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US 10,503,271 B2Granted
Proximity detection for an input mechanism of an electronic device
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsColin M. Ely, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Baboo V. Gowreesunker, Prashanth S. Holenarsipur, Serhan O. Isikman, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is an electronic device having a proximity sensor for determining whether an object, such as a user's finger, is in proximity to or in contact with an input mechanism of the electronic device.
Claims15
A wearable electronic device, comprising:
- a rotatable crown, electrically connected to a shaft;
- a housing, electrically isolated from the rotatable crown and the shaft;
- and
- a proximity sensing component operative to determine when an object exterior to the wearable electronic device is in proximity to the rotatable crown,
- wherein:
- the housing acts as a first electrode of the proximity sensing component and is electrically connected to the proximity sensing component;
- the rotatable crown and the shaft act as a second electrode of the proximity sensing component, the shaft is electrically connected to the proximity sensing component, and the shaft extends through an opening in the housing;
- and
- the proximity sensing component is configured to determine a proximity of the object to the rotatable crown based on a change in a capacitance between the housing and the rotatable crown.
6 more elements
A wearable electronic device, comprising:
- a proximity sensor operative to determine when an object exterior to the wearable electronic device is in proximity to at least a portion of the wearable electronic device;
- an input mechanism having an exterior contact surface that is electrically connected to the proximity sensor and acts as a first electrode of the proximity sensor;
- and
- a housing of the wearable electronic device that is electrically connected to the proximity sensor and acts as a second electrical component electrode of the proximity sensor,
- wherein:
- the housing is electrically isolated from the input mechanism;
- the input mechanism extends through an opening in the housing;
- the input mechanism is operable to be moved in a direction toward the housing;
- and
- the proximity sensor is configured to determine when the object is in proximity to the input mechanism based on a change in a capacitance between the housing and the input mechanism.
7 more elements
A method for determining proximity of an object to an input mechanism of a wearable electronic device, the object being exterior to the wearable electronic device, the method comprising:
- causing the input mechanism of the wearable electronic device to act as a first electrode of a proximity sensor, the input mechanism having an exterior contact surface that is electrically connected to the proximity sensor;
- causing a housing of the wearable electronic device to act as a second electrode of the proximity sensor, wherein the housing is electrically connected to the proximity sensor and is electrically isolated from the input mechanism;
- and
- measuring, by the proximity sensor, a change in a capacitance between the input mechanism and the housing;
- wherein the input mechanism is operable to be moved in a direction toward the housing.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.