Accelerometer-Based Control of Wearable Devices

• US 20120082013A1
• Filed: 12/10/2011
• Published: 04/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enbiomedic Co.
• Original Assignee: Enbiomedic Co.
• Inventors: Yeung, King-Wah Walter, Yeung, Wei-Wei Vivian
• Granted Patent: US 8,818,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/274
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/002 Position, e.g. inclination dependent switches
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/02 Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

Accelerometer-based detection for controlling audio-reporting watches, resulting in button-free operation. A wristwatch can use an accelerometer to detect the orientation and/or movement of a user'"'"'s wrist and subsequently activate audio time reporting, without requiring the user to find and lush a small button. For example, a talking wristwatch can use this method to automatically report the time whenever a user moves or orients his or her wrist to a natural position for listening. A position such as that in close proximity to the ear can additionally facilitate private listening without disturbing others. Furthermore, the wristwatch can report time using personalized audio time components that the user has previously recorded, so that reporting is in a custom voice or language. In such applications, accelerometer-based control of audio-reporting watches offers significant advantages over conventional means of control, particularly in terms of ease of use and durability.

Claims

1. A talking wristwatch, comprising:

(a) a wristwatch;

(b) an accelerometer for acquiring acceleration data of said wristwatch; and

(c) a detection means for using said acceleration data to activate audio time reporting of said wristwatch.

2. The talking wristwatch according to claim 1 further comprising a means for recording personalized audio time components, so that said personalized audio time components can be used for audio time reporting.

3. The talking wristwatch according to claim 1 wherein said detection means comprises a means for using said acceleration data to compute an orientation of said talking wristwatch to activate audio time reporting when said orientation is a predetermined orientation.

4. The talking wristwatch according to claim 1 wherein said detection means comprises a means for using said acceleration data to compute a movement of said talking wristwatch to activate audio time reporting when said movement is a predetermined movement.

5. The talking wristwatch according to claim 1 wherein said detection means comprises a means for using said acceleration data to compute an orientation and a movement of said talking wristwatch to activate audio time reporting when said orientation is a predetermined orientation and said movement is a predetermined movement.