# US 10,312,039 B2 · Generator button for electronic devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,312,039 B2 - Document ID: US10312039B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/917,529 - Filed: 2013-09-10 - Published: 2016-07-28 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-10 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Colin M. Ely; Eric G. de Jong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10312039B2 ## CPC - H01H 36/02: actuated by movement of a float carrying a magnet - G06F 1/1633: {Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626} - G06F 1/1671: {Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop (G06F1/1666 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/3271: {Power saving in keyboard} - G06F 3/0202: {Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device} - H01H 9/54: Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere - H03K 17/97: using a magnetic movable element - H03K 2217/0081: Power supply means, e.g. to the switch driver - H03K 2217/96038: Inductive touch switches - Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management - Y02D 30/50: in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract One embodiment of the present disclosure includes an electronic device. The electronic device includes an enclosure and a button connected to the enclosure and movable relative thereto. The button includes a button cap defining a user input surface, a first magnetic element operably associated with one of the button cap or the enclosure, and a coil operably associated with the other of the button cap or the enclosure. Movement of the button cap relative to the enclosure, such as due to a user input force, causes the first magnetic element to induce a current in the coil and the induced current is correlated to a user input to the button cap. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device comprising: an enclosure; a button connected to the enclosure and movable relative thereto, the button comprising: a button cap defining a user input surface; a first magnetic element operably associated with the button cap; and a coil operably associated with the enclosure; and a seal surrounding the button cap and positioned between the first magnetic element and the coil; wherein movement of the button cap in a first direction relative to the enclosure causes the first magnetic element to induce a current in the coil; and the induced current is correlated to a user input to the button cap. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first magnetic element is connected to a bottom end of the button cap and the coil is connected to the enclosure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first magnetic element is connected to the enclosure and the coil is connected to a portion of the button cap. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the button does not require power. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a second magnetic element connected to the first magnetic element, wherein the first magnetic element has a first polarization and the second magnetic element has a second polarization. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising: a power source; and a processing element in communication with the power source and the coil; wherein the processing element selectively provides a signal to the coil to move the button cap in a second direction relative to the enclosure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising: a processing element; and a sensor operably connected to the button cap and in communication with the processing element, wherein the induced current in the coil is provided to the processing element; and after the current has been induced in the coil, the processing element activates the sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a location of the user input to the button cap. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a rotational aspect of the user input to the button cap. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a watch. ### Claim 11 An input assembly for a computing device comprising: a housing; a user input surface operably connected to the housing and movable relative thereto; a magnetic element connected to the user input surface; an induction component operably connected to the housing and in communication with the magnetic element; and a gasket connected to the housing and the user input surface and positioned between the induction component and the magnetic element; wherein in a first mode, when a user force is applied to the user input surface, the user input surface moves in a first direction causing the magnetic element to move relative to the induction component, inducing a first signal in the induction component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The input assembly of claim 11, wherein in a second mode, a second signal is applied to the induction component, which interacts with the magnetic element to cause the magnetic element and user input surface to move in a second direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The input assembly of claim 12, further comprising a power source, wherein in the first mode the induction component is not in communication with the power source and in the second mode the induction component is in communication with the power source. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The input assembly of claim 12, wherein the first signal is a reverse of the second signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The input assembly of claim 11, wherein the induction component comprises one or more conductive wires arranged in a coil. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The input assembly of claim 11, further comprising a sensing element operably connected to the user input surface, wherein when the first signal is induced in the induction component, the sensing element is activated and configured to detect a user input to the user input surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the sensing element is configured to detect a location of the user input to the user input surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the sensing element is configured to detect a rotational aspect of the user input to the user input surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The input assembly of claim 11, wherein in an idle mode, the induction component does not receive power from a power source. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The input assembly of claim 11, wherein the housing is a housing for a watch.