PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10444040-B2
Application Number: US-201514866481-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Crown with three-dimensional input

Abstract:
In some examples, the apparatus comprises a mechanical input mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, an optical sensor configured to detect a rotation of the shaft and detect a movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor, and an optical sensor configured to detect light incident on the optical sensor, the light having a position and an orientation, the orientation of the light based on at least a position of the rotatable shaft, detect a rotation of the shaft, and detect a movement of the shaft based on at least a change in the orientation of the light. In some examples, a mechanical input mechanism is coupled to a housing and configured to contact a force sensor coupled to the housing in response to a user input. In some examples, the force sensor is configured to detect a position of the shaft and detect an amount of force between the shaft and the force sensor.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a mechanical input mechanism having an encoding pattern thereon comprising rotatable shaft; 
 a light source configured to direct light toward the mechanical input mechanism; and 
 an optical sensor comprising a first, second, third, and fourth sensor element configured to:
 receive light reflected by the encoding pattern disposed on the mechanical input mechanism; 
 detect a rotation of the shaft based on a pattern of dark and bright stripes in the reflected light reflected by the encoding pattern, wherein a first amount of light measured by the first sensor element is combined with a second amount of light measured by the second sensor element into a first combined light measurement value and a third amount of light measured by the third sensor element is combined with a fourth amount of light measured by the fourth sensor element into a second combined light measurement value during the detection of the rotation of the shaft; and 
 detect a tilting movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor based on the reflected light, wherein the first amount of light measured by the first sensor element is combined with the third amount of light measured by the third sensor element into a third combined light measurement value and the second amount of light measured by the second sensor element is combined with the fourth amount of light measured by the fourth sensor element into a fourth combined measurement value, an amount of the tilting movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor determined by a comparison of the third combined measurement value and the fourth combined measurement value. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor is based at least in part on a change in a magnification of an image of the reflected encoding pattern on the first, second, third, and fourth sensor elements of the optical sensor. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first, second, third, and fourth combined measurement values are determined by performing a sum; and 
 the comparison of third combined measurement value and the fourth combined measurement value is determined by calculating a difference between the third and fourth combined measurement values. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first, second, third, and fourth combined measurement values are determined by performing a sum; and 
 the comparison of third combined measurement value and the fourth combined measurement value is determined by calculating a ratio between the third and fourth measurement values. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the optical sensor includes a first sensor arrangement having a first plurality of sensor elements of a first size at a first position and a second sensor arrangement having a second plurality of sensor elements of the first size at a second position, a third plurality of sensor elements of a second size, different from the first size, at a third location, and detecting movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor is based on a relationship between a first amount of detected light incident on the first sensor arrangement with a second amount of detected light incident on the second sensor arrangement. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus comprising:
 a mechanical input mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft; 
 a light source configured to direct light toward the :mechanical :input :mechanism; and 
 an optical sensor comprising a first, second, third, and fourth SCEISOF element configured to:
 receive :reflected light reflected by an encoding pattern disposed on the mechanical input mechanism: 
 detect the :reflected light incident on the optical sensor, the light having a position and an orientation, the orientation of the reflected light based on at least a position of the rotatable shaft; 
 detect a rotation of the shaft based on a pattern of dark and bright stripes in the reflected light reflected by the encoding pattern, wherein a first amount of light measured by the first sensor element is combined with a second amount of light measured by the second sensor element into a first combined light measurement value and a third amount of light measured by the third sensor element is combined with a fourth amount of light measured by the fourth sensor element into a second combined light measurement value during the detection of the rotation of the shaft; and 
 detect a tilting movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor based on at least a change in the orientation of the pattern of dark and bright stripes in the reflected light, wherein the first amount of light measured by the first sensor element is combined with the third amount of light measured by the third sensor element into a third combined light measurement value and the second amount of light measured by the second sensor element is combined with the fourth amount of light measured by the fourth sensor element into a fourth combined measurement value, an amount of the tilting movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor determined by a comparison of the third combined measurement value and the fourth combined measurement value. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the optical sensor includes a first sensor arrangement having a first plurality of sensor elements of a first size and a second sensor arrangement having a second plurality of sensor elements of the first size, a third plurality of sensor elements of a second size, different from the first size, at a third location, and detecting movement of the shaft is based on a relationship between a first amount of detected light incident on the first sensor arrangement and a second amount of detected light incident on the second sensor arrangement. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first sensor arrangement has a first sensor orientation corresponding to a first orientation of the light and the second sensor arrangement has a second sensor orientation corresponding to a second orientation of the light, 
 the first amount of detected light greater than the second amount of detected light corresponds to the first orientation of the light, and 
 the second amount of detected light greater than the first amount of detected light corresponds to the second orientation of the light. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first sensor arrangement comprises the first plurality of sensor elements disposed along a first diagonal direction and the second sensor arrangement comprises the second plurality of sensor elements, different from the first plurality of sensor elements, disposed along a second diagonal direction, different from the first diagonal direction. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the optical sensor is further configured to detect a movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor based on a change in a magnification of an image of the shaft on the optical sensor. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the optical sensor is further configured to detect a movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor based on a change in the position of the light. 
     
     
       12. A method comprising the steps of:
 directing light toward a mechanical input mechanism having an encoding pattern disposed thereon; 
 detecting, at an optical sensor comprising a first, second, third, and fourth sensor element, a pattern of dark and bright stripes in a light reflected by the encoding pattern; 
 detecting a rotation of the mechanical input mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft based on the detected reflected light, wherein a first amount of light measured by the first sensor element is combined with a second amount of light measured by the second sensor element into a first combined light measurement value and a third amount of light measured by the third sensor element is combined with a fourth amount of light measured by the fourth sensor element into a second combined light measurement value during the detection of the rotation of the shaft; and 
 detecting a tilting movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor based on the pattern of dark and bright stripes in the detected reflected light, wherein the first amount of light measured by the first sensor element is combined with the third amount of light measured by the third sensor element into a third combined light measurement value and the second amount of light measured by the second sensor element is combined with the fourth amount of light measured by the fourth sensor element into a fourth combined measurement value, an amount of the tilting movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor determined by a comparison of the third combined measurement value and the fourth combined measurement value. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first, second, third, and fourth combined measurement values are determined by performing a sum; and 
 the comparison of third combined measurement value and the fourth combined measurement value is determined by calculating a difference between the third and fourth combined measurement values. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first, second, third, and fourth combined measurement values are determined by performing a sum; and 
 the comparison of third combined measurement value and the fourth combined measurement value is determined by calculating a ratio between the third and fourth measurement values. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising detecting a movement of the shaft based on at least a change in an orientation of the reflected light incident on the optical sensor. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the optical sensor includes a first sensor arrangement having a first plurality of sensor elements of a first size at a first position and a second sensor arrangement having a second plurality of sensor elements of the first size at a second position, a third plurality of sensor elements of a second size, different from the first size, at a third location, and detecting movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor is based on at least a relationship between a first amount of detected light incident on the first sensor arrangement and a second amount of detected light incident on the second sensor arrangement. 
     
     
       17. A method comprising the steps of:
 directing light toward a mechanical input mechanism having an encoding pattern disposed thereon; 
 detecting, at an optical sensor comprising a first, second, third, and fourth sensor element, a pattern of dark and bright snipes in a light reflected by the encoding pattern, the light having a position and an orientation, the orientation of the light based on at least a position of the mechanical input mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft; 
 detecting a rotation of the shaft, wherein a first amount of light measured by the first sensor element is combined with a second amount of light measured by the second sensor element into a first combined light measurement value and a third amount of light measured by the third sensor element is combined with a fourth amount of light measured the by the fourth sensor element into a second combined light measurement value during the detection of the rotation of the shaft; and 
 detecting a tilting movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor based on at least a change in the orientation of the pattern of dark and bright stripes in the reflected light, wherein the first amount of light measured by the first sensor element is combined with the third amount of light measured by the third sensor element into a third combined light measurement value and the second amount of light measured by the second sensor element is combined with the fourth amount of light measured by the fourth sensor element into a fourth combined measurement value, an amount of the tilting movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor determined by a comparison of the third combined measurement value and the fourth combined measurement value. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the optical sensor includes a first sensor arrangement having a first plurality of sensor elements of a first size and a second sensor arrangement a second plurality of sensor elements of the first size, and a third plurality of sensor elements of a second size, different from the first size, at a third location, and detecting movement of the shaft is based on at least a relationship between a first amount of detected light incident on the first sensor arrangement and a second amount of detected light incident on the second sensor arrangement. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first sensor arrangement has a first sensor orientation corresponding to a first orientation of the light and the second sensor arrangement has a second sensor orientation corresponding to a second orientation of the light, the first amount of detected light greater than the second amount of detected light corresponds to the first orientation of the light, and the second amount of detected light greater than the first amount of detected light corresponds to the second orientation of the light. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first sensor arrangement comprises the first plurality of sensor elements disposed along a first diagonal direction and the second sensor arrangement comprises the second plurality of sensor elements, different from the first plurality of sensor elements, disposed along a second diagonal direction, different from the first diagonal direction. 
     
