Capacitive gap sensor ring for an electronic watch
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsTyler S. Bushnell, Collin R. Petty, Adam T. Clavelle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An input mechanism for an electronic watch includes a rotational manipulation mechanism, such as a cap or shaft. The input mechanism also includes a sensor having first capacitive elements coupled to the manipulation mechanism, second capacitive elements, and a dielectric positioned between the first and second capacitive elements. Movement of the manipulation mechanism alters the positions of the first and second capacitive elements with respect to each other and is determinable based on capacitance changes resulting therefrom. In some implementations, the second capacitive elements may be part of an inner ring or partial ring nested at least partially within an outer ring or partial ring.
Claims20
An electronic watch, comprising:
- a housing;
- a display positioned at least partially within the housing;
- and
- a crown positioned along a side of the housing and comprising:
- a cap defining an external surface that is configured to receive an input;
- a first set of conductors coupled to the cap;
- a deformable dielectric;
- and
- a second set of conductors separated from the first set of conductors by the deformable dielectric;
- wherein:
- the electronic watch is configured to detect a translation of the cap in response to the input by detecting a first change in capacitance between one or more first conductors of the first set of conductors and one or more second conductors of the second set of conductors;
- and
- the electronic watch is configured to detect a rotation of the cap in response to the input by detecting a second change in capacitance between the one or more first conductors of the first set of conductors and the one or more second conductors of the second set of conductors.
An electronic watch, comprising:
- a housing;
- a display coupled to the housing;
- and
- a crown positioned along a side of the housing, defining an axis, and comprising:
- a cap that is movably coupled to the housing;
- a first set of conductors coupled to the cap;
- and
- a second set of conductors positioned a distance away from the first set of conductors;
- wherein:
- a translation of the cap along the axis causes the distance to decrease and causes a first change in capacitance between the first set of conductors and the second set of conductors;
- and
- a rotation of the cap about the axis causes a second change in capacitance between the first set of conductors and the second set of conductors.
An electronic watch, comprising:
- a housing;
- a crown having a cap that is moveably coupled to the housing;
- and
- a capacitive sensor coupled to the crown, the capacitive sensor comprising:
- a first array of capacitive elements arranged in a first radial array and fixed with respect to the cap;
- and
- a second array of capacitive elements arranged in a second radial array and fixed with respect to the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.