Tactile switches for electronic devices

Abstract

We provide tactile switch technology for electronic devices. [Solution] One embodiment of the present disclosure includes an input module. This input module includes a switch, a rotatable and translatable input member operably connected to the switch and configured to actuate the switch, and an electrical contact operably connected to the switch and electrically communicating with the input member. During operation, the electrical connection between the input member and the electrical contact is maintained during the translation and rotation of the input member. This input module can be used with various electronic devices and can be used by a user to provide input to those devices.

Description

Technical Field

[0004] ,

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to electronic devices, and more particularly to input devices for computing devices.

[0002] (Cross - Reference to Related Applications) This application, based on the Patent Cooperation Treaty, was filed on August 9, 2013, and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 864,389, entitled "Tactile Switch for an Electronic Device", the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Background Art

[0003] Many types of electronic devices, such as smartphones, gaming consoles, computers, and wristwatches, use input devices such as buttons or switches to receive user input. However, many input devices such as buttons or switches may allow only a single type of input. For example, a button can transmit only one type of signal, which is the pressing of the button to complete a circuit. As the size of electronic devices shrinks, it may be desirable to have fewer input buttons or input devices without reducing the functionality or number of types of input that can be used by a user to provide information to the device. Furthermore, in instances where a button or switch may be movable or rotatable, the movement may make it difficult to make an electrical connection, such that the button may not be able to include sensors or other electronic elements that require transferring data and / or power between the button and one or more components of the electronic device.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] One embodiment of the present disclosure takes the form of an input module. This input module includes a switch, a rotatable and translatable input member operably connected to the switch and configured to actuate the switch, and an electrical contact operably connected to the switch and in electrical communication with the input member. During operation, the electrical connection between the input member and the electrical contact is maintained during the translation and rotation of the input member. This input module can be used with a variety of electronic devices and can be used by a user to provide input to those devices.

[0005] Another embodiment of the present disclosure takes the form of a switch assembly. This switch assembly includes a rotatable and translatable input member, a coupling operably connected to the input member and movable with the input member, a tactile switch operably connected to the coupling, and an electrical contact operably connected to the tactile switch and electrically communicating with the coupling. The input member is configured to actuate the electrical components when the input member is translated, and the coupling rotates when the input member rotates. Furthermore, the electrical connection between the coupling and the electrical contact is maintained during the translation and rotation of the input member.

[0006] A further embodiment of the present disclosure includes a wearable electronic device. This wearable electronic device includes an enclosure which defines a cavity and a button opening defined through the enclosure. This wearable electronic device also includes one or more processing elements received inside the cavity and a switch module operably connected to the enclosure. The switch module includes a tactile switch that communicates with the processing element, a rotatable and translatable input member operably connected to the tactile switch, and a contact operably connected to the tactile switch and electrically coupled to the input member. During operation, the electrical coupling between the input member and the contact is maintained during the translation and rotation of the input member. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a top-down plan view of a wearable electronic device, including a multi-input device. [Figure 2] This is a simplified block diagram of a wearable electronic device. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of a wearable electronic device along line 3-3 in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 3, showing how user input force is applied to a button on a tactile switch assembly related to an electronic device. [Figure 5] This is a front elevation view of another embodiment of the tactile switch, which can be used with the tactile switch assembly shown in Figure 4. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a top plan view of a tactile switch. [Figure 7] Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the tactile switch. [Figure 8] This is a front elevation view of the tactile switch in Figure 5 when a parallel movement force is applied. [Figure 9] Figure 5 is a front elevation view of the tactile switch when rotational force is applied. [Figure 10] This is a front elevation view of yet another embodiment of the tactile switch, which can be used with the tactile switch assembly shown in Figure 4. [Figure 11] Figure 10 is a top plan view of a tactile switch. [Figure 12] Figure 10 is a bottom plan view of the tactile switch. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] (overview) Some embodiments of this disclosure include a tactile switch assembly. This tactile switch assembly can be implemented in several electronic devices. In some embodiments, the tactile switch assembly can be incorporated into a portable electronic device such as a wearable electronic device, a laptop computer, or a tablet. The wearable electronic device may be a wristwatch, a portable music player, a computing or game console, or a smartphone. In some embodiments, the wearable electronic device is a wristwatch that can be worn around the user's wrist. In these embodiments, the tactile switch assembly may include a button that forms a crown for the wristwatch and is connected to the side wall of an enclosure for the device.

[0009] A tactile switch assembly includes a tactile switch, a user input member, and a shear plate or electrical contact. The user input member, which may be a button, switch, flange, etc., can provide a first type of input to the tactile switch by mechanically activating the switch. For example, the tactile switch may include a dome that is compressed by a user's parallel movement force on an input button, and when compressed, the tactile switch generates a signal indicating user input. In this embodiment, the compression of the dome can also provide feedback to the user, such as tactile feedback.