     
       21. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions, that when executed by a processor causes the processor to:
 direct light toward a mechanical input mechanism having an encoding pattern disposed thereon; 
 detect, at an optical sensor comprising a first, second, third, and fourth sensor element, a pattern of dark and bright snipes in light reflected by the encoding pattern; 
 detect a rotation of the mechanical input mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft based on the detected reflected light, wherein a first amount of light measured by the sensor element is combined with a second amount of light measured by the second sensor element into a first combined measurement value and a third amount of light measured by third sensor element is combined with a fourth amount of light pleasured by the fourth sensor element into a second combined light measurement value during the detection of the rotation of the shaft; and 
 detect a tilting, movement of the shaft toward or away from an optical sensor based on the pattern of dark and bright stripes in the detected reflected light, wherein the first amount of light measured by the first sensor element is combined with the third amount of light measured by the third sensor element into a third combined light measurement value and the second amount of light measured by the second sensor element is combined with the fourth amount of light measured by the fourth sensor element into a fourth combined measurement value, an amount of the tilting movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor determined by a comparison of the third combined measurement value and the fourth combined measurement value. 
 
     
     
       22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 21 , wherein the optical sensor includes a first sensor arrangement having a first plurality of sensor elements of a first size at a first position and a second sensor arrangement having a second plurality of sensor elements of the first size at a second position, a third plurality of sensor elements of a second size, different from the first size, at a third location, and detecting movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor is based on at least a relationship between a first amount of detected light incident on the first sensor arrangement and a second amount of detected light incident on the second sensor arrangement. 
     
     
       23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the first, second, third, and fourth combined measurement values are determined by performing a sum; and 
 the comparison of third combined measurement value and the fourth combined measurement value is determined by calculating a difference between the third and fourth combined measurement values. 
 
     
     
       24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the first, second, third, and fourth combined measurement values are determined by performing a sum; and 
 the comparison of third combined measurement value and the fourth combined measurement value is determined by calculating a ratio between the third and fourth measurement values. 
 
     
     
