Wearable Crown Input Rejection via Proximity Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable devices, such as watches, face challenges in distinguishing unintentional inputs from intentional inputs at their crown mechanisms, leading to false positives and power inefficiencies due to premature exit from low-power modes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a proximity sensor to detect objects near the crown, using a field of view and sensor outputs to differentiate between intentional and unintentional inputs based on object presence, orientation, duration, and force vectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the device uses crown input detection to wake from rest mode, then user interaction responsiveness is improved, but false activations from unintentional touches increase
Solution Approach 1:
A proximity sensor is introduced as an intermediary component between the crown and the processor. The sensor detects objects in proximity to the crown and provides this information to the processor, which uses it to distinguish between intentional and unintentional touches. This mediator allows the system to maintain high responsiveness while improving input detection accuracy by considering additional contextual information.
2Ease of operation
If the device exits rest mode on any crown touch, then ease of operation is improved, but power consumption increases due to premature exits
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring proximity sensor data in conjunction with crown input detection. The processor analyzes both the crown touch signal and the corresponding proximity sensor reading to determine whether to exit rest mode. This feedback mechanism ensures the device only wakes for genuine user interactions, maintaining ease of operation while preventing unnecessary power consumption from false activations.
3Reliability
If the device rejects inputs based on proximity detection, then false positive reduction is improved, but intentional touches may be incorrectly rejected
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameters used for input validation by combining multiple data sources: crown input detection, proximity sensor readings, and analysis of input characteristics such as duration and force. The processor evaluates these combined parameters to make a more accurate determination of input intent. This multi-parameter approach reduces false positives while maintaining high acceptance rates for genuine user inputs.
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
Effectively reduces false input recognition and conserves power by accurately distinguishing between intended and unintended interactions, preventing unnecessary mode transitions.
Implementation Method 1
a proximity sensor configured to generate a field of view encompassing a first area adjacent to the housing and further configured to generate an output signal corresponding to whether an object is present within the field of view
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable device is disclosed. The wearable device can comprise a housing; a crown; a proximity sensor; and a processor. The crown can be configured to receive input from a user. The proximity sensor can be configured to generate a field of view encompassing a first area adjacent to the housing and further configured to generate an output signal corresponding to whether an object is present within the field of view. The processor can be configured to determine, based on the output signal, whether the input corresponds to an intentional input or an unintentional input.