An input mechanism, such as a crown, detects amounts of applied force. In various examples, an assembly including an input mechanism has an enclosure; a stem coupled to the enclosure such that the stem is rotatable, translatable, and transversely moveable with respect to the enclosure; a sensor, coupled between the stem and the housing, to which force is transferred when the stem moves with respect to the housing; and a processing unit coupled to the sensor. The processing unit is operable to determine a measurement of the force, based on a signal from the sensor.

An input mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a rotational manipulation mechanism, such as a cap or shaft. The input mechanism also includes a sensor having first capacitive elements coupled to the manipulation mechanism, second capacitive elements, and a dielectric positioned between the first and second capacitive elements. Movement of the manipulation mechanism alters the positions of the first and second capacitive elements with respect to each other and is determinable based on capacitance changes resulting therefrom. In some implementations, the second capacitive elements may be part of an inner ring or partial ring nested at least partially within an outer ring or partial ring.

An input mechanism, such as a crown, detects amounts of applied force. In various examples, an assembly including an input mechanism has an enclosure; a stem coupled to the enclosure such that the stem is rotatable, translatable, and transversely moveable with respect to the enclosure; a sensor, coupled between the stem and the housing, to which force is transferred when the stem moves with respect to the housing; and a processing unit coupled to the sensor. The processing unit is operable to determine a measurement of the force, based on a signal from the sensor.

An input mechanism, such as a crown, detects amounts of applied force. In various examples, an assembly including an input mechanism has an enclosure; a stem coupled to the enclosure such that the stem is rotatable, translatable, and transversely moveable with respect to the enclosure; a sensor, coupled between the stem and the housing, to which force is transferred when the stem moves with respect to the housing; and a processing unit coupled to the sensor. The processing unit is operable to determine a measurement of the force, based on a signal from the sensor.

An input mechanism, such as a crown, detects amounts of applied force. In various examples, an assembly including an input mechanism has an enclosure; a stem coupled to the enclosure such that the stem is rotatable, translatable, and transversely moveable with respect to the enclosure; a sensor, coupled between the stem and the housing, to which force is transferred when the stem moves with respect to the housing; and a processing unit coupled to the sensor. The processing unit is operable to determine a measurement of the force, based on a signal from the sensor.

A device for controlling the functions of a watch, which includes a crown connected to a stem, an optical action system actuated in one position of the stem from among three possible positions to determine the direction of rotation of the stem, and an electronic mechanical arrangement for controlling the functions. A guide element can rotate on a support and which has a rounded end in an annular groove of the stem to be driven in rotation, and a selection part can rotate on the support above the annular groove to be driven in rotation. The selection part includes at least one contactor for contacting a first electrical terminal on a printed circuit board in a first position of the stem, with no electrical contact in a second position of the stem, and for contacting a second electrical terminal in a third position of the stem.

An electronic device includes a processor configured to implement a user interface for allowing a user to interact with the electronic device. The electronic device further includes a bezel and at least two switches. The bezel is rotatably mounted on a housing of the electronic device. A plurality of teeth of the bezel sequentially activate the at least two switches during rotation of the bezel. The rotation of the bezel allows the user to interact with the electronic device on the basis of the user interface.

A switch device including a base member provided with a stem insertion hole, an operation member which has an engaging groove provided in an outer circumferential surface thereof, and is slidably and rotatably inserted into the stem insertion hole of the base member, a stopper member having an engaging portion which is arranged in the engaging groove of the operation member and moved along with sliding of the operation member, and a release member which releases the engaging portion from the engaging groove, in which the release member includes a pressing portion which is operated from one surface side of the base member so as to release the engaging portion from the engaging groove.

A device for controlling the functions of a watch, which includes a crown connected to a stem, an optical action system actuated in one position of the stem from among three possible positions to determine the direction of rotation of the stem, and an electronic mechanical arrangement for controlling the functions. A guide element can rotate on a support and which has a rounded end in an annular groove of the stem to be driven in rotation, and a selection part can rotate on the support above the annular groove to be driven in rotation. The selection part includes at least one contactor for contacting a first electrical terminal on a printed circuit board in a first position of the stem, with no electrical contact in a second position of the stem, and for contacting a second electrical terminal in a third position of the stem.

An electronic device is disclosed. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a rotatable mechanical input mechanism. In some examples, the electronic device comprises sense electrode positioned proximate to the mechanical input mechanism. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a capacitive sense circuit comprising drive circuitry operatively coupled to the mechanical input mechanism and configured for driving a drive signal onto the mechanical input mechanism. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a capacitive sense circuit comprising sense circuitry operatively coupled to the sense electrode and configured to measure an amount of coupling between the rotatable mechanical input mechanism and the sense electrode. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a housing, wherein the sense electrode is included in a gasket for connecting a display to the housing.