WEARABLE COMPUTING SYSTEMS

• US 20170251561A1
• Filed: 05/16/2017
• Published: 08/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Fleck, Rod G., Bohn, David D., Garcia, Ben, Joers, Sarah L., Toney, Aaron P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,561,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/026 having standardized interfaces flash memory cards G06K19/077

Abstract

One embodiment provides a computing device comprising a computing device body, a display coupled with the computing device body, a first set of computing components incorporated into the computing device body, and a securing system configured to secure the body to a wrist, the securing system comprising a plurality of detachable modular segments joined together to form a second set of computing components that is modifiable by changing segments. Each modular segment comprises a first mechanical connector and a second mechanical connector, a first set of electrical connectors and a second set of electrical connectors, and one or more electrical components incorporated into the modular segment, such that a functionality of the computing device is modifiable by changing modular segments.

Claims

1. A computing device configured to be worn on a user'"'"'s body, the computing device comprising:

a computing device body;

a display coupled with the computing device body;

a first set of computing components incorporated into the computing device body; and

a securing system configured to secure the computing device body in a closed loop around a body part, the securing system comprising a plurality of detachable modular segments each joined to one or more adjacent modular segments to form a band comprising a second set of computing components, each detachable modular segment comprising

a first mechanical connector and a second mechanical connector each configured to be coupled to a complementary mechanical connector on one or more of an adjacent detachable modular segment and the computing device body,

a first set of electrical connectors and a second set of electrical connectors each configured to connect to a corresponding set of electrical connectors on the one or more of the adjacent detachable modular segment and the computing device body, and

one or more electrical components incorporated into the detachable modular segment, such that a functionality of the computing device is modifiable by detaching one or more detachable modular segments and also by attaching one or more other detachable modular segments,

wherein the plurality of the detachable modular segments are configured to form an electrical circuit extending around the closed loop.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the computing device is configured to be worn on a wrist, and wherein the securing system is configured to secure the computing device to the wrist.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first set of electrical connectors and the second set of electrical connectors each comprises two or more connectors.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein each detachable modular segment comprises a modular segment body, wherein the first set of electrical connectors and first mechanical connector are located on a first side of the modular segment body, and wherein the second set of electrical connectors and second mechanical connector are located on a second side of the modular segment body.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the second set of computing device components comprises one or more of an auxiliary display, a battery, a speaker, a solar power source, a kinetic power source, a solar power collector, a global positioning system sensor, an auxiliary display, a wireless battery charger, a haptic output device, a motion sensor, a camera, a SIM card, a storage device, a connector, a biometric sensor, a microphone, a button, a light emitting diode.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the second set of computing device components includes a plurality of detachable modular segments each comprising one or more batteries.

7. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first mechanical connector and the second mechanical connector respectively comprise a pin and a retainer configured to connect to the pin.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first mechanical connector and the second mechanical connector each comprises one or more magnets.

9. The computing device of claim 1, wherein one or more detachable modular segments comprise electrical components in the form of conductors extending between the first set of electrical connectors and the second set of electrical connectors.

10. A computing device configured to be worn on a user'"'"'s body, the computing device comprising:

a computing device body;

a display coupled with the computing device body;

a first set of computing components incorporated into the computing device body;

and

a securing system configured to secure the computing device body in a closed loop around a wrist, the securing system comprising a plurality of detachable modular segments joined together to form a second set of computing components, each detachable modular segment comprising

a first mechanical connector and a second mechanical connector each configured to be coupled to a complementary mechanical connector on one or more of an adjacent detachable modular segment and the computing device body,

a first set of electrical connectors and a second set of electrical connectors each configured to connect to a corresponding set of electrical connectors on the one or more of the adjacent detachable modular segment and the computing device body,

one or more electrical connectors of the first set of electrical connectors comprising a first contact and being integrated with a retainer of the modular segment and one or more electrical connectors of the second set of electrical connectors comprising a second contact and being integrated with a flex connector of the detachable modular segment, such that connecting the flex connector to the retainer electrically connects the detachable modular segment to the one or more of the adjacent detachable modular segment and the computing device body, and

one or more electrical components incorporated into the detachable modular segment, such that a functionality of the computing device is modifiable by detaching one or more detachable modular segments and also by attaching one or more other detachable modular segments,

wherein the plurality of detachable modular segments are configured to form an electrical circuit extending around the closed loop.

11. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the computing device is configured to be worn on a wrist, and wherein the securing system is configured to secure the computing device to the wrist.

12. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the first set of electrical connectors and the second set of electrical connectors each comprises two or more connectors.

13. The computing device of claim 10, wherein each detachable modular segment comprises a modular segment body, wherein the first set of electrical connectors and first mechanical connector are located on a first side of the modular segment body, and wherein the second set of electrical connectors and second mechanical connector are located on a second side of the modular segment body.

14. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the second set of computing components includes a plurality of detachable modular segments each comprising one or more batteries.

15. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the first mechanical connector and the second mechanical connector each comprises one or more magnets.

16. The computing device of claim 10, wherein one or more detachable modular segments comprise electrical components in the form of conductors extending between the first set of electrical connectors and the second set of electrical connectors.

17. A modular segment configured to be coupled with one or more of a computing device configured to be worn on a wrist and another modular segment to form a closed loop around a wrist and to extend a functionality of the computing device, the modular segment comprising:

a first mechanical connector and a second mechanical connector each configured to be coupled to a complementary mechanical connector on one or more of an adjacent modular segment and the body,

a first set of electrical connectors and a second set of electrical connectors each configured to connect to a corresponding set of electrical connectors on the one or more of the adjacent modular segment and the body, and

one or more electrical components incorporated into the modular segment.

18. The modular segment of claim 17, wherein the first set of electrical connectors and the second set of electrical connectors each comprises two or more electrical connectors.

19. The modular segment of claim 18, wherein the second set of components comprises one or more of a biometric sensor, an auxiliary display, a battery, a speaker, a solar power source, a kinetic power source, a global positioning system sensor, a haptic output device, a motion sensor, a camera, a SIM card, a storage device, a connector, a biometric sensor, a microphone, a button, and a light emitting diode.

20. The modular segment of claim 18, further comprising a wrist computing device body attached to the modular segment.