Wearable computing, input, and display device

• US 20030197678A1
• Filed: 04/19/2003
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shaknel Technologies, LC
• Original Assignee: Quadtri Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Siddeeq, Shakoor N.
• Granted Patent: US 6,970,157 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/0221 the switches being fixed to the operator's hand, e.g. integrated in a glove or fixed to a ring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/04 portable; hand held

Abstract

A wearable computing, input, and display device is disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes a band wrappable around a wrist of a user, one or more input mechanisms, a display mechanism, and a computing mechanism. The input mechanisms are attached to the band and have recessed and extended positions. In the recessed position, the input mechanisms are positioned under the wrist of the user. In the extended position, the input mechanisms are substantially positioned at the user'"'"'s fingertips. The display mechanism is attached to the band such that it is over the wrist of the user, whereas the computing mechanism is attached to the band and operably coupled to the input and display mechanisms. In an alternate embodiment, the display mechanism is additionally rotatable from a flat position to a raised position, and vice-versa, where the raised position is user controlled for optimal viewing by the user.

Claims

1. A wrist worn computing device comprising:

an adjustable thin wristband wrapped around a wrist of a user;

an extender mechanism attached to the wristband such that the extender mechanism has a recessed position and an extended position;

an input mechanism attached to the extender mechanism such that the input mechanism has a recessed position in conjunction with the extender mechanism in which the input mechanism is wrapped around the wristband, and an extended position in conjunction with the extender mechanism such that the input mechanism is unwrapped from around the wristband and extended such that the input mechanism is substantially positioned beneath fingertips of the user without being detached;

a display mechanism attached to the wristband within a structural housing of the wrist worn computing device and positionable above the wrist of the user; and

,

a computing mechanism attached to the structural housing of the adjustable thin wristband.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the adjustable thin wristband comprises:

a firm support section beneath the wrist of the user, the firm support section being attached to the extender mechanism; and

,

hollow sleeves on either side of the firm support section through which the wristband passes as the wristband is adjusted, the hollow sleeves attached to the structural housing above the wrist of the user.

3. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the adjustable thin wristband has two ends that overlap when the wristband is wrapped around the wrist of the user and that meet above the wrist of the user inside the structural housing.

4. The computing device of claim 3, wherein the adjustable thin wristband further comprises:

overlapping sections in which one of grooves and holes are defined |“

one of A and B”

is patent speak for “

A or B”

|

a rotational gear mechanism controlled by the user and enclosed within the structural housing above the wrist of the user, such that the rotational gear mechanism is operably coupled to the overlapping sections of the wrist band via the one of the grooves and the holes,

wherein rotation of the gear mechanism causes the ends of the wristband when overlapping to move in opposing directions at an equal distance and rate, the rotation keeping the firm support section of the wristband substantially centered beneath the wrist of the user during adjustment.

5. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the adjustable thin wristband further comprises at least one of electrical wiring and connectors electrically coupling the wristband to the computing mechanism and the extender mechanism.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the extender mechanism comprises one of hinged and torqued hinged joints at each of a plurality of axes of the extender mechanism, about which the extender mechanism folds out and in to the extended and the recessed positions, respectively.

7. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the one of hinged and torqued hinge joints further are at each of a plurality of endpoints of the extender mechanism.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the extender mechanism slides out and in to the extended and the recessed positions, respectively.

9. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the extender mechanism further is able to rotate about at least one of an axis perpendicular to a plane of the extender mechanism and an axis parallel to the plane.

10. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the extender mechanism comprises at least one of electrical wiring and connectors that electrically connect the extender mechanism to the wristband and the input mechanism.

11. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the input mechanism comprises:

a plurality of thin flexible sections, each section containing one of a plurality of keys and a pointing device, and having one or more folds between the sections;

a flexible connector at each fold connection the sections together at least one of physically and electrically,

wherein in the recessed position the sections are one of collapsed and folded on top of one another such that the plurality of keys and the pointing device are at least one of compressed and sandwiched in between the sections, and in the extended position the sections are unfolded such that the plurality of the keys and the pointing device are exposed and useable by the user.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the sections of the input mechanism have alternate male and female connections such that corresponding male-female connectors of the input mechanism mate in the extended unfolded position and separate in recessed folded position, the male-female connectors serving to at least one of substantially lock in place the sections of the input mechanism and electrically connect while in the extended position.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the sections of the input mechanism have at least one of embedded circuitry and electrical connectors, the embedded circuitry, the electrical connectors, and the male-female connectors located at one of slightly thicker areas and layers of the sections.

14. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the sections of the input mechanism have one of a default flat position and a default curved position.

15. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the sections of the input mechanism have ends lying above and separated from overlapping ends of the wristband while being within a slot of the structural housing in the recessed position.