[0010] The shear plate can electrically connect the tactile switch and the user input button so that electrical signals can be transmitted between the tactile switch and the user input button, and / or between the tactile switch and one or more electrical components (e.g., sensors) on the user input button. In other embodiments, electrical signals, power, etc., can be routed between the switch and the button by cords, wires, wiring, or other electrical elements attached to the shear plate and the button. The shear plate also serves to prevent shear forces from being transmitted to the tactile switch, thereby preventing damage to the tactile switch. The user input button can also provide a second type of input to the tactile switch assembly. For example, this user input member can be rotatable relative to the tactile switch. In this embodiment, by positioning the shear plate between the tactile switch and the user input button, the user input member can maintain communication with the shear plate even when the user input member is rotated relative to the shear plate. For example, the shear plate may include brush contacts that maintain an electrical connection with the user input member when the user input button is rotated.

[0011] In some embodiments, the tactile switch assembly can be used as a physiological sensor and / or in conjunction with a biometric sensor; however, it should be understood that this sensor may be omitted from certain embodiments. In certain embodiments, this wearable electronic device can be used to measure electrical parameters of the user's body, such as heart rate and electrical activity of the heart. In one embodiment, the tactile switch assembly can be used to capture a user's electrocardiogram recording. In this embodiment, the wearable device may include a first user contact location, and a user input button may form a second user contact location when contacted by the user. In this embodiment, the two contacts can create an electrical circuit between the user and the device, enabling the device to sense the user's heart rate. In these embodiments, the contacts on the shear plate may be conductive, and / or the tactile switch itself may include conductive protrusions or contact points for interacting with the button. These embodiments allow the tactile switch to be electrically connected to one or more elements inside the housing.

[0012] In some embodiments, the tactile switch assembly may also include one or more sensing elements and / or input / output elements on or incorporated within the user input button. A communication component electrically connects the user input button to one or more internal components of the wearable device, so that sensors and / or other electronic components on these user input buttons can communicate with the shear plate, and signals from those sensors and / or other components can be transmitted from the user input button to one or more processing elements via electrical contacts on the shear plate. In some embodiments, the shear plate and input / output elements such as the user input button can be electrically connected by wires, cords, wiring, or other electrical elements.

[0013] A tactile switch assembly can be configured to receive multiple types of user inputs, including, but is not limited to, rotary inputs, translation inputs, and / or electrical inputs. For example, in one embodiment, the tactile switch assembly may include a shear plate that can be configured to receive rotary and translation inputs without damaging the tactile switch. Furthermore, or alternatively, the tactile switch assembly can be electrically connected to one or more components inside an electronic device even when the input member is moved (e.g., translated and / or rotated). In these embodiments, if rotary input is not desired or is limited, the shear plate can be omitted, and the tactile switch itself may include conductive contacts, such as conductive protrusions.

[0014] Referring here to the figures, an exemplary wearable electronic device will be discussed in more detail. Figure 1 is a top plan view of the wearable electronic device. Figure 2 is a simplified block diagram of the wearable electronic device of Figure 1. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the wearable electronic device 100 may include a hub 102 or a computing center. In embodiments in which the electronic device 100 is configured to be worn by a user, the device 100 may include one or more straps 104, 106 that can be attached to the opposite side of the hub 102. The hub 102 can be secured to the user by wrapping each of the straps 104, 106 around the wrist, arm, leg, chest, or other part of the user's body. For example, the ends of each of the straps 104, 106 can be joined together by a fastening mechanism 108. The fastening mechanism 108 can be substantially any type of fastening device, such as, but is not limited to, hook-and-loop, magnetic fasteners, snaps, buttons, clasps, etc. However, in one embodiment, such as that shown in Figure 1, the fastening mechanism 108 is a buckle that includes a claw portion 134 or element capable of integrally fixing the first strap 104 and the second strap 106 by inserting it into one or more openings 112 in the second strap 106.

[0015] The hub 102 of this wearable electronic device generally houses the computing and processing elements of the wearable electronic device 100. Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the hub 102 along line 3-3 in Figure 1. Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the hub 102 may include a display 116, at least partially enclosed by an enclosure 114. In some embodiments, the display 116 may form the face of the hub 102, and the enclosure 114 may enclose the edges and back surface of the display 116. Furthermore, internal components of the wearable device 100 can be housed inside the enclosure 114, between the display 116 and the enclosure 114. The enclosure 114 protects the internal components of the hub 102 and connects the display 116 to the hub 102.

[0016] The enclosure 114 can be constructed from a variety of materials, including, but is not limited to, plastic, metal, and alloy. The enclosure 114 includes a button opening 172 (see Figure 3) for receiving the tactile switch assembly 110 or a portion thereof. The button opening 172 forms a channel inside the side wall 188 of the enclosure 114 and extends from the outer surface 188 to the inner surface 190 of the enclosure 114. The button opening 172 is generally configured to correspond to the buttons of the tactile switch assembly 110. However, the button opening 172 can also be molded and sized in other ways.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the enclosure 114 may include a sleeve 220 that covers the inside of the button aperture 172. In these embodiments, the button and / or other parts of the tactile switch assembly can be received within the sleeve 220, and this sleeve 220 connects the tactile switch assembly 110 to the enclosure 114. The sleeve 220 can serve to help seal the cavity 139 of the enclosure 114 and to help secure one or more components of the tactile switch assembly to the enclosure. In some embodiments, the sleeve 220 can be made of an insulating material, insulating the tactile switch or portions of the tactile switch, such as the head portion and the coupling portion, from the enclosure. As will be discussed in more detail below, this can enable the tactile switch assembly to be capable of measuring one or more characteristics of the user's body, such as the user's heart rate.

