Force-detecting input structure
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsColin M. Ely, Erik G. de Jong, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An input mechanism, such as a crown, detects amounts of applied force. In various examples, an assembly including an input mechanism has an enclosure; a stem coupled to the enclosure such that the stem is rotatable, translatable, and transversely moveable with respect to the enclosure; a sensor, coupled between the stem and the housing, to which force is transferred when the stem moves with respect to the housing; and a processing unit coupled to the sensor. The processing unit is operable to determine a measurement of the force, based on a signal from the sensor.
Claims20
An electronic watch comprising:
- a housing defining an opening;
- a touch display positioned at least partially within the opening of the housing;
- a crown positioned along a side of the housing and comprising:
- a cap that is configured to receive a force input;
- and
- a force sensor coupled to the cap and comprising a first conductive element and a second conductive element that is separated from the first conductive element;
- and
- a processing unit positioned within the housing and operably coupled to the force sensor, the processing unit configured to estimate an amount of the force input based on a change in capacitance between the first conductive element and the second conductive element.
An electronic watch comprising:
- a housing;
- a display positioned at least partially within the housing;
- a crown rotatably coupled to the housing and configured to receive a rotational input, the crown comprising a force sensor that is configured to deform in response to a force applied to the crown;
- and
- a processing unit disposed within the housing, operably coupled to the force sensor, and configured to estimate an amount of the force in response to an output of the force sensor;
- wherein:
- the display is responsive to the amount of the force estimated by the processing unit;
- and
- the display is responsive to the rotational input received by the crown.
An electronic watch, comprising:
- a housing;
- a display positioned at least partially within the housing and configured to display a graphical output;
- a crown coupled to the housing and comprising:
- a cap defining an external surface that is configured to receive a force;
- and
- a force sensor that is coupled to the cap and configured to produce a non-binary output in response to the received force;
- and
- a processing unit configured to modify the graphical output of the display in response to the non-binary output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.