FACILITATING USER INPUT VIA ARM-MOUNTED PERIPHERAL DEVICE INTERFACING WITH HEAD-MOUNTED DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20150095063A1
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Sherman
• Original Assignee: John Sherman
• Inventors: SHERMAN, JOHN
• Granted Patent: US 9,053,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• 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 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/08 Biomedical applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

An apparatus for performing data entry by a user includes a first electronic device configured to be attached to a person'"'"'s head and including a display for viewing by the person; and a second electronic device configured to be attached to a person'"'"'s forearm and used in combination with the first electronic device. The first and second electronic devices are configured for wirelessly communications with each other, at least some of the wireless communications representing user input by the person for interfacing with a user interface displayed to the person on the display of the first electronic device, whereby data entry by the person is accomplished. The first electronic device is configured to wirelessly transmit data entered by the person to a computer system for electronic storage in a non-transitory computer readable medium.

Claims

1. An apparatus for performing data entry by a user, comprising:

(a) a first electronic device configured to be attached to a user'"'"'s head and comprising a display for viewing by the user; and

(b) a second electronic device configured to be attached to a user'"'"'s arm and used in combination with the first electronic device, the first and the second electronic devices being configured to wirelessly communicate with each other, at least some of the wireless communications representing user input by the user for interfacing with a user interface displayed to the user on the display of the first electronic device, whereby data entry by the user is accomplished;

(c) wherein the first electronic device is configured to use the user interface of the display to visually prompt a user wearing the first electronic device to enter data regarding an object of observation, interaction, or both by the user; and

(d) wherein the first electronic device is configured to receive from the second electronic device the data and wirelessly transmit the received data to a computer system over a computer network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the observed data wirelessly transmitted to the computer system comprises healthcare information relating to a patient, and wherein the healthcare information is stored in an electronic healthcare record of the patient.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second electronic device comprises:

(i) an attachment portion configured for attachment of the device to an arm;

(ii) palm control portion containing circuitry and electronic components for performing functions and providing electronic capabilities of the device; and

(iii) an adjustable extension arm extending between and supporting the palm control portion relative to the attachment portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the palm control portion comprises a contoured surface for generally abutting a palm of a hand when in use, and an opposite surface that is generally planar.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the contoured surface of the palm control portion comprises surface areas that are touch-sensitive, whereby user input is received when a finger or thumb touches or taps a particular touch-sensitive area.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the extension arm is retained to the attachment portion by a support that defines an opening through which the extension arm slides.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein an end of the extension arm comprises an enlarged peripheral area that exceeds the dimensions of the opening defined by the support such that the peripheral area acts as a stop limiting the extent to which the extension arm slides relative to the support.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the extension arm is secured to the attachment portion and able to swivel or rotate relative to the attachment portion for minor angular adjustment of the control portion relative to the attachment portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the palm control portion is movable between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the attachment portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the extension arm includes a hinge mechanism providing hinge type articulation by which the control portion can be rotated about 180 degrees, the extension arm folding back on itself from an extended, “

in use”

position to a folded, stowed position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the hinge mechanism is located near a base of the palm control portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the attachment portion comprises one or more magnets that attract and retain the palm control portion to the attachment portion when the extension arm is in the folded, stowed position.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the one or more magnets deactivate input controls of the palm control portion when the palm control portion is retained to the attachment portion by the one or more magnets.

14. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second electronic device comprises an optical device configured to read a bar code.

15. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second electronic device comprises a wireless transceiver or receiver for reading a wireless electronic identification device.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device comprise a camera configured to capture one or more images of the object of observation or of the interaction of the user with the object, and wherein the wireless communication components are further configured to wirelessly transmit the captured one or more images to the computer system.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device comprises eyewear.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device comprises a rechargeable power supply;

one or more wireless receivers and one or more wireless transmitters, or one or more wireless transceivers;

an integrated microphone for receiving and processing the voice of the user wearing the device;

a gyroscope sensor for detecting spacial orientation of the device; and

an auditory communication component for providing audible communications to a user wearing the device.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device comprises telecommunication capabilities—

including voice and data.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device is configured such that the act of inverting the device locks the device from use until a user is authenticated for data entry.