       25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 21 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 detect the reflected light incident on the optical sensor, the light having a position and an orientation, the orientation of the reflected light based on at least a position of the rotatable shaft; and 
 detect the tilting movement of the shaft based on at least a change in the orientation of the reflected light.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This relates generally to user inputs, such as mechanical inputs, and more particularly, to sensing three-dimensional inputs from a mechanical input. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Many types of input devices are presently available for performing operations in a computing system, such as buttons or keys, mice, trackballs, joysticks, touch sensor panels, touch screens and the like. Touch screens, in particular, are becoming increasingly popular because of their ease and versatility of operation as well as their declining price. Touch screens can include a touch sensor panel, which can be a clear panel with a touch-sensitive surface, and a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) that can be positioned partially or fully behind the panel so that the touch-sensitive surface can cover at least a portion of the viewable area of the display device. Touch screens can allow a user to perform various functions by touching the touch sensor panel using a finger, stylus or other object at a location often dictated by a user interface (UI) being displayed by the display device. In general, touch screens can recognize a touch and the position of the touch on the touch sensor panel, and the computing system can then interpret the touch in accordance with the display appearing at the time of the touch, and thereafter can perform one or more actions based on the touch. In the case of some touch sensing systems, a physical touch on the display is not needed to detect a touch. For example, in some capacitive-type touch sensing systems, fringing electrical fields used to detect touch can extend beyond the surface of the display, and objects approaching near the surface may be detected near the surface without actually touching the surface. 
     In addition to touch panels/touch screens, many electronic devices may also have mechanical inputs (or mechanical input mechanisms), such as buttons, switches, and/or knobs. These mechanical inputs can control power (i.e., on/off) and volume for the electronic devices, among other functions. However, sometimes these mechanical inputs fail to provide flexible user interactions with a device, such as the ability to accept three-dimensional user inputs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to sensor arrangements for enabling inputs for manipulating a user interface on a wearable electronic device using a mechanical rotary input (e.g., a crown). In some examples, the user interface can be scrolled or scaled in response to a rotation of the crown. The direction of the scrolling or scaling and the amount of scrolling or scaling can depend on the direction and amount of rotation of the crown, respectively. In some examples, the amount of scrolling or scaling can be proportional to the change in rotation angle of the crown. In other examples, a velocity of scrolling or a velocity of scaling can depend on a velocity of angular rotation of the crown. In these examples, a greater velocity of rotation can cause a greater velocity of scrolling or scaling to be performed on the displayed view. In some examples, tilting movements such as moving the crown up-and-down or side-to-side can allow more opportunities for a user to interact with a user interface of the electronic device. In order to detect tilting movements of the crown, sensors can be added to the electronic device, or sensors capable of detecting rotation of the crown can be configured to further detect tilting movements. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary personal device in which the three-dimensional input sensing of the disclosure can be implemented according to examples of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary block diagram of components within an exemplary device according to examples of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3A-3B  illustrate components of an optical encoder that can be used to receive crown position information according to examples of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  illustrate exemplary force sensor configurations for detecting three-dimensional movement of a crown according to examples of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  illustrate an exemplary top view of an encoder arrangement for detecting three-dimensional movement of a crown according to examples of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate an exemplary encoder arrangement for detecting three-dimensional movement of a crown according to examples of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 7A-7C  illustrate a technique for using a magnification effect of a reflection pattern for detecting three-dimensional movement of a crown according to examples of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an example computing system for implementing three-dimensional input sensing according to examples of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description of examples, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which it is shown by way of illustration specific examples that can be practiced. It is to be understood that other examples can be practiced and structural changes can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates exemplary personal electronic device  100  in which the three-dimensional input sensing of the disclosure can be implemented according to examples of the disclosure. In the illustrated example, device  100  can be a watch that generally includes body  102  and strap  104  for affixing device  100  to the body of a user. That is, device  100  can be wearable. Body  102  can be designed to couple to straps  104 . Device  100  can have touch-sensitive display screen  106  (hereafter touchscreen) and crown  108 . Device  100  can also have buttons  110 ,  112 , and  114 . Though device  100  is illustrated as being a watch, it is understood that the examples of the disclosure can be implemented in devices other than watches, such as tablet computers, mobile phones, or any other wearable or non-wearable electronic device that can include a rotary input such as a crown. 
     Conventionally, the term ‘crown,’ in the context of a watch, can refer to the cap atop a stem or shaft for winding the watch. In the context of a personal electronic device  100 , the crown can be a physical component of the electronic device, rather than a virtual crown on a touch sensitive display. Crown  108  can be mechanical, meaning that it can be connected to a sensor for converting physical movement of the crown into electrical signals. Crown  108  can rotate in two directions of rotation (e.g., forward and backward, or clockwise and counter-clockwise). Crown  108  can also be pushed in toward the body  102  of device  100  and/or be pulled away from the device. Crown  108  can be touch-sensitive, for example, using capacitive touch technologies or other suitable technologies that can detect whether a user is touching the crown. Moreover, crown  108  can further be configured to tilt in one or more directions or slide along a track at least partially around a perimeter of body  102 . In some examples, more than one crown  108  can be included in device  100 . The visual appearance of crown  108  can, but need not, resemble crowns of conventional watches. Buttons  110 ,  112 , and  114 , if included, can each be a physical or a touch-sensitive button. That is, the buttons may be, for example, physical buttons or capacitive buttons. Further, body  102 , which can include a bezel, may have predetermined regions on the bezel that act as buttons. 
     Display  106  can include a display device, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), light-emitting diode (LED) display, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, or the like, positioned partially or fully behind or in front of a touch sensor panel implemented using any desired touch sensing technology, such as mutual-capacitance touch sensing, self-capacitance touch sensing, resistive touch sensing, projection scan touch sensing, or the like. Display  106  can allow a user to perform various functions by touching or hovering near the touch sensor panel using one or more fingers or other objects. 
     In some examples, device  100  can further include one or more pressure sensors (not shown) for detecting an amount of force or pressure applied to the display  106 . The amount of force or pressure applied to display  106  can be used as an input to device  100  to perform any desired operation, such as making a selection, entering or exiting a menu, causing the display of additional options/actions, or the like. In some examples, different operations can be performed based on the amount of force or pressure being applied to display  106 . The one or more pressure sensors can further be used to determine a position of the force that is being applied to display  106 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary block diagram of components within an exemplary device  200  according to examples of the disclosure. In some examples, crown  208  (which can correspond to crown  108  described above) can be coupled to encoder  204 , which can be configured to monitor a physical state or change of physical state of the crown (e.g., the position and/or rotational state of the crown), convert it to an electrical signal (e.g., convert it to an analog or digital signal representation of the position or change in position of the crown), and provide the signal to processor  202 . For instance, in some examples, encoder  204  can be configured to sense the absolute rotational position (e.g., an angle between 0-360°) of crown  208  and output an analog or digital representation of this position to processor  202 . Alternatively, in other examples, encoder  204  can be configured to sense a change in rotational position (e.g., a change in rotational angle) of crown  208  over some sampling period and to output an analog or digital representation of the sensed change to processor  202 . In these examples, the crown position information can further indicate a direction of rotation of the crown  208  (e.g., a positive value can correspond to one direction and a negative value can correspond to the other). In yet other examples, encoder  204  can be configured to detect a rotation of crown  208  in any desired manner (e.g., velocity, acceleration, or the like) and can provide the crown rotational information to processor  202 . The rotational velocity can be expressed in numerous ways. For example, the rotational velocity can be expressed as a direction and a speed of rotation, such as hertz, as rotations per unit of time, as rotations per frame, as revolutions per unit of time, as revolutions per frame, as a change in angle per unit of time, and the like. In alternative examples, instead of providing information to processor  202 , this information can be provided to other components of device  200 , such as, for example, a state machine. While the examples described herein refer to the use of rotational position of crown  208  to control scrolling or scaling of a view, it should be appreciated that any other physical state of the crown can be used to control appropriate actions. For example, tilting (e.g., up-and-down and side-to-side) of crown  208  can be used, for example, to navigate a menu or to interact with a three-dimensional environment displayed on display  206 . Accordingly, crown  208  can be used as a three-dimensional input to device  200 , provided that the encoder  204  can be configured to sense tilting of the crown. Exemplary sensor arrangements for allowing encoder  204  to sense tilting of the crown will be described in further detail below. 
     In some examples, the state of the display  206  (which can correspond to display  106  described above) can control physical attributes of crown  208 . For example, if display  206  shows a cursor at the end of a scrollable list, crown  208  can have limited motion (e.g., cannot be rotated forward). In other words, the physical attributes of the crown  208  can be conformed to a state of a user interface that is displayed on display  206 . In some examples, a temporal attribute of the physical state of crown  208  can be used as an input to device  200 . For example, a fast change in physical state can be interpreted differently than a slow change in physical state. These temporal attributes can also be used as inputs to control physical attributes of the crown. 
     Processor  202  can be further coupled to receive input signals from buttons  210 ,  212 , and  214  (which can correspond to buttons  110 ,  112 , and  114 , respectively), along with touch signals from touch-sensitive display  206 . Processor  202  can be configured to interpret these input signals and output appropriate display signals to cause an image to be produced by touch-sensitive display  206 . While a single processor  202  is shown, it should be appreciated that any number of processors or other computational devices can be used to perform the functions described above. 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates an exemplary block diagram of various components of an optical encoder  304  that can be used to receive crown position information according to examples of the disclosure. The optical encoder  304  shown in  FIG. 3  may correspond to the encoder  204  described above, or may be used in conjunction with or be a component of the encoder  204  described above. In various electronic devices, rotational and/or axial movement of a component (e.g., crown  108 ) of the electronic device may need to be determined. In such instances, an optical encoder  304  may be used to detect the rotational movement and the axial movement (e.g., movement of crown  108  away from and toward housing  116 ) of the component. For example, an optical encoder  304  according to examples of the disclosure can include a light source  322  that shines on a wheel  318  (also referred to as an encoder wheel) or a shaft of the optical encoder. The wheel  318  (or shaft) may include an encoding pattern, such as, for example, a collection of light and dark lines (or stripes, that can be arranged in a particular sequence or in a particular pattern. In some examples, the wheel  318  may be integrated with or attached by a shaft to the crown  108  described above. 
     When light from the light source  322  hits the encoding pattern, the encoding pattern can modulate the light and reflect it onto one or more sensors  320  associated with the optical encoder. In some examples, the one or more sensors  320  may be an array of photodiodes (PD). As light from the light source  322  is reflected off the wheel  318 , one or more photodiodes of the photodiode array  320  can produce an output signal (e.g., voltage or current) value associated with an amount of light received at a given sample time. Once the light is received by the photodiode array  320  at a given time period, an analog-to-digital circuit  328  can convert the analog signal received from the photodiode array to a digital signal. The corresponding digital signals can be processed, and a determination may be made as to the direction, speed and/or movement (rotational and/or axial) of the wheel. 
       FIG. 3B  illustrates an exemplary photodiode array  320  arrangement for detecting rotation of an encoder wheel according to examples of the disclosure. In some examples, the photodiode array  320  can include four photodiode banks, which can comprise individual photodiodes D 0 -D 3 . In some examples, individual photodiodes of photodiode array  320  can be formed on a single integrated circuit. Each photodiode D 0 -D 3  can produce an output signal (e.g., voltage or current) value associated with an amount of light received at the respective photodiode. In some examples, the amount of light received at each photodiode can correspond to an amount of area of each respective photodiode D 0 -D 3  that can be covered by a reflection of the encoding pattern (e.g., the collection of light and dark lines arranged in a sequence described above) reflected from wheel  318 . The reflection of the encoding pattern when wheel  318  is at its nominal position can be located at position  332 . The exemplary location of the reflection position  332  can be indicated by dashed lines spanning the photodiode array  320  in  FIG. 3B . For clarity, reflection pattern  332 ′ illustrates an exemplary reflection of a portion of the light and dark line encoding pattern near the photodiode array  320 , but it is understood that the reflection pattern can be located at the reflection position  332  spanning the photodiode array  320 . For example, the light/white portion of reflection pattern  332 ′ can be located on photodiodes D 1  and D 2  such that photodiodes D 1  and D 2  can produce relatively large output signal values. Similarly, the dark/black portion of reflection pattern  332 ′ can be located on photodiodes D 0  and D 3  such that photodiodes D 0  and D 3  can produce relatively small output signal values. It is understood that although reflection pattern  332 ′ depicts an abrupt transition between light and dark, in some examples the reflection pattern can transition more gradually. In particular, unless an optical system including light source  322 , wheel  318 , and photodiode array  320  is designed to produce a focused image at photodiode array  320 , the reflection pattern  332 ′ can have an associated blur. In some examples, rotation of the wheel  318  can result in a corresponding shift of reflection pattern  332 ′ (e.g., along the y-axis), which can result in a change in output signal values for photodiodes D 0 -D 3 . In some examples, a crown (e.g., crown  108 ) can be coupled to the wheel  318  such that the changes in output signal values associated with rotation of the wheel can be used to determine a rotation of the crown as described above regarding  FIG. 2 . In some examples, optical encoder  304  can be configured to provide additional information about the movement of crown  308  (e.g., amount of tilt up-and-down or side-to-side) as will be described in greater detail below. While examples above disclose a photodiode array  320 , it is understood that optical encoder  304  can also include a CMOS image sensor, a photovoltaic cell, a photo resistive component, a laser scanner, or other photosensitive sensor configuration. 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates an exemplary force sensor configuration for detecting three-dimensional movement of a crown  408  according to examples of the disclosure. In some examples, crown  408  (which can correspond to crown  108  above) can be coupled to a shaft  426  which can be coupled to an encoder wheel  418  (which can correspond to wheel  318  above). In some examples, the shaft  426  can pass through an opening in a housing  416  (which can correspond to housing  116  above). In some examples, force sensors  424  can be disposed around a perimeter of the opening in housing  416 . In some examples, an optical encoder  404  (which can correspond to encoder  304  above) comprising a light source  422  (which can correspond to light source  322  above) and one or more sensors  420  (which can correspond to sensors  320  above) can be used to detect the rotational movement and/or axial movement (i.e., movement along the x-axis) of the crown  408  as described above. In some examples, force sensors  424  can be used to monitor an amount of tilt of the crown  408  in the up-and-down direction (i.e., deflection in the z-axis direction) and in the side-to-side (i.e., deflection in the y-axis direction, which goes into the page) as shown. In some examples, force sensors  424  can be parallel plate capacitors having a compressible insulator (e.g., an elastomer or foam material) disposed between the parallel plates of the capacitors. In some examples, the parallel plate capacitors can be shaped (e.g., curved) to conform to the shape of the opening in housing  416  that shaft  426  passes through. When a force is applied to one or both of the parallel plates, the insulator can be compressed, and the parallel plates can come closer together. A resulting change in capacitance can be measured to determine an amount of force being applied at the force sensors  424  (i.e., a large force can cause a relatively large change in capacitance). 
