WEARABLE COMPUTING DEVICE

• US 20150220109A1
• Filed: 11/28/2014
• Published: 08/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ouraring, Inc. (Oura Health Oy)
• Original Assignee: Mechio, Inc.
• Inventors: Strasser, Michael J., von Badinski, Curt C., Twiss, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,582,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/146 for optical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0042 for use with direct solar radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0052 the light source comprising a laser diode coupling into light guides using intermediate optical elements G02B6/4204; semiconductor lasers having optical devices external to the laser cavity H01S5/005
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0061 the light source comprising a LED semiconductor devices with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier specially adapted for light emission H01L33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/02 : Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 : for measuring physiological data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 : Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 : Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 : using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 : Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 : Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 : Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/751 : Comparing pixel values or logical combinations thereof, or feature values having positional relevance, e.g. template matching
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 : Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/15 : Biometric patterns based on physiological signals, e.g. heartbeat, blood flow
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/70 : Multimodal biometrics, e.g. combining information from different biometric modalities
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 : Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 : using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 : using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 : User interface
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 : specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 : with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/22 : Light-reflecting or light-concentrating means directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H01L31/054
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 : PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a wearable computing device (WCD) in the form of a ring that can be worn on the finger of a human user.

Claims

1. A wearable computing device, comprising:

an interior wall;

an exterior wall;

a flexible printed circuit board disposed between the interior wall and the exterior wall;

at least one component disposed on the flexible printed circuit board; and

wherein at least one of the interior wall and the exterior wall defines a window that facilitates at least one of data transmission, battery recharge, and status indication.

2. The wearable computing device of claim 1, wherein the window comprises an internal window defined by the interior wall.

3. The wearable computing device of claim 1, wherein the window comprises an exterior window defined by the exterior wall.

4. The wearable computing device of claim 1, wherein the window comprises a plurality of exterior windows defined by the exterior wall.

5. The wearable computing device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of exterior windows comprises a first exterior window and a second exterior window, wherein the first exterior window facilities battery charging and the second exterior window facilities data transmission.

6. The wearable computing device of claim 4, wherein at least one concentrated photovoltaic cell, an antenna, and at least one LED are accessible via the window.

7. A wearable computing device, comprising:

an internal housing portion configured to be disposed near a finger of a user;

a flexible printed circuit board arranged around a portion of a circumference of an interior surface of the internal housing;

at least one component disposed on the flexible printed circuit board; and

an external housing portion configured to seal the at least one component and the printed circuit board in an internal space defined by the interior surface of the internal housing.

8. The wearable device of claim 7, wherein the external housing portion comprises a substantially transparent external potting.

9. The wearable computing device of claim 8, wherein the at least one component comprises at least one LED configured to emit at least one of visible light, infrared radiation, and ultraviolet radiation through the external potting.

10. The wearable computing device of claim 8, wherein the at least one component comprises a concentrated photovoltaic cell configured to receive concentrated light through the transparent external potting.

11. The wearable computing device of claim 8, wherein the flexible printed circuit board includes a plurality of stiffener elements configured to engage with a corresponding plurality of flanges disposed on the internal housing portion.

12. A wearable computing device, comprising:

an external housing portion;

a flexible printed circuit board arranged around a portion of a circumference of an interior surface of the external housing;

at least one component disposed on the flexible printed circuit board; and

an internal housing portion configured to seal the at least one component and the printed circuit board in an internal space defined by the interior surface of the external housing.

13. The wearable device of claim 12, wherein the internal housing portion comprises a substantially transparent internal potting.

14. The wearable computing device of claim 13, wherein the at least one component comprises at least one LED configured to emit at least one of visible light, infrared radiation, and ultraviolet radiation through the internal potting.

15. The wearable computing device of claim 13, wherein the at least one component comprises a concentrated photovoltaic cell configured to receive concentrated light through the transparent internal potting.

16. The wearable computing device of claim 13, wherein the flexible printed circuit board includes a plurality of stiffener elements configured to engage with a corresponding plurality of flanges disposed on the external housing portion.

17. A system, comprising:

a wearable computing device, including a housing and a photovoltaic element disposed at least partially within the housing; and

a base assembly, the base assembly including a concentrated light source directed at the photovoltaic element.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the wearable computing device includes at least one ferrous element disposed within the housing, and wherein the base assembly includes at least one magnetic element disposed therein.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the concentrated light source is arranged circumferentially around the wearable computing device when the wearable computing device is engaged with the base assembly.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the concentrated light source comprises at least one of a laser diode and a light emitting diode (LED).

