Today the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially granted Apple a patent that relates to a future Apple Watch with an all-new modular sensing system that could combine Touch ID and ECG input. The proposed Apple Watch modular sensing system closely resembles the Touch ID sensor found on Apple's iPad Air.

A New Modular Sensing Assembly for Apple Watch

Overall, Apple's invention relates to a modular sensing assembly for use as part of a future version of Apple Watch. The modular sensing assembly may receive multiple different types of user inputs. Example user inputs include touch inputs, fingerprint inputs, translational inputs, audio inputs, biometric inputs, and the like.

Combining multiple components in a modular sensing assembly provides advantages over traditional input mechanisms. Advantages include reducing device component redundancy and manufacturing complexity. For example, a modular sensing assembly may include a single sealing member that provides a seal around all of the components of the modular sensing assembly and/or between the modular sensing assembly and a device housing. This may reduce the overall number of parts required to assemble the electronic device, which may reduce manufacturing complexity and cost as well as minimize a size of the device.

As another example, multiple components of the modular sensing assembly may be operably coupled to a processing unit using one or more common connectors and/or common passages into an interior volume of the device.

The modular sensing assembly may be positioned at least partially within a housing of an electronic device. Example inputs received by the modular sensing assembly may include touch inputs, translational inputs, fingerprint inputs, audio inputs, electrocardiograph signals, and the like. The modular sensing assembly may provide one or more outputs. Example outputs provided by the modular sensing assembly include audio outputs, haptic outputs, visual outputs, and the like.

The modular sensing assembly may include a cover defining an input surface, a capacitive sensor positioned beneath the input surface and configured to detect a touch input on the input surface and detect a fingerprint input on the input surface. The modular sensing assembly may further include an audio sensor positioned beneath the cover and configured to detect an audio input through an opening in the cover.

The modular sensing assembly may further include a translation sensor positioned beneath the cover and configured to detect a translational input at the input surface. The modular sensing assembly may further include a trim member at least partially surrounding the cover, the capacitive sensor, and the audio sensor. The display may be configured to provide a graphical output that is responsive to the touch input, the fingerprint input, the audio input, and the translational input.

Apple's patent FIG. 1A below illustrates a block diagram of an example Apple Watch that may incorporate a modular sensing assembly; FIG. 1B illustrates a block diagram of the example modular sensing assembly of FIG. 1A; FIG. 2A illustrates a future Apple Watch with inputs for both ECG and Touch ID. FIG. 2A eliminates the Digital Crown while FIG. 2B combines the new modular sensing system with the traditional Digital Crown.

Further below, Apple's patent FIG. 3B illustrates a partial exploded view of the example electronic watch 300. FIG. 3B shows example components of the modular sensing assembly #310 and a cutaway portion of the housing #322. The modular sensing assembly may include a cover sub-assembly #350, a sensing sub-assembly #370, a button sub-assembly #380, a translation sensor #392, and a retention bracket #394. The components of the modular sensing assembly may be coupled together and/or coupled to the housing using fasteners (#396a, 396b and 397a, 397b).

The cover sub-assembly may include the cover #312 and a trim member 360. The sensing sub-assembly may include a touch sensor #372, an audio sensor #374, and a connector #376. The button sub-assembly may include a sealing member #382, a button retainer #384, and a button member #388.

The button member #388 may be movably coupled to the housing such that the button member may translate in response to a translational input to the cover.  The button member may be aligned with a passage #390c in the sidewall #322a that is aligned with the translation sensor #392.

As the button member translates in response to a translational input, it may actuate the translation sensor. In some cases, the components of the modular sensing assembly do not move in response to a translational input, and the translation sensor detects a force applied to the cover.

For more details, review Apple's granted patent US 11556095 B2.

Apple Inventors

• Kevin Holz: Engineering Manager, Touch and Sensing Design
• Tim Koch: Senior Engineering Manager
• Michael Wittenberg: Senior Product Design Engineer
• Dan Hiemstra: Sr. Mechanical Design Engineer (Left Apple in Oct 2022 for KLA)
• Erik DeJong: No LinkedIn Profile found