16. The computing device of claim 11, wherein at least one of the sections of the input mechanism has a plurality of keys, wherein each key has a default non-depressed position and a depressed position, each key comprising:

at least four sides;

an electrical contact beneath the key;

a resilient and compressible support attached to at least one of the sides of the key;

one of an axial hinge and a flexible connector attached to exactly one of the sides of the key,

wherein each key in the non-depressed position rises at an angle from a plane of the section of the input mechanism and the resilient and compressible material is non-depressed such that the material supports an upper most part of the key above the plane while the one of the axial hinge and the flexible connector lies within the plane of the section at a lower side of the key, and

wherein each key in the depressed position rotates downward about the one of the axial hinge and the flexible connector until all the sides of the key and the resilient compressible support lie within the plane of the section and complete an electrical circuit.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of keys has two sections directly adjoining one another with a width of a first section slightly smaller than a width of a second section, and each section being independently operable.

18. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the input mechanism is able to rotate about at least one of an axis perpendicular to a plane of the input mechanism and an axis parallel to the plane of the input mechanism, via connection with the extender mechanism.

19. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the display mechanism is at least one of adjustable and able to rotate about an axis perpendicular to a plane of the display mechanism and about an axis parallel to the plane of the display mechanism.

20. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the display mechanism is able to rotate about an axis perpendicular to a plane of the display mechanism and about an axis parallel to the plane of the display mechanism, via a torque hinge thereof.

21. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the computing mechanism contains at least most of electronic circuitry by which the computing device operates, the structural housing supporting components of the computing device.

22. A wrist worn computing device comprising:

an adjustable thin wristband wrapped around a wrist of a user;

an extender mechanism attached to the wristband such that the extender mechanism has a recessed position and an extended position; and

,

at least one of;

an input mechanism attached to the extender mechanism such that the input mechanism has a recessed position in conjunction with the extender mechanism in which the input mechanism is wrapped around the wristband, and an extended position in conjunction with the extender mechanism such that the input mechanism is unwrapped from around the wristband and extended such that it is substantially positioned beneath fingertips of the user without being detached;

a display mechanism attached to the wristband within a structural housing of the wrist worn computing device and positionable above the wrist of the user; and

,

a computing mechanism attached to the structural housing of the adjustable thin wristband.

23. A thumb-held mobile computing device comprising:

a housing;

at least one of a computing mechanism and a wireless communication mechanism embedded within the housing;

an input mechanism having a folded position and an unfolded position, the input mechanism comprising a plurality of thin sections, each section containing one of a plurality of keys and a pointing device, the thin sections having one or more folds;

one of a thumb loop and an elastic band attached to one of the sections of the input mechanism into which a thumb of a hand of a user is inserted such that fingers of the hand of the user are able to use the plurality of keys in a one-handed manner; and

,

a flexible connector at each fold of the thin sections connecting the sections together at least one of physically and electrically.

24. The computing device of claim 23, wherein in the folded position the sections of the input mechanism are one of collapsed and folded on top of one another such that the one of the plurality of keys and the pointing device of each section is one of compressed and sandwiched in between the sections,

and wherein in the unfolded position the sections of the input mechanism are unfolded such that the one of the plurality of keys and the pointing device of each section is exposed and useable by the user in the one-handed manner,

lateral movement of the thumb rotating the sections of the input mechanism about an axis perpendicular to a plane of the sections such that lateral movement of the fingers of the hand substantially decreases.

25. The computing device of claim 24, wherein the sections of the input mechanism have alternate male and female connections, such that male-female connectors thereof mate in the unfolded position and separate in the folded position, the male-female connectors serving to at least one of substantially lock in place the sections of the input mechanism while in the unfolded position and electrically connect the sections.

26. The computing device of claim 25, wherein the sections of the input mechanism have at least one of embedded circuitry and electrical connectors, the embedded circuitry, the electrical connectors, and the male-female connectors located at one of slightly thicker areas and layers of the sections.

27. The computing device of claim 24, wherein each of the plurality of keys of at least one of the sections of the input mechanism has a default non-depressed position and a depressed position, each key comprising:

at least four sides;

an electrical contact beneath the key;

a resilient and compressible support attached to at least one of the sides of the key;

one of an axial hinge and a flexible connector attached to exactly one of the sides of the key,

wherein each key in the non-depressed position rises at an angle from a plane of the section of the input mechanism and the resilient and compressible material is non-depressed such that the material supports an upper most part of the key above the plane while the one of the axial hinge and the flexible connector lies within the plane of the section at a lower side of the key, and

wherein each key in the depressed position rotates downward about the one of the axial hinge and the flexible connector until all the sides of the key and the resilient compressible support lie within the plane of the section and complete an electrical circuit.

28. The computing device of claim 27, wherein each of the plurality of keys has two sections directly adjoining one another with a width of a first section slightly smaller than a width of a second section, and each section being independently operable.

29. The computing device of claim 24, wherein each of the plurality of keys of at least one of the sections of the input mechanism has a default non-depressed position and a depressed position, such that the plurality of keys comprises at least one smaller key and at least one larger key, each smaller key enclosed within a corresponding larger key, each smaller key and each larger key having an independent resilient support pad and electrical contact underneath, each key in the depressed position lying within a plane of the section of the input mechanism and completing an electrical circuit, and each key in the non-depressed position lying above the plane.