21. The system of claim 17, wherein a housing of the WCD defines an opening through which the WCD is configured to receive concentrated light.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the base assembly comprises an optical element for focusing concentrated light emitted from the concentrated light source.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the optical element comprises a lens and is selected from the group consisting of concave, convex, plano-concave, plano-convex.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the WCD comprises at least one transparent potting configured to allow concentrated light to pass therethrough.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the WCD is ring-shaped and the base assembly comprises at least one post configured to engaged with a finger space of the WCD.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the photovoltaic cell comprises a plurality of photovoltaic cells.

27. An enclosure for a wearable computing device, the enclosure comprising:

a base defining a receptacle for receiving the wearable computing;

a lid configured to engage with the base to substantially enclose the wearable computing device, the lid having an optical element configured to direct incident electromagnetic radiation to a photovoltaic cell disposed on the wearable computing device to allow charging thereof.

28. The enclosure of claim 27, wherein the lid includes a plurality of vent holes that prevent overheating within the enclosure.

29. The enclosure of claim 27, wherein the optical element comprises a lens.

30. The enclosure of claim 29, wherein the lens has a focal length and wherein a distance between a central portion of the lens and the photovoltaic cell is greater than or less than the focal length.

31. A timepiece system, comprising:

a timepiece having a substantially planar under surface; and

a timepiece computing device adhered to the planar under surface, the timepiece computing device being substantially cylindrical and comprising;

a processor;

a memory; and

at least one sensor.

32. A wearable computing device system, comprising:

a wearable computing device;

an attachment frame coupled to the wearable computing device; and

an optical element removably coupled to the attachment frame, wherein the optical element is configured to direct electromagnetic radiation to a photovoltaic cell disposed on a surface of the wearable computing device to allow for charging of the wearable computing device.

33. The wearable computing system of claim 32, wherein the attachment frame is removably coupled to the wearable computing device.

34. The wearable computing device system of claim 33, wherein the attachment frame engages with an inward-facing surface of the wearable computing device.

35. A method of identifying an authorized user of a wearable computing device, comprising:

illuminating a portion of a skin surface of the user;

imaging the portion of the skin surface of the user to generate at least one first image;

generating a reference capillary map corresponding to the user based at least in part on the at least one image.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising rotating the wearable computing device during the illuminating and imaging steps.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

imaging the portion of the skin surface of the user to generate at least one second image; and

comparing the at least one second image to the reference capillary map in order to authenticate the user.

38. A method of navigating, comprising:

gesturing in a first direction while wearing a wearable computing device;

comparing the first direction to a predetermined direction in a predetermined set of directions;

providing feedback based on the comparison of the first direction of the predetermined direction.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the gesture comprises pointing a finger and the first direction comprises a first heading.

40. A method of regulating temperature, comprising:

measuring a skin temperature of a user via a first temperature sensor;

measuring an ambient temperature via a second temperature sensor;

comparing the skin temperature to a predetermined threshold temperature; and

adjusting the ambient temperature based in part on the comparison.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein measuring the skin temperature comprises measuring the skin temperature via a first temperature sensor disposed at an inward facing surface of a wearable computing device.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein measuring the ambient temperature comprises measuring the ambient temperature via a second temperature sensor disposed at an outward facing surface of the wearable computing device.

43. A method for controlling appliances, comprising:

identifying a position of a first appliance in a room;

gesturing a first gesture in a direction of the first appliance;

identifying the direction of the first direction via a wearable computing device;

issuing a controlling command to the first appliance based in part on the identified direction of the gesture.

44. A method of generating an alert, comprising:

authenticating a first wearer of a first wearable computing device as a first authenticated user;

transmitting first biometric data associated with the first wearer;

associating the first biometric data with a first profile associated with the first wearer of the first wearable computing device;

comparing the first biometric data with a group profile comprising aggregated biometric data from a plurality of distinct wearers of a plurality of distinct wearable computing devices; and

generating an alert if the first biometric data falls outside of a predetermined threshold set by the aggregated biometric data.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the biometric data comprises at least one of heart rate;

ECG profile;

blood sugar, and blood pressure.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the plurality of distinct wearers share a common trait, resulting in their aggregation into the group profile.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the common trait comprises at least one of:

age, gender, profession, and location.

48. A method of determine a sampling rate of a wearable computing device, comprising:

determining an activity level of a wearer of a wearable computing device based at least in part on data from at least one sensor disposed onboard the wearable computing device;

comparing the activity level to a predetermined activity threshold; and

increasing a first sensor sampling rate if the activity level is above a predetermined activity threshold.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

decreasing the first sensor sampling rate if the activity level is below a predetermined activity threshold.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the predetermined activity threshold comprises an acceleration measurement.