# 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. - **Patent:** US 10275117 - **Original title:** User interface object manipulations in a user interface - **Owner:** Apple Inc - **Granted:** 2019 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 18 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, software, mechanical ## What it does 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. ## 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. ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Apple Watch home screen app navigation 2. Apple Watch list scrolling 3. Selecting menu items on watchOS ## Why it matters 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. ## 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. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10275117/apple-watch-heart-rate-sensor **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US10275117 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Apple Watches Use a Rotating Dial to Navigate Menus](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10466883/apple-arcade) — A method for using a physical rotating dial on a device to scroll through lists and menus while providing audio feedback for accessibility. - [How Apple's Interface Switches Between Music Playlists and Menus](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10928980/ios-widgets-on-home-screen) — A method for navigating through a stack of music playlists on a touchscreen or dial, which automatically shifts to a menu view when you reach the end of the list. - [How 3D Icons Rotate to Show More Information](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5303388/macintosh-finder) — A 1994 Apple patent for a 3D computer icon that can be rotated by clicking specific areas to reveal different sides, each containing extra information about a file or folder. - [How Widgets Flip Over to Show Settings](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7530026/time-machine-backup) — A method for letting digital widgets flip over like a physical object to reveal hidden settings or controls on the back. - [How Smartphones Switch Between Slow and Fast Scrolling](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8683378/scrolling-techniques-for-user-interfaces) — A system that automatically changes how a list scrolls based on how fast or hard you interact with the screen.