# US 11,121,709 B2 · Electronic watch with side input button > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,121,709 B2 - Document ID: US11121709B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/845,694 - Filed: 2020-04-10 - Published: 2020-07-30 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-19 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell; Adam T. Clavelle; Sameer Pandya; Sherry Tang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11121709B2 ## CPC - H03K 17/9618: {using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard} - G06F 1/163: {Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt} - G06F 1/1656: {Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203)} - H03K 17/962: {Capacitive touch switches} - 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) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A touch and force sensitive rocker switch or button array for a portable electronic device can include multiple dome switches or force sensors, as well as a capacitive sensing surface that can detect finger location and swipes. A cosmetic surface can cover the entire elongated switch/button and portions of device housing proximate the button, and can be configured to transfer each of multiple types of input there through to the button and also provide a seal to the device housing interior. The cosmetic surface can be a flexible polymer to allow local deformation, and/or the entire surface can tilt or bend to permit inputs to transfer there through. The elongated button/switch can be raised from a surface of the device, and can be located along a side of the device, with a front face of the device being a touchscreen, such as for a smart phone or watch. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic watch, comprising: a housing comprising a sidewall having an opening; a display screen coupled with the housing, the display screen comprising a touch sensitive surface that defines a first user input; and an elongated button positioned in the opening, the elongated button comprising: a raised surface that is elevated with respect to the sidewall and establishes a first touchable surface, and a detent that defines a sub-flush surface relative to the raised surface and establishes a second touchable surface, wherein the elongated button defines a second user input different from the first user input. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic watch of claim 1, wherein the elongated button comprises an oblong shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic watch of claim 1, further comprising: a first sensor covered by a first end of the elongated button; and a second sensor covered by a second end of the elongated button, the second end different from the first end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic watch of claim 3, further comprising a third sensor covered by the detent. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic watch of claim 1, further comprising a processor carried by the housing, wherein the elongated button is electrically coupled with the processor and configured to provide a first type output or a second type output based upon a device mode executed by the processor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electronic watch of claim 5, wherein the first type output is different from the second type output. ### Claim 7 An electronic watch, comprising: a housing comprising a sidewall having an opening, the housing defining an internal volume that carries a wireless transceiver configured for wireless communication; a display screen coupled with the housing; an elongated button structure positioned in the opening, the elongated button structure configured to provide an input to alter visual information presented on the display screen; and a detent formed in the elongated button structure, the detent defining a touch input location to the elongated button structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electronic watch of claim 7, wherein: the elongated button structure comprises an upper surface, and the detent comprises a sub-flush surface relative to the upper surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The electronic watch of claim 7, further comprising: a first sensor covered by a first end of the elongated button structure; and a second sensor covered by a second end of the elongated button structure, the second end different from the first end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electronic watch of claim 9, further comprising a third sensor covered by the detent. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The electronic watch of claim 9, further comprising a processor electrically coupled to the display screen, the first sensor and the second sensor, wherein the elongated button structure is configured to provide a first type output or a second type output based upon a device mode executed by the processor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electronic watch of claim 11, further comprising a second wireless transceiver electrically coupled to the processor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The electronic watch of claim 7, wherein the elongated button structure comprises an oblong shape. ### Claim 14 An electronic watch, comprising: a housing comprising a sidewall having an opening, the housing defining an internal volume that carries a wireless transceiver configured for wireless communication; a processor located in the internal volume; a display screen electrically coupled with the processor; and an elongated button positioned in the opening and electrically coupled with the processor, the elongated button configured to provide a first type output or a second type output based upon a device mode executed by the processor, the elongated button comprising a body that includes: a first surface, and a second surface comprising a detent defining a sub-flush surface relative to the first surface, the second surface defining a touch input location to the elongated button. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electronic watch of claim 14, wherein the first type output is different from the second type output. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The electronic watch of claim 14, wherein the wireless transceiver is electrically coupled to the processor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The electronic watch of claim 14, wherein the housing comprises a second opening for a strap. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The electronic watch of claim 14, wherein the elongated button comprises an oblong shape.