Tactile switch for an electronic device
Embodiments are directed to a watch having a touch-sensitive display and a switch assembly positioned along or within an enclosure. The switch assembly includes a shaft extending into an opening of the enclosure and is configured to receive rotational and translational input. A switch, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the translational input. An optical sensor, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the rotational input. The watch also includes a processor positioned within the enclosure and configured to modify a graphical output of the display. The graphical output may be responsive to various inputs, including a touch input provided at the display, the translational input provided at the switch assembly, and the rotational input provided at the switch assembly.
1. A watch, comprising:
an enclosure having first and second openings;
a display positioned within the first opening and having a touch sensor configured to receive touch input;
a switch assembly having a shaft that extends into the second opening and configured to receive rotational input and translational input;
a switch positioned within the enclosure and configured to detect the translational input;
an optical sensor positioned within the enclosure and configured to detect the rotational input; and
a processor positioned within the enclosure and configured to modify a graphical output of the display, the graphical output being responsive to each of:
the touch input provided at the display;
the translational input provided at the switch assembly; and
the rotational input provided at the switch assembly.
2. The watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the graphical output of the display includes an icon corresponding to a received message; and
a position of the icon can be varied in response to one or more of: the touch input; the translational input; or the rotational input.
3. The watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the switch includes a tactile dome that is configured to provide a haptic output; and
the haptic output is transmitted through the switch assembly to an external surface of the watch.
4. The watch of claim 1 , wherein:
in response to the translational input, the switch assembly is configured to move inward from an un-depressed position to a depressed position; and
the watch further comprises a spring coupled to the switch assembly and configured to provide a return force to return the switch assembly to the un-depressed position.
5. The watch of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sealing member encircling the shaft and positioned within the second opening; wherein:
the sealing member maintains a seal between the switch assembly and the enclosure while the switch assembly receives either or both of the translational input and the rotational input.
6. The watch of claim 5 , wherein:
the shaft includes a groove; and
the sealing member is an O-ring positioned within the groove.
7. A watch, comprising:
an enclosure defining a first opening and a second opening;
a display positioned within the first opening and having a touch sensor configured to receive a touch input;
a switch assembly having a shaft extending into the second opening;
a switch configured to detect a translational motion of the shaft; and
an optical sensor configured to detect a rotational motion of the shaft; wherein:
a graphical output of the display is responsive to each of:
the touch input provided to the touch sensor of the display;
the translational motion of the shaft; and
the rotational motion of the shaft.
8. The watch of claim 7 , wherein the graphical output of the display includes an icon having a characteristic that can be modified in response to one or more of: the touch input; the translational motion; or the rotational motion.
9. The watch of claim 7 , further comprising:
a sealing member encircling the shaft and positioned within the second opening; wherein:
the sealing member maintains contact with an interior surface of the second opening during the translational motion and the rotational motion of the shaft.
10. The watch of claim 9 , wherein:
the shaft defines a groove; and
the sealing member is an O-ring positioned between a surface of the groove and the interior surface of the second opening.
11. The watch of claim 7 , wherein:
the switch assembly further comprises a button positioned along an exterior surface of the enclosure and attached to the shaft;
the translational motion results in an inward translation of the button toward the exterior surface;
the shaft further comprises a shelf configured to limit an outward translation of the button away from the exterior surface; and
the button is configured to contact the exterior surface of the enclosure thereby limiting the inward translation.
12. The watch of claim 7 , wherein:
the switch assembly further comprises a button positioned along an exterior surface of the enclosure and coupled to the shaft; and
the exterior surface of the enclosure defines a recess that receives a portion of the button.
13. The watch of claim 12 , wherein:
the translational motion results in an inward translation of the button toward a surface of the recess; and
the button is configured to abut the surface of the recess, thereby limiting the inward translation.
14. The watch of claim 7 , wherein:
the switch comprises a dome that is configured to collapse in response to the translational motion; and
the dome is configured to produce a tactile feedback in response to the translational motion.
15. A watch, comprising:
an enclosure defining an opening in a sidewall;
a display positioned at least partially within the enclosure and having a touch sensor responsive to touch input;
a switch assembly comprising:
a button positioned along the sidewall; and
a shaft connected to the button and extending through the opening into the enclosure;
a switch positioned within the enclosure and responsive to an inward translational input applied to the button; and
an optical sensor positioned within the enclosure and responsive to a rotational input applied to the button, wherein:
in response to the inward translational input, a graphical output of the display is modified in a first manner;
in response to the rotational input, the graphical output of the display is modified in a second manner; and
in response to the touch input, the graphical output of the display is modified in a third manner.
16. The watch of claim 15 , further comprising a shelf positioned within the enclosure and configured to limit an outward translation of the button away from the sidewall.
17. The watch of claim 16 , wherein the shelf is integrally formed with the shaft and defines an outer diameter that is larger than a diameter of the opening.
18. The watch of claim 16 , wherein:
the inward translational input results in a movement of the switch assembly from an un-actuated position to an actuated position;
the watch further comprises a spring configured to return the switch assembly to the un-actuated position; and
the shelf contacts an inner surface of the sidewall when the switch assembly is in the un-actuated position.
19. The watch of claim 15 , wherein:
the sidewall of the enclosure defines a recess that receives a portion of the button: and
the button is configured to abut a surface of the recess to limit an inward translation of the button due to the inward translational input.
20. The watch of claim 15 , wherein:
the switch comprises a collapsible dome that is configured to buckle in response to the inward translational input of the button to an actuated position; and
the watch further comprises a spring coupled to the switch assembly and provides a return force that biases the switch toward an un-actuated position.