       FIG. 4B  depicts a cross-sectional view of an exemplary force sensor configuration along line I-I* shown passing through the housing  416  of  FIG. 4A . In some examples, the portion of shaft  426  at the location of line I-I* can move in an opposite direction relative to a tilting of the crown  408  (e.g., when crown  408  is tilted down, shaft  426  at line I-I* can move up).  FIG. 4B  illustrates nine variations  425 A- 425 I of a portion of the cross-section through line I-I* at the opening in housing  416  in  FIG. 4A . In some examples, the force sensors  424  can be positioned such that the portion of the shaft  426  at line I-I* can contact the force sensors. In some examples, the force sensors  424  can be positioned such that a portion of the shaft  426  that can move in the same direction as the crown  408  (i.e., near where the shaft couples to the crown) can contact the force sensors. Each of the variations  425 A- 425 I can include a portion of the housing  416  that can be the portion of the housing that can have force sensors  424  mounted within it, and can include shaft  426  passing through the opening  427  in the housing. For simplicity, force sensors  424 A- 4242 D, shaft  426 , housing  416 , and opening  427  are only labeled once for variation  425 B, but it will be understood that each variation  425 A- 425 I can include the force sensors, the shaft, the housing, and the opening. In some examples, there can be four force sensors  424 A- 424 D surrounding opening  427 , and each of the four force sensors  424  can be configured to detect a force (or pressure) applied by shaft  426  on one fourth of the perimeter of the opening in housing  416 . In some examples, a different number of force sensors  424  can be used in an analogous way to the descriptions below. In some examples, each of the variations  425 A- 425 I can correspond to a different position of the shaft  426  within the opening  427  that can correspond to tilting (i.e., displacement in the y-axis direction, the z-axis direction, or both) of crown  408 . Accordingly, each variation  425 A- 425 I can correspond to a location of shaft  426  within the opening of housing  416  that can vary as the shaft is displaced in the y-axis direction and/or the z-axis direction. 
     In some examples, such as variation  425 E, shaft  426  can be in a nominal position (i.e., no external forces applied to the crown and no corresponding tilting of the shaft), such that the shaft does not come in contact with any of the force sensors  424 A- 424 D. In some examples, the displacement of shaft  426  in the directions depicted in variations  425 A,  425 C,  425 G, and  425 I can result in a force between shaft  426  and only one sensor (i.e., force sensors  424 A,  424 D,  424 B, and  424 C, respectively). In some examples, displacement of shaft  426  in the directions depicted in variations  425 B,  425 D,  425 F, and  425 H can result in a force between shaft  426  and two of the force sensors  424 A- 424 D. In one example, as depicted in  FIG. 4A , crown  408  can be deflected in a downward tilted position (i.e., displaced in the negative z-axis direction), and as described above, the cross-section of shaft  426  can accordingly move in the positive z-axis direction (i.e., up). The resulting position of shaft  426  can correspond to positions of the shaft  426  depicted in variations  425 A- 425 C, depending on whether the crown is also displaced in the y-axis direction (i.e., side-to-side). In some examples, the crown  408  can be displaced only in the downward (i.e., negative z-axis) direction without any displacement in the side-to-side (i.e., y-axis) direction. Variation  425 B can correspond to the resulting upward displacement of shaft  426  in the z-axis direction without any y-axis deflection. In some examples, the displacement of shaft  426  in variation  425 B can result in a force between shaft  426  and force sensors  424 A and  424 D. In some examples, when output signals of force sensors  424 A- 424 D indicate that shaft  426  is contacting force sensors  424 A and  424 D simultaneously, the force sensor configuration can indicate that the shaft  426  is in the “up” position (and correspondingly that the crown  408  is in the down position). In some examples, a processor or logic (not shown) can determine the direction of deflection of the shaft according to the output values of force sensors  424 A- 424 D as described above. In some examples, as crown  408  is deflected by an increasing amount in the “up” direction, force sensors  424 A and  424 D can provide a correspondingly increasing force output value. Thus, the amount of force detected by the force sensors  424  can be used to determine the amount of deflection of the crown  408 . Accordingly, the outputs of four force sensors  424 A- 424 D can be used to determine at least eight unique positions of the shaft  426  (and eight corresponding directions of crown  408  displacement), in addition to a nominal position of the shaft and crown. In addition to the direction of crown  408  displacement, the force sensors  424  can detect an amount of displacement in the determined direction by measuring the amount of capacitance change associated with a compression of the contacted force sensors as described above. In some examples, such as variations  425 B,  425 D,  425 F, and  425 H, two force sensors can each provide information about an amount of force experienced by each respective force sensor  424 . In some examples, a relative amount of force detected by each respective force sensor  424  can be used for determining the direction and/or the amount of displacement of crown  408 , as opposed to relying only on identification of the force sensor(s) contacted by the shaft for determining the direction of displacement. In some examples, the direction determination can give more weight to a force sensor  424  that detects a greater amount of force. For example, for variation  425 B, shaft  426  can contact both force sensors  424 A and  424 D and compress force sensor  424 A twice as much as force sensor  424 D (e.g., two-thirds of a contacting portion of the shaft can contact force sensor  424 A and one-third of a contacting portion of the shaft can contact force sensor  424 D). In some examples, a resulting direction of displacement can be determined based on the relative amounts of force experienced by the contacted force sensors  424  (e.g. by combining the two measurements by ratio or otherwise). While the examples above describe an encoder including four force sensors, in some examples, a different number of force sensors can be used. In some examples, increasing the number of force sensors can correspondingly increase the number of detectable contact positions (and corresponding directions of crown  408  displacement). 
     In some examples, an optical encoder (e.g., optical encoder  304  above), that can be used to detect rotation of crown  408 , can be used in conjunction with force sensors  424  to form a sensing system capable of detecting deflection (i.e. tilt) and rotation of the crown simultaneously. In some examples, any movement of the crown  408  can correspondingly cause movement in the reflected encoding pattern on the photodiode array  420 . Movement of the reflected encoding pattern can change the photodiode outputs, and accordingly can be interpreted as a rotational input, regardless of whether any actual rotation of the crown  408  has occurred. In some examples, tilting of crown  408  can result in movement of the encoding pattern reflected from encoder wheel  418  onto photodiode array  420 , and accordingly the tilting can be interpreted as rotation. In some examples, this effect can be mitigated by compensating the photodiode outputs of photodiode array  420  for non-rotational movement of the reflected pattern. In some examples, a compensation scheme can be used that utilizes the fact that crown  408  movements (e.g., a sideways tilt with no rotation) can register an output signal at both the optical encoder and the force sensors  424 . In some examples, a characteristic amount of movement of the reflected encoding pattern associated with each of the nine positions of shaft  426  in variations  425 A- 425 I (which can be detected by the force sensors  424 ) can be stored in memory. A processor or logic can be used to subtract (or add) a characteristic amount of movement of the reflected encoding pattern that can be associated with a particular contact state (i.e., a particular measurement from force sensors  424 A- 424 D) from the photodiode array  420  outputs. The result of the subtraction (or addition) can thus remove the tilting component of the movement of the reflected pattern from the photodiode array  420  outputs, and the resulting compensated signal(s) can be used to detect an amount and direction of rotation of the encoder wheel  418  as described above. For example, a sideways tilt of crown  408  with no accompanying rotation can result in movement of the reflected encoding pattern such that the uncompensated photodiode outputs can appear to be consistent with rotation of the crown. The compensation described above can correct the photodiode outputs such that no rotation is detected, in accordance with the input (i.e., sideways tilt of crown  408  with no accompanying rotation) described above. While the examples above describe compensating for tilting components associated with tilting of the crown  408  from the photodiode array  420  outputs, examples below illustrate exemplary configurations for utilizing movement of the reflection pattern (e.g.,  332 ′ above) associated with tilting of the crown for detecting three-dimensional movement of the crown. 
       FIG. 5A-5C  illustrate an exemplary top view of encoder  504  arrangement (which can correspond to encoder  204 ) for detecting three-dimensional movement of a crown  508  (which can correspond to crown  108  above) according to examples of the disclosure. In some examples, crown  508  can be coupled to an encoder wheel  518  (which can correspond to wheel  318  above) by a shaft  526  (which can correspond to shaft  326  above). In some examples, the shaft can be used to couple the crown  508  on the outside of a housing (e.g., housing  116  above) to the encoder wheel  518  on the inside of the housing. The encoder  504  can be an optical encoder comprising a light source  522  (which can correspond to light source  322  above), a photodiode array  520  (which can correspond to photodiode array  320  above), and the encoder wheel  518 . As explained above, light from the light source  522  can be reflected off the encoder wheel  518  onto the photodiode array  520 , and one or more photodiodes of the photodiode array can produce an output signal (e.g., voltage or current) value associated with an amount of light received at a given sample time. In some examples, the photodiode array  520  can include four banks, e.g., D 0 -D 3 . In some examples, two or more of the banks of the photodiode array  520  can be further broken into photodiode pairs, for example, photodiode banks D 0  and D 3  of  FIG. 3B  can be broken into photodiode pairs D 0 A/D 0 B and D 3 A/D 3 B, respectively. In some examples, the banks broken into pairs (A/B) can be the banks at each edge of the photodiode array  520 . In some examples, breaking the banks at each edge of the photodiode array  520  into pairs can enable detection of three-dimensional movement of the crown  508 , as will be described in further detail below. While the examples above describe a photodiode array broken into four banks D 0 -D 3 , it is understood that a different number of banks (e.g., three banks, or five or more banks) can be used for detecting three-dimensional movement of the crown  508 . Similarly, while the examples above describe breaking banks into pairs, it is understood that some banks can be broken into groupings of three or more sensors for detecting three-dimensional movement of the crown  508 . Furthermore, although the examples above describe the banks of photodiode array  520  broken into pairs (or groupings of three or more sensors as described above) at each edge, it is understood that photodiode banks other than the banks at the edge can be broken into pairs (or groupings) and that more than two photodiode banks in the photodiode array can be broken into pairs (or groupings). In some examples, photodiode banks in the photodiode array  520  can be formed on a single integrated circuit. Any of the variations above, or any combination thereof, can be used for detecting three-dimensional movement of crown  508  according to examples of the disclosure. 
     As further illustrated by  FIG. 5A , because encoder wheel  518  can be coupled to crown  508  by a rigid shaft  526 , movement of the crown can be captured by measuring movement of the encoder wheel using the encoder arrangement  504 . The state of the crown  508  depicted in  FIG. 5A  can represent a resting, i.e., nominal position, of the crown without any external forces being applied to the crown. Accordingly, the position of encoder wheel  518  in  FIG. 5A  can represent a state of the crown that is a nominal position for measuring relative movement and/or deflection of the crown in each of the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis (coming out of the page) directions. Accordingly, a reflection position  532  of the encoding pattern onto the photodiode array  520  can be configured to be centered over the photodiode array. The reflection position  532  is illustrated as dotted lines to simplify the visual appearance of the illustration. It is understood that in some examples, the reflection of the encoder wheel  518  (which can be considered an image of the encoder wheel) can also have a light/white and dark/black pattern corresponding to the pattern on the encoder wheel, as previously described. In some examples, the signal output from each of the photodiodes can increase proportionally with the total amount of area of the individual photodiode that is covered by a light section of the reflected encoder wheel  518  pattern. In some examples, the heights of arrows  534 A,  534 B,  535 A, and  535 B can be indicative of the amount or intensity of light detected by photodiodes D 0 A, D 0 B, D 3 A, and D 3 B, respectively. As illustrated in  FIG. 5A , in the nominal position, the reflection position  532  can be centered such that the amount of area illuminated by the reflected encoder pattern (and corresponding photodiode signal output values) can be configured to be equal across photodiode pairs (i.e., D 0 A=D 0 B and D 3 A=D 3 B). 
       FIG. 5B  illustrates an exemplary top view of encoder arrangement  504  for measuring a deflection of crown  508  in the positive y-axis direction that can occur when a force  533  is applied to crown  508  in the positive y-axis direction. In some examples, the force  533  in the positive y-axis direction can cause the crown  508  to deflect in the positive y-axis direction, and can also result in a corresponding rotation (i.e., counter-clockwise as viewed from above) of the crown about the z-axis. In some examples, the reflection position  532  of the encoder wheel  518  reflection can correspondingly rotate about the z-axis. In some examples, this rotation can increase the amount of reflected light incident on photodiodes D 0 A and D 3 B and decrease the amount of light incident on photodiodes D 0 B and D 3 A relative to the nominal position illustrated in  FIG. 5A . To further illustrate the above effect, the heights of arrows  534 A,  534 B,  535 A, and  535 B can indicate the amount or intensity of light detected by photodiodes D 0 A, D 0 B, D 3 A, and D 3 B respectively. Thus, according to the relationships described above, photodiodes expected to increase or decrease together in the presence of deflection of crown  508  in the y-axis direction can be grouped. For example, photodiodes D 0 A and D 3 B can be grouped together, and photodiodes D 0 B and D 3 A can be grouped together. In some examples, output signals from grouped photodiodes can be aggregated to combine their outputs (i.e., D 0 A+D 3 B and D 0 B+D 3 A). In some examples, an amount and direction of deflection of the crown in the y-axis direction can be measured by calculating a ratio between the aggregated values. Accordingly, y-axis direction deflection of the crown  508  illustrated in  FIG. 5B  can be calculated according to the equation:
 
