Devices, methods, and user interfaces for a wearable electronic ring computing device

• US 10,444,834 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2015
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Vescovi, Marcos Regis, van Os, Marcel
• Primary Examiner(s): Lubit, Ryan A
• Application Number:
  US14/676,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20150277559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,658 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0381 Multimodal input, i.e. interface arrangements enabling the user to issue commands by simultaneous use of input devices of different nature, e.g. voice plus gesture on digitizer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• 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: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback

Abstract

A user controls an external electronic device with a finger-ring-mounted touchscreen that includes a computer processor, wireless transceiver, and rechargeable power source; the ring is worn on a first finger receives an input from a second finger, selects one of a plurality of touch events associated with the input, and wirelessly transmits a command associated with the touch event to the external electronic device.

Claims

1. A wearable ring device comprising:

an annular member defining an aperture therethrough that is sized for receipt therein of a first finger of a hand of a user;

a computer processor housed in the annular member;

a wireless transceiver electrically connected to the computer processor and configured to communicate with at least one external electronic device;

a rechargeable power source for supplying power to the wireless transceiver and computer processor; and

a microphone electrically connected to the computer processor;

wherein

the wireless transceiver is configured such that a first predefined hand gesture performed using the ring device causes an action to be performed on the external electronic device,

wherein the first predefined hand gesture includes movement of the ring device, and the action performed on the external electronic device includes changing a variable input to the external electronic device at least partially based on a distance of the ring device relative to the external electronic device.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a haptic actuator for identifying recognition of a command to the user.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a second haptic actuator, wherein the haptic actuator and second haptic actuator are configured for conveying directional information to the user.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a dial control disposed on the ring device, the dial control having a circumference that is perpendicular to a circumference of the ring device, wherein the dial control is configured for receiving input from the user.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless power receiver circuit for recharging the power source from a wireless power source.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor for sensing a writing motion made by the user using the hand with the first finger, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit information to the at least one external electronic device related to characters written by the user.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a biometric sensor for sensing biometric information of the user.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver includes a near-field-communication tag configured to transmit identification information of the user to the external electronic device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein, when the ring device is brought into proximity with the external electronic device, the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit identification information to bring the external electronic device out of a sleep state and into an active state.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein, when the ring device is brought into proximity with the external electronic device, the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit identification information to unlock the external electronic device.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured such that a second predefined hand gesture that includes pointing at the external electronic device with the first finger while the ring device is worn on the first finger causes a wireless link to be established between the external electronic device and the ring device.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured such that a second predefined hand gesture that includes a swiping or flicking gesture performed using the ring device changes a selection of a first input field to a selection of a second input field on the external electronic device.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured such that a second predefined hand gesture that includes movement of the ring device switches from displaying a first page to displaying a second page on the external electronic device.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the distance of the ring device relative to the external electronic device is determined based on a strength of one or more signals received by the external electronic device from the wireless transceiver.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured such that a second predefined hand gesture that includes movement of the ring device causes a second action to be performed on the external electronic device based on a position of the ring device relative to the external electronic device, determined based on triangulation of one or more signals received by the external electronic device from the wireless transceiver using a plurality of wireless receivers at the external electronic device.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured such that a second predefined hand gesture that includes rotation of the ring device causes a second action to be performed on the external electronic device based on the rotation of the ring device.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured such that a second predefined hand gesture that includes rotation of the ring device in a first direction causes a second action to be performed on the external electronic device based on the first direction of rotation of the ring device.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit separate signals from two opposing sides of the ring device, wherein the separate signals are detected by the external electronic device to measure rotation of the ring device that is used as an input at the external electronic device.

19. The device of claim 1, further comprising an haptic actuator, wherein the haptic actuator is configured, in response to a double tap input on a touch-sensitive surface of the ring device, to provide haptic feedback to the first finger of the user when one or more unread notifications are pending on the external electronic device.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit one or more control signals to a first user interface of a first application displayed in a first window on the external electronic device, distinct from a second user interface of a second application displayed in a second window on the external electronic device and controlled by a second ring device.

