US 12,189,347 B2
Rotation sensor for a crown of an electronic watch
Richard A. Davis, San Carlos, CA (US); Cole J. Bowden, San Jose, CA (US); Craig A. Horton, Hillsborough, CA (US); and Ming Kun Shi, Morgan Hill, CA (US)
Assigned to Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/840,222.
Prior Publication US 2023/0400818 A1, Dec. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. G04G 21/08 (2010.01); G01D 5/26 (2006.01); G01D 5/347 (2006.01)
CPC G04G 21/08 (2013.01) [G01D 5/266 (2013.01); G01D 5/3473 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electronic watch comprising:
a housing;
a crown configured to receive a rotational input and comprising:
a knob external to the housing;
a rotor coupled to the knob and configured to rotate in response to the rotational input, the rotor defining a recess extending about a circumference of the rotor; and
a coating positioned in the recess and configured to reflect at least a portion of light incident on the coating; and
an optical sensing system configured to detect the rotational input using the reflected portion of the light.