IP Library Granted Patent US 9,836,025
Granted Patent B2
US 9,836,025 · App. 15/637,949 · Granted Dec 5, 2017

Tactile switch for an electronic device

Inventors: Colin M. Ely (Sunnyvale, CA); John B. Morrell (Los Gatos, CA); Duncan Kerr (Cupertino, CA); Camille Moussette (Cupertino, CA)
Assignee: APPLE INC.
G04B27/002G04G21/08G06F1/163G06F3/0362G06F3/0488H01H25/008H01H2215/006H01H2221/01H01H2223/002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,836,025
App. No.
15/637,949
Granted
Dec 5, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

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 first sensor, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the rotational input. A second sensor, positioned within the enclosure, is configured to detect the translational input. The watch also includes a touch-sensitive display configured to receive touch input and to depict a graphical output of the watch. 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.

Claims (71)

1. A watch, comprising:

an enclosure defining an interior volume and an opening extending into the interior volume;

a switch assembly, comprising:

a button configured to receive translational input and rotational input;

a shaft coupled with the button and extending into the opening of the watch;

a first sensor positioned within the interior volume and configured to detect the rotational input; and

a second sensor positioned within the interior volume and configured to detect the translational input; and

a touch-sensitive display configured to receive touch input and to depict a graphical output of the watch, wherein the graphical output is responsive to each of:

the translational input of the button;

the rotational input of the button; and

the touch input of the touch-sensitive display.

2. The watch of claim 1 , wherein:

the graphical output includes a group of icons that are selectively modifiable in response to one or more of: the translational input, the rotational input, or the touch input.

3. The watch of claim 2 , wherein:

an icon of the group of icons corresponds 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.

4. The watch of claim 1 , wherein:

the first sensor is positioned proximate an end of the shaft and is configured to detect translational movement of the shaft resulting from the translational input; and

the second sensor is positioned along a side of the shaft and is configured to detect rotational movement of the shaft resulting from the rotational input.

5. The watch of claim 4 , wherein:

the first sensor is a dome switch that is configured to collapse in response to the translational movement; and

the second sensor is an optical sensor configured to detect the rotational movement of the shaft.

6. The watch of claim 5 , wherein the dome switch is configured to produce a tactile feedback in response to the translational movement.

7. The watch of claim 5 , wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect the rotational movement of the shaft during the translational movement of the shaft.

8. A watch, comprising:

an enclosure having sidewalls that define an interior volume and an opening;

a touch-sensitive display at least partially positioned within the interior volume and configured to depict a graphical output;

a switch assembly having a shaft that extends through the opening;

a first sensor positioned within the interior volume proximate an end of the shaft and configured to detect a translational movement of the shaft; and

a second sensor positioned within the interior volume along a side of the shaft and configured to detect a rotational movement of the shaft, wherein:

the graphical output is configured to change in response to each of the detected translational movement and the rotational movement.

9. The watch of claim 8 , further comprising:

a processing element configured to:

control a first function of the watch using the detected translational movement of the shaft; and

control a second function of the watch using the detected rotational movement of the shaft.

10. The watch of claim 9 , wherein one or both of the first or second functions is associated with a notification function of the watch.

11. The watch of claim 9 , wherein one or both of the first or second functions is associated with a time-keeping function of the watch.

12. The watch of claim 8 , wherein:

the switch assembly further comprises a button coupled to the shaft and positioned along an exterior of the enclosure; and

the button is configured to receive an inward translational input that causes the translational movement of the shaft.

13. The watch of claim 12 , wherein:

the first sensor is a dome switch;

translational input at the button causes the shaft to plunge into the dome switch, thereby causing the dome switch to collapse; and

the dome switch is configured to generate a tactile response when the dome switch collapses.

14. The watch of claim 12 , wherein:

the second sensor is an optical sensor;

the shaft includes a patterned surface; and

the optical sensor is configured to track movement of the patterned surface.

15. A watch, comprising:

an enclosure defining an interior volume:

a switch assembly configured to receive rotational and translational input, the switch assembly comprising:

a shaft that extends into the interior volume;

a first sensor positioned within the interior volume along an end portion of the shaft; and

a second sensor positioned within the interior volume along the end portion of the shaft; and

a touch-sensitive display configured to receive touch input and produce a graphical output, wherein:

the graphical output is configured to be modified in a first manner in response to the translational input;

the graphical output is configured to be modified in a second manner in response to the rotational input; and

the graphical output is configured to be modified in a third manner in response to the touch input.

16. The watch of claim 15 , further comprising:

the enclosure defines a first opening and a second opening;

the touch-sensitive display is at least partially positioned within the first opening;

the switch assembly includes a button coupled to the shaft; and

the shaft extends from the button and into the enclosure through the second opening.

17. The watch of claim 16 , wherein:

the first sensor includes a tactile dome;

the translational input plunges the shaft inward toward the tactile dome; and

an output of the first sensor occurs when the tactile dome collapses.

18. The watch of claim 17 , wherein the button is biased outward such that when the translational input ceases the button moves away from the enclosure.

19. The watch of claim 18 , further comprising:

a shelf positioned about the shaft and configured to limit movement of the button in a direction away from the enclosure.

20. The watch of claim 19 , wherein the shelf is integrally formed with the shaft and defines an outer diameter that is larger than a diameter of the second opening.

Continuity (5)
Continuation 15465523 · Mar 21, 2017
Continuation 15261904 · Sep 10, 2016
Continuation In Part 14455375 · Aug 8, 2014
Provisional Application 61864389 · Aug 9, 2013
Related Publication 20170308039A1 · Oct 26, 2017