CN210515098U - Electronic watch and crown for an electronic watch - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model discloses the title is "electron wrist-watch and is used for the crown of electron wrist-watch". An electronic device, such as a watch, has an input mechanism, such as a crown, that can receive translational input, rotational input, and/or touch input. Input received at the crown may cause a change in operation and/or output of the electronic device, such as graphical output provided by the electronic device. In various embodiments, the crown includes a retainer that couples an outer crown body to an inner crown body and secures an isolator between the outer crown body and the inner crown body. Embodiments of the crowns described herein provide a simple and robust input mechanism for receiving rotational, translational and touch inputs as described above, while simplifying part alignment, ensuring consistent rotation, and allowing for efficient manufacturing.

Description

Electronic watch and crown for an electronic watch

Related patent application

The utility model discloses a divisional application of utility model patent application with application date of 2019, 27/2/8/24/2018 and application number of 201920249153.8.

Technical Field

The embodiments relate generally to an electronic watch or other electronic device (e.g., another type of wearable electronic device). More particularly, the embodiments relate to techniques for assembling a crown for an electronic watch.

Background

A crown of the watch may be rotated, translated, and/or touched to provide input to the electronic device. The crown may include a conductive portion to receive touch input and/or to determine a set of biometric parameters of a user wearing the watch or other electronic device. Conventional methods and components for assembling input devices result in part alignment, electrical isolation, and crown performance challenges.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

Embodiments of systems, devices, methods, and apparatuses described in this disclosure relate to a crown, an electronic watch or other electronic device (e.g., another type of wearable electronic device) having a crown, and a method for assembling a crown. Accordingly, the present invention can address the problems of conventional methods and components for assembling input devices with respect to part alignment, electrical isolation, and/or crown performance.

In a first aspect, the present disclosure describes an electronic watch. The electronic watch includes a housing defining an opening and a crown extending through the opening and configured to receive a rotational input and a translational input. The crown includes an inner crown body defining a conductive surface and including an engagement feature, and an outer crown body positioned about the inner crown body. The crown further includes an isolator positioned between and electrically isolating the inner crown body from the outer crown body. The crown further includes a shaft electrically and structurally coupled to the inner crown body and extending from the inner crown body through the opening. The crown further includes a retainer extending around the inner crown body and including a retaining feature configured to engage the engagement feature of the inner crown body to couple the inner crown body to the outer crown body and secure the isolator between the inner crown body and the outer crown body. The electronic watch also includes a processing unit electrically coupled to the conductive surface via the shaft. The electronic watch also includes a display operably coupled to the processing unit and configured to provide a graphical output responsive to each of the rotational input and the translational input.

In some embodiments, wherein the conductive surface is a first conductive surface; the housing defines a second conductive surface; the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface are used for detecting at least one voltage; the electronic watch further includes a processing unit operatively coupled to the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface; and the processing unit is configured to: determining an electrocardiogram based at least in part on at least one voltage measured at either of the first conductive surface or the second conductive surface; and modifying the graphical output of the display in response to determining the electrocardiogram.

In some embodiments, the coping body defines a wall having an inner surface facing the shaft and an outer surface facing away from the shaft; and the engagement feature is positioned along the outer surface of the wall.

In some embodiments, the engagement feature is a first engagement feature; the retention feature is a first retention feature; the coping body also includes a second engagement feature positioned along the outer surface of the wall. Further, the retainer further includes a second retention feature configured to engage the second engagement feature to couple the inner crown body to the outer crown body and secure the isolator between the inner crown body and the outer crown body.

In some embodiments, wherein the retaining feature is configured to engage the engagement feature upon rotation of the retainer relative to the inner crown body.

In some embodiments, wherein the shaft is integrally formed with the coping body.

In some embodiments, wherein the inner crown body, the outer crown body, and the isolator cooperate to define an outer surface of the crown.

In some embodiments, wherein the electronic watch further comprises a collar, the collar extending from the opening; and the crown further includes a bushing coupled to the inner crown body and defining a bearing surface in contact with an outer surface of the collar.

In yet another aspect of the disclosure, a crown for an electronic watch is described. The crown portion includes: an electrically conductive shaft configured to extend through an opening in a case of an electronic watch; a coping body structurally coupled to the conductive shaft and including a first portion of an outer surface of the crown, the first portion being conductive and electrically coupled to the conductive shaft; an outer crown body positioned about the inner crown body and defining a second portion of the outer surface of the crown; an isolator positioned between the outer crown body and the inner crown body and defining a third portion of the outer surface of the crown, the third portion of the outer surface being aligned with the first portion and the second portion to form a continuous outer surface; and a retainer configured to secure the isolator between the outer crown body and the inner crown body.

In some embodiments, wherein the retainer is configured to compress the isolator between the outer crown body and the inner crown body upon rotation of the retainer relative to the inner crown body.

In some embodiments, wherein the holder is further configured to: coupling the outer crown body to the inner crown body.

In some embodiments, wherein the isolator includes a cosmetic ring, the cosmetic ring defines a third portion of the outer surface of the crown.

In some embodiments, wherein the conductive shaft is a separate component, the separate component is attached to the coping body.

In another aspect, the present disclosure describes an electronic watch. The electronic watch includes a housing defining an opening and a processing unit positioned within the housing. The electronic watch also includes a crown positioned along a side of the case. The crown is configured to receive rotational input and translational input. The crown portion includes: a conductive coping portion body; a shaft extending from the conductive inner crown body and through the opening and electrically coupling the conductive inner crown body to the processing unit; an outer crown body surrounding the conductive inner crown body; and an isolator insert-molded between the conductive inner crown body and the outer crown body and electrically isolating the conductive inner crown body from the outer crown body.

In some embodiments, wherein the electronic watch further comprises: a display configured to provide graphical output and receive touch input; and a sensor configured to detect at least one of a rotational input or a translational input; and the processing unit is configured to modify a graphical output provided by the display in response to each of the rotational input, the translational input, and the touch input.

In some embodiments, wherein the conductive coping body defines a first conductive surface, the first conductive surface functions as a first electrode; the conductive inner crown body is electrically coupled to the processing unit by a shaft; the housing defines a second conductive surface that serves as a second electrode electrically coupled to the processing unit and electrically isolated from the first electrode; and the processing unit is configured to determine an electrocardiogram using the first electrodes and the second electrodes.

In some embodiments, wherein the electronic watch further comprises a display, the display configured to provide a graphical output; and the processing unit is configured to modify a graphical output of the display in response to determining the electrocardiogram.

In some embodiments, wherein the shaft is integrally formed with the coping body.

In some embodiments, an attachment feature overmolded on at least one of the inner crown body or the outer crown body is further included, and the attachment feature is configured to connect the inner crown body to the outer crown body.

In some embodiments, wherein the crown further comprises a retainer coupling the electrically conductive inner crown body to the outer crown body.

Therefore, the technical effect of some embodiments of the present invention is: the electronic watch can be improved in crown performance.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following descriptions.

Drawings

The present disclosure will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:

FIG. 1A shows a functional block diagram of an electronic device;

FIG. 1B shows an example of a watch having an electronic crown;

FIG. 2A illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary crown;

figure 2B shows a cross-section of the crown in an assembled configuration;

FIG. 2C illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example of a crown installed in an electronic device taken along section line A-A of FIG. 1B;

figures 3A-3E illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a crown;

figures 4A-4E illustrate another exemplary embodiment of a crown;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example method for assembling a crown;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example method for assembling a crown;

7A-9B generally illustrate examples of manipulating graphics displayed on an electronic device through force-provided input and/or rotational input to a crown of the device; and

fig. 10 shows a sample electrical block diagram of an electronic device, such as a watch or other wearable electronic device.

The use of cross-hatching or shading in the drawings is generally provided to clarify the boundaries between adjacent elements and also to facilitate the legibility of the drawings. Thus, the presence or absence of cross-hatching or shading does not indicate or indicate any preference or requirement for a particular material, material property, proportion of elements, size of elements, commonality of like-illustrated elements or any other characteristic, property or attribute of any element shown in the figures.

Further, it should be understood that the proportions and dimensions (relative or absolute) of the various features and elements (and collections and groupings thereof) and the limits, spacings, and positional relationships presented therebetween are provided in the drawings solely to facilitate an understanding of the various embodiments described herein, and thus may not necessarily be presented or illustrated as being scaled and are not intended to indicate any preference or requirement for the illustrated embodiments to preclude embodiments described in connection therewith.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following description is not intended to limit the embodiments to one preferred embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

The following disclosure relates to an input mechanism, such as a crown for an electronic watch, that may receive translational, rotational, and/or touch inputs. Inputs received at the crown may result in a change in the operation of the electronic device and/or outputs, such as graphical outputs provided by the electronic device. In various embodiments, the crown includes a crown body that is rotatable and translatable and is positioned at least partially outside of the device housing; and a shaft extending from the crown body and extending through an opening in a device housing of the electronic device.

In some cases, the crown body includes: a coping portion main body; an outer crown body at least partially surrounding an inner crown body; and a spacer positioned between the outer crown body and the inner crown body. The isolator may electrically isolate the outer crown body from the inner crown body. In some cases, the crown includes a retainer that couples the inner crown body to the outer crown body and/or secures the isolator between the inner crown body and the outer crown body.

As used herein, the term "attached" may be used to refer to two or more devices, elements, structures, objects, components, parts, etc., that are structurally secured, fastened, and/or held to one another. As used herein, the term "coupled" may be used to refer to two or more devices, elements, structures, objects, components, parts, etc., that are structurally attached to one another, operate with one another, communicate with one another, electrically connect to one another, and/or otherwise interact with one another. Thus, when elements attached to each other are coupled to each other, the inversion is not required. As used herein, the term "secured" may be used to refer to two or more devices, elements, structures, objects, components, parts, etc., that are attached or structurally coupled.

As used herein, "operably coupled" or "electrically coupled" may be used to refer to two or more devices, elements, structures, objects, components, parts, or the like, coupled for operation and/or communication in any suitable manner, including wired, wireless, or a combination thereof. As used herein, the term "electrically isolated" may be used to refer to devices, elements, structures, objects, components, parts, etc., that do not exchange electrical signals or exchange very little electrical signals as a result of being physically separated or otherwise separated or insulated from each other by an insulator.

In some cases, a rotational and/or translational input provided at the rotatable crown body causes the shaft to translate and/or rotate. In general, the term "rotational input" may be used to refer to an input that causes rotation of the crown, and the term "translational input" may be used to refer to an input that causes linear translation or displacement of the crown. One or more sensors may detect the rotation and/or translation and, in response, provide signals to one or more circuits of an electronic device, such as a processing unit, for processing the received input.

The crown body may include a conductive portion (e.g., a coping body) defining a conductive surface, such as a touch-sensitive surface, for receiving touch input. In general, the term "touch input" may be used to refer to a touch or gesture applied to the crown by a user's finger, thumb, or other body part. The touch input may be instantaneous or continuous depending on the user's interaction with the device. The conductive portion having a conductive surface may be configured to measure an electrical characteristic associated with the touch. For example, the conductive surface may be used as an electrode to sense one or more touch inputs and/or a biological parameter, such as a voltage or signal of an electrocardiogram, representative of a user in contact with the conductive surface.

