February 21, 2024 – In a recent development, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a patent to Apple Inc. for a technology related to the Apple Watch, integrating touch and light sensors into the Digital Crown.
According to the patent description, the “Digital Crown is equipped with a photosensitive surface that guides sensor changes based on images of objects in contact with the photosensitive surface.” Notably, the patent indicates that the Digital Crown will not rotate freely as it does now but will have a “rotational limitation” allowing only one full rotation.
The patent outlines that Apple’s technology aims to achieve richer interaction by recording the movement and speed of the user’s finger through the photosensitive surface, moving beyond traditional rotational mechanical operations.
Apple states in the patent that the Digital Crown incorporates sensors that accomplish this by detecting skin, capturing images of the user’s finger, or detecting changes in light. This innovation promises to enhance the user experience and functionality of the Apple Watch, potentially paving the way for more advanced interactions in future models.