[0018] The enclosure 114 may also include a groove 186 defined on an upper surface for receiving the display 116. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the display 116 can be connected to the enclosure 114 through an adhesive or other fastening mechanism. In this example, the display is seated within a recessed portion or groove of the enclosure, and the enclosure wraps around the edge of the display. However, in other embodiments, the display and the enclosure can be integrally connected in other ways.

[0019] Display 116 can be substantially any type of display screen or display device capable of providing visual output to wearable device 100. As an example, display 116 can be a liquid crystal display, a light emitting diode display, and the like. Further, display 116 can also be configured to receive user input, such as a multi-touch display screen that receives user input through a capacitive sensing element. In many embodiments, display 116 can be dynamically changeable, however, in other embodiments, display 116 can be a non-electronic component, such as a painted faceplate, that cannot be dynamically changed.

[0020] Display 116 includes a plurality of icons 118, 120 or other graphics that can be selectively changed. As an example, the first graphic 118 can include a time graphic that represents a change over time by changing its characters, for example, numbers for representing hours, minutes, and seconds. The second graphic 120 can include a notification graphic, such as battery life, message reception, and the like. The two graphics 118, 120 can be positioned at substantially any location on display 116 and can be changed as desired. Further, the number, size, shape, and other characteristics of graphics 118, 120 can also be changed as well.

[0021] Tactile switch assembly 110 is operably connected to enclosure 114. Tactile switch assembly 110 generally enables a user to provide input to wearable electronic device 100 and can also provide tactile feedback to the user, as will be discussed in more detail below.

[0022] Referring to Figure 2, this wearable electronic device includes multiple processing or computing elements. For example, the wearable electronic device 100 may include a power supply 122, one or more processing elements 124, a memory component 128, one or more optional sensors 126, and an input / output component 130. Each of these internal components can be housed inside the enclosure 114 and can communicate through one or more system buses 132, wiring, printed circuit boards, or other communication mechanisms.

[0023] The power supply 122 provides power to the hub 102 and other components of the wearable device 100. The power supply 122 can be a battery or other portable power element. Furthermore, the power supply 122 can be rechargeable or replaceable.

[0024] The processing element 124 or processor is substantially any type of device capable of receiving and executing instructions. For example, the processing element 124 can be a processor, a microcomputer, and so on. Furthermore, the processing element 124 may include one or more processors, and in some embodiments, it may include multiple processing elements.

[0025] One or more sensors 126 can be configured to sense several different parameters or characteristics that can be used to influence one or more operations of the wearable electronic device 100. For example, sensors 126 may include accelerometers, gyroscopes, capacitive sensors, optical sensors, image sensors, pressure or force sensors, etc. As will be discussed in more detail below, one or more of the sensors 126 can be used together with the tactile switch assembly 110 or separately from the tactile switch assembly 110 to provide user input to the hub 102. In certain embodiments, one or more sensors 126 can be omitted.

[0026] Continuing to refer to Figure 2, the memory component 128 stores electronic data that can be used by the wearable device 100. For example, the memory component 128 can store electrical data or content that can be used for various applications, such as audio files, video files, document files, etc. The memory 128 can be, for example, a non-volatile memory device, a magnetic storage medium, an optical storage medium, a magneto-optical storage medium, a read-only memory, a random-access memory, an erasable programmable memory, or a flash memory.

[0027] The input / output interface 130 can receive data from a user or one or more other electronic devices. Furthermore, the input / output interface 130 can facilitate the transmission of data to a user or other electronic devices. For example, the input / output interface 130 can be used to receive data from a network, or to transmit and transmit electronic signals via wireless or wired connections (some examples include the Internet, WiFi®, Bluetooth®, and Ethernet®). In some embodiments, the input / output interface 130 can support multiple networks or communication mechanisms. For example, the network / communication interface 130 can receive data from WiFi or other networks while simultaneously transferring signals to another device by pairing with that device via a Bluetooth network.

[0028] The tactile switch assembly 110 will now be discussed in more detail. The tactile switch assembly 110 may include a button 148, a coupling 218, a shear plate 156, and a tactile switch 214. These components of the tactile switch can be operably connected together, and selected components can be electrically connected to one another.

[0029] Referring to Figure 3, the button 148 forms a user interface for the tactile switch assembly 110 and extends outward from the enclosure 114. For example, the button 148 can be an input member, such as a button or switch, that is movable and / or rotatable relative to the housing. The ability of the button 148 to move and rotate relative to the enclosure allows the user to provide rotational and / or kinetic forces to the tactile switch assembly. In some embodiments, the button 148 can form a crown for a wearable electronic device 100, and in other embodiments, the button 148 can form an input button or switch for this electronic device. The button 148 can generally be a flange-shaped member having a cylindrical body and a rounded or flat top. The button 148 includes an outer surface 232 configured to receive user input and a stem 150 extending from the inner surface 234 of the button 148. The stem 150 may define a joint opening 236 that extends longitudinally along the length of the stem 150 or a portion of its length. In other words, the stem 150 may be hollow or partially hollow. In some embodiments, the button 148 and / or the stem 150 may be made of a conductive material and / or may have a conductive material mixed in or added to it.