 Y =( D 0 A+D 3 B )/( D 0 B+D 3 A )  (1)
 
where Y can be a value indicative of an amount of movement of the crown  508 , and D 0 A, D 0 B, D 3 A, and D 3 B can be signal outputs from the photodiodes D 0 A, D 0 B, D 3 A, and D 3 B, respectively. In some examples, applying the nominal position (i.e., D 0 A=D 0 B and D 3 A=D 3 B) described above to eq. (1) can produce a result of Y=1. When applying the example described above for a positive y-axis displacement of crown  508 , D 0 A+D 3 B (i.e., the numerator of eq. (1)) can increase and D 0 B+D 3 A (i.e., the denominator of eq. (1)) can decrease, and the value Y can correspondingly increase. Thus, an increase in the value Y (i.e., Y&gt;1) can correspond to a deflection of crown  508  in the positive y-axis direction.
 
     In some examples (e.g., as illustrated in  FIG. 5C ), a force  533  in the negative y-axis direction can cause the crown  508  to deflect in the negative y-axis direction, which can also result in a rotation (i.e., clockwise as viewed from above) of the crown about the z-axis. As should be understood from the description above, a deflection of the crown  508  in the negative y-axis direction can cause D 0 B+D 3 A (i.e., the denominator of eq. (1)) to increase and cause D 0 A+D 3 B (i.e., the numerator of eq. (1)) to decrease. Accordingly when eq. (1) is applied, the value Y can decrease from the nominal value Y=1 such that Y&lt;1. Thus, a value of Y&lt;1 can correspond to a deflection of crown  508  in the negative y-axis direction. Accordingly, it is understood that the encoder arrangement described above can be used to detect deflections of crown  508  in the y-axis direction due to force  533  applied in the y-axis direction. It should also be understood that the while the value Y has been described in terms of an amount and direction displacement of the crown in the y-axis direction above, the value Y can also be used to determine an amount of rotation (i.e., degrees of rotation) of the crown about the z-axis. For example, according to eq. (1), as an amount of rotation of crown  508  in a counter-clockwise (viewed from the top) direction increases (corresponding to increased deflection of the crown in the positive y-axis direction), the value Y can correspondingly increase. Conversely, according to eq. (1), as an amount of rotation of the crown  508  in a clockwise (viewed from the top) direction increases (corresponding to increased deflection of the crown in the negative y-axis direction), the value Y can correspondingly decrease. 
     It should be noted that although eq. (1) above calculates a value Y as a ratio between aggregated grouped signals, an analogous calculation can be performed by subtracting aggregated grouped signals according to the equation:
 
 Y ′=( D 0 A+D 3 B )−( D 0 B+D 3 A )  (2)
 
where Y′ can be a value indicative of an amount of movement of the crown  508 , and D 0 A, D 0 B, D 3 A, and D 3 B can be signal outputs from the photodiodes D 0 A, D 0 B, D 3 A, and D 3 B, respectively. In the nominal position (i.e., D 0 A=D 0 B and D 3 A=D 3 B), eq. (2) can produce a result of Y′=0. In some examples, a deflection of crown  508  in the positive y-axis direction can cause D 0 A+D 3 B to increase relative to the nominal position and can cause D 0 B+D 3 A to decrease relative to the nominal position. Accordingly when eq. (2) is applied, the value Y′ can increase from the nominal value Y ′=0 such that Y′&gt;0. Similarly, deflection of crown  508  in the negative y-axis direction can cause the value Y to decrease from the nominal value such that Y′&lt;0. As explained above, the value Y′ can also be used to determine an amount of rotation of the crown about the z-axis. In some examples, the value Y′ (or Y) can be converted into an angle of rotation of crown  508  by an algorithm, a look up table, or the like. While  FIGS. 5A-5C  can describe detection of y-axis direction deflections of a crown using the optical encoder, z-axis direction deflections of the crown  508  can also be detected using the optical encoder  504 , as will be described with reference to  FIGS. 6A-6C .
 
       FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate an exemplary encoder  604  arrangement (which can correspond to the encoder  504  arrangement above) for detecting three-dimensional movement of a crown  608  (which can correspond to crown  108  above) according to examples of the disclosure. In  FIGS. 6A-6C , the two sets of axes depicted can represent one coordinate system, and the different axes can provide reference orientations for different angle views of illustrated components. For example, the orientation of components shown from a top view can correspond to the set of axes on the left half of the figure with y-axis direction pointing up, and the orientation of components shown from a side view can correspond to the set of axes on the right half of the figure with z-axis direction pointing up.  FIG. 6A  depicts both a side view of an exemplary encoder  604  arrangement (on the right) and a top view of a reflection position  632  (which can correspond to reflection position  532  above) of the encoder wheel  618  (which can correspond to wheel  318  above) reflection onto the photodiode array  620  (which can correspond to photodiode array  320  above) (on the left). In some examples, photodiode array  620  can be configured according to any of the photodiode arrangement variations or combinations thereof described regarding photodiode array  520  above. In some examples, crown  608  can be coupled to shaft  626  (which can correspond to shaft  426  above) and the shaft can be used to couple encoder wheel  618  to the crown through an opening in the housing  616  (which can correspond to housing  116  above). In some examples, encoder wheel  618  may include an encoding pattern, such as, for example, a collection of light and dark lines that are arranged in a particular sequence or in a particular pattern. In some examples, the position of the encoder wheel  618  illustrated in  FIG. 6A  can represent the nominal position of the crown without any external forces being applied to the crown, as described above with regards to  FIG. 5A . As described above, a reflection position  632  (which can correspond to reflection position  532  above) of the encoding pattern onto the photodiode array  620  can be configured to be centered over the photodiode array. As further described above, in the nominal position, the photodiode signal output values can be configured to be equal across photodiode pairs (i.e., D 0 A=D 0 B and D 3 A=D 3 B). 
       FIG. 6B  illustrates an exemplary encoder  604  arrangement for measuring a deflection of crown  608  in the negative z-axis direction that can occur when a force  633  (which can correspond to force  533  above) is applied to crown  508  in the negative z-axis direction. In some examples, the force  633  in the negative z-axis direction can cause the crown  608  to deflect in the negative z-axis direction which can also result in a rotation (i.e., clockwise as viewed from the side) of the crown about the y-axis. In some examples, the encoder wheel  618  can experience a corresponding rotation about the y-axis. In some examples, the reflection position  632  of the encoder wheel  618  reflection can correspondingly shift in the negative x-axis direction, as will be described below. Specifically, in some examples, the encoder wheel  618  can have a reflective surface, such that light incident on the encoder wheel can experience specular reflection (i.e., angle of incidence equal to angle of reflection). In some examples, when the encoder wheel  618  rotates about the y-axis (and correspondingly moves away from the photodiode array  620  and light source  622 ), the angle of incidence (relative to the surface normal) from light transmitted by light source  622  can increase relative to the nominal position, and due to specular reflection, the angle of reflection can also increase. As a result of these geometries, the reflection position  632  can be shifted in the negative x-axis direction relative to the nominal position. The shift of the reflection position  632  can increase the amount of reflected light incident on photodiodes D 0 A and D 3 A and decrease the amount of reflected light incident on photodiodes D 0 B and D 3 B relative to the nominal position illustrated in  FIG. 6A . To further illustrate the above effect, the heights of arrows  634 A,  634 B,  635 A, and  635 B can indicate the amount or intensity of light detected by photodiodes D 0 A, D 0 B, D 3 A, and D 3 B, respectively. Thus, according to the relationships described above, photodiodes expected to output increased or decreased signals together in the presence of a deflection of crown  608  in the z-axis direction can be grouped. For example, photodiodes D 0 A and D 3 A can be grouped together, and photodiodes D 0 B and D 3 B can be grouped together. In some examples, output signals from grouped photodiodes can be aggregated to combine their outputs (i.e., D 0 A+D 3 A and D 0 B+D 3 B). In some examples, an amount and direction of deflection of the crown  608  in the z-axis direction can be measured by calculating a ratio between the aggregated values. Accordingly, z-axis deflection in the position of crown  508  illustrated in  FIG. 6B  can be calculated according to the equation:
 
 Z =( D 0 A+D 3 A )/( D 0 B+D 3 B )  (3)
 
where Z can be a value indicative of an amount of movement of the crown  608 , and D 0 A, D 0 B, D 3 A, and D 3 B can be signal outputs from the photodiodes D 0 A, D 0 B, D 3 A, and D 3 B, respectively. In some examples, applying the nominal position (i.e., D 0 A=D 0 B and D 3 A=D 3 B) described above to eq. (3) can produce a result of Z=1. When applying the example described above for a negative z-axis displacement of crown  608 , D 0 A+D 3 A (i.e., the numerator) can increase and D 0 B+D 3 B (i.e., the denominator) can decrease, and the value Z can correspondingly increase. Thus, an increase in the value Z (i.e., Z&gt;1) can correspond to a deflection of crown  508  in the negative z-axis direction. It should be understood that in some examples, displacement of the crown  608  in the negative x-axis direction (i.e. toward the housing  616 ) can result in a shift in the reflection position  632  of the encoder wheel  618  reflection similar to the shift depicted in  FIG. 6B  and described above. In some examples, displacement of the crown  608  in the x-axis direction can be distinguished from displacement of the crown  608  in the z-axis direction based on a change in magnification of the encoder pattern, which will described in further detail below.
 
     In some examples (e.g., as illustrated in  FIG. 6C ), a force  633  in the positive z-axis direction can cause the crown  608  to deflect in positive z-axis direction and rotate in the counter-clockwise direction (as viewed from the side) about the y-axis. As should be understood from the description above, a force  633  in the positive z-axis direction can cause D 0 B+D 3 B (i.e., the denominator of eq. (3)) to increase and cause D 0 A+D 3 A (i.e., the numerator of eq. (3)) to decrease. Accordingly when eq. (3) is applied, the value Z can decrease from the nominal value Z=1 such that Z&lt;1. Thus, a value of Z&lt;1 can be associated with a deflection of crown  608  in the positive z-axis direction. Accordingly, it is understood that the encoder arrangement described above can be used to detect deflections of crown  608  in the z-axis direction due to force  633  applied in the z-axis direction. It should also be understood that the while the value Z has been described in terms of an amount and direction displacement of the crown in the z-axis direction above, the value Z can also be used to determine an amount of rotation (i.e., degrees of rotation) of the crown about the y-axis. For example, according to eq. (3), as an amount of rotation of crown  608  in a clockwise (viewed from the side) direction increases (corresponding to increased deflection of the crown in the negative z-axis direction), the value Z can correspondingly increase. Conversely, according to eq. (3), as an amount of rotation of the crown  608  in a counter-clockwise (viewed from the side) direction increases (corresponding to increased deflection of the crown in the positive z-axis direction), the value Z can correspondingly decrease. 
     It should be noted that although eq. (3) above calculates a value Z as a ratio between aggregated grouped signals, an analogous calculation can be performed by subtracting aggregated grouped signals according to the equation:
 
