ROTARY INPUT MECHANISM FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20160098016A1
• Filed: 12/11/2015
• Published: 04/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ely, Colin M., Rothkopf, Fletcher, Morrell, John B., Moussette, Camille, Kerr, Duncan, Shedletsky, Anna-Katrina, Werner, Christopher Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 9,753,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 3/04 Rigidly-mounted keys, knobs or crowns jointed winding-stem G04B37/06
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/00 Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means synchronisation G04C11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/004 Magnetically controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/04 wherein movement is regulated by a balance construction thereof G04B17/063
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/08 Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces
• 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: H01H 35/00 Switches operated by change of a physical condition operated by change of magnetic or electric field H01H36/00; thermally-actuated switches H01H37/00

Abstract

One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device includes an enclosure having a sidewall with a button aperture defined therethrough, a display connected to the enclosure, a processing element in communication with the display. The device also includes a sensing element in communication with the processing element and an input button at least partially received within the button aperture and in communication with the sensing element, the input button configured to receive two types of user inputs. During operation, the sensing element tracks movement of the input button to determine the two types of user inputs.

Claims

1. A wearable electronic device, comprising:

an enclosure having an aperture defined therethrough;

a processing element housed within the enclosure;

an optical sensing element in communication with the processing element;

a non-magnetic switch in communication with the processing element; and

an input device at least partially received within the aperture and in communication with the sensing element, the input device configured to receive at least a first and a second type of user input;

wherein

the optical sensing element is operative to track a first type of movement of the input device resulting from the first type of user input;

the non-magnetic switch is operative to track a second type of movement of the input device resulting from the second type of user input; and

the processing element is operative to distinguish between the first and second type of user input.

2. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first and second types of user input comprise a rotational input and a non-rotational input.

3. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises:

a collapsible dome;

a contact that completes a circuit when the collapsible dome collapses; and

a sheet positioned between the input device and the collapsible dome.

4. The wearable electronic device of claim 3, wherein the first movement is a rotational input.

5. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the input device further comprises a set of markings used by the optical sensing element to track movement of the input device.

6. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the non-magnetic switch comprises a capacitive sensor.

7. The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the input device is a crown.

8. A watch, comprising:

a body;

a processor disposed within the body;

a first sensing element operatively connected to the processor;

a second sensing element operatively connected to the processor; and

a crown comprising a trackable element;

wherein

the first sensing element is operative to detect a first direction of motion of the crown;

the second sensing element is operative to detection a second direction of motion of the crown; and

the first and second sensing elements are different types of sensing elements.

9. The watch of claim 8, wherein:

the first sensing element comprises an optical sensor; and

the second sensing element comprises a non-magnetic switch.

10. The watch of claim 9, wherein the non-magnetic switch comprises:

a collapsible dome; and

an electronic contact connected to the dome, wherein movement of the crown in a first direction compresses the dome to activate the electronic contact.

11. The watch of claim 9, wherein the trackable element is a pattern.

12. The watch of claim 8, wherein the switch sensor is a capacitive sensor.

13. The watch of claim 8, wherein the first sensor is a capacitive sensor.

14. The watch of claim 8, wherein the second sensor is a rotational sensor.

15. The watch of claim 8, wherein the crown comprises:

a head; and

a stem connected to the head;

wherein

the trackable element is connected to a bottom end of the stem.

16. The watch of claim 8, wherein:

the body comprises a display in communication with the processor; and

the display provides a visual output to a user.

17. The watch of claim 8, further comprising at least one sealing element positioned between the sensing element and the crown.

18. A wearable electronic device, comprising:

a housing defining first and second apertures;

a display at least partially received within the first aperture;

an input device extending from an outside of the housing, through the second aperture, and into an inside of the housing;

a first sensing element next to a side of the input device and within the housing;

a second sensing element next to an end of the input device and within the housing;

wherein

the input device is operable to laterally translate with respect to the first sensing element;

the first sensing element is operable to measure a rotation of the input device;

the input device is operable exert a force on the second sensing element;

the second sensing element is operable to measure a translation of the input device; and

the display is operative to change a graphic in response to the first sensing element measuring a rotation of the input device.

19. The wearable electronic device of claim 18, wherein the display is operable to change the graphic in response to the second sensing element measuring a translation of the input device.

20. The wearable electronic device of claim 18, further comprising a sheet positioned between the input device and the second sensing element.

21. The wearable electronic device of claim 18, wherein the first sensing element is operable to optically measure the translation of the input device.

22. The wearable electronic device of claim 18, wherein:

the input device is operable to tilt; and

the first sensing element is operable to measure the tilt.

23. The wearable electronic device of claim 18, further comprising a strap connected to the housing and operable to attach the electronic device to a user.