# US 10,503,271 B2 · Proximity detection for an input mechanism of an electronic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,503,271 B2 - Document ID: US10503271B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/936,421 - Filed: 2015-11-09 - Published: 2017-03-30 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-30 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Colin M. Ely; Fletcher R. Rothkopf; Baboo V. Gowreesunker; Prashanth S. Holenarsipur; Serhan O. Isikman; Anna-Katrina Shedletsky - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10503271B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/02: Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials - G06F 1/163: {Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt} - G06F 1/3231: Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users - G06F 3/0362: with detection of one-dimensional [1D] translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts - G06F 3/038: Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry - G06F 3/041: Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means - G06F 3/042: by opto-electronic means - G06F 3/044: by capacitive means - G06F 2203/04101: 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup - G06F 2203/04108: Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction - Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - 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 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensing component is part of a display stack contained within the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensing component is integrated with a force sensing device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing is electrically isolated from the rotatable crown by at least one insert separating the housing and the rotatable crown. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The wearable electronic device of claim 4, wherein the at least one insert supports the shaft of the rotatable crown. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The wearable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensing component is configured to indicate the object is proximate to the rotatable crown when the change in capacitance exceeds a capacitance change threshold. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The wearable electronic device of claim 6, wherein the proximity sensing component triggers a change in a state of the wearable electronic device when the change in capacitance exceeds the capacitance change threshold. ### Claim 8 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The wearable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the input mechanism is a rotatable crown. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The wearable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the housing comprises an insert that electrically isolates the input mechanism and the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The wearable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the insert is one of plastic, ceramic, or rubber. ### Claim 12 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising altering output provided on a display of the wearable electronic device when the change in the capacitance exceeds a threshold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: causing the input mechanism to remain in an active state when the change in the capacitance exceeds a threshold; and causing the input mechanism to transition to an inactive state when the change in the electrical signal is below the threshold. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein: the input mechanism comprises a rotatable crown that is electrically connected to a shaft that extends through the housing; and the user contact surface is on the rotatable crown.