 Z ′=( D 0 A+D 3 A )−( D 0 B+D 3 B )  (4)
 
where Z′ can be a value indicative of y-axis deflection, and D 0 A, D 0 B, D 3 A, and D 3 B can be signal outputs from the photodiodes D 0 A, D 0 B, D 3 A, and D 3 B, respectively. In the nominal position (i.e., D 0 A=D 0 B and D 3 A=D 3 B), eq. (4) can produce a result of Z′=0. In some examples, a deflection of crown  608  in the negative z-axis direction can cause D 0 A+D 3 A to increase relative to the nominal position and can cause D 0 B+D 3 B to decrease relative to the nominal position. Accordingly when eq. (4) is applied, the value Z′ can increase from the nominal value Z′=0 such that Z′&gt;0. Similarly, a deflection of crown  608  in the positive z-axis direction can cause Z′ to decrease from the nominal value such that Z′&lt;0. As explained above, the value Z′ can also be used to determine an amount of rotation of the crown about the z-axis. In some examples, the value Z′ (or Z) can be converted into an angle of rotation of crown  508  by an algorithm, a look up table, or the like. It should be understood that in some examples, displacement of the crown  608  in the positive x-axis direction (i.e. away from the housing  616 ) can result in a shift in the reflection position  632  of the encoder wheel  618  reflection similar to the shift depicted in  FIG. 6C  and described above. In some examples, displacement of the crown  608  in the x-axis direction can be distinguished from displacement of the crown in the z-axis direction based on a change in magnification of the encoder pattern, which will described in further detail below.
 