The conductive portion or conductive surface may be electrically coupled to one or more circuits of the electronic device to transmit signals from the conductive surface for detection and processing as touch input and/or biometric parameters. For example, the conductive surface may be electrically coupled to the shaft, and the end of the shaft inside the housing or the conductive shaft holder inside the housing may be in mechanical and electrical contact with a connector (e.g., a spring-biased conductor) that transfers electrical signals between the shaft or shaft holder and an electrical circuit (e.g., a processing unit), thereby providing electrical communication between the crown and the electrical circuit.

In some embodiments, the outer crown body is electrically isolated from the shaft and/or the inner crown body to prevent the inner crown body from being electrically grounded to other components of the electronic device, such as the device housing, and/or to allow a user to provide rotational and/or translational input at the crown without accidentally providing touch input by contacting a conductive surface of the inner crown body. Similarly, the crown may be electrically isolated from the housing.

In some cases, the retainer engages the shaft and/or crown body to secure the various pieces of the crown to one another. As used herein, the term "engage" may be used to refer to creating a mechanical interlock between components, assembling components together, and/or otherwise attaching or coupling components together. The components may be engaged with each other without direct contact, such as via intermediate components positioned between the components.

In some embodiments, the retainer includes one or more retention features that form a mechanical interlock with one or more engagement features of the shaft to retain and position the shaft. The retention feature and the engagement feature may be ramped features that engage each other when the retainer and the shaft are rotated relative to each other. Rotating the retainer and the shaft relative to each other may cause the retainer to engage the outer crown body. In some cases, the crown includes a support plate disposed between the retainer and the outer crown body such that the retainer contacts the support plate and the support plate contacts the outer crown body. In various embodiments, the shaft-engaging retainer attaches and/or couples one or more additional components of the crown, such as a bushing, a spacer, one or more spacers, and the like.

In various embodiments, the crown comprises a plurality of components that are assembled together during the assembly process. In various instances, one or more components of the crown can be attached, coupled, secured, and/or integrally formed with one another. As used herein, the term "integrally formed with" may be used to refer to defining or forming a unitary structure. In some cases, the coping body can be integrally formed with the shaft (e.g., the shaft and the coping body are a single piece). Embodiments of the crowns described herein provide a simple and robust input mechanism for receiving rotational, translational and touch inputs as described above, while simplifying part alignment, ensuring consistent rotation, and allowing for efficient manufacturing.

As described above, the shaft of the crown may extend through an opening in a device housing of the electronic device. In some cases, the crown may contact one or more components of the electronic device, such as a collar, that defines and/or extends from an opening through which an axis of the crown extends. The crown may rotate and/or translate relative to the collar during operation. The crown may include a bushing disposed about the shaft. The bushing may define a rotational and/or translational bearing surface between the crown and a surface within an opening in the device housing, such as, for example, a collar surface. The bushing may allow for continued rotation of the crown across all angular positions of the crown relative to the electronic device, for example, by defining a surface concentric with the collar surface. The bushing may also allow for consistent rotation of the crown over time by reducing wear on the shaft and/or collar.

These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to fig. 1-10. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

FIG. 1A shows a functional block diagram of an electronic device 100. In some examples, device 100 may be an electronic watch or an electronic health monitoring device. Electronic device 100 may include a device housing 116, a crown 121, one or more input devices 130, one or more output devices 132, a display 134, and a processing unit 111, with processing unit 111 disposed at least partially within housing 116.

In some cases, electronic device 100 includes a crown 121 having conductive portions that can be used to make ECG measurements. Crown 121 is configured to receive translation, rotation, and/or touch inputs. Inputs received at crown 121 may cause changes in outputs provided by the electronic device, such as graphical outputs of a display, and/or otherwise modify operation of the electronic device. In some cases, crown 121 may be positioned along one side of housing 116 and may extend through an opening 123 defined in the housing. Crown 121 may include: a user-rotatable crown body 120 coupled to the shaft and positioned at least partially outside the device housing; and a shaft 122 extending from the crown body and extending through the opening 123. In some cases, the crown body 120 includes: an inner crown body 125; an outer crown body 124 located around and/or at least partially surrounding the inner crown body; and a spacer 128 positioned between the outer crown body and the inner crown body. The isolator 128 may electrically isolate the outer crown body 124 from the inner crown body 124.

In various embodiments, the inner crown body 125 is coupled to the outer crown body 124, and the isolator 128 is secured between the outer crown body and the inner crown body. In some cases, crown 121 includes a retainer 126 that couples inner crown body 125 to outer crown body 124 and/or secures the isolator between the inner and outer crown bodies. As shown in fig. 1A, in some cases, the retainer 126 compresses the isolator between the outer crown body 124 and the inner crown body 125. In other words, the retainer may engage with the inner crown body 125 to exert a compressive force on the isolator 128 and/or the outer crown body 124 to secure the components together.

As described above, in some cases, at least a portion of the inner crown body 125 is electrically conductive, and the inner crown body 125 defines a conductive surface for receiving touch input. In some cases, the conductive surface functions as an electrode to sense one or more touch inputs and/or a biological parameter, such as a voltage or signal, representative of a user in contact with the conductive surface, such as an electrocardiogram. The housing 116 may define another touch-sensitive surface or a conductive surface that is electrically coupled to the processing unit 111 and that also serves as an electrode. The processing unit 111 may determine an electrocardiogram using the outputs of the electrodes of the coping body 125 and the shell 116. In various embodiments, crown 121 is electrically isolated from the housing, e.g., to allow for individual measurements to be taken at the electrodes. In various embodiments, the internal crown body 125 may be electrically coupled to a processing unit or another circuit of the electronic device 100, for example, via the connector 158a and/or the shaft 122.

As described above, the display 134 may be at least partially disposed within the housing 116. Display 134 provides graphical output that is associated with, for example, an operating system, a user interface, and/or an application of electronic device 100. In one embodiment, display 134 includes one or more sensors and is configured as a touch-sensitive display (e.g., single touch, multi-touch) and/or a force-sensitive display to receive input from a user. The display 134 is operatively coupled to the processing unit 111 of the electronic device 100, for example, by a connector 158 d. In various embodiments, the graphical output of display 134 is responsive to input provided at crown 121, a display, or another input device 130. For example, the processing unit 111 may be configured to modify a graphical output of the display 134 in response to determining an electrocardiogram, receiving a rotational input, receiving a translational input, or receiving a touch input. Display 134 may be implemented using any suitable technology, including but not limited to Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology, Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology, Organic Light Emitting Display (OLED) technology, Organic Electroluminescence (OEL) technology, or another type of display technology. In some cases, display 134 is positioned below and viewable through a cover plate that forms at least a portion of housing 116.

Generally, input device 130 may detect various types of inputs and output device 132 may provide various types of outputs. The processing unit 111 may receive input signals from the input device 130 in response to inputs detected by the input device. Processing unit 111 may interpret input signals received from one or more input devices 130 and transmit output signals to one or more output devices 132. The output signals may cause output device 132 to provide one or more outputs. Inputs detected at one or more input devices 130 may be used to control one or more functions of device 100. In some cases, one or more output devices 132 may be configured to provide output that is manipulated in dependence on or in response to input detected by one or more input devices 130. The output provided by the one or more output devices 132 may also be responsive to or initiated by programs or applications executed by the processing unit 111 and/or associated companion device.

In various embodiments, input device 130 may include any suitable components for detecting input. Examples of input devices 130 include audio sensors (e.g., microphones), optical or visual sensors (e.g., cameras, visible light sensors, or invisible light sensors), proximity sensors, touch sensors, force sensors, mechanical devices (e.g., crowns, switches, buttons, or keys), vibration sensors, orientation sensors, motion sensors (e.g., accelerometers or velocity sensors), location sensors (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS) devices), thermal sensors, communication devices (e.g., wired or wireless communication devices), resistive sensors, magnetic sensors, electroactive polymers (EAPs), strain gauges, electrodes, and the like, or some combination thereof. Each input device 130 may be configured to detect one or more particular types of inputs and provide a signal (e.g., an input signal) corresponding to the detected input. For example, the signal may be provided to the processing unit 111.

In some cases, input device 130 includes a set of one or more electrodes. The electrode may be a conductive portion of the device 100 that contacts or is configured to contact a user. The electrodes may be disposed on one or more external surfaces of the device 100, including surfaces of the crown 121, the housing 116, and the like. The processing unit 111 may monitor the voltage or signal received on at least one of the electrodes. In some embodiments, one of the electrodes may be permanently or switchably coupled to the device ground. The electrodes may be used to provide Electrocardiogram (ECG) functionality for the device 100. For example, a 2-lead ECG function may be provided when a user of device 100 contacts a first electrode and a second electrode that receive signals from the user. As another example, a 3-lead ECG function may be provided when a user of device 100 contacts a first electrode and a second electrode that receive signals from the user and grounds the user to a third electrode of device 100. In both 2-lead and 3-lead ECG embodiments, the user may press the first electrode against a first portion of their body and the second electrode against a second portion of their body. Depending on where the third electrode is located on the device 100, the third electrode may be pressed against the first or second portion of the body. In some cases, the housing 100 of the device 116 may serve as an electrode. In some cases, an input device such as a button, crown, etc. may be used as an electrode.

Output device 132 may include any suitable components for providing an output. Examples of output devices 132 include audio output devices (e.g., speakers), visual output devices (e.g., lights or displays), tactile output devices (e.g., tactile output devices), communication devices (e.g., wired or wireless communication devices), and the like, or some combination thereof. Each output device 132 may be configured to receive one or more signals (e.g., output signals provided by processing unit 111) and provide an output corresponding to the signal.

The processing unit 111 may be operatively coupled to the input device 130 and the output device 132, for example, by connectors 158b and 158 c. The processing unit 111 may be adapted to exchange signals with an input device 130 and an output device 132. For example, the processing unit 111 may receive an input signal from the input device 130 corresponding to an input detected by the input device 130. The processing unit 111 may interpret the received input signals to determine whether to provide and/or alter one or more outputs in response to the input signals. Processing unit 111 may then send output signals to one or more output devices 132 to provide and/or alter outputs as desired. The processing unit 111 may be implemented as any electronic device capable of processing, receiving or transmitting data or instructions. For example, the processing unit 111 may be a microprocessor, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), or a combination of such devices. As described herein, the term "processing unit" is intended to encompass a single processor or processing unit, a plurality of processors, a plurality of processing units, or other suitably configured one or more computing elements.

Fig. 1B illustrates an example of a watch 110 (e.g., an electronic watch or a smart watch) incorporating a crown as described herein. The wristwatch 110 includes a wristwatch body 112 and a watchband 114. Other devices that may incorporate the crown include other wearable electronic devices, other timing devices, other health monitoring or fitness devices, other portable computing devices, mobile phones (including smart phones), tablet computing devices, digital media players, and the like.

