USER INTERFACE FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20090160640A1
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Empower Technologies Incorporated (EMR Technology Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Empower Technologies Incorporated (EMR Technology Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ho, Kenneth, Leung, Paul C.P., Chan, Ying-Chiu
• Application Number:
  US12/338,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20090160640A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.110
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• 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

Abstract

A system is disclosed including an electronic device having a case housing an operative portion, such as a sound system, CD Player, or the like. A bay is formed in the case and includes a communication channel interface electrically coupled to the operative portion. The system further includes a portable computer, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA). The portable computer is sized to fit within the bay having a communication channel thereof in data communication with the communication channel interface. The portable computer stores applications including one or more control applications programmed to generate control signals in response to user inputs. Applications may display an interface on a touch screen and receive user inputs therefrom. The control signals are transmitted to the operative portion which responds to the control signals by playing music, adjusting a volume level, and the like.

Claims

1. An electronic system comprising:

a monitor comprising a sensor selectively contacting a user to sense a condition and a communication channel operable to transmit a sensor output from the sensor;

a portable computer comprising;

a processor for processing operational and executable data structures;

an input port operably connected to the processor to carry information to and from the processor, the input port selectively in data communication with the communication channel;

an input device for receiving user inputs; and

a memory for storing operational and executable data structures, the memory operably connected to the processor and storing a plurality of applications executable by the processor, at least one of the applications being a monitoring application configured to receive the output and at least one of archive the output and generate an alert in response thereto;

the portable computer selectively in data communication with the operative portion to receive the output thereof.

2. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a heart rate monitor.

3. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is mounted in a wrist mounted device and wherein the communication channel comprises a wireless communication channel.

4. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is mounted to a clip mountable to clothing and wherein the communication channel comprises a wireless communication channel.

5. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the portable computer is a portable digital assistant.

6. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is mounted m a mat overlaying a bed.