Granted Patent B2

US 12,189,342 · App. 18/484,996 · Granted Jan 7, 2025

Inventors: Sameer Pandya (Sunnyvale, CA); Antonio Herrera (Woodside, CA); Colin M. Ely (Sunnyvale, CA)

Assignee: Apple Inc.

G04C3/002A61B5/332A61B5/681G04G21/025G04G21/08H01H19/08H01H19/14H05K5/0017H05K5/0217

Abstract

Claims (72)

1. An electronic watch comprising:

an enclosure;

a processing unit within the enclosure;

a crown assembly positioned along a side of the enclosure and comprising:

an actuation member comprising a shaft extending through an opening in the enclosure, the actuation member defining an input surface configured to receive a user input thereon;

a base structure positioned within the enclosure at an end of the shaft;

a collapsible dome coupled to the base structure and configured to collapse in response to a translational input applied to the actuation member;

a first conductive member coupled to the base structure and conductively coupled to the collapsible dome; and

a second conductive member coupled to the base structure, the second conductive member configured to conductively couple to the collapsible dome when the collapsible dome is collapsed, the second conductive member defining:

a portion of a first conductive path from the input surface, through the shaft, and to the processing unit; and

a portion of a second conductive path from the first conductive member and through the collapsible dome when the collapsible dome is collapsed, wherein

the processing unit is configured to:

determine a biological parameter of a user based at least in part on a first signal detected via the first conductive path; and

detect the translational input based at least in part on a second signal detected via the second conductive path.

2. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein:

the base structure comprises a polymer material; and

the first conductive member and the second conductive member are at least partially encapsulated in the polymer material.

3. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein the first signal is a voltage signal.

4. The electronic watch of claim 3 , wherein the second signal corresponds to a conductive coupling between the collapsible dome and the second conductive member resulting from the collapse of the collapsible dome.

5. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein the actuation member further comprises a knob external to the enclosure and coupled to the shaft, the knob defining the input surface.

6. The electronic watch of claim 1 , wherein the crown assembly further comprises a friction guard positioned between the actuation member and the collapsible dome.

7. The electronic watch of claim 6 , wherein:

the portion of the first conductive path is a first portion of the first conductive path; and

the friction guard defines a second portion of first conductive path.

8. A wearable electronic device comprising:

a display;

a cover over the display;

an enclosure coupled to the cover and at least partially enclosing the display;

a processing unit within the enclosure; and

a crown assembly coupled to the enclosure and configured to receive a rotational input and a translational input and comprising:

a body portion external to the enclosure and defining an input surface;

a shaft extending from the body portion and through a hole defined in the enclosure;

a base structure positioned within the enclosure at an end of the shaft;

a collapsible dome coupled to the base structure and configured to transition from an uncollapsed state to a collapsed state in response to the translational input; and

a conductive member coupled to the base structure and defining:

a portion of a first conductive path from the input surface to the processing unit, the first conductive path persisting when the collapsible dome is in the collapsed state and in the uncollapsed state; and

a portion of a second conductive path, the second conductive path formed when the collapsible dome is in the collapsed state.

9. The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein:

the input surface is a conductive input surface; and

the body portion comprises a metal component defining the conductive input surface.

10. The wearable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the conductive input surface is configured to receive a voltage signal.

11. The wearable electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the first conductive path extends through the shaft.

12. The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the collapsible dome is formed of a metal material.

13. The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein:

the conductive member is a first conductive member;

the crown assembly further comprises a second conductive member coupled to the base structure;

the first conductive member defines a first portion of the second conductive path;

the second conductive member defines a second portion of the second conductive path; and

the collapsible dome defines a third portion of the second conductive path.

14. The wearable electronic device of claim 13 , wherein:

the base structure comprises a polymer material; and

the first conductive member and the second conductive member are at least partially encapsulated in the base structure.

15. A wearable electronic device comprising:

an enclosure;

a processing unit within the enclosure;

a crown assembly comprising:

an actuation member coupled to the enclosure and configured to receive a rotational input, a translational input, and a voltage input;

a base structure positioned at an end of the actuation member;

a conductive member coupled to the base structure and having a persistent conductive coupling with the actuation member to carry the voltage input to the processing unit; and

a conductive switch element coupled to the base structure and configured to conductively couple to the conductive member in response to the translational input, wherein

the processing unit is configured to:

determine a biological parameter of a user based at least in part on the voltage input received via the persistent conductive coupling; and

detect the translational input based at least in part on a detection of the conductive coupling between the conductive switch element and the conductive member.

16. The wearable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the actuation member comprises:

a knob external to the enclosure; and

a shaft coupled to the knob and extending through a hole defined in the enclosure.

17. The wearable electronic device of claim 16 , wherein:

the knob defines a conductive exterior surface; and

the conductive exterior surface is conductively coupled to the conductive member via the shaft.

18. The wearable electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the voltage input is received at the conductive exterior surface.

19. The wearable electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the crown assembly further comprises a friction plate positioned between the shaft and the conductive switch element.

20. The wearable electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the voltage input is carried through the shaft, the friction plate, and the conductive member.

Continuity (3)

References Cited (400)