The watch body 112 may include a case 116. The housing 116 may include a front side housing member that faces away from the user's skin and a rear side housing member that faces toward the user's skin when the watch 110 is worn by the user. Alternatively, the housing 116 may comprise a single housing member or more than two housing members. One or more of the housing members may be metallic, plastic, ceramic, glass, or other types of housing members (or combinations of these materials).

A cover 118 may be mounted to the front side of the watch body 112 (i.e., facing away from the user's skin) and may protect the display mounted within the case 116. The display may produce a graphical output that may be viewed by a user through the cover 118. In some cases, the cover 118 may be part of a display stack-up that may include touch sensing or force sensing capabilities. The display may be configured to show graphical output of the watch 110, and the user may interact with the graphical output (e.g., using a finger, stylus, or other pointer). As one example, a user may select (or otherwise interact with) a graphic, icon, or the like presented on the display by touching or pressing (e.g., providing a touch input) at a graphic location on the display. As used herein, the term "cover plate" may be used to refer to any transparent, translucent or semi-translucent surface made of glass, crystalline materials (such as sapphire or zirconia), plastics, and the like. It is therefore to be understood that the term "cover sheet" as used herein encompasses amorphous solids as well as crystalline solids. The cover plate 118 may form a portion of the housing 116. In some examples, the cover plate 118 may be a sapphire cover plate. The cover plate 118 may also be formed of glass, plastic, or other material.

In some embodiments, the watch body 112 may include an additional cover plate (not shown) that forms a portion of the case 116. The additional cover plate may have one or more electrodes thereon. For example, the watch body 112 may include an additional cover plate that is mounted to the back of the watch body 112 (i.e., facing the skin of the user). One or more electrodes on the additional cover plate may be used to determine a biological parameter such as heart rate, electrocardiogram, etc. In some cases, the electrodes are used in conjunction with one or more additional electrodes, such as a crown or surface of other input devices.

The watch body 112 may include at least one input device or selection device, such as a crown, scroll wheel, knob, dial, button, etc., that may be operated by a user of the watch 110. In some embodiments, the watch 110 includes a crown 121 that includes a crown body 120 and a shaft (not shown in fig. 1B). The housing 116 may define an opening through which the shaft 122 extends. In some cases, the shaft 122 extends from the crown body 120. The crown body 120 may be attached and/or coupled to the shaft and the user may access the exterior of the housing 116. The crown body 120 can be user-rotatable and can be manipulated (e.g., rotated, pressed) by a user to rotate or translate the shaft. As one example, the shaft may be mechanically, electrically, magnetically, and/or optically coupled to a component within the housing 116. User manipulation of the crown body 120 and the shaft may in turn be used to manipulate or select various elements displayed on the display, adjust the volume of the speaker, turn the watch 110 on or off, and so forth. The housing 116 may also include an opening through which the button 130 protrudes. In some embodiments, the crown body 120, scroll wheel, knob, dial, button 130, etc. can be touch sensitive, electrically conductive, and/or have an electrically conductive surface, and a signal path can be provided between the electrically conductive portion of the crown body 120, scroll wheel, knob, dial, button 130, etc. and circuitry within the watch body 112.

The case 116 may include structure for attaching the watch band 114 to the watch body 112. In some cases, the structure may include an elongated recess or opening through which the end of the watch band 114 may be inserted and attached to the watch body 112. In other cases (not shown), the structure may include a recess (e.g., a dimple or indentation) in the case 116 that may receive a spring pin tip that is attached to or passes through the watch band tip to attach the watch band to the watch body. The watch band 114 may be used to secure the watch 110 to a user, another device, a retaining mechanism, and the like.

In some examples, the watch 110 may lack any or all of the cover 118, display, crown 121, or buttons 130. For example, the watch 110 may include an audio input or output interface, a touch input interface, a force input or tactile output interface, or other input or output interfaces that do not require a display, crown 121, or buttons 130. The watch 110 may include the aforementioned input or output interfaces in addition to the display, crown 121, or buttons 130. When the watch 110 does not have a display, the front side of the watch 110 may be covered by a cover plate 118 or by a metal or other type of case member.

Turning now to fig. 2A, an exploded view of an exemplary crown 200 having a conductive inner crown body 232 is shown that may be used to make electrocardiography measurements or receive other touch inputs. Similar to other embodiments described herein, the inner crown body 232 is electrically isolated from the outer crown body 224 by an isolator 228 positioned between the outer crown body and the inner crown body. As shown in fig. 2A, the retainer 226 is used to couple the inner crown body 232 to the outer crown body 224 and secure the isolator 228 between the outer and inner crown bodies.

The crown 200 includes an inner crown body 232, a shaft 222, spacers 223 and 227, a spacer 228, an outer crown body 224, a bushing 229, a support plate 225, and a retainer 226. The components shown in figure 2A may be assembled together during an assembly process to form the crown 200. As shown in fig. 2A, in the assembled configuration, the spacers 223 and 227, the spacer 228, the outer crown body 224, the bushing 229, the support plate 225, and the retainer 226 engage and cooperate with one another to define an opening through which the shaft 222 extends. The shaft 222 and the coping body 232 can be a single component, or can be formed from multiple components that are attached, coupled, or integrally formed with one another. The retainer 226 engages the coping body 232 to hold the components of the crown 200 together.

In some cases, the inner crown body 232 defines a portion 200 of the outer surface of the crown 282. For example, the coping body 232 can define a conductive surface for receiving touch input, as described in more detail below with reference to fig. 2C. In some cases, shaft 222 may extend into the interior of the housing of the electronic device. Shaft 222 may electrically couple coping body 232 to one or more components in a housing of an electronic device. For example, the shaft 222 may electrically couple the conductive surface to a processing unit and/or other circuitry of the electronic device, thereby enabling input provided at the conductive surface to be transmitted to the processing unit or other circuitry via the shaft. In various embodiments, shaft 222 and inner crown body 232 can be formed from any suitable electrically conductive material or combination of materials, including aluminum, titanium, steel, brass, ceramic, doped materials (e.g., plastic), and the like. One or more surfaces of the coping body 232 and/or the shaft 222 can be coated or otherwise treated to prevent or mitigate corrosion, wear, grounding effects, etc. The coating process may include electrophoretic deposition, physical vapor deposition, and the like. Shaft 222 and/or coping body 232 can include various features for coupling the shaft to a housing, collar, and/or other components of an electronic device. In some cases, the shaft 222 and/or the coping body 232 include one or more engagement features (e.g., engagement features 272) for engaging with other components of the crown 200 and/or other components of an electronic device, as discussed in more detail below.

In the assembled configuration, outer crown body 224, isolator 228, and inner crown body 232 may cooperate to define the outer surface of the crown. The outer crown body 224 may define a portion 283 of the outer surface of the crown 200, and the isolator 228 may include a cosmetic ring defining a portion 285 of the outer surface of the crown 200. As described above, outer crown body 224 defines an opening through which shaft 222 may extend. In the assembled configuration, the shaft 222 extends through the opening of the outer crown body 224, the inner crown body 232 is at least partially positioned in the opening of the outer crown body, and the outer crown body can at least partially surround the shaft and the inner crown body. In some cases, the outer crown body 224 defines a groove 231 and/or a flange 284 that extends from the interior sidewall defining the opening, and the inner crown body 232 can be positioned in the groove 231 and/or supported by the flange 284. In some cases, the flange 284 forms a surface of the recess 231. In various embodiments, the isolator 228 is positioned between the outer crown body 224 and the inner crown body 232 such that the outer crown body at least partially surrounds the isolator, and the inner crown body and the isolator at least partially surround the inner crown body. The isolator 228 may be positioned within the recess 213 and/or supported by the flange 284. The isolator 228 defines an opening that can be at least partially aligned with the opening of the outer crown body 224 to create a combined opening through which the shaft 222 and/or the inner crown body 232 can extend. The isolator 228 may be placed on or otherwise supported by the flange 224 of the outer crown body 284. In some cases, the isolator 228 defines a flange 288. In some cases, the flange 288 supports and/or retains the inner crown body 232. The isolator 228 may define a sidewall 289 that extends over a flange positioned between the inner crown body 232 and the outer crown body 224.

The outer crown body 224 defines an outer periphery of the crown 200 and is configured to be contacted by a user when the user provides rotational input. The outer crown body may include tactile features or texture and may be made of a material including conductive and non-conductive materials (e.g., aluminum, stainless steel, ceramic, etc.). The isolator 228 may be formed of any suitable electrically isolating material or other non-conductive material, such as plastic, ceramic, and the like. In some cases, the isolator 228 is formed prior to assembly. In some embodiments, the isolator 228 may be insert molded between the shaft 222 and the outer crown body 224 and/or integrally formed with the outer crown body 224, for example, as discussed below with reference to fig. 4A-4E. In some cases, outer crown body 224 is formed of a conductive material and isolator 228 is formed of a non-conductive material to electrically isolate outer crown body 224 from inner crown body 232, e.g., to use inner crown body 232 and the case of an electronic watch for ECG measurements. In some cases, outer crown body 224 may be formed from a non-conductive material, such as a ceramic. In some cases, if the outer crown body 224 is non-conductive, the isolator 228 may be formed from a conductive material, such as a metal or ceramic.

In some cases, one or more spacers 223 may be placed between the inner crown body 232 and the isolator 228. Similarly, one or more spacers 227 may be placed between the isolator 228 and the outer crown body 224. In some cases, spacers 223 and 227 are formed from heat activated films that allow a gap to be established between inner crown body 232 and spacer 228 and between spacer 228 and outer crown body 224 during assembly and then retained to maintain component alignment. In some embodiments, spacers 223 and 227 may be insert molded into crown 200 and/or integrally formed with outer crown body 224, shaft 222, and/or outer crown body 224.

In some cases, the inner crown body 232, the isolator 228, and/or the outer crown body 224 include features for creating one or more mechanical interlocks between one another. For example, the outer crown body 224 may include a setback 273 that engages a protrusion 277 on the isolator 228. Similarly, the isolator 228 may include a setback 278 that engages a protrusion 279 on the coping body 232. The protrusions and indents may engage each other to create a mechanical interlock that prevents the isolator 228, outer crown body 224, and inner crown body 232 (and thus the shaft 222) from rotating relative to each other when torque is applied to the crown. This allows torque applied to the outer crown body 224 to be transferred to the shaft 222, for example, to provide a rotational input.

The coping body 232 can define a wall 222 that extends around a portion of the shaft 299. In some cases, the engagement features 272 may be positioned along the outer surface 299 of the wall 241. In the assembled configuration, bushing 29 may be positioned along an inner surface of wall 299 and at least partially around shaft 222. The bushing 229 may define a rotational and/or translational bearing surface between the inner crown body 232 and one or more surfaces of the electronic device. Bushing 229 may be formed from any suitable material or combination of materials, such as plastic. In some embodiments, the bushing 229 may be molded onto or integrally formed with the crown 200 or one or more additional components of the electronic device, such as the inner crown body 232. Bushing 229 will be discussed in more detail below with reference to fig. 2B and 2C.

