BIDIRECTIONAL MEMS DRIVING ARRANGEMENTS WITH A FORCE ABSORBING SYSTEM

1 . A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) driving arrangement for an electronic device comprising:

a driven wheel;

a driving actuation assembly for causing rotation of the driven wheel;

an indicator assembly comprising an indicator; and

a force absorbing assembly coupled intermediate the indicator assembly and the driven wheel;

whereby a force acting upon the indicator assembly is absorbed by the force absorbing assembly so as to inhibit rotation of the driven wheel relative to the driving actuation assembly.

2 . The micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement for an electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the force absorbing assembly physically connects the indicator assembly to the driven wheel.

3 . The micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement for an electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the force absorbing assembly comprises one or more springs coupling the indicator assembly to the driven wheel.

4 . The micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement for an electronic device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein each of the one or more springs has a respective first end and second end, and

wherein the first end of the each of the one or more springs is coupled to the driven wheel and the second end of the each of the one or more springs is coupled to the indicator assembly.

5 . The micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement for an electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the driven wheel is in the form of a ring having an inner edge and an outer edge and wherein the driving actuation assembly engages the outer edge of the driven wheel; and the indicator assembly comprises an outer wheel edge and the force absorbing assembly is coupled between the inner edge of the driven wheel and the outer wheel edge of the indicator assembly.

6 . The micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement for an electronic device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the indicator assembly comprises an indicator wheel and wherein the force absorbing assembly couples the inner edge of the driven wheel to an outer edge of the indicator wheel.

7 . The micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement for an electronic device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the force absorbing assembly is coupled between the inner edge of the driven wheel and the outer edge of the indicator wheel.

8 . The micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement for an electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the indicator assembly comprises an indicator wheel and the force absorbing assembly is coupled intermediate the driven wheel and the indicator wheel.

9 . The micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement for an electronic device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the force absorbing assembly comprises one or more springs coupling the indicator wheel to the driven wheel.

10 . The micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement for an electronic device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein a first end of the one or more springs is coupled to the indicator wheel and a second end of the one or more springs is coupled to the driven wheel.

11 . The micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement for an electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the force absorbing assembly is the only structure that completes the direct coupling between the indicator assembly and the driven wheel.

12 . The micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement for an electronic device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the force absorbing assembly comprises one or more springs, and but for the one or more springs, the indicator assembly would not rotate when the driven wheel rotates.

13 . The micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement as claimed in claim 12 , comprising:

a first attachment member intermediate the driven wheel and a first end of the force absorbing assembly; and

a second attachment member intermediate the indicator assembly and the second end of the force absorbing assembly.

14 . The micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement for an electronic device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the force absorbing assembly comprises a first spring and at least a second spring, and wherein the micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement comprises:

a first attachment member intermediate the driven wheel and a first end of the first spring, and a second attachment member intermediate the indicator assembly and the second end of the first spring; and

a third attachment member intermediate the driven wheel and a first end of the at least second spring, and a fourth attachment member intermediate the indicator assembly and the second end of the at least second spring.