WEARABLE DEVICE WITH POWER STATE CONTROL

• US 20160170446A1
• Filed: 12/11/2014
• Published: 06/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Palmer, Ryan, Cowley, Nicholas P., Saraswat, Ruchir, Goldman, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 10,013,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/181 Circuits; Control arrangements or methods
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/30 with mechanical input and electrical output, e.g. functioning as generators or sensors

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques and configurations for a wearable device with power state control. In one instance, the device a functional module to operate in a first power state or in a second power state that is different from the first power state; a power source coupled with the functional module to provide operational power to the functional module; and a power state control module coupled with the functional module, to cause the functional module to transition from the first power state to the second power state in response to an input. The power state control module may comprise a power generating device to generate power responsive to the input, independent of the power source, and in response to the generated power, cause the functional module to transition from the first power state to the second power state. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a functional module to operate in a first power state or in a second power state that is different from the first power state;

a power source coupled with the functional module to provide operational power to the functional module; and

a power state control module coupled with the functional module, to cause the functional module to transition from the first power state to the second power state in response to an input, wherein the power state control module comprises a power generating device to generate power responsive to the input, independent of the power source, and in response to the generated power, cause the functional module to transition from the first power state to the second power state.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a wearable device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the power generating device comprises a piezoelectric device to generate electric charge in response to the input.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the wearable device comprises a housing to house at least the functional module and the power state control module.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the housing comprises a semi-rigid material, wherein the piezoelectric device is disposed inside the housing on a rigid former directly underneath the semi-rigid material, wherein the input comprises an external pressure to be applied to a portion of the housing above the piezoelectric device, to be transferred to the piezoelectric device via the semi-rigid material of the housing, to cause generation of the electric charge.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the housing comprises a rigid material, wherein the piezoelectric device is disposed on the rigid material externally to the housing, wherein the input comprises an external pressure to be applied to the piezoelectric device, to cause generation of the electric charge.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the piezoelectric device is a flexible piezoelectric sensor, wherein the housing comprises a semi-rigid material, wherein the piezoelectric device is disposed inside a body of the housing, wherein the input comprises an external pressure to be applied to the semi-rigid material of the body of the housing, to cause flexing of the piezoelectric device that results in generation of the electric charge.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the piezoelectric device is embedded in a mounting feature or a restraining feature of the wearable device, accessible to the input.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein piezoelectric device is formed from one of:

a monolithic piezoelectric material or macro fiber composite material, wherein the input comprises a tap.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the generated power comprises electric charge, wherein the power generating device is selected from one of:

a device comprising a material to generate the electric charge in response to the input, wherein the input comprises a stroke;

a device to generate the electric charge in response to heat, wherein the input comprises a hold to provide the heat to the device;

a device to generate the electric charge in response to the input, wherein the input comprises a flash with light;

a device that includes a ferromagnetic material movable through a coil, to generate the electric charge in response to the input, wherein the input comprises a shake;

or

a bio-battery to generate the electric charge in response a disposition of an electrolyte across the bio-battery, wherein the input comprises a touch to deliver the electrolyte to the bio-battery.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source is to provide the operational power to the functional module in accordance with the first or second power state.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the generated power comprises electric charge, wherein the power state control module further comprises:

a rectification circuit coupled with the power generating device, to limit voltage corresponding to the electric charge generated by the power generating device;

a charge storage device coupled with the rectification circuit, to store the electric charge at the voltage limited by the rectification circuit; and

a power state control interface coupled with the charge storage device, to generate a command to the functional module to transition from the first power state to the second power state, based on the electrical charge stored by the charge storage device.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the functional module comprises two or more components, wherein the first power state corresponds to a standby mode, in which a first number of the components of the functional module are powered on, and wherein the second power state corresponds to an operational mode, in which a second number of the components of the functional module are powered on, wherein the second number is greater than the first number.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the functional module comprises a system on chip (SOC).

15. A wearable device, comprising:

a housing;

a functional module disposed in the housing, wherein the functional module is to operate in a first power state or in a second power state that is different from the first power state;

a power source disposed in the housing and coupled to the functional module to provide operational power to the functional module; and

a power state control module substantially disposed in the housing and coupled with the functional module, to cause the functional module to transition from the first power state to the second power state in response to an input, wherein the power state control module comprises a power generating device to generate power responsive to the input, independent of the power source, and in response to the generated power, cause the functional module to transition from the first power state to the second power state.

16. The wearable device of claim 15, wherein the power source comprises a battery to provide the operational power to the functional module in accordance with the first or second power states.

17. The wearable device of claim 15, wherein the functional module comprises a system on chip (SOC).

18. The wearable device of claim 15, wherein the piezoelectric device is disposed directly underneath a surface of the housing or on the surface of the housing and accessible to the input, wherein the input comprises a tap to be applied to an area of the surface directly above the piezoelectric device or to the piezoelectric device respectively.

19. The wearable device of claim 15, wherein the housing comprises a surface made of a semi-rigid material, wherein at least a portion of the housing comprises a substantially curved shape, wherein the piezoelectric device comprises a flexible piezoelectric sensor placed inside the curved-shape portion of the housing.

20. The wearable device of claim 15, wherein the piezoelectric device is embedded in a mounting feature or a restraining feature of the wearable device, accessible to the input.

21. A method, comprising:

disposing a functional module of a wearable device inside a housing of the wearable device, wherein the functional module is operable in a first power state or in a second power state;

disposing a power state control module of the wearable device inside the housing, the disposing including placing a piezoelectric device of the power state control module directly underneath a surface of the housing or on the surface of the housing, to be accessible to an input; and

providing a communicative connection between the functional module and the power state control module, to enable transitioning of the functional module from the first power state to the second power state in response to the input to the piezoelectric device causing the piezoelectric device, independent of a power source associated with the wearable device, to generate power causing the functional module to transition from the first power state to the second power state.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the power source comprises a battery, wherein the method further comprises:

disposing the battery in the housing; and

providing a communicative connection between the battery and the functional module, to provide operational power to the functional module in accordance with the first or second power state.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

providing the functional module in a form of a system on chip (SOC).

24. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a power state control module of a wearable device, an input indicating user intent to transition the wearable device from a first power state to a second power state that is different that the first power state;

generating, by the power state control module, power responsive to the input, independent of a power source associated with the wearable device; and

causing, by the power state control module, the wearable device to transition from the first power state to the second power state, in response to the generated power.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the power state control module includes a piezoelectric device, wherein receiving an input includes receiving, by the power state control module, a tap to cause the piezoelectric device to generate electric charge,

wherein causing the wearable device to transition from the first power state to the second power state includes generating, by the power state control module, a command to a functional module of the wearable device to transition from the first power state to the second power state.