The retainer 226 couples the inner crown body 232 to the outer crown body 224 and secures the isolator 228 between the inner and outer crown bodies. In the assembled configuration, retainer 226 can be positioned at least partially around shaft 222 and/or coping body 232 and can engage with one or more additional components of coping body and/or crown 200 to secure the components of the crown together. In various embodiments, the coping body 232 and the retainer 226 apply a compressive force to the other components of the crown 200 to secure the components together. In some cases, retainer 226 compresses isolator 228 between inner crown body 232 and outer crown body 224. For example, the retainer 226 may engage the inner crown body 232 to cooperate with the inner crown body to apply a compressive force to couple the inner crown body 232 to the outer crown body 224 and secure the isolator 228 between the inner and outer crown bodies. The spacer 228, spacers 223 and 227, outer crown body 224, bushing, and/or at least a portion of the support plate 225 may be positioned between at least a portion of the inner crown body 232 and the retainer 226, and the inner crown body 232 and the retainer 226 apply a compressive force to the components positioned therebetween to secure the components together.

In some cases, the retainer 226 can pull the components of the crown 200 together, such as during a manufacturing process, to secure the components to one another. In some cases, retainer 226 pulls outer crown body 224 and inner crown body 232 against isolator 228. In some instances, the retainer 226 includes one or more retaining features 276 that engage with other components of the crown 200 to couple the components of the crown 200 together. For example, the retention feature 276 may engage with the engagement feature 272 of the coping body 232. In some cases, retaining features 276 and/or engagement features 272 are shaped to thereby cause rotation of retainer 226 relative to inner crown body 232 (and/or rotation of the inner crown body relative to the retainer) to engage and/or tighten the engagement between the retainer and the inner crown body. In some cases, rotating retainer 226 relative to inner crown body 232 pulls outer crown body 224 and inner crown body against isolator 228 to compress the isolator between the inner and outer crown bodies. For example, as shown in fig. 2A, the retention features 276 may be angled such that a first end of each retention feature has a thickness greater than a thickness of a second end. Similarly, the engagement features 272 may be angled such that the first end of each engagement feature has a thickness greater than the thickness of the second end. The engagement features 272 and the retention features 276 act like threads to convert rotational motion or force to linear motion or force. For example, rotating the retainer 226 relative to the coping body 232 in the first direction (and/or rotating the coping body relative to the retainer) can reduce the distance between the retainer and the coping body and/or increase the compressive force exerted by the retainer and/or the coping body on other components of the crown 200. Similarly, rotating the retainer 226 relative to the inner crown body 232 (and/or rotating the inner crown body relative to the retainer) in a second direction opposite the first direction can increase the distance between the retainer and the inner crown body and/or reduce the compressive force exerted by the retainer and/or the inner crown body on other components of the crown 200. The retainer 226 may be formed of any suitable material or combination of materials, such as plastic, metal, and the like. In some embodiments, the retainer 226 may be molded onto and/or integrally formed with the crown 200 or one or more additional components of the electronic device.

The bushing 229 may include one or more features for coupling the bushing to other components of the crown 200. For example, the bushing 229 may include features 290 that engage with the retention features 276 of the retainer 226 to couple the bushing 229 to other components of the crown 200.

A support plate 225 may be positioned between the retainer 226 and the outer crown body 224. The support plate 225 may engage the outer crown body 224 and may define an engagement surface that the retainer 226 may contact to form an engagement between the retainer and the outer crown body. The support plate 225 may be formed of any suitable material or combination of materials, such as plastic, metal, and the like. In some embodiments, the support plate 225 can be molded onto and/or integrally formed with the crown 200 or one or more additional components of the electronic device, such as the retainer 226. In some cases, the retainer 226 is formed from a different material than the retainer 226. The retainer 226 can be formed of a material that when engaged will not damage other components of the crown, such as the coating of the inner crown body 232. The support plate 225 may be made of a hard material and/or a rigid material, such as metal, to provide a robust engagement surface for the retainer 226.

Figure 2B shows a cross-section of the crown 200 in an assembled configuration. As shown in fig. 2B, the crown 200 includes a crown body 220 and a shaft 222, the shaft 222 extending from the crown body 220. As described above, the shaft 222 may extend from the coping body 232. In various embodiments, the shaft 222 is electrically coupled to the inner crown body 232. As described above, the shaft 222 may be attached to and/or integrally formed with one or more components of the crown body 220. For example, the coping body 232 and the shaft 222 can be attached or integrally formed (e.g., a single piece). Generally, the shaft 222 is rotatable and configured to extend through an opening in a housing, such as the housing described with reference to fig. 1B.

In some cases, the inner crown body 232, the isolator 228, and the outer crown body 224 cooperate to form an outer surface of the crown body 220. As described above with reference to fig. 2A, the isolator 228 may at least partially surround the inner crown body 232, and the outer crown body 224 may at least partially surround the isolator 228 and/or the inner crown body 232. For example, the inner crown body 232 may define a conductive surface of the crown 200 to receive a signal for measuring an electrocardiogram or another touch input. The isolator 228 and/or spacers 223 and 227 may electrically isolate the inner crown body 232 and the shaft 222 from the outer crown body 224, as discussed in more detail below with reference to fig. 2C. In some cases, the inner crown body 232, the isolator 228, and the outer crown body 224 cooperate to form a smooth and continuous outer surface of the crown body 220. For example, as shown in fig. 2B, portions of the outer surface defined by the inner crown body 232, the isolator 228, and the outer crown body 224 are aligned with one another to form a continuous outer surface.

As shown in fig. 2B, outer crown body 224 may define an opening and one or more isolator engagement surfaces 294, for example, along a flange extending into the opening. The isolator 228 may engage the outer crown body 224 along an isolator engagement surface 294 defined on the flange. In some cases, the isolator 228 engages the outer crown body 224 indirectly, such as through a spacer 227. The isolator 228 may define one or more inner crown body engagement surfaces 295, for example, along one or more flanges configured to support the inner crown body 232. The coping body 232 can engage the isolator 228 along the coping body engagement surface 295. In some cases, the coping body 232 engages the isolator 228 indirectly, such as through the spacer 223. As described above, the spacers 223 and 227 may define gaps between the outer crown body 224, the isolator 228, and the inner crown body 232. The gap may be sized, for example, during assembly to ensure alignment of the inner crown body 232, isolator 228, and outer crown body 224 along the outer surface.

The retainer 226 can engage the inner crown body 232 and the outer crown body 224 to secure the components of the crown 200 together. For example, the retention features 226 of the retainer 276 may engage the engagement features 272 of the coping body 232 as discussed above. Outer crown body 224 may define a retainer engagement surface 297 on the side of the flange opposite isolator engagement surface 294. Retainer 226 can engage outer crown body 224 along retainer engagement surface 297. The retainer 226 may engage the outer crown body 224 indirectly, such as through a support plate 225. As shown in fig. 2B, the engagement of the coping body 232 with the retainer 226 and isolator 228 generates a compressive force that secures the components of the crown 200 together.

Turning now to fig. 2C, an example of a crown 200 installed in an electronic watch is shown, as viewed from the front or back of the watch body, taken along section line a-a of fig. 1B. As shown in fig. 2C, a collar 242 extends from and defines an opening in the housing 216 through which the shaft 222 extends. The crown 200 may rotate and/or translate relative to the collar 242 during operation. As described above, the bushing 229 may define a rotational and/or translational bearing surface between the inner crown body 232 and the collar 242. In some cases, the outer surface 235 of the bushing 229 may be positioned at least partially along the inner surface 234 of the wall 299, and the inner surface 298 of the bushing may form a bearing surface configured to contact the collar 242. The bearing surface 298 and the surface 269 may define a sliding or rotational bearing interface between the crown 200 and the collar 242. In some instances, the bearing surface 298 of the bushing 229 contacts the surface 269 of the collar 242 to stabilize the crown 200 and/or facilitate uniform rotation of the crown 200. The bearing surface 298 may be concentric with the surface 269 of the collar 242 to allow for consistent rotation of the crown 200 across all angular positions of the crown relative to the electronic device. The bushing 229 may also allow for consistent rotation of the crown 200 over time by reducing wear on the crown 200 and/or the collar 242.

A user of the electronic watch may rotate the crown body 220, which in turn rotates the shaft 222. In some cases, outer crown body 224 is configured to receive a rotational input. In some cases, the user may also pull or push the crown body 220 to translate the shaft 222 along its axis (e.g., to the left and right with reference to fig. 2C). Crown body 220 may be electrically coupled to circuitry (e.g., processing unit 296) within housing 216, but electrically isolated from housing 216.

With the crown body 220 positioned outside of the housing 216, the shaft retainer 236 may be structurally coupled to the shaft 222 inside of the housing 216 (e.g., inside the watch body housing) after the shaft is inserted through the opening in the housing 216. In some cases, the shaft retainer 236 may comprise a nut and the shaft 222 may have a threaded male portion that engages a threaded female portion of the nut. In some cases, the shaft retainer 236 may be electrically conductive or have an electrically conductive coating thereon, and the mechanical connection of the shaft retainer 236 to the shaft 222 may form an electrical connection between the shaft retainer 236 and the shaft 222. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the shaft retainer 236 may be integrally formed with the shaft 222, and the shaft 222 may be inserted from inside the housing through an opening in the housing 216 and then attached to the crown body 220 (e.g., the crown body 220 may be threaded onto the shaft 222).

A washer or C-clip 260 may be positioned between shaft retainer 236 and housing 216 or another component of the electronic device. For example, a non-conductive (e.g., plastic) washer, plate, or spacer may be structurally coupled to the interior of housing 216 between shaft retainer 236 and housing 216. The C-clip 260 may provide a bearing surface for the shaft retainer 236.

In some embodiments, the collar 242 may be aligned with an opening in the housing 216. In some embodiments, the collar 242 may be coupled to the housing 216 or another component inside the housing (not shown) via threads on male portions of the collar 242 and corresponding threads on female portions of the housing 216. Optionally, a gasket made of synthetic rubber and a fluoropolymer elastomer (e.g., viton), silicone, or other compressible material may be disposed between the collar 242 and the housing 216 to provide stability to the collar 242 and/or a moisture barrier between the collar 242 and the housing 216. Another washer 264 (e.g., a Y-ring) made of viton, silicone, or other compressible material may be placed over the collar 242 either before or after the collar 242 is inserted through the opening, but before the shaft 222 is inserted through the collar 242. The second gasket 264 may provide a moisture barrier between the crown body 220 and the shell 216 and/or between the crown body 220 and the collar 242.

As shown in fig. 2C, one or more O- rings 252, 254 or other washers may be positioned within the groove of the shaft 222 prior to insertion of the shaft 222 into the collar 242. The O- rings 252, 254 may be formed of synthetic rubber, fluoropolymer elastomer, silicone, or other compressible material. In some cases, O- rings 252, 254 may provide a seal between shaft 222 and collar 242. The O- rings 252, 254 may also serve as an insulator between the shaft 222 and the collar 242. In some embodiments, O- rings 252, 254 may fit into grooves in shaft 222.

