Force-detecting input structure
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsColin M. Ely, Erik G. de Jong, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An input mechanism, such as a crown, detects amounts of applied force. In various examples, an assembly including an input mechanism has an enclosure; a stem coupled to the enclosure such that the stem is rotatable, translatable, and transversely moveable with respect to the enclosure; a sensor, coupled between the stem and the housing, to which force is transferred when the stem moves with respect to the housing; and a processing unit coupled to the sensor. The processing unit is operable to determine a measurement of the force, based on a signal from the sensor.
Claims20
A wearable electronic device comprising:
- a display;
- a housing at least partially surrounding the display;
- and
- a crown positioned along a side of the housing and comprising:
- a cap defining an input surface;
- a shaft coupled to the cap and extending into the housing;
- and
- a force sensor positioned around the shaft and configured to produce a signal that continuously varies in accordance with a force applied to the cap, wherein
- in response to the signal exceeding a threshold, the wearable electronic device is configured to modify a graphical output of the display.
An electronic watch comprising:
- a housing;
- a display positioned at least partially within the housing and configured to produce a graphical output;
- a crown positioned along a side of the housing and comprising:
- a cap configured to receive a force input;
- and
- a force sensor positioned inward of the cap and comprising a first conductor and a second conductor separated by a compliant material, the compliant material configured to deform in response to the force input applied to the crown thereby changing a capacitance between the first conductor and the second conductor;
- and
- a processing unit operably coupled to the force sensor and configured to modify the graphical output of the display in accordance with the change in the capacitance caused by the force input.
An electronic device comprising:
- a housing;
- a touch display coupled to the housing;
- a crown coupled to the housing and comprising:
- a cap protruding from a side of the housing;
- and
- a force sensor coupled to the cap and configured to produce a continuously variable electrical signal that varies in accordance with a force input applied to the cap;
- and
- a processing unit configured to modify an output of the touch display in response to the electrical signal exceeding a threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.