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US 2025/0103008 A1Published application
Switch module for electronic crown assembly
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsSameer Pandya, Antonio Herrera, Colin M. Ely
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switch module for an electronic device detects translational inputs and defines at least portion of a conductive path from an input surface of the electronic device to a processing unit of the electronic device. The switch module may be a component of a crown assembly for detecting rotational inputs, translational inputs, touch inputs and/or biological signals such as electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. The switch module may include a conductive dome and a friction guard that is positioned between the conductive dome and the actuation member of the crown assembly. The conductive dome and/or the friction guard may define at least a portion of the conductive path from the input surface to the processing unit.
Claims20
An electronic watch comprising:
- an enclosure defining an interior volume and an opening into the interior volume;
- a processing unit positioned within the interior volume;
- a display operably coupled to the processing unit and configured to provide a graphical output;
- and
- a crown assembly positioned at least partially within the interior volume, the crown assembly comprising:
- an actuation member extending through the opening and defining an input surface for sensing an input signal along an exterior of the electronic watch;
- a rotation sensor positioned within the interior volume and configured to detect a rotational input at the crown assembly;
- and
- a switch module positioned within the interior volume and comprising:
- a switch housing defining a recess;
- a persistent electrical contact positioned in the recess and conductively coupled to the processing unit;
- a switch electrical contact positioned in the recess and conductively coupled to the processing unit;
- and
- a conductive dome positioned at least partially in the recess and conductively coupled to the actuation member;
- the conductive dome configured to transition from an uncollapsed configuration to a collapsed configuration in response to a translational input at the actuation member;
- wherein:
- in the uncollapsed configuration and the collapsed configuration, the conductive dome contacts the persistent electrical contact to at least partially define a conductive path between the input surface and the processing unit;
- in the collapsed configuration, the conductive dome contacts the switch electrical contact to register the translational input;
- and
- the graphical output is responsive to the input signal, the rotational input, and the translational input.
17 more elements
A switch module for a crown assembly for an electronic watch, comprising:
- a switch housing comprising:
- a base defining a recess;
- and
- a bracket for coupling the switch module to a device enclosure;
- a conductive dome positioned at least partially in the recess and defining a first portion of a conductive path between an actuation member and a processing unit, the conductive dome configured to transition from an uncollapsed configuration to a collapsed configuration in response to a translational input at the actuation member;
- a friction guard contacting the conductive dome and configured to be positioned between the conductive dome and the actuation member, the friction guard defining a second portion of the conductive path;
- a persistent electrical contact positioned in the recess and contacting the conductive dome, the persistent electrical contact defining a third portion of the conductive path;
- a first conductive member at least partially encapsulated within the base and defining a fourth portion of the conductive path;
- a switch electrical contact positioned in the recess and configured to contact the conductive dome in the collapsed configuration to register the translational input;
- a second conductive member at least partially encapsulated within the base and configured to conductively couple the switch electrical contact to the processing unit.
7 more elements
An electronic watch comprising:
- an enclosure defining an interior volume and an opening into the interior volume;
- a processing unit positioned within the interior volume;
- and
- a crown assembly positioned at least partially within the interior volume, the crown assembly comprising:
- an actuation member extending through the opening and defining an input surface for sensing an input signal along an exterior of the electronic watch;
- a rotation sensor positioned within the interior volume and configured to detect a rotational input at the crown assembly;
- and
- a switch module positioned within the interior volume and comprising:
- a switch housing defining a recess;
- a conductive dome positioned in the recess and configured to collapse in response to a translational input at the crown assembly;
- and
- a friction guard at least partially defining a conductive path between the input surface and the processing unit, the friction guard comprising:
- a support member attached to the switch housing;
- a translating portion contacting the actuation member;
- and
- a first flexure and a second flexure extending from the support member and at least partially surrounding the translating portion, the first flexure and the second flexure configured to allow the translating portion to move relative to the switch housing.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.