[0030] Continuing to refer to Figure 3, the coupling 218 can be a link mechanism such as a shaft that mechanically and / or electrically couples the button 148 to the tactile switch 214. The coupling 218 can be formed integrally with the button 148, or it can be a separate component operably connected to the button 148. For example, the stem 150 of the button 148 can form a coupling member integrally with the button. The coupling 218 can be made of a conductive material such as one or more metals or alloys. Due to its conductive properties, the coupling 218 can further play a role in electrically coupling the button 148 to the tactile switch 214 and the shear plate 156, although in other embodiments, the button and switch can be electrically coupled by wires, cords, or other circuits, with or without including the shear plate in such an electrical connection. The coupling may also include a low-friction material such as graphite on its bottom surface, which allows the coupling to rotate more easily, even when operably associated with the shear plate.

[0031] The coupling portion 218 may include a shaft 240 extending from the bottom portion 222. The bottom portion 222 may have a larger diameter than the shaft 240. The bottom portion 222 may include an annular shelf portion 228 extending around its outer surface. The annular shelf portion 228 may be configured to seal against the inner surfaces of the enclosure 114 and / or sleeve 220. Furthermore, the annular shelf portion 228 may be configured to secure a traceable element 146, a sensor, or a sealing member to the coupling portion 218.

[0032] The bottom end 222 of the coupling 218 forms a joint for operably connecting the coupling 218 to the shear plate 156. In these embodiments, the coupling 218 may include an engaging feature 226 connected to the bottom end 222. The engaging feature 226 is configured to be rotatably connected to the shear plate 156 to maintain an electrical connection to the shear plate 156 while the coupling is rotating or stationary, which will be discussed in more detail below. As shown in Figure 3, in one embodiment, the engaging feature 226 includes a recess 224 formed within the bottom surface 244 of the bottom end 222. An annular wall 242 extends from the bottom surface 244 and surrounds the recess 224.

[0033] Continuing to refer to Figure 3, the shear plate 156 can be positioned between the coupling 218 and the tactile switch 214. In some embodiments, the shear plate 156 can be integrated with the tactile switch 214, one such embodiment of which is shown in Figure 10. In other embodiments, such as that shown in Figure 3, the shear plate 156 can be a separate component operably connected to the tactile switch 214. As will be discussed in more detail below, the shear plate 156 can substantially prevent shear forces from the coupling from being transmitted to the tactile switch 214.

[0034] The shear plate 156 may include electrical contacts 158 extending upward from the main body 250. The electrical contacts 158 are made of a conductive material or otherwise impregnated with a conductive material, thereby enabling them to transmit electrical signals. The main body 250 can be molded as a plate or otherwise configured to extend over the length and / or width of the tactile switch 214. The shear plate 156 may be configured to transmit forces from the coupling 218 to the tactile switch 214, at least partially rigidly, as will be discussed in more detail below. Furthermore, the shear plate 156 may include one or more terminals or connection mechanisms for connecting the electrical contacts 158 to the processing element 124 and / or power supply.

[0035] The tactile switch 214 may include a projection 216 and a collapsible dome 252. The projection 216 indicates when the switch sensor 160 is activated by interacting with a contact element on the inside of the dome 252. For example, when the contact element 168 contacts the bottom of the switch, a circuit can be completed, which can stimulate or generate a signal. The dome 252 is made of an elastic and flexible material that collapses or bends at a predetermined force level and returns to its original shape when the force is removed. The dome 252 can be a thin metal dome, a plastic dome, or something else that can be constructed from other materials. The dome 252 can produce an audible sound and a reaction force in response to a collapse force applied by the user. This audible sound and reaction force provide feedback to the user when the user compresses the dome 252. The projection 216 is connected to the dome 252, and when a force is applied to the projection 216, the projection 216 collapses the dome 252.

[0036] In some embodiments, the wearable electronic device may include a trackable element 146 and a sensing element 142. The sensing element 142 is configured to detect the trackable element 146 in order to detect input to a button 148. For example, in some embodiments, the button 148 (or another button) may be rotatable to provide a first input and compressible to provide a second input. In this embodiment, the sensing element 142 can sense rotational input by tracking the position of the trackable element 146, which can be attached to a coupling 218 and / or stem 150. In one embodiment, the trackable element 146 may be a magnetic element, and the sensing element 142 may include a magnetic field sensor, such as one or more Hall effect sensors, which can be used to track the rotation of the trackable element 146. As yet another option, the rotation may be optically sensed. The trackable element 146 may be a constant pattern, such as a series, set or other pattern of light and dark marks, stripes, or areas where reflectivity, gloss, etc., changes. The sensing element 142 is generated by a light source (not shown) and can receive light reflected from the traceable element. Since this reflected light can vary depending on the pattern of the traceable element, the sensing element can detect the reflected light and determine the pattern of the traceable element onto which the light was incident. Therefore, if the pattern of the traceable element is sufficiently unique along its surface, the button input can be detected. Another option is that the pattern of the traceable element can vary along its outer circumference, and the traceable element can rotate as the shaft 240 rotates. Therefore, the rotational position of the shaft can be determined from the traceable element 146. Yet another option is that the traceable element may be integrated onto the shaft itself and not be a separate part. That is, in certain embodiments, the shaft can be marked as described above.

