US-12625526-B2 - Button mechanism for waterproof housing

US12625526B2US 12625526 B2US12625526 B2US 12625526B2US-12625526-B2

Abstract

An electronic device can include: a housing defining an exterior surface and an internal volume, the exterior surface defining a recess having a base portion and a sidewall, the housing forming a continuous component; a button body positioned within the recess; an emissive object attached to the button body, the emissive object being movable between a first position and a second position and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation; a first sensor positioned within the internal volume and configured to generate a first signal in response to detecting electromagnetic radiation in the first position; a second sensor positioned within the internal volume and configured to generate a second signal; a processor positioned within the internal volume, and in electrical communication with the first sensor and the second sensor; and a memory having electronic instructions that cause the processor to respond to the first signal and the second signal.

Inventors

Matthew J. CHEUNG
Colin T. McLain

Assignees

APPLE INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220608

Claims (20)

1 . An electronic device, comprising: a housing defining an exterior surface and an internal volume, the exterior surface defining a recess having a base portion and a sidewall; a button body positioned within the recess; an emissive object attached to the button body, the emissive object being movable between a first position and a second position, the emissive object configured to emit electromagnetic radiation; a first sensor positioned within the internal volume, the first sensor configured to generate a first signal in response to detecting electromagnetic radiation of the emissive object in the first position, wherein the first sensor is positioned a first distance from the button body; a second sensor positioned within the internal volume and configured to generate a second signal, wherein the second sensor is positioned a second distance from the button body, the second distance being different from the first distance, wherein while at the second distance, the second sensor is unable to detect the electromagnetic radiation from the emissive object in excess of a noise or background filtering threshold; a processor in electrical communication with the first sensor and the second sensor; and a memory having electronic instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to respond to the first signal and the second signal.
2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a motion guide extending from the button body into the recess to guide the button body linearly toward the base portion.
3 . The electronic device of claim 2 , further comprising a retention component to retain the button body within the recess.
4 . The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the base portion defines a cavity receiving the motion guide and the retention component.
5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the emissive object comprises a magnet.
6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the emissive object comprises a near-field communications tag.
7 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the emissive object is a first emissive object, the electronic device further comprising a second emissive object configured to emit a second electromagnetic radiation, wherein a third sensor is configured to detect the second electromagnetic radiation.
8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a third sensor configured to generate a third signal, wherein the electronic instructions are configured to cause the processor to compare the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal.
9 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the third sensor is positioned at the first distance from the button body.
10 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to determine if the button body was pressed based on the second signal and based on at least one of the first signal and the third signal.
11 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the continuous component fluidically isolates the internal volume from the exterior surface.
12 . An input assembly, comprising: a waterproof wall defining an exterior surface and an interior surface, the exterior surface being exposed to an ambient environment, the interior surface being fluidically isolated from the ambient environment; an input member attached to the exterior surface and movable relative to the exterior surface, the input member comprising: a body portion defining an input surface of the input member, the body portion positioned within a recess defined in the exterior surface of the waterproof wall; a retention feature extending from the body portion and configured to limit movement of the input member relative to the waterproof wall, the retention feature positioned within a cavity extending from the recess, the cavity having a first width less than a second width of the recess, the first width and the second width measured in a direction parallel to the input surface; a first movable object attached to the input member; a second movable object attached to the input member spaced apart from the first movable object; a first sensor positioned at the interior surface and configured to output a first signal indicating motion of the first movable object through the waterproof wall; a second sensor positioned at the interior surface and configured to output a second signal indicating motion of the second movable object through the waterproof wall; a processor configured to output a third signal when the input member is depressed beyond a predetermined threshold distance relative to the waterproof wall in response to detecting that the first signal indicates motion of the first movable object beyond the predetermined threshold distance relative to the first sensor and in response to detecting that the second signal indicates motion of the second movable object beyond the predetermined threshold distance relative to the second sensor.
13 . The input assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a return mechanism disposed between the input member and the waterproof wall.
14 . The input assembly of claim 13 , wherein the return mechanism is tuned to provide feedback substantially simultaneous with the processor determining that the input member has been depressed beyond the predetermined threshold distance.
15 . The input assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a third movable object and a third sensor configured to monitor motion of the third movable object.
16 . The input assembly of claim 15 , wherein the retention feature comprises a first shaft, a second shaft, and a third shaft, each shaft extending from the input member into corresponding apertures defined by the exterior surface, the first movable object attached to the first shaft, the second movable object attached to the second shaft, the third movable object attached to the third shaft.
17 . The input assembly of claim 15 , wherein the third sensor is positioned within an internal volume at least partially defined by the interior surface, the third sensor being a first distance from the exterior surface, the first sensor and second sensor being a second, greater distance from the exterior surface.
18 . An electronic device, comprising: a housing defining an exterior surface and an internal volume, the exterior surface defining a recess; a transmissive barrier forming a waterproof interface between the recess and the internal volume; a button having a body portion having an input surface, a shaft extending from the body portion, and a retainer clip attached to the shaft, the shaft extending at least partially into a cavity in a wall of the recess, the retainer clip having an enlarged diameter relative to the shaft and limiting withdrawal of the shaft from the cavity, the shaft having a diameter less than a width of the input surface; a radiating object movable with the button and at least partially positioned within the cavity; a sensor positioned within the internal volume, the sensor configured to monitor a position of the radiating object through the transmissive barrier and generate a signal in response to the position of the radiating object; and a controller disposed in the internal volume and configured to monitor motion of the button based on the signal from the sensor.
19 . The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the housing comprises a first material, and the transmissive barrier comprises a second material, wherein the second material is different from the first material.
20 . The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the radiating object and the shaft are a unitary component.

