A control method and an electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes: a housing having an accommodating space, where the housing is provided with a recess around the accommodating space, and a first electrode and a second electrode are disposed on a bottom surface of the recess; and a bezel, where at least one part of the bezel is disposed in the recess. When the bezel is located at a first position of the recess, the first electrode and the second electrode are conductively connected; and when the bezel is located at a second position of the recess, the first electrode and the second electrode are conductively disconnected.

An electronic device and a control method are provided. The electronic device includes: a housing with an accommodating space, where the housing is provided with a groove surrounding the accommodating space, and a first dielectric and a second dielectric are disposed on a sidewall of the groove; and a bezel, where at least part of the bezel is disposed in the groove; and the bezel is capable of rotating around an axial direction of the housing in the groove.

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.

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 at least one electronic function of a portable object, in particular a timepiece, includes a control stem capable of moving axially between at least a first and a second stable position, or between at least a stable position and an unstable position. The control device also includes an actuation element made from an electrically insulating material rigidly connected to the control stem, as well as at least one flexible electrical switching element provided to be mechanically actuated by the actuation element when the control stem is moved axially, the at least one flexible electrical switching element being capable of moving between a closing position in which the at least one flexible electrical switching element closes an electrical circuit of the control device, and an opening position in which the at least one flexible electrical switching element opens the electrical circuit.

An electronic watch includes a housing, a user-operable watch crown mounted to the housing, an electromagnetic radiation source emitting a beam of electromagnetic radiation toward a watch crown surface, and a sensor. The beam of electromagnetic radiation depends on a coherent mixing of electromagnetic radiation within a resonant cavity of the electromagnetic radiation source. The coherent mixing includes a mixing of a first amount of electromagnetic radiation generated by the electromagnetic radiation source and a second amount of electromagnetic radiation redirected into the resonant cavity by the watch crown surface. The sensor measures a first parameter of the beam of electromagnetic radiation and determines, using the measurement of the first parameter, a value of a second parameter characterizing movement of the watch crown. The second parameter may include a direction of rotation or speed of rotation of the watch crown, or other parameters.

A capacitive sensor to determine instantaneous angular position of a rotatable element in a timepiece, such as a setting stem of a wristwatch. Static electrodes are configured to form, in conjunction with rotor electrodes of the rotatable element, a first differential capacitance pair and a second differential capacitance pair. A sensor calculation unit is configured to sense difference values from the differential capacitances pairs and to evaluate the angular position of the rotatable element from the difference values using predetermined information relating the differential capacitance values to angular position values.

An electronic watch includes a housing, a user-operable watch crown mounted to the housing, an electromagnetic radiation source emitting a beam of electromagnetic radiation toward a watch crown surface, and a sensor. The beam of electromagnetic radiation depends on a coherent mixing of electromagnetic radiation within a resonant cavity of the electromagnetic radiation source. The coherent mixing includes a mixing of a first amount of electromagnetic radiation generated by the electromagnetic radiation source and a second amount of electromagnetic radiation redirected into the resonant cavity by the watch crown surface. The sensor measures a first parameter of the beam of electromagnetic radiation and determines, using the measurement of the first parameter, a value of a second parameter characterizing movement of the watch crown. The second parameter may include a direction of rotation or speed of rotation of the watch crown, or other parameters.

A watch body includes a housing at least partially defining an interior of the watch body. A retaining feature is formed in or extends from the housing. A watch crown is retained by the retaining feature and is operable to be rotated by a user. The watch crown has a surface facing the housing. The watch crown is entirely external to the interior of the watch body. An electromagnetic radiation source is disposed within the housing and is operable to emit a beam of electromagnetic radiation toward the surface. A sensor is disposed within the housing and is operable to characterize a movement of the watch crown based at least in part on a portion of the beam of electromagnetic radiation that impinges on the surface and is redirected by the surface.

A rotation detecting apparatus includes a rotating member, detectors regarding a rotating direction of the rotating member, and a predetermined unit. Each detector detects whether a predetermined standard direction is included in detecting ranges different for each rotating member and outputs a result. The predetermined unit combines the detection result output from each detector and extracts an angle range. The predetermined unit specifies the rotating direction of the rotating member based on changes in the angle ranges extracted a plurality of times occurring in the plurality of times. The detecting range corresponding to each of the plurality of detectors is determined to be able to identify relative positions before and after a change from the angle range extracted by the predetermined unit to the angle range that is clockwise or counterclockwise apart a predetermined number or less to the angle range extracted, the predetermined number being two or more.