[0037] The tactile switch assembly 110 may optionally further include one or more sensors 126 positioned inside or connected to the button 148. The sensors 126 can be electrically connected to the coupling 218 via one or more wires or paths inside the button 148, or in examples where the button 148 can be made of a conductive material. The sensors 126 can be configured to sense one or more characteristics and relay the data to the processing element 124 via the coupling 218.

[0038] Referring to Figure 3, the assembly of the tactile switch assembly 110 inside the wearable electronic device 100 is discussed in more detail here. The tactile switch 214 is connected to a substrate 166 or other support structure inside the cavity 139 of the wearable device 100. The substrate 166 and / or the switch 214 can be electrically connected to the processing element 124 (see Figure 2). The dome 252 is oriented toward the wall 190 of the enclosure 114 so that the projection 216 is substantially aligned with the button opening 172. The shear plate 156 is positioned above the tactile switch 214 and is operably connected to the tactile switch 214. The shear plate 156 is oriented so that the electrical contacts 158 can be substantially aligned with the projection 216 of the switch 214.

[0039] Continuing to refer to Figure 3, the coupling 218 is operably connected to the shear plate 156 and electrically connected to the contact 158. Specifically, the electrical contact 158 ​​can be received in a recess 224 formed within the bottom surface 244 of the coupling 218. The annular wall 242 surrounds the electrical contact 158. In some embodiments, the electrical contact 158 ​​can contact the inside of the annular wall 242 and / or the end wall of the recess 224 of the coupling. In this manner, the coupling 218 can be connected to the shear plate 156 and can also be electrically connected to the shear plate 156.

[0040] The shaft 240 of the coupling portion 218 extends through the button opening 172 and is received within the coupling opening 236 of the stem 150. A sealing member 154, such as an O-ring, cup-shaped seal, or membrane, is received around the shaft 240 and seals against the sleeve 220 or the inner wall of the enclosure 114. The button 148 extends outward from the coupling portion 218 and extends beyond the outer edge of the enclosure 114.

[0041] The operation of the tactile switch assembly 110 in the wearable device 100 is discussed in more detail here. When a user applies a rotational force to the button 148, the stem 150 and the button 148 rotate in the direction of that force. The rotation of the button 148 causes the coupling 218 to rotate together with the button 148. As the coupling 218 rotates, the tracking element 146 rotates, allowing the sensing element 142 to track the rotation of the coupling 218, which can correlate with user input to the button 148. Furthermore, the coupling 218 rotates around the electrical contact 158 ​​of the shear plate 156. The annular wall 242 prevents the coupling 218 from rotating out of axis from the contact 158 ​​and helps to fix the two components together as a single unit. In some embodiments, the electrical contact 158 ​​can be a brush contact or otherwise configured to maintain an electrical connection with the wall and annular wall 242 defining the recess 224 of the coupling 218 without substantially hindering the rotation of the coupling 218. Furthermore, since the coupling 218 rotates around the electrical contact 158, the rotational force experienced by the coupling 218 cannot be transmitted to the tactile switch 214, which is positioned below the shear plate to which the electrical contact is connected. By preventing this shear force from being transmitted to the tactile switch 214, rotation of the tactile switch 214 can be prevented, which could damage the switch, initiate displacement of the switch relative to the coupling, and / or otherwise damage the tactile switch. In some embodiments, the electrical contact 158 ​​can be configured to experience a shear force of about 20 N and a torque higher than at least 10 N-mm. This allows the tactile switch assembly 110 to receive rotational input to the button 148 while maintaining the electrical connection between the coupling and the contact without damaging any of its components.

[0042] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the wearable electronic device 100, similar to Figure 3, but showing that a compressive force is applied to the button 148. Referring to Figure 4, when the user applies either an oblique force AF or an axial force A, the button 148 moves toward the side wall 260, causing the bottom surface 262 of the button 148 to contact the enclosure 114. The lateral movement of the button 148 causes the coupling 218 to move accordingly, sliding further into the cavity 139. As the coupling 218 moves into the cavity 139, the coupling 218 transmits forces AF and F to the shear plate 156. Specifically, the end wall of the recess presses against the electrical contact 158, and the electrical contact 158 ​​presses against the projection 216 of the dome 252. In some embodiments, the tactile switch assembly 110 can be configured to receive user input forces in the range of 1 to 3 Newtons. Since the shear plate 156 can be made rigid to some extent, it transmits the force from the joint 218 to the dome 252, causing the dome 252 to collapse. When the dome 252 collapses, the electrical contacts inside the tactile switch 214 come into contact with the inner surface of the dome, completing the electrical connection and indicating user input.

[0043] After this force is removed from button 148, the dome elastically returns to its original position, providing a biasing force to the coupling 218, thereby returning both the button and the coupling to their original positions. In some embodiments, the tactile switch may include a separate biasing element, such as a spring, that applies force to the coupling (directly or indirectly via a shear plate). In these embodiments, button 148 and coupling 218 can return to their original positions before the user's translational force F is applied to button 148.

