# US 11,906,937 B2 · Crown for an electronic watch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,906,937 B2 - Document ID: US11906937B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/094,930 - Filed: 2023-01-09 - Published: 2023-05-25 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-02 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Michael J. Beyhs - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11906937B2 ## CPC - G04G 21/08: Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces - G04C 3/002: {Position, e.g. inclination dependent switches} - G04G 9/007: {combined with a calculator or computing means} - G06F 3/0425: {using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected (tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386)} - G04G: ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES - G04C: ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An electronic watch includes a housing defining a side surface of the electronic watch, a transparent cover coupled to the housing and defining a front surface of the electronic watch, an image-sensing element, and a crown extending from the side of the housing and defining an imaging surface. The crown may include a light-directing feature configured to direct, onto the image-sensing element, an image of an object in contact with the imaging surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic watch comprising: a housing defining a side surface of the electronic watch; a display positioned at least partially within the housing and configured to display a graphical output; a transparent cover coupled to the housing and defining a front surface of the electronic watch; an optical sensing element; a crown extending from the side surface of the electronic watch and defining a peripheral surface along an exterior portion of the crown, wherein the electronic watch is configured to: detect, using the optical sensing element, movement of an object along the peripheral surface of the crown; and modify the graphical output in accordance with the movement of the object along the peripheral surface of the crown. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic watch of claim 1, wherein: the electronic watch further comprises a touch sensor positioned below the transparent cover and configured to detect touch inputs applied to the transparent cover; and the crown comprises a light-directing feature configured to direct, onto the optical sensing element, an image of an object in contact with the peripheral surface of the crown. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic watch of claim 2, wherein the light-directing feature comprises an interface between a first material and a second material, the interface configured to reflect incident light. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic watch of claim 1, wherein the optical sensing element is positioned within the housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic watch of claim 1, wherein the optical sensing element is positioned within the crown. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic watch of claim 1, wherein the crown comprises: an opaque portion; and a light-transmissive portion defining a portion of the peripheral surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electronic watch of claim 6, wherein the optical sensing element receives light through the light-transmissive portion of the crown. ### Claim 8 A wearable electronic device comprising: a housing; a display positioned at least partially within the housing and configured to display a graphical output; a crown at least partially external to the housing and defining a light-transmissive window; and an optical sensing element within the housing and configured to receive an image of an object in contact with the light-transmissive window, wherein the wearable electronic device is configured to: detect, using the optical sensing element, movement of the object along the light-transmissive window; and modify the graphical output in accordance with the movement of the object along the light-transmissive window. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The wearable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the crown comprises a light-directing feature configured to direct, onto the optical sensing element, an image of an object in contact with the light-transmissive window. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The wearable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the light-directing feature defines an angled surface configured to direct light from the light-transmissive window to the optical sensing element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The wearable electronic device of claim 10, further comprising a reflective material on the angled surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The wearable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the crown comprises: an opaque member; and a light-transmissive member positioned in the opaque member and defining the light-transmissive window. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The wearable electronic device of claim 8, further comprising a light source at least partially within the housing and configured to illuminate the object. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The wearable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the light-transmissive window includes a semi-transparent mirror coating. ### Claim 15 An electronic watch comprising: a housing; a display positioned at least partially within the housing; an optical sensor at least partially within the housing and comprising an optical sensing element; and a crown comprising: a head portion defining an optical sensing region along a peripheral surface of the head portion; a shaft portion extending at least partially into the housing; and a light-directing feature directing light from the optical sensing region towards the optical sensing element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electronic watch of claim 15, further comprising a contact sensor configured to detect contact between an object and the crown. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The electronic watch of claim 15, wherein the head portion comprises: a metal portion; and a light-transmissive window coupled to the metal portion and at least partially defining the optical sensing region. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The electronic watch of claim 15, wherein the crown comprises: a transparent member defining the head portion and the shaft portion; and an opaque coating positioned on the transparent member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The electronic watch of claim 18, wherein the optical sensing region is defined by an opening in the opaque coating. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The electronic watch of claim 18, wherein the optical sensor includes an image-sensing element.