In some embodiments, a rotation sensor 262 for detecting rotation of the crown 200 is disposed within the housing 216. Rotation sensor 262 may include one or more light emitters and/or light detectors. The light emitter may illuminate the encoder pattern or other rotating portion of the shaft 222 or shaft holder 236. The encoder pattern may be carried (e.g., formed, printed, etc.) on the shaft 222 or the shaft holder 236. The light detector may receive light emitted by the light emitter and reflected from the shaft. The light detector may be operably coupled to the processing unit 296, and the processing unit 296 may determine a rotational direction, a rotational speed, an angular position, a translation, or other state of the crown 200. In some embodiments, the rotation sensor 262 can detect rotation of the crown 200 by detecting rotation of the shaft 222. The rotation sensor 262 may be electrically coupled to a processing unit 296 of the electronic device through the connector 258 a.

In some embodiments, a translation sensor 244 for detecting translation of the crown 200 is disposed within the housing 216. In some embodiments, the translation sensor 244 includes an electrical switch, such as a tactile dome switch, that can be actuated or change state in response to translation of the crown 200. Thus, when a user presses on the crown body 220, the shaft 222 may translate or displace into the housing 216 (e.g., into the housing of the watch body) and actuate the switch, thereby placing the switch in one of a plurality of states. When the user releases pressure on the crown body 220 or pulls the crown body 220 outward from the housing 216, the switch may remain in the state it was pressed in, or advance to another state or switch between the two states, depending on the type or configuration of the switch.

In some embodiments, translation sensor 244 includes one or more light emitters and/or light detectors. The light emitter may illuminate the encoder pattern or other portion of the shaft 222 or shaft holder 236. The light detector may receive reflections of light emitted by the light emitters, and the processing unit 296 may determine a direction of rotation, a speed of rotation, an angular position, a translation, or other state of the crown 200. In some embodiments, the translation sensor 244 can detect translation of the crown 200 by detecting translation of the shaft 222. The translation sensor 244 may be electrically coupled to the processing unit 296 of the electronic device through the connector 258 c.

In various embodiments, the shaft 222 and crown body 220 are in electrical communication with the processing unit 296 and/or one or more other circuits of the electronic device. One or more connectors may electrically couple the shaft 222 to the processing unit 296 and/or one or more other circuits. In some cases, the shaft retainer 236 is electrically conductive and mates with one or more connectors to couple the shaft 222 to the processing unit 296 and/or one or more other circuits. In various instances, the connector 258d is in mechanical and electrical contact with the shaft retainer 236 (or in some cases with the shaft 222, such as when the shaft extends through a shaft retainer (not shown)). In some cases, the connector 258d may be formed (e.g., stamped or bent) from a piece of metal (e.g., stainless steel). In other instances, the connector 258d may take any of a number of forms and materials. When the shaft 222 is translatable, translation of the shaft 222 into the housing (e.g., into the housing of the watch body) may cause the connector 258d to deform or move. However, the connector 258d may have a spring bias or other mechanism that causes the connector 258d to maintain electrical contact with the shaft retainer or shaft end, whether or not the shaft 222 translates relative to the shaft in the first or second position.

In some embodiments of the crown assembly 200, the connector 258d may comprise a conductive brush that is biased to contact a side of the shaft 222 or a side of the shaft retainer 236. The conductive brush may maintain electrical contact with the shaft 222 or the shaft retainer 236 through rotation or translation of the shaft 222, and may be electrically connected to the processing unit 296 and/or another circuit, thereby causing the shaft to remain electrically coupled to the processing unit with the rotating shaft of the shaft. This allows the crown 200, and in particular the crown body 220, to remain electrically coupled with the processing unit 296 as the crown 200 is manipulated (e.g., rotated and/or translated) by a user, thereby allowing the electrodes on the crown to retain their functionality as the crown is manipulated.

The processing unit 296 or other circuitry of the electronic device may be in electrical communication with the crown 200 via the connector 258d, the shaft holder 236, and the shaft 222 (or the processing unit 296 or other circuitry may be in electrical communication with the crown 200 via the connector 258d and the shaft 222 when an end of the shaft 222 protrudes through the shaft holder 236). In some cases, the connector 258d is coupled to the processing unit 296 via an additional connector 258b (e.g., a cable, flexible, or other conductive member). In some cases, as shown in fig. 2C, a connector 258d may be positioned between the shaft retainer 236 and the translation sensor 240. The connector 258d may be attached to the shaft retainer 236 and/or the translation sensor 240. In some cases, connector 258d may be connected to processing unit 296 via translation sensor 240 and/or connector 258 c. In some cases, connector 258d is integral with translation sensor 240. For example, the shaft holder 236 may be electrically coupled to the translation sensor 240 to couple the crown 200 to the processing unit 296.

In some embodiments, bracket 256 may be attached (e.g., laser welded) to housing 216 or another element within the housing. The rotation sensor 262 and/or the translation sensor 244 may be structurally coupled to the mount 256, and the mount 256 may support the rotation sensor 262 and/or the translation sensor 244 within the housing 216. In the embodiment shown in fig. 2C, the rotation sensor 262 and the translation sensor 244 are shown as separate components, but in various embodiments, the rotation sensor 262 and the translation sensor 244 may be combined and/or located in different positions than shown.

In some embodiments of the crown 200 shown in fig. 2C, the connector 258b can include a conductive brush that is biased to contact a side of the shaft 222 or a side of the shaft retainer 236. The conductive brush may maintain electrical contact with the shaft 222 or the shaft retainer 236 through rotation or translation of the shaft 222, and may be electrically connected to the processing unit 296 and/or another circuit, thereby causing the shaft to remain electrically coupled to the processing unit with the rotating shaft of the shaft. This allows the crown body 220 to remain electrically coupled with the processing unit 296 as the crown body 220 is manipulated (e.g., rotated and/or translated) by a user, thereby allowing the conductive surfaces and/or electrodes on the crown body 220 to retain their functionality as the crown body 220 is manipulated.

The connectors 258a-c can be electrically coupled to a processing unit 296, for example, as discussed below with reference to FIG. 10. The processing unit 296 may determine whether the user contacts the conductive surface of the crown body 220 and/or determine a biometric parameter of the user based on signals received from or provided to the user via the conductive surface of the crown body 220. In some cases, the processing unit 296 may determine other parameters based on signals received from or provided to the conductive surfaces of the crown body 220. In some cases, the processing unit 296 may operate the crown 200 and/or one or more additional electrodes as an electrocardiographic measurement device and provide an electrocardiogram to a user of a watch that includes the crown 200.

As described above, in some cases, the inner crown body 232 includes a conductive portion that defines a portion of the outer surface of the crown body 220. In some cases, the coping body 232 defines an electrically conductive surface and is electrically coupled to the shaft 222. The coping body 232 can be a separate piece structurally coupled to the shaft 222, or the coping body 232 and the shaft 222 can be a single piece. As described above, the coping portion main body 232 can function as an electrode. The inner crown body 232 may be formed of any suitable electrically conductive material or combination of materials, including titanium, steel, brass, ceramic, doped materials (e.g., plastic). In various embodiments, it is advantageous for the coping body 232 to be resistant to corrosion, so a corrosion resistant material such as titanium may be selected. In some embodiments, one or more attachment mechanisms can structurally couple the inner crown body 232 to other components of the crown 200. In some cases, the attachment mechanism that structurally and/or electrically couples the coping body 232 to the shaft 222 also structurally couples the coping body 232 to other components of the crown 200.

In some embodiments, one or more components of the crown 200 can have a conductive surface that is covered by a thin non-conductive coating. The non-conductive coating may provide a dielectric to enable capacitive coupling between the conductive surface and a finger of a user of the crown 200 (or an electronic watch or other device that includes the crown 200). In the same or a different embodiment, the crown 200 can have a non-conductive coating on the surface of the crown body 220 facing the shell 216. In some examples, the conductive material may include a PVD deposited aluminum titanium nitride (AlTiN) layer or a silicon chromium carbonitride (CrSiCN) layer.

In various embodiments, the crown 200 can include an adhesive and/or other fasteners for coupling components and/or coupling the crown 200 to an electronic device. Any gaps or empty spaces shown in fig. 2B may be filled with an adhesive or other substance to join the components of the crown, electrically isolate the shaft from other components of the crown 200, and/or protect the components of the crown (e.g., to provide lubrication, mitigate corrosion, etc.). The example arrangements of components discussed with reference to fig. 2A-2C are for illustrative purposes and are not intended to be limiting or exhaustive. In some cases, crown 200 can include more or fewer components, and the illustrated components can be combined with each other and/or with additional components. Similarly, the illustrated components may be separated into multiple separate components. For example, fig. 3A-4E illustrate exemplary embodiments of crowns 300 and 400 having different and/or additional features.

Fig. 3A-3E illustrate an exemplary crown 300 having a conductive inner crown body 332 that may be used to make electrocardiography measurements or receive other touch inputs. Similar to other embodiments described herein, the inner crown body 332 is electrically isolated from the outer crown body 324 by an isolator 328 positioned between the outer crown body and the inner crown body. As shown in fig. 3D, the retainer 326 is used to couple the inner crown body 332 to the outer crown body 324 and secure the isolator 328 between the outer and inner crown bodies. Fig. 3A-3C show shaft 322 and inner crown 332. In some embodiments, the coping 332 comprises: a head 332a (fig. 3A) that is part of a single component that includes the shaft 322; and an attachment portion 332c (fig. 3B) attached to and/or extending from the head 332a and/or the shaft 322. For example, the attachment portion 332c may be molded around or otherwise disposed on the wall 332b of the head 332 a. In various embodiments, the attachment portion 332c may be attached to the head 332a by any suitable means, including injection molding (e.g., overmolding, insert molding), adhesives, fasteners, and the like. In some cases, the head 332a includes one or more features to facilitate attachment between the head 332a and the attachment portion 332 c. For example, as shown in fig. 3A, the holes 333 on the wall 332b may be filled or otherwise engaged by the attachment portion 332c to more securely attach the attachment portion to the head 332 a.

As shown in fig. 3C, the head 332a can define a portion 382 of the outer surface of the crown 300. For example, the head 332A may define a conductive surface for measuring an electrocardiogram and/or receiving other touch inputs, similar to the conductive surfaces discussed above with reference to fig. 2A-2C. In various embodiments, head 332A and/or shaft 322 can be formed of similar materials and have similar features (e.g., coatings) discussed with reference to fig. 2A-2C with respect to crown body 232 and shaft 222. In some cases, the head 332a may be a separate part from the shaft 322. For example, the head 332a may be attached to and/or integrally formed with the shaft 322. Similarly, the wall 332b and the head 332a may be portions of a single component, or may be attached to and/or integrally formed with one another.