21. The device of claim 6, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured, in response to a hand gesture performed using the first finger after the writing motion, to transmit a text manipulation command to the external electronic device, wherein the text manipulation command is movement of a cursor, backspace, delete, or cut-and-paste.

22. A method for controlling a remote electronic device using a finger-ring-mounted touchscreen, the method comprising:

in response to a first predefined hand gesture performed using a ring device disposed on a first finger of a hand of a user, wirelessly causing an action to be performed on an external electronic device, wherein the first predefined hand gesture includes movement of the ring device, and causing the action to be performed on the external electronic device includes changing a variable input to the external electronic device at least partially based on a distance of the ring device relative to the external electronic device;

receiving, on a touchscreen electrically connected to a computer processor and disposed at least partially at an outer peripheral surface of the ring device, input from a second finger of the user;

selecting, using the computer processor, one of a plurality of touch events associated with the input; and

wirelessly transmitting a command associated with the touch event to at least the external electronic device.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising notifying the user of transmission of the command by issuing haptic feedback to the first finger of the user.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein selecting the one of the plurality of touch events comprises recognizing a touch gesture made by the user that is associated with the command.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the user is a first user, wherein the external electronic device is a second finger-ring-mounted device, and wherein the transmitted command causes the second finger-ring-mounted device to issue feedback corresponding to a message of the first user to a second user.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first user specifies the feedback issued to the second user by the second finger-ring-mounted device in accordance with the transmitted command.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving, using a microphone of the ring device, a voice input of the user; and

transmitting the voice input to the external electronic device.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising establishing a wireless link with the external electronic device in response to a hand gesture by the user.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the hand gesture comprises pointing at the external electronic device with the first finger.

30. The method of claim 22, further comprising detecting handwriting of the user using a motion sensor electrically connected to the computer processor and transmitting the detected handwriting to the external electronic device.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein the input is a character drawn by the user on the touchscreen.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein the external electronic device further receives commands from at least one other finger-ring-mounted touchscreen.

33. The method of claim 22, including transmitting identification information to the external electronic device in response to bringing a near-field communication device electrically connected to the computer processor into proximity with the external electronic device.

34. The method of claim 22, including transmitting identification information to bring the external electronic device out of a sleep state and into an active state.

35. A method for displaying information using a ring computing device worn on a first finger of a hand of a user, the method comprising:

in response to a first predefined hand gesture performed using the ring computing device, transmitting, via a wireless transceiver electrically connected to a computer processor housed in the ring computing device, data representative of the hand gesture to an external electronic device to cause an action to be performed on the external electronic device, wherein the first predefined hand gesture includes movement of the ring computing device, and causing the action to be performed on the external electronic device includes changing a variable input to the external electronic device at least partially based on a distance of the ring computing device relative to the external electronic device.

36. The method of claim 35, including transmitting identification information to the external electronic device in response to bringing a near-field communication device electrically connected to the computer processor into proximity with the external electronic device.

37. The method of claim 35, including transmitting identification information to bring the external electronic device out of a sleep state and into an active state.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the ring computing device further comprises a haptic actuator, and the method includes identifying recognition of a command to the user via the haptic actuator.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the ring computing device further comprises a second haptic actuator, and the method includes conveying directional information to the user via the haptic actuator and second haptic actuator.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein the ring computing device further comprises a dial control disposed on the ring computing device, the dial control having a circumference that is perpendicular to a circumference of the ring computing device, and the method includes receiving input from the user via the dial control.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein the ring computing device further comprises a rechargeable power source for supplying power to the wireless transceiver and computer processor, and a wireless power receiver circuit, and the method includes recharging the rechargeable power source from a wireless power source via the wireless power receiver circuit.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein the ring computing device further comprises a motion sensor, and the method includes sensing, via the motion sensor, a writing motion made by the user using the hand with the first finger, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit information to the external electronic device related to characters written by the user.