[0044] In some embodiments, the button opening 172 can be made large enough to allow the tactile switch 214 to be activated by an oblique force AF, even when the tactile switch 214 is positioned directly below the coupling. In other words, the tactile switch 214 can be activated by the oblique force AF or other off-axis force if the frictional engagement of the stem 150 and / or coupling 218 inside the side wall of the button opening 172 is insufficient to resist the oblique force AF. As the angle increases, the frictional force acting on the stem and / or coupling increases, and by changing the size of the stem and / or button opening, a predetermined range of angles can be selected in which the oblique force AF can activate the switch. For example, a maximum angle of input force can be selected, and if the force is less than that angle, the oblique force can activate the tactile switch 214, but if the oblique force is greater than or equal to the maximum angle, the input button cannot be activated. In one embodiment, a force applied to an input button at an angle of up to 30 or 45 degrees can be used to activate the tactile switch 214.

[0045] Continuing to refer to Figure 4, when the tactile switch 214 is compressed by the coupling portion 218, the coupling portion 218 maintains electrical communication with the electrical contact 158. This allows the sensor 126 to maintain communication with one or more processing elements 124 via the shear plate 156, and / or allows the button 148 to maintain an electrical connection to the shear plate 156.

[0046] The tactile switch 214 of this disclosure enables the user to provide multiple types of inputs to the wearable device 100, such as rotation, translation, and diagonal. Furthermore, the tactile switch assembly 110 enables the movable components, specifically the button 148 and the coupling 218, to maintain electrical communication with the shear plate 156 (and therefore other electrical components inside the device) without restricting movement. This allows one or more sensing elements 126 on the button 148 to provide signals to non-movable components or other components inside the enclosure 114. The sensing elements 126 can receive power via the coupling 218 and the button 148.

[0047] In some embodiments, the tactile switch assembly 110 can optionally be used as a physiological sensor, but this functionality can be omitted from certain embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the enclosure 114 can be conductive and communicate with the user's skin when worn by the user. Referring to Figure 3, in this embodiment, the sleeve 220 can be made of an insulating material such as rubber or plastic and insulates the button 148, stem 150, and coupling 218 from the conductive housing 114. The user can press their finger on the button 148 to measure one or more characteristics of the user's heart, such as by an electrocardiograph (ECG). In this embodiment, the wearable device 100 can be worn around the user's wrist, and the finger placed on the button 148 can be from the arm opposite to the arm on which the device 100 is worn. The connection between the user's finger and the head unit 148 can serve as a first guide for the ECG, and the connection to the user's wrist (or other part of the arm) can serve as a second guide for the ECG.

[0048] When the user places their finger on button 148, an electrical connection via coupling 218 and electrical contact 158 ​​creates a second reference point. In this manner, rises and falls between the two signals can be detected by comparing and subtracting the voltage signal detected at the first location from the voltage signal detected at the second location. These rises and falls may correlate with the user's heart rhythm. Furthermore, in some embodiments, device 100 can use one of these connections to the user's skin to transmit pulses or signals passing through the user in order to measure the ECG characteristics of the user's heart.

[0049] (Brush contacts) In some embodiments, the tactile switch itself may include electrical contacts, and the shear plate may be omitted or integrated with the tactile switch. Figures 5–7 show various diagrams of other embodiments of a tactile switch removed from a wearable electronic device. In these embodiments, the tactile switch assembly may be configured to receive one or more types of input and to maintain electrical communication with one or more elements inside the device. The tactile switch 314 in Figures 5–7 may be substantially the same as the tactile switch 114, but may be formed integrally with the electrical contacts on the outer surface of the dome. Referring to Figures 5–7, in this embodiment, the tactile switch 314 may include a substrate 366 and one or more support portions 368 extending from the bottom surface 374 of the substrate 366. The support portions 368 support the tactile switch 314 inside the wearable electronic device 100, such as on the substrate 166.

[0050] The tactile switch 314 may include a projection 316 extending from the upper surface 372 of the substrate 366. The projection 316 forms an electrical contact with respect to the dome 352, which will be discussed in more detail below. The projection 316 can be electrically connected to one or more of the connection terminals 360a, 360b, 360d, and 360e, which are capable of communicating with the processing element 124 (see Figure 2). The projection 316 may be a conductive projection and may include a conductive pad or other conductive segment configured to selectively communicate with the corresponding dome contact.

[0051] Referring to Figure 5, the dome 352 can be elastic and configured to collapse under a predetermined user force and bounce back to its initial position. The dome 352 may include legs 370 extending from one side of the dome 352. The legs 370 can support one or more electrical communication mechanisms, such as flexible circuits (cords) and wiring, but are not limited to these. The dome 352 may also define a dome cavity 320 positioned above the base contact 316. The upper surface 322 of the dome 352 may be configured to be spatially separated from the upper surface of the projection 316 so that the dome can contact the contact 316 only when sufficient force is applied to the upper surface 322 of the dome. The dome contact 318 can be operably connected to the inner surface of the dome 352 and can be at least partially aligned with the projection 316.

[0052] The dome 352 can be made of a non-conductive material such as plastic. In one embodiment, the dome 352 can be made of injection-molded plastic. However, as described above, one or more components of the dome 352 may include conductive components such as flexible circuits (cords) or copper wiring. Alternatively, the dome 352 may be made of a metal element or another conductive material and may include one or more insulating elements connected to the dome 352.