Returning to fig. 3B, in some instances, the attachment portion 332C can include one or more engagement features 372 for engaging with other components of the crown 300 and/or other components of the electronic device, similar to the engagement features 272 discussed above with reference to fig. 2A-2C. In some cases, the attachment portion 332C may include one or more protrusions 379 for forming a mechanical interlock with one or more additional components of the crown 300, similar to the protrusions 279 discussed above with reference to fig. 2A-2C. The attachment portion 332c may be formed of any suitable material or combination of materials, such as plastic, metal, and the like. In some cases, the attachment portion 332c is formed of an electrically isolating material or other non-conductive material, such as plastic. The attachment portion 332c may cooperate with other features of the crown to electrically isolate the head 332a and/or shaft from other features of the crown, such as the outer crown 324.

Turning to fig. 3C, the crown 300 includes an inner crown body 332, a shaft 322, a spacer 328, an outer crown body 324, a retainer 326, and a locking plate 392. Similar to the crown 200 discussed above, the retainer 326 may engage the inner crown body 332 and the outer crown body 324 to couple and hold the components of the crown 300 together. In some cases, retainer 326 includes retention features 376 that engage with engagement features 372 of coping body 332. As described above with reference to fig. 2A-2C, the engagement features 372 and the retention features 376 act like a threaded connector to convert rotational motion or force into linear motion or force. For example, the engagement features 372 may resemble threads, and the retention features 376 may engage the engagement features 372 and secure the retainer 326 to the coping body 332 as the components are rotated relative to each other.

The isolator 328 and the outer crown body 324 may be similar to the isolator 228 and the outer crown body 224 discussed above with reference to fig. 2A-2C. The outer crown body may include features 373 along the inner surface that engage the setbacks 378 of the isolators 328 and/or the protrusions 379 of the inner crown body 232. The protrusions and indents may engage each other to create a mechanical interlock that prevents the isolator 328, outer crown body 324, and inner crown body 332 (and thus the shaft 322) from rotating relative to each other when torque is applied to the crown. This allows torque applied to the outer crown body 324 to be transferred to the shaft 322, for example, to provide a rotational input.

The retainer 326 may be similar to the retainer 226 discussed above with reference to fig. 2A-2C. In the assembled configuration, the retainer 326 may be positioned at least partially around the coping body 332 and may engage with the coping body and/or one or more additional components of the crown 300 to secure the components of the crown together. In various embodiments, the coping body 332 and the retainer 326 apply a compressive force to the other components of the crown 300 to secure the components together. For example, at least a portion of the isolator 328 and/or the outer crown body 324 can be positioned between at least a portion of the inner crown body 332 and the retainer 326, and the inner crown body 332 and the retainer 326 apply a compressive force to the component positioned therebetween to couple the inner crown body to the outer crown body and secure the isolator between the inner crown body and the outer crown body.

In some instances, the retainer 326 includes one or more retention features 376 that engage with other components of the crown 300 to couple the components of the crown 300 together. For example, the retention features 376 may engage with the engagement features 372 of the coping body 332. In some cases, the retention features 376 and/or engagement features 372 are shaped to thereby cause rotation of the retainer 326 relative to the inner crown body 332 (and/or rotation of the inner crown body relative to the retainer) to engage and/or tighten the engagement between the retainer and the inner crown body. For example, as shown in fig. 3C, retention features 376 may protrude from the inner surface of retainer 326, allowing them to engage engagement features 372. The engagement features 372 and the retention features 276 act like threads to convert rotational motion or force into linear motion or force. For example, rotating the retainer 326 relative to the coping body 332 in the first direction (and/or rotating the coping body relative to the retainer) can reduce the distance between the retainer and the coping body and/or increase the compressive force exerted by the retainer and/or the coping body on other components of the crown 300. Similarly, rotating the retainer 326 relative to the inner crown body 332 in a second direction opposite the first direction (and/or rotating the inner crown body relative to the retainer) can increase the distance between the retainer and the inner crown body and/or reduce the compressive force exerted by the retainer and/or the inner crown body on other components of the crown 300. The retainer 326 may be formed of any suitable material or combination of materials, such as plastic, metal, and the like. In some embodiments, the retainer 326 may be molded onto and/or integrally formed with the crown 300 or one or more additional components of the electronic device.

The locking plate 392 may include one or more features for preventing disengagement of other components of the crown 300. For example, locking plate 392 may include features 393 that engage with retention features 395 of retainer 326 and/or protrusions 379 of inner crown body 332. In some cases, locking plate 392 may be attached to retainer 326 and/or inner crown body 332 such that features 393 prevent the retainer from rotating and disengaging the inner crown body. The locking plate 392 may be attached to one or more components of the crown 300 by any suitable means, including welding, adhesives, mechanical interlocking, and the like. The locking plate 392 may be formed of any suitable material or combination of materials, such as plastic, metal, and the like. In some embodiments, the locking plate 392 may be molded onto and/or integrally formed with the crown 300 or one or more additional components of the electronic device.

Figure 3D shows a cross-section of the crown 300 in an assembled configuration. As shown in fig. 3D, the crown 300 includes a crown body 320 and a shaft 322, the shaft 322 extending from the crown body 320. In various embodiments, the shaft 322 is electrically coupled to the inner crown body 332. As described above, the shaft 322 may be attached to and/or integrally formed with one or more components of the crown body 320. For example, the coping body 332 and the shaft 322 can be attached, integrally formed, and/or a single piece. Generally, the shaft 322 is rotatable and configured to extend through an opening in a housing, such as the housing described with reference to fig. 1B.

In some cases, inner crown body 332, isolator 328, and outer crown body 324 cooperate to form an outer surface of crown body 320. As described above with reference to fig. 2A and 3C, the isolator 328 can at least partially surround the inner crown body 332, and the outer crown body 324 can at least partially surround the isolator 328 and/or the inner crown body 332. The inner crown body 332 may define a conductive surface of the crown 300. The isolator 328 may electrically isolate the inner crown body 332 and the shaft 322 from the outer crown body 324. In some cases, the inner crown body 332, the isolator 328, and the outer crown body 324 cooperate to form a smooth and continuous outer surface of the crown body 320. For example, as shown in fig. 3D, portions of the outer surface defined by inner crown body 332, spacer 328, and outer crown body 324 are aligned with one another to form a continuous outer surface.

Turning now to fig. 3E, an example of a crown 300 installed in an electronic watch is shown, as viewed from the front or back of the watch body, taken along section line a-a of fig. 1B. As shown in fig. 3E, a collar 342 is disposed in an opening in the housing 216, as discussed with reference to fig. 2C, and defines an opening through which the shaft 322 extends. The crown 300 may rotate and/or translate relative to the collar 342 during operation. In some cases, the inner crown body 332, and in particular the attachment portion 332c, may define a rotational and/or translational bearing surface between the inner crown body 332 and the collar 342. In some cases, the attachment portion 332c can define a bearing surface 398 configured to contact the collar 342. In some instances, the bearing surface 398 contacts the surface 369 of the collar 342 to stabilize the crown 300 and/or facilitate uniform rotation of the crown 300. The bearing surface 398 may be concentric with the surface 369 of the collar 342 to allow for consistent rotation of the crown 300 across all angular positions of the crown relative to the electronic device. In some cases, the bearing surface 398 extends across multiple faces of the attachment portion 332C, as shown in fig. 3C. In some cases, the bearing surface 398 can contact the collar 342 along one or several faces of the collar 342. For example, as shown in fig. 3C, a face 398a of the bearing surface 398 can contact the collar 342 along a face 369a of the surface 369, and a face 398b of the bearing surface 398 opposite the face 398a can contact the collar 342 along a face 369b of the collar opposite the face 369 a. The attachment portion 332c may also allow for consistent rotation of the crown 300 over time by reducing wear on the crown 300 and/or the collar 342. In some cases, forming the attachment portions 332c using injection molding allows the faces of the surface 398 to be appropriately spaced from one another to form an accurate fit between the crown 300 and the collar 342.

The crown 300 may be similar to the crown 200, may include similar structural components, features, and functions, and may interact with similar components of an electronic device. Similar to the crown 200, a user of the electronic watch may rotate the crown body 320, which in turn rotates the shaft 322. In some cases, outer crown body 324 is configured to receive a rotational input. In some cases, the user may also pull or push the crown body 320 to translate the shaft 322 along its axis (e.g., to the left and right with reference to fig. 3E). Crown body 320 may be electrically coupled to circuitry (e.g., processing unit 296) within housing 216, but electrically isolated from housing 216.

As noted above, in some cases, one or more components may be omitted from the crowns described herein. Fig. 4A-4E illustrate an exemplary crown 300 having a conductive inner crown body 432 that may be used to make electrocardiography measurements or receive other touch inputs. Similar to other embodiments described herein, the inner crown body 432 is electrically isolated from the outer crown body 424 by an isolator 428 positioned between the outer crown body and the inner crown body. Fig. 4A-4B illustrate the shaft 422, the coping body 432, and the isolator 428. In some embodiments, the coping body 432 comprises: a head portion 432a (fig. 4A) that is part of a single component that includes the shaft 422 and an attachment portion 432 c; and isolator 428 and features 484a and 484B (fig. 4B) attached to head 432a and/or shaft 422. For example, the attachment portion 432c, the isolator 428, and/or the features 484a and 484b may be molded around or otherwise disposed on the head 432a and/or the wall 432b of the shaft 422. In various embodiments, the attachment portion 432c, the isolator 428, and the features 484a and 484b may be attached to the head 432a and/or the shaft 422 by any suitable means, including injection molding (e.g., overmolding, insert molding), adhesives, fasteners, and the like. In some cases, attachment portion 432c, isolator 428, and features 484a and 484b may be portions of a single component (e.g., a molded component), or may be attached to and/or integrally formed with one another. For example, attachment portion 432c, isolator 428, and features 484a and 484b may be a single component injection molded to head 432a and/or shaft 422. Similar to head 332a, head 432a may include one or more features to facilitate attachment between head 432a, attachment portion 432c, spacer 428, and/or features 484a and 484 b. The features 484a and 484b may define a groove around the shaft 422 to receive an O-ring, as shown in fig. 4E below.

As shown in fig. 4C, the head 432a may define a portion 482 of the outer surface of the crown 400. For example, the head 432A may define a conductive surface for receiving other touch inputs, similar to the conductive surface discussed above with reference to fig. 2A-2C. In various embodiments, the head 432A and/or the shaft 422 may be formed of similar materials and have similar features (e.g., coatings) as discussed with reference to fig. 2A-3E with respect to the inner crown bodies 232 and 332 and the shafts 222 and 322. In some cases, the head 432a may be a separate part from the shaft 422. For example, the head 432a may be attached to and/or integrally formed with the shaft 422. Similarly, wall 432b and head 432a may be portions of a single component, or may be attached to and/or integrally formed with one another.

Returning to fig. 4B, in some instances, the attachment portion 432c may include one or more engagement features 472 for engaging with other components of the crown 400 and/or other components of the electronic device, similar to the engagement features 272 and 372 discussed above with reference to fig. 2A-3E. The attachment portion 432c may be formed of any suitable material or combination of materials, such as plastic, metal, and the like. In some cases, the attachment portion 432c is formed of an electrically isolating material or other non-conductive material, such as plastic. The attachment portion 432C may cooperate with other components of the crown to electrically isolate the head 432a and/or shaft from other components of the crown, such as the outer crown body 424 shown in fig. 4C.