43. The method of claim 42, including, in response to a hand gesture performed using the first finger after the writing motion, transmitting, via the wireless transceiver, a text manipulation command to the external electronic device, wherein the text manipulation command is movement of a cursor, backspace, delete, or cut-and-paste.

44. The method of claim 35, wherein the ring computing device further comprises a biometric sensor, and the method includes sensing biometric information of the user via the biometric sensor.

45. The method of claim 35, including, when the ring computing device is brought into proximity with the external electronic device, transmitting, via the wireless transceiver, identification information to bring the external electronic device out of a sleep state and into an active state.

46. The method of claim 35, including, when the ring computing device is brought into proximity with the external electronic device, transmitting, via the wireless transceiver, identification information to unlock the external electronic device.

47. The method of claim 35, including, in response to a second predefined hand gesture that includes pointing at the external electronic device with the first finger while the ring computing device is worn on the first finger, establishing a wireless link between the external electronic device and the ring computing device.

48. The method of claim 35, including, in response to a second predefined hand gesture that includes a swiping or flicking gesture performed using the ring computing device, changing a selection of a first input field to a selection of a second input field on the external electronic device.

49. The method of claim 35, including, in response to a second predefined hand gesture that includes movement of the ring device, switching from displaying a first page to displaying a second page on the external electronic device.

50. The method of claim 35, wherein the distance of the ring computing device relative to the external electronic device is determined based on a strength of one or more signals received by the external electronic device from the wireless transceiver.

51. The method of claim 35, including, in response to a second predefined hand gesture that includes movement of the ring computing device, performing a second action on the external electronic device based on a position of the ring computing device relative to the external electronic device, determined based on triangulation of one or more signals received by the external electronic device from the wireless transceiver using a plurality of wireless receivers at the external electronic device.

52. The method of claim 35, including, in response to a second predefined hand gesture that includes rotation of the ring computing device, performing a second action on the external electronic device based on the rotation of the ring computing device.

53. The method of claim 35, including, in response to a second predefined hand gesture that includes rotation of the ring computing device in a first direction, performing a second action on the external electronic device based on the first direction of rotation of the ring computing device.

54. The method of claim 35, including transmitting, via the wireless transceiver, separate signals from two opposing sides of the ring computing device, wherein the separate signals are detected by the external electronic device to measure rotation of the ring computing device that is used as an input at the external electronic device.

55. The method of claim 35, wherein the ring computing device further comprises an haptic actuator, and the method includes, in response to a double tap input on a touch-sensitive surface of the ring computing device, to provide, via the haptic actuator, haptic feedback to the first finger of the user when one or more unread notifications are pending on the external electronic device.

56. The method of claim 35, including transmitting, via the wireless transceiver, one or more control signals to a first user interface of a first application displayed in a first window on the external electronic device, distinct from a second user interface of a second application displayed in a second window on the external electronic device and controlled by a second ring computing device.

57. A wearable ring device comprising:

an annular member defining an aperture therethrough that is sized for receipt therein of a first finger of a hand of a user;

a computer processor housed in the annular member;

a wireless transceiver electrically connected to the computer processor and configured to communicate with at least one external electronic device; and

a rechargeable power source for supplying power to the wireless transceiver and computer processor;

wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit separate signals from two opposing sides of the ring device, wherein the separate signals are detected by the external electronic device to measure rotation of the ring device that is used as an input at the external electronic device.

58. A method for controlling a remote electronic device using a ring computing device worn on a first finger of a hand of a user, the method comprising:

in response to a first predefined hand gesture performed using the ring computing device, transmitting, via a wireless transceiver electrically connected to a computer processor housed in the ring computing device, separate signals from two opposing sides of the ring device, wherein the separate signals are detected by an external electronic device to measure rotation of the ring device that is used as an input at the external electronic device.