[0053] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the tactile switch 314 may further include an electrical contact 358, which can replace the contact 158 ​​of the shear plate 156, thereby allowing the shear plate to be omitted. The electrical contact 358 can be operably connected to the upper surface 322 of the dome 352. In embodiments where the tactile switch can receive rotational input, the electrical contact 358 can electrically connect the tactile switch 314 to the coupling 318 by forming a brush contact with respect to the coupling 318. In this configuration, the electrical contact can be substantially the same as the electrical contact 158; however, in this embodiment, the electrical contact 358 can be formed integrally with the dome 352. However, in embodiments where rotational input is not desired, the electrical contact 358 can be a conductive surface that does not receive shear forces.

[0054] The electrical contact 358 communicates with one of the connection terminals 360a, 360b, 360c, and 360d. For example, the electrical contact 358 can communicate with the conductor 360a. In some embodiments, the dome may include a cord or other shear plate that connects the electrical contact 358 to the conductor 360a, or alternatively, the dome 352 itself may be conductive and serve to jointly connect the two components.

[0055] As shown in Figure 3, the electrical contact 158 ​​can be received within the coupling portion 218. However, in some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the electrical contact 358 can define a receiving cavity 384 surrounded by an annular wall 382. In these embodiments, one or more portions of the coupling portion 318 can be received within the recess or opening defined inside the electrical contact. In this manner, the coupling portion 218 can rotate inside the electrical contact 358 by contacting the inner wall of the annular wall 382.

[0056] The operation of the tactile switch assembly will now be discussed in more detail. Referring to Figures 3 and 8, for example, when the coupling portion 218 is compressed by a user input force F, the coupling portion 218 compresses the electrical contact 358. When the electrical contact 358 is compressed, the force is transmitted to the dome 352, which then indents, pressing the dome contact 318 onto the upper surface of the projection 316. When the dome contact 318 contacts the projection 316, an electrical signal is generated and transmitted to the processing element 124 (see Figure 2) via one of the terminals 360a, 360b, 360c, or 360d. The processing element 124 then registers its user input to the tactile switch 314.

[0057] Figure 9 is a simplified front elevation view of the tactile switch and coupling when a user applies rotational force. Referring to Figure 9, in an example where a user can provide a rotational input force R to the tactile switch assembly 310, the coupling 218 can receive the force applied to the button 148 and rotate in response. In an embodiment where the coupling 218 is received within the recess 384 (see Figure 6) of the electrical contact 358, the coupling 218 can rotate within the annular wall 382, ​​maintaining the connection of the electrical contact 358 with its wall and / or bottom surface 383 (see Figure 6). This allows the coupling 218 to rotate with the rotational input from the user while still maintaining an electrical connection to the tactile switch 314.

[0058] (conductive protrusion) In some embodiments, the projection of the tactile switch can be made conductive, and the shear plate can be omitted. For example, in some embodiments, the user input surface can be configured to move in a parallel direction, such as horizontally or vertically relative to the housing, and in these embodiments, the tactile switch cannot receive shear forces. Alternatively, the projection of the tactile switch can be configured to receive shear forces while still activating the tactile switch.

[0059] Figures 10 to 12 show various diagrams of another embodiment of the tactile switch. Referring to Figures 10 to 12, the tactile switch 414 in this embodiment can be substantially similar to the tactile switches 114 and 314, but may include a conductive projection. In other words, the shear plate can be integrated with the projection of the tactile switch. Specifically, the tactile switch 414 may include a substrate 466, one or more substrate supports 468, a plurality of connection terminals 460a, 460b, 460c, 460d, and a projection 416.

[0060] Referring to Figures 10 and 11, the projection 416 can be operably connected to the upper surface 472 of the substrate 466. In some embodiments, the projection 416, as well as various terminals of the switch 414, can be electrically isolated with respect to certain components of the switch 414 by insulating at least parts of the substrate 466 or the upper surface 472. The projection 416 may include conductive parts, such as a pad 421 on the upper surface of the projection 416, or the projection 416 may be made of a conductive material or another material mixed with a conductive material. One or more of the terminals are in electrical communication with the projection 416. For example, terminal 460d can communicate with the projection 416, while terminals 460a, 460b, and 460c can be used as one or more contacts relating to the switch contacts inside the substrate 466. In these embodiments, the projection 416 may act as a brush contact that allows the coupling to rotate.

[0061] The tactile switch 414 can be used with the tactile switch assembly 110 shown in Figure 3. In these embodiments, the projection 416 can be received in the recess 224 of the coupling 218. Similar to the electrical contact 158, the projection 416 can be received between the side walls of the annular wall 226, thereby enabling the projection and the coupling 218 to be operably connected.

[0062] In embodiments of the tactile switch assembly 110 that include the tactile switch 414 shown in Figures 10-12, the projection 416 can be configured not only to be conductive but also to resist shear forces and overloads. For example, since the shear plate is omitted, the projection 416 may experience shear forces as the coupling 218 rotates over and around the projection 416. Furthermore, the projection is configured to receive mechanical inputs, such as forces from the coupling 218, and under the load of such forces, the projection 416 completes the switch circuit by integrally connecting one or more of the terminals. In one embodiment, when a compressive force is applied to the button 148, the projection 416 can function as a dome by compressing at least partially, providing tactile feedback to the user and generating a signal corresponding to the user's input.

