Tactile switch for an electronic device

• US 10,331,082 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2019
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• 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:
  US16/247,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20190146415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 162 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 may include a tactile switch and/or one or more sensors for detecting rotational and translational inputs. 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. The watch include a crown positioned along an exterior of the watch enclosure and a shaft coupled to the crown and extending into the enclosure. The tactile switch and/or the one or more sensors may be used to detect rotational and/or translational inputs provided at the crown.

Claims

1. An electronic watch comprising:

a watch enclosure comprising a first electrically conductive portion and defining;

an interior volume; and

an opening extending to the interior volume;

a crown comprising a second electrically conductive portion;

a shaft coupled to the crown, and extending through the opening and into the interior volume; and

a processor within the interior volume and electrically coupled to the crown by the shaft, wherein;

the first electrically conductive portion is configured to contact a first body part;

the second electrically conductive portion is configured to contact a second body part;

the first and second electrically conductive portions are used to detect at least one voltage; and

the processor is configured to determine an electrocardiogram at least partly from the at least one voltage.

2. The electronic watch of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic watch further comprises a circuit positioned within the interior volume of the watch enclosure;

the second electrically conductive portion and the shaft are electrically isolated from the watch enclosure; and

the circuit and the shaft electrically couple the processor to the second electrically conductive portion of the crown.

3. The electronic watch of claim 1, wherein:

the first body part is a wrist of a first arm of a user; and

the second body part is a finger of a second arm of the user.

4. The electronic watch of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one voltage comprises;

a first voltage detected at the first electrically conductive portion; and

a second voltage detected at the second electrically conductive portion; and

the processor is configured to determine the electrocardiogram by comparing the first voltage with the second voltage.

5. The electronic watch of claim 1, wherein:

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

the processor is further configured to modify a graphical output of the touch-sensitive display in response to determining the electrocardiogram.

6. The electronic watch of claim 1, wherein the crown is configured to receive a rotational input and a translational input.

7. The electronic watch of claim 6, wherein:

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

the processor is further configured to modify a graphical output of the touch-sensitive display in response to at least one of the rotational input or the translational input.

8. An electronic watch comprising:

a watch enclosure having a first portion that is configured as a first electrode;

a crown positioned along a side of the watch enclosure, configured to receive an input, and having a second portion that is configured as a second electrode;

a touch-sensitive display positioned at least partially within the watch enclosure and configured to;

receive a touch input; and

display a graphical output; and

a processor configured to;

determine an electrocardiogram measurement using outputs of the first and second electrodes; and

modify the graphical output of the touch-sensitive display in response to the electrocardiogram measurement.

9. The electronic watch of claim 8, wherein the electronic watch further comprises:

a conductive shaft that extends into an interior volume of the watch enclosure and is electrically coupled to the second portion of the crown; and

a circuit that is electrically coupled to the conductive shaft.

10. The electronic watch of claim 9, wherein:

the second portion of the crown and the conductive shaft are electrically isolated from the watch enclosure; and

the conductive shaft and the circuit electrically couple the second portion of the crown to the processor.

11. The electronic watch of claim 8, wherein the processor determines the electrocardiogram measurement by determining at least one voltage using the first and second electrodes.

12. The electronic watch of claim 8, wherein:

the crown is configured to receive a rotational input and a translational input; and

the processor is further configured to modify the graphical output of the touch-sensitive display based on each of the rotational input and the translational input.

13. The electronic watch of claim 8, wherein the processor determines the electrocardiogram measurement by comparing a first signal received at the first electrode with a second signal received at the second electrode.

14. The electronic watch of claim 8, wherein:

the first electrode is configured to contact a wrist of a first arm of a user; and

the second electrode is configured to contact a finger of a second arm of the user.

15. An electronic watch comprising:

an enclosure comprising a conductive material and configured to contact a wrist of a user;

a crown positioned along a side of the enclosure and electrically isolated from the enclosure and configured to be touched by a finger of the user;

a display carried by the enclosure and configured to display graphical objects; and

a processor operably coupled to the enclosure and the crown, the processor configured to;

determine, based on an electrical signal received through a body of the user by at least one of the enclosure or the crown, an electrocardiograph (ECG) of the user; and

in response to determining the ECG of the user, cause a graphical object related to the ECG to be displayed on the display.

16. The electronic watch of claim 15, wherein:

the electronic watch further comprises a shaft coupled to the crown and extending into the enclosure; and

the shaft electrically couples the crown to the processor.

17. The electronic watch of claim 15, wherein:

the processor is further configured to;

cause one of the enclosure or the crown to provide the electrical signal; and

cause the other of the enclosure or the crown to receive the electrical signal through the body of the user; and

the processor determines the ECG of the user by comparing one or more characteristics of the electrical signal when provided with one or more characteristics of the electrical signal when received.

18. The electronic watch of claim 15, wherein the crown is configured to contact a finger of the user.

19. The electronic watch of claim 15, wherein:

the display is a touch-sensitive display configured to receive a touch input; and

the processor is further configured to modify the graphical object in response to the touch input.

20. The electronic watch of claim 15, wherein:

the crown is configured to receive a rotational input and a translational input; and

the processor is further configured to modify the graphical object in response to each of the rotational input and the translational input.