Force-detecting input structure
An input mechanism, such as a crown, detects amounts of applied force. In various examples, an assembly including an input mechanism has an enclosure; a stem coupled to the enclosure such that the stem is rotatable, translatable, and transversely moveable with respect to the enclosure; a sensor, coupled between the stem and the housing, to which force is transferred when the stem moves with respect to the housing; and a processing unit coupled to the sensor. The processing unit is operable to determine a measurement of the force, based on a signal from the sensor.
1. An electronic watch comprising:
a housing;
a touch display configured to display a graphical output and coupled to the housing;
a crown coupled to the housing and configured to receive a force input;
a force sensor coupled to the crown and configured to produce an electrical signal in response to the force input; and
a processing unit positioned within the housing and operably coupled to the force sensor, the processing unit configured to:
in response to the electrical signal exceeding a first threshold, cause the touch display to display a first modification to the graphical output of the touch display; and
in response to the electrical signal exceeding a second threshold, cause the touch display to display a second modification to the graphical output of the touch display.
2. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein the force sensor comprises a first conductor separated from a second conductor by a dielectric.
3. The electronic watch of claim 2 , wherein a distance between the first conductor and the second conductor changes proportionally to an amount of the force input.
4. The electronic watch of claim 2 , wherein:
the crown includes a cap configured to receive the force input;
the electronic watch further comprises a collar that is at least partially surrounded by the cap;
the first conductor is coupled to the cap; and
the second conductor is coupled to the collar.
5. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the force sensor comprises a strain gauge; and
the strain gauge is configured to produce the electrical signal in response to the force input.
6. The electronic watch of claim 5 , wherein:
the crown includes a shaft; and
the strain gauge is positioned between the shaft and the housing.
7. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein:
the force sensor comprises a piezoelectric material; and
the force input causes the piezoelectric material to deform and produce the electrical signal.
8. An electronic watch comprising:
a housing;
a display coupled to the housing;
a crown coupled to the housing and configured to receive a force input;
a force sensor configured to produce an electrical signal in response to the force input wherein a value of the electrical signal corresponds to an amount of the force input; and
a processing unit positioned within the housing and operably coupled to the force sensor, the processing unit configured to:
in response to detecting that the value of the electrical signal is between a first value and a second value, perform a first operation; and
in response to detecting that the value of the electrical signal is between the second value and a third value, perform a second operation.
9. The electronic watch of claim 8 , wherein:
the first operation includes a selection of a graphical element; and
the second operation includes executing an application associated with the graphical element.
10. The electronic watch of claim 8 , wherein:
the display is configured to produce a graphical output;
the first operation includes altering the graphical output in a first manner; and
the second operation includes altering the graphical output in a second manner that is different than the first manner.
11. The electronic watch of claim 10 , wherein:
the first manner includes selecting an icon displayed on the display; and
the second manner includes executing the icon displayed on the display.
12. The electronic watch of claim 8 , wherein the processing unit is configured to determine a direction in which the force input is applied.
13. The electronic watch of claim 8 , wherein:
the crown is configured to receive a rotational input; and
the processing unit is configured to perform a third operation in response to the rotational input.
14. The electronic watch of claim 8 , wherein:
the force sensor comprises a movable conductor and a conductive element separated from the movable conductor by a dielectric; and
the electrical signal corresponds to a capacitance between the movable conductor and the conductive element.
15. An electronic watch comprising:
a housing;
a display at least partially surrounded by the housing and configured to display a graphical output;
a crown coupled to the housing and configured to receive a force input and a rotational input;
a force sensor configured to detect the force input;
a detector configured to detect the rotational input; and
a processing unit positioned within the housing and operably coupled to the force sensor and the detector, the processing unit configured to:
estimate an amount of the force input using the force sensor;
estimate an amount of the rotational input using the detector;
in response to the amount of the force input exceeding a first amount, perform a first function; and
in response to the amount of the force input exceeding a second amount, perform a second function.
16. The electronic watch of claim 15 , wherein:
the force sensor is configured to receive a translational input; and
the electronic watch further comprises a dome switch that is configured to detect the translational input.
17. The electronic watch of claim 15 , wherein:
the detector is an optical detector;
the crown comprises a shaft having markings; and
the optical detector is configured to detect the rotational input using the markings of the shaft.
18. The electronic watch of claim 15 , wherein:
the force sensor comprises a strain-sensitive material that is configured to produce an electrical signal in response to the force input; and
the processing unit is configured to estimate the amount of the force input using the electrical signal.
19. The electronic watch of claim 15 , wherein the force sensor comprises:
a first conductive layer;
a second conductive layer; and
a dielectric layer positioned between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.
20. The electronic watch of claim 19 , wherein:
the crown includes a cap that is configured to receive the force input;
the first conductive layer is coupled to the cap; and
the second conductive layer is coupled to the housing.