Wrist-worn electronic device and methods therefor

• US 10,248,215 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2014
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Golko, Albert J., Schmidt, Mathias W., Alvarez, Felix
• Primary Examiner(s): Lam, Vinh T
• Application Number:
  US14/326,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20140313128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,729 Days
• Field of Search: 482 9
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

Embodiments of electronic wristwatches are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an electronic wristband can provide additional electrical circuitry or devices that can be made available for use as or with an electronic device. In one embodiment, the electronic device can be a mobile electronic device that can be removably coupled to the electronic wristband which provides the additional circuitry or devices. Advantageously, the electronic device can utilize the additional electrical circuitry or devices provided within the electronic wristband to augment the capabilities of the electronic device. In another embodiment, the electronic device can be integrally formed with the electronic wristband which provides the additional circuitry or devices.

Claims

1. A method implemented in an electronic wristband wearable on a wrist of a user, the method comprising:

receiving, at the electronic wristband, a notification request;

generating, by the electronic wristband, a user notification responsive to the notification request, the user notification indicating an incoming phone call;

after generating the user notification, detecting, by the electronic wristband, an arm or wrist gesture performed by the user; and

based on the user notification and the arm or wrist gesture, interpreting the arm or wrist gesture as a user input responsive to the user notification by;

interpreting the arm or wrist gesture as an instruction to accept the incoming phone call if the arm or wrist gesture corresponds to a first gesture comprising movement along a first axis; and

interpreting the arm or wrist gesture as an instruction to decline the incoming phone call if the arm or wrist gesture corresponds to a second gesture comprising movement along a second axis, different than the first axis.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the notification request is received from a physically separate electronic device that communicates via a wireless communication channel with the electronic wristband.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

reporting the user input to the physically separate electronic device via the wireless communication channel.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the physically separate electronic device is a mobile phone, a portable computer, or a desktop computer.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the first gesture and the second gesture comprises a horizontal movement of the user'"'"'s arm or wrist and the other of the first gesture and the second gesture comprises a vertical movement of the user'"'"'s arm or wrist.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the first gesture and the second gesture comprises a single shake of the user'"'"'s arm or wrist and the other of the first gesture and the second gesture comprises a pair of shakes of the user'"'"'s arm or wrist.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the notification request is received from a mobile phone that communicates wirelessly with the electronic wristband.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

detecting the arm or wrist gesture includes determining a direction of motion of the user'"'"'s arm or wrist; and

interpreting the arm or wrist gesture includes interpreting the arm or wrist gesture as a different user input depending on the direction of motion.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein:

detecting the arm or wrist gesture includes determining a number of repetitions of a motion of the user'"'"'s arm or wrist; and

interpreting the arm or wrist gesture includes interpreting the arm or wrist gesture as a different user input depending on the number of repetitions.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the user notification includes one or more of:

activating a haptic device of the electronic wristband to generate a tactile user notification;

activating an audio device of the electronic wristband to generate an audible user notification;

or

activating a display device of the electronic wristband to generate a visual user notification.

11. An electronic wristband wearable on a wrist of a user, the electronic wristband comprising:

a band portion configured to secure the electronic wristband to the wrist of the user; and

a mobile electronic device portion that is independently operable when detached from the band portion;

a wireless communication transceiver to communicate with another electronic device;

one or more user output components;

a motion sensor; and

a circuit communicatively coupled to the wireless communication transceiver, the user output component, and the motion sensor, the circuit being configured to;

receive, via the wireless communication transceiver, a notification request from the other electronic device;

generate, via at least one of the one or more user output components, a user notification responsive to the notification request, the user notification indicating an incoming phone call;

after generating the user notification, detect, based on a signal from the motion sensor, an arm or wrist gesture performed by the user; and

based on the user notification and the arm or wrist gesture, interpret the arm or wrist gesture as a user input responsive to the user notification by;

interpreting the arm or wrist gesture as an instruction to accept the incoming phone call if the arm or wrist gesture corresponds to a first gesture comprising movement along a first axis; and

interpreting the arm or wrist gesture as an instruction to decline the incoming phone call if the arm or wrist gesture corresponds to a second gesture comprising movement along a second axis, different than the first axis,

wherein the band portion includes the wireless communication transceiver, the one or more user output components, the motion sensor, an antenna, a GPS receiver, a haptic device, a battery, a biometric sensor, a force sensor, or a proximity sensor.

12. The electronic wristband of claim 11 wherein at least the circuit is disposed within the mobile electronic device portion.

13. The electronic wristband of claim 12 wherein at least one of the wireless communication transceiver, the one or more user output components, or the motion sensor is disposed within the band portion.

14. The electronic wristband of claim 11 wherein the other electronic device is a mobile phone, a portable computer, or a desktop computer.

15. The electronic wristband of claim 11 wherein the one or more user output components include at least one of a haptic device, an audio device, or a display device.

16. The electronic wristband of claim 11 wherein the motion sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer or a gyroscope.

17. The electronic wristband of claim 11 wherein the circuit is further configured to communicate the user input responsive to the user notification to the other electronic device via the wireless communication transceiver.

18. The electronic wristband of claim 11 wherein the notification request pertains to one or more of:

an incoming phone call;

a text message;

a social network post;

a calendar alert;

a stock alert;

or

a weather alert.

19. The electronic wristband of claim 11 wherein the circuit is further configured to generate an alert to the user in the event that the other electronic device goes out of wireless communication range.