Description

FIELD The described embodiments relate generally to electronic devices. More particularly, this disclosure relates to button assemblies in an electronic device. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a waterproof button mechanism. BACKGROUND Many traditional electronic devices include buttons, keys, or other types of input members. Traditional buttons may be difficult to seal and may allow for ingress of liquid and other contaminants into the housing of the electronic device. Systems and devices described herein include waterproof button mechanisms that address these and other issues that are associated with traditional buttons. SUMMARY According to some aspects, an electronic device can include a housing defining an exterior surface and an internal volume. The exterior surface can define a recess having a base portion and a sidewall, the base portion, the sidewall, and the housing forming a continuous component. The electronic device can include a button body positioned within the recess. An emissive object can be attached to the button body, the emissive object being movable between a first position and a second position, the emissive object configured to emit electromagnetic radiation. A first sensor can be positioned within the internal volume. The first sensor can generate a first signal in response to detecting electromagnetic radiation of the emissive object in the first position. A second sensor can be positioned within the internal volume and can generate a second signal. A processor can be in electrical communication with the first sensor and the second sensor. A memory can have electronic instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to respond to the first signal and the second signal. In some examples, the electronic device can include a motion guide extending from the button body into the recess to guide the button body linearly toward the base portion. The electronic device can include a retention component to retain the button body within the recess. The base portion can define a cavity receiving the motion guide and the retention component. The emissive object can include a magnet. The emissive object can include a near-field communications tag. In some examples, the emissive object can be a first emissive object, the electronic device can further include a second emissive object to emit a second electromagnetic radiation, wherein the second sensor can detect the second electromagnetic radiation. The electronic device can include a third sensor configured to generate a third signal, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to compare the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal. In some examples, the first sensor and the second sensor can be positioned at a first distance from the button body, and the third sensor can be positioned a second, different distance from the button body relative to the first distance. The instructions can cause the processor to determine if the button body was pressed based on the third signal and based on at least one of the first signal and the second signal. The continuous component can fluidically isolate the internal volume from the exterior surface. According to some aspects, an input assembly can include a waterproof wall defining an exterior surface and an interior surface, the exterior surface being exposed to an ambient environment, the interior surface being fluidically isolated from the ambient environment. An input member can be attached to the exterior surface and movable relative to the exterior surface. The input member can include a retention feature to limit movement of the input member relative to the waterproof wall. A first movable object can be attached to the input member. A second movable object can be attached to the input member. A first sensor can be positioned at the interior surface and configured to monitor motion of the first movable object through the waterproof wall. A second sensor can be positioned at the interior surface and configured to monitor motion of the second movable object through the waterproof wall. A processor can detect when the input member is depressed beyond a predetermined threshold distance relative to the waterproof wall based on the first signal and the second signal. In some examples, the input assembly can include a return mechanism disposed between the input member and the waterproof substrate. The return mechanism can be tuned to provide feedback substantially simultaneous with the processor determining that the input member has been depressed beyond the predetermined threshold. The input assembly can include a third movable object and a third sensor configured to monitor motion of the third movable object. In some examples, the retention feature can include a first shaft, a second shaft, and a third shaft, each shaft extending from the input member into corresponding apertures defined by the exterior surface,