     Additionally or alternatively to the z-axis direction crown deflection detection described with reference to  FIGS. 6A-6C , a magnification effect of an encoding pattern on the shaft of the crown can be used to determine z-axis direction deflection of the crown.  FIGS. 7A-7C  illustrate a technique for using a magnification effect of a reflection pattern for detecting three-dimensional movement of a crown according to examples of the disclosure. Specifically,  FIGS. 7A-7C  illustrate a magnification effect of a reflection pattern  732 ′ that can be used for detecting deflection of a crown  608  in the z-axis direction. In  FIGS. 7A-7C , the two sets of axes depicted can represent one coordinate system, and the different axes can provide reference orientations for different angle views of illustrated components. For example, the orientation of components shown from a top view can correspond to the set of axes on the left half of the figures with y-axis direction pointing up, and the orientation of components shown from a side view can correspond to the set of axes on the right half of the figures with z-axis direction pointing up.  FIG. 7A  illustrates a top view of photodiode array  720  (which can correspond to photodiode array  620 ) and reflection position  732  (which can correspond to reflection position  632  above). Reflection pattern  732 ′ can be a reflection of an encoding pattern (e.g., light and dark stripes) disposed on encoder wheel  718  (which can correspond to encoder wheel  318  above), as previously described. In some examples, light stripes can correspond to the white portions of the reflection pattern  732 ′ and dark stripes can correspond to the black portions of the reflection pattern. 
     Reflection position  732  and reflection pattern  732 ′ can be associated with a nominal position of crown  708 , as described in  FIG. 6A  above. In some examples, light incident on encoder wheel  718  can be reflected from a curved surface of the encoder wheel. Thus, the reflection pattern  732 ′, which can be considered an image of the encoding pattern disposed on wheel  714 , can have a magnification factor that can be a function of the curvature of the encoder wheel  718  and the distances between the light source  722  (which can correspond to light source  422  above), the photodiode array  720 , and the encoder wheel. Accordingly, a size of the reflection pattern  732 ′ can be determined based on the dimensions of the pattern on the encoding wheel  718  and the magnification factor associated with the distances between the above components of optical encoder  704  (which can correspond to optical encoder  404  above). Thus, because the crown  708  can be coupled to the encoder wheel  718 , the size of reflection pattern  732 ′ (i.e., width and height of the light and dark stripes) can also be associated with the position of crown  708 , and in particular the dimensions of pattern  732 ′ in  FIG. 7A  can be associated with the nominal position of the crown. 
       FIG. 7B  illustrates an exemplary reflection position  732  and reflection pattern  732 ′ that can be associated with a crown  708  displaced in the negative z-axis direction by a force  733  in the negative z-axis direction as described in  FIG. 6B . As a result, the reflection position  732  can correspondingly move in the negative x-axis direction such that the amount of light on photodiodes D 0 A and D 3 A can increase while the amount of light on photodiodes D 0 B and D 3 B can decrease as described regarding  FIG. 6B  above. In some examples, corresponding rotation of the encoder wheel  718  about the y-axis can move the curved surface of the encoder wheel away from the photodiode array  720 . In some examples, the corresponding change of distances between the components of the optical encoder  704  due to the above movement of encoder wheel  718  can result in an increased magnification factor of the reflected pattern  732 ′. Specifically, the magnification factor can increase when the curved surface of the encoder wheel  718  moves away from the light source  722  and photodiode array  720  relative to the nominal position described above in  FIG. 7A . When compared with the reflection pattern  732 ′ for the nominal position above, the light stripe can be magnified according to the increased magnification factor. In some examples, the amount of magnification increase of the reflection pattern  732 ′ can change the photodiode signal outputs (i.e., more photodiodes can simultaneously detect a larger light stripe). For example, as compared with  FIG. 7A , photodiodes D 0 A, D 0 B, D 3 A and/or D 3 B can detect more light, because the light stripe in the magnified reflection pattern  732 ′ of  FIG. 7B  can be incident on those photodiodes, where it may not have been in  FIG. 7A . Thus, the increased size of the reflection pattern  732 ′ can be used to determine the amount of deflection of the crown  708  in the negative z-axis direction resulting from the negative z-axis direction force  733 . In some examples, the same information can be used to determine an angle of rotation of the crown  708  about the y-axis, as described above. In some examples, the increased size of the reflection pattern  732 ′ can be used in conjunction with the shifting of the reflection position  732  in the x-axis direction as described above regarding  FIG. 6B  to determine the amount of deflection of the crown  708  in the negative z-axis direction (and/or angle of rotation about the y-axis) resulting from the negative z-axis direction force  733 . 
       FIG. 7C  illustrates an exemplary reflection position  732  and reflection pattern  732 ′ that can be associated with a crown  708  displaced in the positive z-axis direction by a force  733  in the positive z-axis direction as described in  FIG. 6C . As a result, the reflection position  732  can correspondingly move in the positive x-axis direction such that the amount of light on photodiodes D 0 A and D 3 A can decrease while the amount of light on photodiodes D 0 B and D 3 B can increased as described regarding  FIG. 6C  above. In some examples, corresponding rotation of the encoder wheel  718  about the y-axis can move the curved surface of the encoder wheel toward the photodiode array  720 . In some examples, the corresponding change of distances between the components of the optical encoder  704  due to the above movement of encoder wheel  718  can result in an increased magnification factor of the reflected pattern  732 ′. The magnification factor can decrease when the curved surface of the encoder wheel  718  moves closer to the light source  722  and photodiode array  720  relative to the nominal position described above in  FIG. 7A . In some examples, the decreased magnification can correspondingly result in multiple light stripes appearing within the reflection pattern  732 . In some examples, the amount of magnification decrease of the reflection pattern  732 ′ can change the photodiode signal outputs (e.g., multiple light stripes can be detected at once). Thus, the decreased size of the reflection pattern  732 ′ can be used to determine the amount of deflection of the crown in the positive z-axis direction  708  resulting from the positive z-axis direction force  733 . In some examples, the same information can be used to determine an angle of rotation of the crown  708  about the y-axis, as described above. In some examples, the decreased size of the reflection pattern  732 ′ can be used in conjunction with the shifting of the reflection position  732  in the x-axis direction, as described above regarding  FIG. 6C , to determine the amount of deflection of the crown  708  in the positive z-axis direction (and/or angle of rotation about the y-axis) resulting from the positive z-axis direction force  733 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an example computing system  800  for implementing three-dimensional input sensing according to examples of the disclosure. Computing system  800  can be included in, for example, electronic device  100  or any mobile or non-mobile computing device and/or wearable device that includes a crown  808  (which can correspond to crown  108  above). Computing system  800  can include a touch sensing system including one or more touch processors  802 , touch controller  806  and touch screen  814 . Touch screen  814  can be a touch screen adapted to sense touch inputs, as described in this disclosure. Touch controller  806  can include circuitry and/or logic configured to sense touch inputs on touch screen  814 . In some examples, touch controller  806  and touch processor  802  can be integrated into a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). 
     Computing system  800  can also include host processor  810  for receiving outputs from touch processor  802  and performing actions based on the outputs. Host processor  810  can be connected to program storage  812 . For example, host processor  810  can contribute to generating an image on touch screen  814  (e.g., by controlling a display controller to display an image of a user interface (UI) on the touch screen), and can use touch processor  802  and touch controller  806  to detect one or more touches on or near touch screen  814 . Host processor  810  can also contribute to sensing and/or processing mechanical inputs (e.g., rotation, tilting, displacement, etc.) from a crown  808  (which can be a type of mechanical input mechanism) that can be detected by an encoder  804  (which can correspond to encoder  204  above). The touch inputs from touch screen  814  and/or mechanical inputs from the crown  808  can be used by computer programs stored in program storage  812  to perform actions in response to the touch and/or mechanical inputs. For example, touch inputs can be used by computer programs stored in program storage  812  to perform actions that can include moving an object such as a cursor or pointer, scrolling or panning, adjusting control settings, opening a file or document, viewing a menu, making a selection, executing instructions, operating a peripheral device connected to the host device, answering a telephone call, placing a telephone call, and other actions that can be performed in response to touch inputs. Mechanical inputs from a mechanical input mechanism can be used by computer programs stored in program storage  812  to perform actions that can include changing a volume level, locking the touch screen, turning on the touch screen, taking a picture, navigating through three-dimensional menus and environments, and other actions that can be performed in response to mechanical inputs. Host processor  810  can also perform additional functions that may not be related to touch and/or mechanical input processing. 
     Note that one or more of the functions described above can be performed by firmware stored in memory in computing system  800  and executed by touch processor  802 , or stored in program storage  812  and executed by host processor  810 . The firmware can also be stored and/or transported within any non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. In the context of this document, a “non-transitory computer-readable storage medium” can be any medium (excluding signals) that can contain or store the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The computer-readable storage medium can include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus or device, a portable computer diskette (magnetic), a random access memory (RAM) (magnetic), a read-only memory (ROM) (magnetic), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) (magnetic), a portable optical disc such a CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-R, or DVD-RW, or flash memory such as compact flash cards, secured digital cards, USB memory devices, memory sticks, and the like. 
     The firmware can also be propagated within any transport medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. In the context of this document, a “transport medium” can be any medium that can communicate, propagate or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The transport medium can include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic or infrared wired or wireless propagation medium. 
     Therefore, according to the above, some examples of the disclosure are directed to an apparatus comprising: a mechanical input mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft; and an optical sensor configured to: detect a rotation of the shaft; and detect a movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, detecting the movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor is based on a change in a magnification of an image of the shaft on the optical sensor. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, a pattern is disposed on the shaft, and the change in the magnification of the image of the shaft is determined based on a change in a size of an image of at least a portion of the pattern. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the optical sensor is further configured to detect light incident on the optical sensor, and detect the movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor based on a change in a position of the light incident on the optical sensor. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the optical sensor includes a first sensor arrangement having a first position and a second sensor arrangement having a second position, and detecting movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor is based on a relationship between a first amount of detected light incident on the first sensor arrangement and a second amount of detected light incident on the second sensor arrangement. 
     Some examples of the disclosure are directed to an apparatus comprising: a mechanical input mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft; and an optical sensor configured to: detect light incident on the optical sensor, the light having a position and an orientation, the orientation of the light based on at least a position of the rotatable shaft; detect a rotation of the shaft; and detect a movement of the shaft based on at least a change in the orientation of the light. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the optical sensor includes a first sensor arrangement and a second sensor arrangement, and detecting movement of the shaft is based on a relationship between a first amount of detected light incident on the first sensor arrangement and a second amount of detected light incident on the second sensor arrangement. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the first sensor arrangement has a first sensor orientation corresponding to a first orientation of the light and the second sensor arrangement has a second sensor orientation corresponding to a second orientation of the light, the first amount of detected light greater than the second amount of detected light corresponds to the first orientation of the light, and the second amount of detected light greater than the first amount of detected light corresponds to the second orientation of the light. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the first sensor arrangement comprises a plurality of first sensor elements disposed along a first diagonal direction and the second sensor arrangement comprises a plurality of second sensor elements, different from the first sensor elements, disposed along a second diagonal direction, different from the first diagonal direction. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the optical sensor is further configured to detect a movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor based on a change in a magnification of an image of the shaft on the optical sensor. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the optical sensor is further configured to detect a movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor based on a change in the position of the light. 
     Some examples of the disclosure are directed to an apparatus comprising: a housing; a mechanical input mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft coupled to the housing and configured to contact a force sensor coupled to the housing in response to a user input, wherein the force sensor is configured to: detect a position of the shaft; and detect an amount of force between the shaft and the force sensor that is based on the user input. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the force sensor is associated with a direction of input, and the amount of force between the shaft and the force sensor corresponds to a magnitude of the user input in the direction of input. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the apparatus further comprises a second force sensor associated with a second direction of input, different from the first direction of input, wherein a resulting detected magnitude of the user input in a specified direction is based on respective amounts of force between the shaft and each of the force sensor and the second force sensor. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the housing includes an opening through which the rotatable shaft is coupled to the housing, and the force sensor is disposed within the opening. 
     Some examples of the disclosure are directed to a method comprising the steps of: detecting light incident on an optical sensor; detecting a rotation of a mechanical input mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft; and detecting a movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor based on the detected light. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, detecting the movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor is based on a change in a magnification of an image of the shaft on the optical sensor. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, a pattern is disposed on the shaft, and the change in the magnification of the image of the shaft is determined based on a change in a size of an image of at least a portion of the pattern. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the method further comprises detecting a movement of the shaft based on at least a change in an orientation of the light incident on the optical sensor: Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the optical sensor includes a first sensor arrangement having a first position and a second sensor arrangement having a second position, and detecting movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor is based on at least a relationship between a first amount of detected light incident on the first sensor arrangement and a second amount of detected light incident on the second sensor arrangement. 
     Some examples of the disclosure are directed to a method comprising the steps of: detecting light incident on an optical sensor, the light having a position and an orientation, the orientation of the light based on at least a position of a mechanical input mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft; detecting a rotation of the shaft; and detecting a movement of the shaft based on at least a change in the orientation of the light. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the optical sensor includes a first sensor arrangement and a second sensor arrangement, and detecting movement of the shaft is based on at least a relationship between a first amount of detected light incident on the first sensor arrangement and a second amount of detected light incident on the second sensor arrangement. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the first sensor arrangement has a first sensor orientation corresponding to a first orientation of the light and the second sensor arrangement has a second sensor orientation corresponding to a second orientation of the light, the first amount of detected light greater than the second amount of detected light corresponds to the first orientation of the light, and the second amount of detected light greater than the first amount of detected light corresponds to the second orientation of the light. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the first sensor arrangement comprises a plurality of first sensor elements disposed along a first diagonal direction and the second sensor arrangement comprises a plurality of second sensor elements, different from the first sensor elements, disposed along a second diagonal direction, different from the first diagonal direction. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the method further comprises detecting a movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor. 
     Some examples of the disclosure are directed to a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions, that when executed by a processor causes the processor to: detect a rotation of a mechanical input mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft; and detect a movement of the shaft toward or away from an optical sensor. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the optical sensor includes a first sensor arrangement having a first position and a second sensor arrangement having a second position, and detecting movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor is based on a relationship between a first amount of detected light incident on the first sensor arrangement and a second amount of detected light incident on the second sensor arrangement. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, instructions further cause the processor to: detect light incident on the optical sensor, and detect the movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor based on at least a change in a position of the light incident on the optical sensor. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, detecting the movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor is based on a change in a magnification of an image of the shaft on the optical sensor. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the instructions further cause the processor to: detect light incident on the optical sensor, the light having a position and an orientation, the orientation of the light based on at least a position of the rotatable shaft; and detect a movement of the shaft based on at least a change in the orientation of the light. 
     Although examples of this disclosure have been fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of examples of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20150925
Publication Date: 20191015
Grant Date: 20191015
Priority Date: 20150925
Inventors: RUH, RICHARD
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F2203/04105", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G04C3/001", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0362", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0346", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0346", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0362", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0312", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/014", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G04C3/005", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01D5/30", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01D5/30", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04105", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04101", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04101", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G04C3/001", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/014", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04105", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04101", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0312", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G04C3/005", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01D5/30", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0346", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0362", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/044", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0447", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G04C3/005", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0447", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0312", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G04C3/001", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/014", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 58408759