Wearable device assembly having athletic functionality

• US 10,466,742 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2018
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Malhotra, Vikram
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Jack K
• Application Number:
  US16/002,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20180292858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 3405731
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0015 providing information, e.g. bracelets with calendars identification bracelets G09F3/005
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt

Abstract

A wearable device assembly has a housing supporting a controller and a display. The display may comprise one or more light guides, where each guide is operatively coupled to an LED. Each LED may light the edge of a guide such that a refraction surface is illuminated. The controller may selectively illuminate the one or more light guides using the LEDs to indicate a level of activity of the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

illuminating, via a first lighting element, a first edge of a first light guide, wherein, a plurality of light rays enter the first light guide at the first edge;

reflecting, along a portion of the first light guide, a first light ray of the plurality of light rays; and

illuminating, with the first light ray, a first refracting surface of the first light guide.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting, by a controller, an intensity of the first light ray displayed at the first refracting surface of the first light guide.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first light ray is reflected along the portion of the first light guide and to the first refracting surface of the first light guide.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first light guide comprises a transparent material, such that other light rays may be displayed through the first light guide.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the illuminating the first refracting surface causes the first refracting surface to be visibly displayed through a portion of a second light guide.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the illuminating the first refracting surface further comprises:

directing the first light ray to exit the first light guide via the first refracting surface.

7. A device comprising:

one or more processors;

a display device comprising a plurality of light guides, wherein each light guide of the plurality of light guides is operatively coupled to a lighting element; and

memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the device to;

illuminate, via a first lighting element, a first edge of a first light guide, wherein, a plurality of light rays enter the first light guide at the first edge.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein each light guide of the plurality of light guides comprises a refracting surface.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein a portion of the first light guide reflects a first light ray of the plurality of light rays, and wherein the first light ray illuminates the refracting surface of the first light guide.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the refracting surface of the first light guide is displayed through a clear portion of a second light guide, wherein the second light guide is adjacent the first light guide.

11. The device according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of light guides are positioned in a layered configuration.

12. The device according to claim 7, further comprising an accelerometer that senses movement, and wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the device to:

receive, from the accelerometer, activity data;

determine, based on the activity data, an energy expenditure level of a first user; and

display, via the display device, the determined energy expenditure level.

13. The device according to claim 7, wherein one or more of the plurality of light guides comprises a transparent silicone film.

14. The device according to claim 7, wherein the first light guide comprises a contoured surface corresponding to a surface of the device.

15. The device according to claim 7, further comprising a controller, and wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the device to:

adjust, via the controller, an intensity of light rays emitted from the first lighting element.

16. The device according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of light guides are flexible.

17. The device according to claim 7, wherein each light guide of the plurality of light guides are comprise a refracting surface.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of light guides are layered such that illuminating the refracting surfaces, of the plurality of light guides, displays a gradient via the display device.

19. A method comprising:

illuminating via one or more lighting elements;

a first edge of a first light guide, wherein a first plurality of light rays enter the first light guide at the first edge of the first light guide; and

a first edge of a second light guide, wherein a second plurality of light rays enter the second light guide at the first edge of the second light guide;

reflecting, along a portion of the second light guide, a first light ray of the second plurality of light rays; and

illuminating, with the first light ray, a surface of the first light guide.