Apple patents watch crown that detects both spinning and pushing
Apple has secured a patent for a wearable device, likely a smartwatch, featuring a side button or crown that handles two distinct types of user input. The design uses separate sensing systems to detect when the user rotates the crown and when they push it inward, allowing the device to distinguish between these actions.
In the filing’s own words
One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device includes an enclosure having a sidewall with a button aperture defined therethrough, a display connected to the enclosure, and a processing element in communication with the display. The device also includes a sensing element in communication with the processing element and an input button at least partially received within the button aperture and in communication with the sensing element, the input button configured to receive two types of user inputs. During operation, the sensing element tracks movement of the input button to determine the two types of user inputs.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A wearable electronic device comprising: an enclosure defining an opening along a side of the enclosure; a processing element positioned at least partially within the enclosure; a touch-sensitive display operably coupled to the processing element and configured to receive a touch input and provide a graphical output; a wireless communication system operatively coupled to the processing element and configured to receive information from a remote electronic device; a crown positioned along the side of the enclosure and extending through the opening in the enclosure, the crown configured to receive: a rotational input comprising a rotation about a rotation axis; and a lateral input along a direction parallel to the rotation axis; a first optical sensing system configured to detect the rotational input; and a second sensing system configured to detect the lateral input, wherein: the graphical output is responsive to the information received from the remote electronic device, the touch input, the rotational input, and the lateral input.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Rotary input mechanism for an electronic device
- Patent number
- US12748388B2
- Application number
- 18074358
- Filed
- Dec 2, 2022
- Granted
- Sep 29, 2026
- Inventors
- 7
- Claims
- 19
Classified under
G04G 21/00 Physics & computingG04B 3/04 Physics & computingG04C 3/00 Physics & computingG04C 3/004 Physics & computingG04C 3/04 Physics & computingG04G 21/08 Physics & computingMore from Apple in Wearables
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.