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
An electronic device, comprising:
- a housing defining an internal volume of the electronic device;
- a processing system within the internal volume of the electronic device;
- a crown assembly comprising:
- an input structure positioned along an external side of the electronic device, the input structure configured to receive an axial input;
- a force-sensitive structure coupled to the input structure and positioned outside of the internal volume of the electronic device;
- and
- a conductive element extending from the input structure and through a sealed interface into the internal volume of the electronic device, the conductive element operatively coupling the force-sensitive structure to the processing system;
- and
- wherein the processing system detects the axial input in response to a signal received via the conductive element.
An electronic watch comprising:
- a housing defining an internal portion of the electronic watch;
- a crown cap positioned externally with respect to the housing, the crown cap configured to rotate in response to a rotational input and translate in response to an actuation input;
- a stem extending from the crown cap to the internal portion of the electronic watch;
- a force-sensing system comprising:
- a force-sensitive structure positioned external to the housing;
- and
- a conductor configured to produce a signal in response to detecting a change in an electrical property defined in part by a state of the force-sensitive structure due to the actuation input, the conductor extending from the crown cap to the internal portion of the electronic watch;
- and
- a processing system operably coupled to the force-sensing system, the processing system configured to detect the actuation input or the rotational input.
An electronic device comprising:
- a housing defining an internal cavity;
- a display positioned at least partially within the internal cavity;
- a crown assembly configured to receive a user input, the crown assembly comprising:
- an external crown portion configured to rotate or translate in response to the user input;
- and
- a force-sensitive structure configured to produce a signal in response to a user input, the force-sensitive structure external to the housing;
- and
- a conductor operably coupled to the force-sensitive structure, the conductor extending from the force-sensitive structure to the internal cavity of the housing;
- and
- a processing system configured to detect a signal generated by the conductor due to the user input and cause a change in the display based on the received signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.