How the Apple Watch Uses the Digital Crown to Flip Objects
A method for rotating virtual objects on a small wearable screen by spinning the physical dial on the side of the device based on how fast you turn it.
Original patent title: “User interface object manipulations in a user interface”
A method for rotating virtual objects on a small wearable screen by spinning the physical dial on the side of the device based on how fast you turn it. Granted to Apple Inc in 2019 with 69 claims and 18 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way to interact with 3D virtual objects, like a cube or a dial, on a small screen using a physical rotating crown. When you spin the crown, the device tracks the speed of your rotation. If you spin it fast enough to cross a specific speed threshold, the system triggers an animation that continues rotating the object to reveal a new side or data surface. If you spin it slowly, the system treats it as a smaller adjustment and may snap the object back to its original position. This allows users to navigate through complex data on a tiny display without needing to touch the screen itself.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover rotating objects using only touch gestures on the screen.
- Does not cover systems that lack a physical crown or rotating input mechanism.
- Does not cover non-wearable devices, such as smartphones or tablets.
- Does not cover interactions that do not involve a speed-based threshold for triggering the rotation animation.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The patent effectively uses the physical speed of a mechanical dial to decide whether the user wants to 'flick' to the next page or just make a minor adjustment, solving the problem of precision in a high-density, small-screen environment.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Apple Watch home screen app navigation
Apple Watch list scrolling
Selecting menu items on watchOS
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is central to the user experience of the Apple Watch. By defining how the Digital Crown interacts with the software, it established a standard for how users navigate tiny interfaces where fingers would otherwise block the view. It is a key piece of intellectual property that helps Apple maintain its design language across its wearable product line.
Filed
September 3, 2014
Granted
April 30, 2019
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Apple Inc. is the primary developer and user of this technology, integrating it deeply into every generation of the Apple Watch. Other manufacturers of smartwatches often look to this interaction model as a benchmark for wearable navigation.
Market impact
This patent helped solidify the Digital Crown as a defining feature of the Apple Watch, distinguishing it from competitors that rely solely on touchscreens. It created a reliable, tactile interface standard for wearables that prevents screen clutter and improves usability in active environments.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way to interact with 3D virtual objects, like a cube or a dial, on a small screen using a physical rotating crown. When you spin the crown, the device tracks the speed of your rotation. If you spin it fast enough to cross a specific speed threshold, the system triggers an animation that continues rotating the object to reveal a new side or data surface. If you spin it slowly, the system treats it as a smaller adjustment and may snap the object back to its original position. This allows users to navigate through complex data on a tiny display without needing to touch the screen itself.
The clever bit
The patent effectively uses the physical speed of a mechanical dial to decide whether the user wants to 'flick' to the next page or just make a minor adjustment, solving the problem of precision in a high-density, small-screen environment.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover rotating objects using only touch gestures on the screen.
- Does not cover systems that lack a physical crown or rotating input mechanism.
- Does not cover non-wearable devices, such as smartphones or tablets.
- Does not cover interactions that do not involve a speed-based threshold for triggering the rotation animation.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
26/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$288K – $922K
Midpoint $576K · 8.2 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
69 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
YANG, L. Y., Wilson, E. L., FOSS, C. P., Dye, A. C., MARIC, N., GUZMAN, A., Karunamuni, C. G., Chaudhri, I., DASCOLA, J. R., Wilson, C., BUTCHER, G. I., Ive, J. P., Zambetti, N., Lemay, S. O., & Kerr, D. R. (2019). How the Apple Watch Uses the Digital Crown to Flip Objects (U.S. Patent No. 10,275,117). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10275117/apple-watch-heart-rate-sensor
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How the Apple Watch Uses the Digital Crown to Flip Objects cover?
A method for rotating virtual objects on a small wearable screen by spinning the physical dial on the side of the device based on how fast you turn it.
Who owns patent US 10275117?
Apple Inc owns this patent, granted in 2019.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on April 30, 2039, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 10275117 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 18 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is central to the user experience of the Apple Watch. By defining how the Digital Crown interacts with the software, it established a standard for how users navigate tiny interfaces where fingers would otherwise block the view. It is a key piece of intellectual property that helps Apple maintain its design language across its wearable product line.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover rotating objects using only touch gestures on the screen.
Same assignee
More from Apple Inc
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