[0063] (Conclusion) The above description has broad applicability. For example, while the embodiments disclosed herein may focus on wearable electronic devices, it should be understood that the concepts disclosed herein are equally applicable to substantially any other type of electronic device. Similarly, while input buttons may be discussed in relation to the crown of a wristwatch, the devices and techniques disclosed herein are equally applicable to other types of input button structures. Accordingly, any discussion of any embodiment is intended to be illustrative only and is not intended to suggest that the scope of this disclosure, including the claims, is limited to these embodiments.

Claims

1. A switch assembly, Input component and A tactile switch is operably connected to the aforementioned input member, An electrical contact is operably connected to the tactile switch and is in electrical communication with the input member, A switch assembly comprising:

2. The switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electrical contacts extend from the tactile switch and form a projection relating to the tactile switch.

3. The switch assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a plate positioned between the tactile switch and the input member, wherein the electrical contacts are connected to the plate.

4. An input module, Switch and An input button is operably connected to the aforementioned switch and configured to activate the aforementioned switch, A shear plate positioned between the switch and the input button, The shear plate transmits the parallel movement force applied to the input button to the switch, An input module in which the shear plate prevents the rotational force applied to the input button from being transmitted to the switch.

5. The input module according to claim 4, wherein the shear plate is electrically connected to the input button.

6. An input module, Switch and A rotatable and translatably movable input member is operably connected to the switch and configured to activate the switch, An electrical contact is operably connected to the switch and electrically communicates with the input member, An input module comprising the following, wherein the electrical connection between the input member and the electrical contact is maintained during the translation and rotation of the input member.

7. The aforementioned input member is Buttons and, A coupling portion which is operably connected to the aforementioned button and movable together with the aforementioned button, The input module according to claim 6, including the following:

8. The input module according to claim 6, wherein the switch includes a dome, and the input member is configured to cause the dome to retract when the input member moves in parallel.

9. The input module according to claim 6, wherein the electrical contact is a brush contact switch.

10. The input module according to claim 6, wherein the electrical contact is integrated with the switch.

11. The input module according to claim 6, further comprising a shear plate positioned between the input member and the switch, wherein the electrical contacts extend from the shear plate.

12. A switch assembly, A rotatable and translatably movable input member, A coupling portion is operably connected to the input member and movable together with the input member, A tactile switch is operably connected to the aforementioned coupling portion, An electrical contact is operably connected to the tactile switch and is in electrical communication with the coupling portion, The input member is configured to activate the electrical component when the input member moves in parallel, The aforementioned coupling portion rotates when the input member rotates. A switch assembly in which the electrical connection between the coupling portion and the electrical contact is maintained during the parallel movement and rotation of the input member.

13. The switch assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a shear plate positioned between the coupling portion and the tactile switch, wherein the electrical contacts extend from the shear plate.

14. The switch assembly according to claim 12, wherein the electrical contacts form a projection relating to the tactile switch.

15. The aforementioned tactile switch A movable dome, A switch circuit that selectively communicates with the dome, The switch assembly according to claim 12, including the following:

16. The switch assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a sensor operably connected to the input member and electrically communicating with the coupling portion.

17. The switch assembly according to claim 16, wherein the sensor is configured to detect one or more biological characteristics of the user.

18. The switch assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a rotation sensor configured to detect the rotation of the coupling portion.

19. An electronic device incorporating the switch assembly described in claim 12.

20. It is a wearable electronic device, An enclosure comprising a cavity and a button opening defined through the enclosure, A processing element is received inside the cavity, A switch module is operably connected to the aforementioned enclosure, The switch module is equipped with, A tactile switch that communicates with the aforementioned processing element, A rotatable and translatably movable input member is operably connected to the tactile switch, A contact is operably connected to the tactile switch and electrically coupled to the input member, A wearable electronic device comprising the input member and the contact, wherein the electrical coupling between the input member and the contact is maintained during the translation and rotation of the input member.

21. The aforementioned input member is The crown and, A coupling member operably connected to the crown and rotatable together with the crown, comprising a coupling portion electrically coupled to the input member, The coupling portion is configured to activate the switch when the crown moves parallel to the enclosure, The aforementioned coupling part rotates when the crown rotates, The wearable electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the electrical coupling between the input member and the coupling portion is maintained during the translation and rotation of the input member.

22. The wearable electronic device according to claim 21, wherein the crown and the coupling portion are electrically insulated from the enclosure.

23. The wearable electronic device according to claim 22, further comprising an insulating sleeve positioned inside the button opening.

24. The wearable electronic device according to claim 21, further comprising a shear member positioned between the tactile switch and the input member, wherein the contact is formed on the shear member.

25. A rotation sensor that communicates with the aforementioned processing element, A trackable element operably connected to the input member and rotatable together with the input member, The wearable electronic device according to claim 21, further comprising the rotation sensor configured to detect the rotation of the trackable element.

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