Tactile switch for an electronic device
An electronic watch may include a tactile switch and/or one or more sensors for detecting rotational and translational inputs. The watch may include a display configured to produce graphical outputs that may change in response to rotational inputs, translational inputs, and/or touch inputs received at the display. The watch include a crown positioned along an exterior of the watch enclosure and a shaft coupled to the crown and extending into the enclosure. The tactile switch and/or the one or more sensors may be used to detect rotational and/or translational inputs provided at the crown.
1. A watch comprising:
an enclosure;
a touch-sensitive display positioned at least partially within the enclosure; and
a tactile switch assembly comprising:
a button positioned at a side of the enclosure;
a coupling attached to the button and extending into the enclosure;
a tactile switch positioned at an end of the coupling opposite to the button, the tactile switch configured to detect an inward translation of the coupling; and
a sensing element positioned along a side of the coupling and configured to detect a rotation of the coupling.
2. The watch of claim 1 , wherein the sensing element is configured to detect the rotation of the coupling using light reflected from the coupling.
3. The watch of claim 2 , wherein the sensing element is configured to detect areas of varying reflectance along an exterior surface of the coupling.
4. The watch of claim 2 , wherein the sensing element is configured to detect the rotation using a pattern of elements positioned along an exterior surface of the coupling.
5. The watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the tactile switch assembly further comprises a spring; and
the spring is configured to provide a restoring force in response to the inward translation of the coupling.
6. The watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the button is formed from a first conductive material; and
the coupling includes a shaft formed from a second conductive material.
7. The watch of claim 6 , wherein the shaft electrically couples the button to the tactile switch.
8. The watch of claim 6 , wherein:
the watch further comprises a shear plate positioned between an end of the shaft and the tactile switch; and
the shaft electrically couples the button to the tactile switch through the shear plate.
9. The watch of claim 1 , wherein the tactile switch comprises a dome that collapses in response to the inward translation of the coupling.
10. A wearable electronic device comprising:
an enclosure defining a button aperture;
a display positioned at least partially within the enclosure;
a button positioned on a side of the enclosure and aligned with the button aperture;
a shaft coupled to the button and extending through the button aperture;
a sensing element positioned within the enclosure and configured to detect a rotational input applied to the button; and
a tactile switch positioned along an end of the shaft and configured to detect a press input applied to the button.
11. The wearable electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the sensing element comprises an optical sensing element that is configured to detect light reflected from a surface of the shaft.
12. The wearable electronic device of claim 11 , wherein:
the surface of the shaft defines a unique pattern of trackable elements; and
the optical sensing element is configured to detect the rotational input using light reflected from the unique pattern of trackable elements.
13. The wearable electronic device of claim 10 , wherein:
the tactile switch includes a collapsible dome that is oriented toward an inner wall of the enclosure; and
the collapsible dome deflects away from the inner wall in response to the press input applied to the button.
14. The wearable electronic device of claim 10 , wherein:
the end of the shaft extends from an annular shelf; and
the annular shelf is configured to contact an inner surface of the enclosure thereby limiting an outward movement of the shaft.
15. A wearable electronic device comprising:
an enclosure defining an interior volume;
a strap coupled to the enclosure and configured to attach the wearable electronic device to a wrist;
a display positioned within the enclosure;
a crown positioned at a side of the enclosure and configured to receive a rotational input and a translational input;
a shaft coupled to the crown and extending into the interior volume of the enclosure;
a sensing element positioned in the interior volume and configured to detect the rotational input; and
a tactile switch positioned at an end of the shaft and configured to detect the translational input.
16. The wearable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein:
the display includes a light-emitting diode display; and
the light-emitting diode display comprises capacitive sensing elements that are configured to detect multi-touch input.
17. The wearable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein:
the crown is formed from a first conductive metal material;
the shaft is formed from a second conductive metal material; and
the second conductive metal material of the shaft is electrically coupled to the first conductive metal material of the crown.
18. The wearable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein:
the enclosure defines a button aperture;
the wearable electronic device comprises a sleeve formed from an insulating material; and
the sleeve is positioned in the button aperture and electrically insulates the shaft from the enclosure.
19. The wearable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the sensing element is configured to detect the rotational input using light reflected from the shaft from a light source.
20. The wearable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the wearable electronic device is configured to measure a heart rate.