Turning to fig. 4C, the crown 400 includes an inner crown body 432, a shaft 422, and an outer crown body 424. The outer crown body 424 may engage the inner crown body 432 to couple and hold the components of the crown 400 together. In some cases, outer crown body 424 includes a retention feature 476 that engages with engagement feature 472 of inner crown body 432. In some cases, the engagement features structurally couple the inner crown body 432 to the outer crown body 424. The engagement feature 472 may form a mechanical interlock with the retention feature 476. In various embodiments, similar to those described above with reference to fig. 2A-3E, the engagement features 472 and the retention features 476 may function similar to a threaded connector to convert a rotational motion or force to a linear motion or force.

Figure 4D shows a cross-section of the crown 400 in an assembled configuration. In some cases, as shown in fig. 4D, outer crown body 424 and inner crown body 432 may be attached using a fastening component 425 such as an adhesive, a molded component, or another fastener. In some cases, the outer and inner crown bodies 424, 432 may be positioned relative to one another, and the securing member 425 may be injection molded into the gap between the outer and inner crown bodies to couple the members. The securing component 425 may be formed of any suitable material or combination of materials, such as plastic, metal, and the like. In some cases, one or more engagement features 472 and/or retention features 476 may engage the fastening components 425 to create a mechanical interlock between the components.

Turning now to fig. 4E, an example of the crown 400 installed in the electronic watch is shown, as viewed from the front or back of the watch body, taken along section line a-a of fig. 1B. As shown in fig. 4E, a collar 442 is disposed in an opening in the housing 216, as discussed with reference to fig. 2C, and defines an opening through which the shaft 422 extends. The crown 400 may rotate and/or translate relative to the collar 442 during operation. In some cases, the inner crown body 432 and/or the outer crown body 424 can define a rotational and/or translational bearing surface between the crown 400 and the collar 442. In some cases, the attachment portion 432c may define a bearing surface 498 configured to contact the collar 442. In some cases, the bearing surface 498 contacts the surface 469 of the collar 442 to stabilize the crown 400 and/or facilitate uniform rotation of the crown 400. The bearing surface 498 may be concentric with the surface 469 of the collar 442 to allow for consistent rotation of the crown 400 across all angular positions of the crown relative to the electronic device. The attachment portion 432c may also allow for consistent rotation of the crown 400 over time by reducing wear on the crown 400 and/or the collar 442. In some cases, forming the attachment portion 432c using injection molding allows the faces of the surface 498 to be appropriately spaced from one another to form an accurate fit between the crown 400 and the collar 442.

The crown 400 may be similar to the crowns 200 and 300, may include similar structural components, features, and functionality, and may interact with similar components of an electronic device. Similar to crowns 200 and 300, a user of the electronic watch may rotate crown body 420, which in turn rotates shaft 422. In some cases, outer crown body 424 is configured to receive rotational input. In some cases, the user may also pull or push the crown body 420 to translate the shaft 422 along its axis (e.g., to the left and right with reference to fig. 4E). Crown body 420 may be electrically coupled to circuitry (e.g., processing unit 296) within housing 216, but electrically isolated from housing 216.

Figure 5 illustrates an example method 500 for assembling a crown. At block 502, an isolator (e.g., isolator 228) and one or more spacers (e.g., spacers 223, 227) are placed in a groove in an outer crown body (e.g., outer crown body 224). As described above, in some embodiments, the outer crown body defines an opening and a groove (e.g., groove 231) and/or a flange (e.g., flange 284) extending from an inner sidewall defining the opening. The spacer may be positioned in the groove and/or supported by the flange. In some cases, spacers (e.g., spacers 223) are placed in the grooves and/or on the flanges, and spacers are placed on the spacers. A second spacer (e.g., spacer 227) may be placed on the spacer. The spacer and/or the second spacer may define a flange and/or a groove adapted to receive and/or engage an attachment portion of a shaft (e.g., the inner crown body 232 of the shaft 222). Generally, the isolator, spacer and outer crown body cooperate to form a shaft opening through which a shaft may extend. In some cases, the spacers and/or spacers may be omitted.

At block 504, a coping body (e.g., coping body 232) and a shaft (e.g., shaft 222) are mounted in the shaft opening. As described above, in some embodiments, the shaft and the coping body are formed as a single component. The shaft may extend through the shaft opening, and the inner crown body may engage the isolator, the outer crown body, and/or the spacer. Generally, the inner crown body is installed such that the insulator and/or spacer is located between the inner and outer crown bodies. The isolator and/or spacer may cooperate to electrically isolate the inner crown body from the outer crown body. In some cases, the shaft and/or the coping body can be treated (e.g., machined, coated, etc.) prior to installation.

At block 506, the isolator, the inner crown body, and the outer crown body are aligned along an outer surface of the crown. In some cases, the isolator, the inner crown body, and the outer crown body are pressed against a mold, such as a spline mating jig, to properly align the components relative to each other. As discussed herein, the isolator, the inner crown body, and/or the outer crown body can define an outer surface of the crown 200. The spacer, the inner crown body and/or the outer crown body may cooperate to form a smooth, continuous surface. In some cases, the spacer includes a curable substance such as a heat activated film. For example, by heating the components to cure the heat activated film, the spacers may be cured to enable alignment of the components, for example by maintaining the alignment of the components once the mold is removed.

At block 508, a bushing (e.g., bushing 229) is installed around the shaft. As described above, the bushing may be positioned at least partially around the shaft. In some embodiments, the bushing is positioned along an inner surface of a wall of the coping body. The bushing may form a bearing surface configured to contact a component of the electronic device, such as a collar. In some cases, the bushing is fixed relative to the shaft and/or crown body such that it does not translate or rotate relative to the shaft. In some cases, the bushing may rotate and/or translate relative to the shaft and/or crown body. In some cases, an adhesive may be applied to one or more components prior to block 508.

At block 510, a retainer (e.g., retainer 226) is installed and engaged with the crown body. As described above, the retainer may pull the pieces of the crown body together to secure them together. For example, the retainer may pull the inner and outer crown bodies against the isolator to compress the isolator between the inner and outer crown bodies. The retainer may define an opening through which the shaft may extend. As described above, the retainer may include one or more retaining features (e.g., retaining features 276) configured to engage with one or more engagement features (e.g., engagement features 272) of the coping body to couple the crown bodies together. In some cases, the retaining feature and/or the engagement feature are shaped to thereby cause rotation of the retainer relative to the inner crown body (and/or rotation of the inner crown body relative to the retainer) to engage and/or tighten the engagement between the retainer and the shaft. The retainer may engage the outer crown body directly or via a support plate (e.g., support plate 225) that is located between the retainer and the outer crown body. In some cases, an adhesive may be applied to one or more components after block 510.

Fig. 6 illustrates an example method 600 for assembling a crown. At block 602, a component of a crown (e.g., the component discussed with respect to crown 200, 300, or 400) is obtained. The components may include an outer crown body (e.g., outer crown body 424), an inner crown body (e.g., inner crown body 432), a shaft (e.g., shaft 422), and additional or alternative components as discussed herein.

At block 604, the part may be placed in a mold. For example, the outer crown body, the inner crown body, the shaft, and/or additional or alternative components may be placed in a mold, thereby positioning the components relative to each other in the assembled crown. In various embodiments, positioning the components relative to each other may leave gaps between the components.

At block 606, plastic (or similar material) may be injected into the mold to form one or more molded parts (e.g., fastening parts 425, attachment parts 432c, features 484a and 484b, isolators 428, etc.). In some cases, frames 604 and/or 606 may be repeated multiple times during assembly of the crown. For example, the steps of blocks 604 and 606 may be used to form a first component (e.g., an attachment portion), and the subsequent steps of blocks 604 and 606 may be used to form a subsequent component (e.g., a fastening component).

In some cases, some or all of the components of the crown may be insert molded. For example, the spacer and/or spacer may be insert molded between the shaft and the outer crown body, the bushing may be molded onto the shaft, and so forth. Similarly, the crown may include different and/or additional components. For example, the crown may include one or more adhesives or other fasteners to help couple the components together. Methods 500 and 600 are exemplary methods for assembling a crown and are not intended to be limiting. The method for assembling the crown may omit and/or add steps to the method 500 or 600. Similarly, the steps of the method 500 or 600 may be performed in a different order than the example order discussed above.

Embodiments of the crowns described herein provide a simple and robust input mechanism for receiving rotational, translational and touch inputs as described above, while simplifying part alignment, ensuring consistent rotation, and allowing for efficient manufacturing. In various embodiments, the crown may be installed in an electronic device, such as an electronic watch. Assembly of the components of the crown may occur before, simultaneously with, and/or after installation of one or more components of the crown into the electronic device.

Fig. 7A shows an example electronic device 700 (here shown as an electronic watch) having a crown 702. The crown 702 may be similar to the examples described above, and may receive force inputs along a first lateral direction, a second lateral direction, or an axial direction of the crown. The crown 702 may also receive rotational input, for example, at an outer crown body. The display 706 provides graphical output (e.g., shows information and/or other graphics). In some embodiments, the display 706 may be configured as a touch-sensitive display capable of receiving touch inputs and/or force inputs. In the present example, the display 706 shows a list of various items 761, 762, 763, all of which are exemplary tabs.

Figure 7B illustrates how the graphical output shown on the display 706 changes as the crown 702 is partially or fully rotated (as indicated by arrow 760). Rotating the crown 702 causes the list to scroll or otherwise move on the screen, thereby causing the first item 761 to no longer be displayed, the second item 762 and the third item 763 each move up the display, and the fourth item 764 is now shown at the bottom of the display. This is one example of a scrolling operation that may be performed by rotating the crown 702. Such a scrolling operation may provide a simple and efficient way to show a plurality of items relatively quickly and in sequence. The speed of the rolling operation may be controlled by the amount of rotational force applied to the crown 702 and/or the speed at which the crown 702 rotates. Faster or more powerful rotations may produce faster scrolling, while slower or weaker rotations produce slower scrolling. In some embodiments, the crown 702 can receive an axial force (e.g., a force inward toward the display 706 or the watch body) to select an item from a list.

Fig. 8A and 8B illustrate example zoom operations. The display 806 shows a picture 866 at a first magnification, as shown in FIG. 8A; picture 866 is yet another example of a marker. A user may apply a lateral force (e.g., a force along the x-axis) to the crown 802 of the electronic device 800 (shown by arrow 865), and in response, the display may zoom in on the picture 866, thereby causing a portion 867 of the picture to be shown at increased magnification. This is shown in fig. 8B. The direction of the zoom (zoom in and zoom out) and the speed of the zoom or the position of the zoom may be controlled by the force applied to the crown 802 and, in particular, by the direction of the applied force and/or the magnitude of the applied force. Applying a force to the crown 802 in a first direction may zoom in, and applying a force to the crown 802 in an opposite direction may zoom out. Alternatively, rotating the crown 802 in a first direction or applying a force thereto may change the portion of the picture that is affected by the zoom effect. In some implementations, applying an axial force (e.g., a force along the z-axis) to the crown 802 can switch between different zoom modes or inputs (e.g., the direction of zoom and the portion of the picture affected by the zoom). In other embodiments, applying a force to the crown 802 in another direction (such as along the y-axis) may return the picture 866 to the default magnification shown in fig. 8A.

