Watch Crown Haptic Support for Detent Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Advanced watches often face challenges in replicating the detent-like operation without mechanical devices, which are undesirable due to size constraints and potential interference with other watch functions, while maintaining a user-friendly tactile and audible experience.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that uses software to simulate detent operations through tactile and audio effects, synchronized with display events, utilizing a low-latency path from the user interface program to hardware components like haptic actuators and speakers, to provide a convincing user experience without mechanical detents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mechanical detent devices are used in the crown, then the user experiences tactile and audible detent feedback, but the device size increases and mechanical interference with other watch functions occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical detent devices with an electronic system comprising a sensor to detect crown rotation, a processor to analyze rotation data and determine detent events, and a haptic actuator to generate tactile feedback. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical detent structures while reproducing the characteristic tactile and audible feedback experience, thereby reducing watch size and avoiding mechanical interference with other functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces software and electronic components as intermediaries between the crown mechanical structure and the user's tactile perception. The sensor acts as an intermediary to capture rotation information, the processor serves as an intermediary to interpret rotation data and trigger detent events, and the haptic actuator acts as an intermediary to translate electronic signals into tactile feedback. This intermediary chain enables detent feedback without direct mechanical coupling.
2Volume of moving object
If mechanical detent devices are removed, then the watch size is reduced and operational interference is minimized, but the user loses tactile and audible detent feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical detent devices with an electronic system comprising a sensor to detect crown rotation, a processor to analyze rotation data and determine detent events, and a haptic actuator to generate tactile feedback. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical detent structures while reproducing the characteristic tactile and audible feedback experience, thereby reducing watch size and avoiding mechanical interference with other functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters from purely mechanical to electromechanical. The system monitors rotation parameters (angular position, velocity, acceleration) and uses these parameters to trigger haptic feedback at appropriate detent points. By changing from direct mechanical detent engagement to electronic parameter monitoring and haptic simulation, the system achieves detent feedback with reduced mechanical complexity and smaller size.
3Device complexity
If software-based detent simulation is implemented, then mechanical complexity is reduced, but synchronization between detent operations and display events must be maintained with low latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback loop where the sensor continuously monitors crown rotation and provides real-time data to the processor. The processor analyzes rotation parameters and triggers haptic feedback events based on detected detent positions. This closed-loop feedback system ensures that tactile feedback is synchronized with the actual crown position and corresponding display events, maintaining timing accuracy despite the software-based approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary action by pre-configuring detent thresholds and haptic feedback parameters in the software. The system prepares detent detection criteria in advance, allowing the processor to quickly compare real-time sensor data against predefined thresholds and trigger haptic feedback with minimal processing delay. This preliminary setup reduces runtime computation requirements and helps maintain low latency synchronization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively replicates the detent experience without mechanical components, ensuring synchronization with animation events and maintaining a high-quality user interaction, thus enhancing the watch's usability and reducing size and operational interference issues.
Implementation Method 1
haptic support to provide detent-like operation
Implementation Method 2
audio output device 22
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a system implements detent operation using tactile and audio effects that give the user the effect of a detent without including the mechanical devices that detents would normally imply. The detent operation may be implemented in software and may be synchronized to events on the display of the system (e.g. animation events), which may provide a convincing user experience. A low latency path from the applications and user interface program of the system to the hardware that implements the detent operation may be provided to help ensure that the synchronization of animation events and detent operations is maintained.