WRISTBAND DEVICE INPUT USING WRIST MOVEMENT

• US 20160299570A1
• Filed: 10/24/2013
• Published: 10/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Davydov, Anton M.
• Application Number:
  US15/031,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20160299570A1
• 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 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback

Abstract

A function of an electronic device can be invoked using a wrist gesture (e.g., flexion or extension) that is detected by a wrist-worn device. The gesture can be detected using sensors in the wrist-worn device, e.g., in the wristband and/or behind a face member. A specific gesture can be identified from a library based on analysis of sensor signals. The invoked function can be executed on the wrist-worn device or another device that is in communication with the wrist-worn device.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wrist-worn device, the method comprising:

detecting, using a sensor on the wrist-worn device, a force acting on a band element of the wrist-worn device, the force indicative of a wrist articulation;

determining, using data from an accelerometer in the wrist-worn device, whether the user'"'"'s arm is in motion;

interpreting, by a processing subsystem of the wrist-worn device, the detected force as corresponding to a wrist gesture, wherein the interpretation is based in part on the detected force and in part on whether the user'"'"'s arm is in motion; and

invoking a function of the wrist-worn device based on the wrist gesture.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wrist gesture includes a dorsiflexion of the wrist.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the wrist gesture includes a palmar flexion of the wrist.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein invoking the function includes activating a voice input mode of the wrist-worn device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein invoking the function includes scrolling a list of items displayed on a display of the wrist-worn device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein invoking the function includes waking the wrist-worn device from a sleep state.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein invoking the function includes returning the wrist-worn device to a home state.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein interpreting the detected force as corresponding to a wrist gesture includes:

matching the detected pattern to one of a plurality of wrist gestures defined in a gesture library,

wherein the plurality of wrist gestures includes a single extend-and-release gesture and a double extend-and-release gesture.

10. The method of claim 8claim 1 wherein interpreting the detected force as corresponding to a wrist gesture includes:

matching the detected pattern to one of a plurality of wrist gestures defined in a gesture library,

wherein the plurality of wrist gestures includes an extend-and-release gesture and an extend-and-hold gesture.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein interpreting the detected force as corresponding to a wrist gesture includes comparing the detected pattern to each of a plurality of signature patterns defined in a gesture library, wherein different ones of the signature patterns correspond to different ones of the wrist gestures.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein in response to determining that the user'"'"'s arm is in motion, the detected force is interpreted as not corresponding to any wrist gesture.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein a set of criteria for interpreting the detected force as corresponding to a wrist gesture depends on whether the user'"'"'s arm is in motion.

26. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the user is looking at a display of the wrist-worn device,

wherein a set of criteria for interpreting the detected force as corresponding to a wrist gesture depends on whether the user is looking at the display.

8. (canceled)

12-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A wrist-worn device comprising:

a face member;

a wristband connected to the face member;

an accelerometer configured to detect motion of a user'"'"'s arm;

a plurality of sensors disposed in one or both of the wristband and the face member, the plurality of sensors configured to generate signals in response to a wrist articulation; and

a processing subsystem coupled to the plurality of sensors and the accelerometer and configured to;

analyze the signals generated by the plurality of sensors to identify a wrist gesture, wherein the identification is based at least in part on whether the user'"'"'s arm is in motion;

identify an action associated with the identified wrist gesture; and

execute the identified action.

18. The wrist-worn device of claim 17 wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one pressure sensor disposed on a back surface of the face member.

19. The wrist-worn device of claim 17 wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one pressure sensor disposed on an inner surface of the wristband.

20. The wrist-worn device of claim 17 wherein at least a portion of the wristband is made of an elastic material and the plurality of sensors includes at least one strain sensor disposed at least partially in the elastic material.

21. The wrist-worn device of claim 17 further comprising an expandable strap holder connected to a first end surface of the face member and to the wristband and wherein the plurality of sensors includes a sensor configured to detect expansion of the expandable strap holder.

22. The wrist-worn device of claim 17 wherein the processing subsystem is further configured such that analyzing the signals includes matching the signals to a signature of one of a plurality of wrist gestures in a gesture library.

23. The wrist-worn device of claim 22 wherein the plurality of wrist gestures in the gesture library include one or more of a dorsiflexion gesture, a palmar flexion gesture, an abduction gesture, an adduction gesture, a pronation gesture, or a supination gesture.