Fig. 9A and 9B illustrate possible uses of crown 902 to change the operating state of electronic device 900 or otherwise switch between inputs. Turning first to fig. 9A, display 906 shows a question 968, "do you feel the direction appropriate? As shown in fig. 9B, a lateral force may be applied to crown 902 (shown by arrow 970) to answer the question. Applying force to crown 902 provides an input that is interpreted by electronic device 900 as "yes," and thus "yes" is displayed on display 906 as graphic 969. Applying a force in the opposite direction to crown 902 may provide a "no" input. Both questions 968 and graphics 969 are examples of indicia.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 9A and 9B, the force applied to crown 902 is used to provide input directly, rather than selecting from a list of options (as discussed above with reference to fig. 7A and 7B).

As previously mentioned, force or rotational input to the crown of the electronic device may control many functions beyond those listed herein. The crown may receive different force or rotation inputs to adjust the volume of the electronic device, the brightness of the display, or other operating parameters of the device. A force or rotational input applied to the crown may rotate to turn the display on or off or turn the device on or off. Force or rotational input to the crown may initiate or terminate an application on the electronic device. Further, a combination of inputs to the crown may likewise activate or control any of the aforementioned functions.

In some cases, the graphical output of the display may be responsive to input applied to a touch-sensitive display (e.g., displays 706, 806, 906, etc.) in addition to input applied to the crown. The touch sensitive display may include or be associated with one or more touch sensors and/or force sensors that extend along an output area of the display and which may use any suitable sensing elements and/or sensing techniques to detect touch inputs and/or force inputs applied to the touch sensitive display. The same or similar graphical output operations generated in response to inputs applied to the crown may also be generated in response to inputs applied to the touch-sensitive display. For example, a swipe gesture applied to the touch-sensitive display may cause the graphical output to move in a direction corresponding to the swipe gesture. As another example, a tap gesture applied to the touch-sensitive display may cause an item to be selected or activated. In this way, a user may have a number of different ways to interact with and control an electronic watch, and in particular, the graphical output of an electronic watch. Further, while the crown may provide functionality that overlaps with the touch-sensitive display, the use of the crown allows the graphical output of the display to be visible (not obstructed by a finger providing touch input).

Fig. 10 shows an exemplary electrical block diagram of an electronic device 1000, which in some cases takes the form of any of the electronic watches or other wearable electronic devices described with reference to fig. 1-9B or other portable or wearable electronic devices. Electronic device 1000 may include a display 1005 (e.g., a light emitting display), a processing unit 1010, a power supply 1015, a memory 1020 or storage device, a sensor 1025, and an input/output (I/O) mechanism 1030 (e.g., an input/output device, an input/output port, or a tactile input/output interface). The processing unit 1010 may control some or all of the operations of the electronic device 1000. The processing unit 1010 may communicate directly or indirectly with some or all of the components of the electronic device 1000. For example, a system bus or other communication mechanism 1035 may provide communication between: a processing unit 1010, a power supply 1015, a memory 1020, a sensor 1025, and an input/output mechanism 1030.

Processing unit 1010 may be implemented as any electronic device capable of processing, receiving, or transmitting data or instructions. For example, the processing unit 1010 may be a microprocessor, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), or a combination of such devices. As described herein, the term "processing unit" is intended to encompass a single processor or processing unit, a plurality of processors, a plurality of processing units, or other suitably configured one or more computing elements.

It should be noted that the components of the electronic device 1000 may be controlled by a plurality of processing units. For example, selected components of electronic device 1000 (e.g., sensor 1025) may be controlled by a first processing unit and other components of electronic device 1000 (e.g., display 1005) may be controlled by a second processing unit, where the first and second processing units may or may not be in communication with each other. In some cases, the processing unit 1010 may determine a biological parameter of a user of the electronic device, such as the user's ECG.

Power supply 1015 may be implemented using any device capable of providing power to electronic device 1000. For example, the power source 1015 may be one or more batteries or a rechargeable battery. Additionally or alternatively, the power source 1015 may be a power connector or cord that connects the electronic device 1000 to another power source, such as a wall outlet.

The memory 1020 may store electronic data, which may be used by the electronic device 1000. For example, memory 1020 may store electronic data or content such as, for example, audio and video files, documents and applications, device settings and user preferences, timing signals, control signals, and data structures or databases. Memory 1020 may be configured as any type of memory. By way of example only, the memory 1020 may be implemented as random access memory, read only memory, flash memory, removable memory, other types of storage elements, or a combination of such devices.

Electronic device 1000 can also include one or more sensors 1025 positioned almost anywhere on electronic device 1000. The sensors 1025 may be configured to sense one or more types of parameters, such as, but not limited to, pressure, light, touch, heat, movement, relative motion, biometric data (e.g., a biometric parameter), and the like. For example, the one or more sensors 1025 may include thermal sensors, position sensors, light or optical sensors, accelerometers, pressure transducers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, health monitoring sensors, and the like. Further, the one or more sensors 1025 may utilize any suitable sensing technology, including but not limited to capacitive, ultrasonic, resistive, optical, ultrasonic, piezoelectric, and thermal sensing technologies. In some examples, sensor 1025 may include one or more of the electrodes described herein (e.g., one or more electrodes on an exterior surface of a cover plate forming a portion of a housing of electronic device 1000 and/or electrodes on a crown body, button, or other housing member of the electronic device).

I/O mechanism 1030 may transmit data to and/or receive data from a user or another electronic device. The I/O devices may include a display, a touch-sensing input surface, one or more buttons (e.g., a graphical user interface "home" button), one or more cameras, one or more microphones or speakers, one or more ports (such as a microphone port), and/or a keyboard. Additionally or alternatively, the I/O devices or ports may transmit electrical signals via a communication network, such as a wireless and/or wired network connection. Examples of wireless and wired network connections include, but are not limited to, cellular networks, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, IR, and Ethernet connections.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

Claims (20)

1. An electronic watch, comprising:

a housing defining an opening;

a crown extending through the opening and configured to receive a rotational input and a translational input, the crown comprising:

an inner crown body defining an electrically conductive surface;

a conductive shaft extending from the coping body through the opening;

an outer crown body positioned around the inner crown body; and

an isolator positioned between and electrically isolating the inner crown body and the outer crown body;

a processing unit electrically coupled to the conductive surface via the conductive shaft; and

a display operably coupled to the processing unit and configured to provide a graphical output responsive to each of the rotational input and the translational input.

2. The electronic watch of claim 1, wherein:

the conductive surface is a first conductive surface;

the housing defines a second conductive surface;

the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface are used for detecting at least one voltage;

the processing unit is electrically coupled to the second conductive surface; and

the processing unit is configured to:

determining an electrocardiogram based at least in part on the at least one voltage measured at either of the first or second conductive surfaces; and

modifying the graphical output of the display in response to determining the electrocardiogram.

3. The electronic watch of claim 1, wherein said crown further comprises a retainer configured to couple said inner crown body to said outer crown body and secure said isolator between said inner crown body and said outer crown body.

4. The electronic watch of claim 3, wherein:

the inner crown body includes an engagement feature; and

the retainer extends around the inner crown body and includes a retention feature configured to engage the engagement feature of the inner crown body.

5. The electronic watch of claim 4, wherein:

the engagement feature is a first engagement feature;

the retention feature is a first retention feature;

the coping portion body further comprises a second engagement feature; and

the retainer further includes a second retention feature configured to engage the second engagement feature to couple the inner crown body to the outer crown body and secure the isolator between the inner crown body and the outer crown body.

6. The electronic watch of claim 4, wherein the retention feature is configured to engage the engagement feature when the retainer is rotated relative to the inner crown body.

7. The electronic watch of claim 1, wherein said conductive shaft is integrally formed with said inner crown body.

8. The electronic watch of claim 1, wherein said inner crown body, said outer crown body, and said spacer cooperate to define an outer surface of said crown.

9. A crown for an electronic watch, the crown comprising:

an inner crown body defining a first portion of an outer surface of the crown;

a conductive shaft extending from the coping portion body and configured to extend through an opening in a case of the electronic watch;

an outer crown body positioned about the inner crown body and defining a second portion of the outer surface of the crown; and

an isolator positioned between the outer crown body and the inner crown body and defining a third portion of the outer surface of the crown; wherein:

the isolator electrically isolates the outer crown body from the inner crown body.

10. The crown of claim 9, wherein the crown further comprises a retainer configured to secure the isolator between the outer crown body and the inner crown body.

11. The crown of claim 10, wherein the retainer is configured to compress the isolator between the outer crown body and the inner crown body when the retainer is rotated relative to the inner crown body.

12. The crown of claim 9, wherein said third portion of said outer surface is aligned with said first portion and said second portion to form a continuous outer surface.

13. The crown of claim 9, wherein said conductive shaft is a separate component attached to said inner crown body.

14. An electronic watch, comprising:

a housing defining an opening;

a processing unit positioned within the housing; and

a crown positioned along a side of the housing, the crown configured to receive rotational and translational inputs and comprising:

a conductive coping portion body;

a shaft extending from the conductive inner crown body and through the opening and electrically coupling the conductive inner crown body to the processing unit;

an outer crown body surrounding the conductive inner crown body; and

an isolator insert molded between and electrically isolating the conductive coping body and the outer crown body.

15. The electronic watch of claim 14, wherein:

the electronic watch further includes:

a display configured to provide graphical output and receive touch input; and

a sensor configured to detect at least one of the rotational input or the translational input; and

the processing unit is configured to modify the graphical output provided by the display in response to each of the rotational input, the translational input, and the touch input.

16. The electronic watch of claim 14, wherein:

the conductive inner crown body defines a first conductive surface that functions as a first electrode;

the conductive inner crown body is electrically coupled to the processing unit through the shaft;

the housing defines a second conductive surface that functions as a second electrode electrically coupled to the processing unit and electrically isolated from the first electrode; and

the processing unit is configured to determine an electrocardiogram using the first and second electrodes.

17. The electronic watch of claim 16, wherein:

the electronic watch further includes a display configured to provide a graphical output; and

the processing unit is configured to modify the graphical output of the display in response to determining the electrocardiogram.

18. The electronic watch of claim 14, wherein said shaft is integrally formed with said conductive inner crown body.

19. The electronic watch of claim 14, further comprising an attachment feature overmolded on at least one of the conductive inner crown body or the outer crown body, and configured to couple the conductive inner crown body to the outer crown body.

20. The electronic watch of claim 14, wherein said crown further comprises a retainer coupling said conductive inner crown body to said outer crown body.

Images