

the deformable component is configured to compress in response to a press input received at the cover, thereby moving the first electrical trace and the second electrical trace toward one another within the internal volume.

18. The electronic watch of claim 17, wherein the first electrical trace is positioned at least partially within the ink layer.

19. The electronic watch of claim 17, further comprising a processing unit positioned within the housing and configured to control a function of the electronic watch in response to the movement of the first electrical trace and the second electrical trace within the internal volume.

20. The electronic watch of claim 17, further comprising:

a display positioned below the cover, within the housing;

wherein the display is configured to depict a graphical output of the electronic watch, which graphical output changes in response to a deflected positioned of the cover.