Wearable computer packaging configurations

• US 6,249,427 B1
• Filed: 03/26/1998
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Embedded Technologies LLC (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Via Inc. (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carroll, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US09/048,725
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/681, 361/686, 361/730, 235/462, 235/472, 708/139, 708/140, 708/141, 708/142, D14/107, D14/100, D14/102, D14/105
• US Class Current: 361/679.03
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• 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 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops

Abstract

A flexible, wearable computer is convertible between a laptop configuration and a wearable configuration. The various computing elements and battery of the wearable computer are arranged by connector(s), fastener(s), and/or on a support and/or within a housing for operative communication with a display of the laptop computer or of a personal hand-held device, whether pocketable or non-pocketable. Of course, prior to deployment in a laptop configuration, the computing elements and battery of the wearable computer are capable of deployment in many configurations on the body to facilitate comfort and utility.

Claims

1. An electronic computing device comprising:

a plurality of operatively communicatively coupled microcomputing components, including a processor for performing computer processing functions, connected to form a wearable computer; and

at least one laptop computing component added to the plurality of microcomputing components to form a laptop computer, the at least one laptop computing component being selected from the group consisting of a keyboard and a display, the microcomputing components being free of the at least one laptop computing component when the microcomputing components are connected to form a wearable computer, the microcomputing components being rearranged relative to each other when connected to form a laptop computer instead of a wearable computer.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the laptop computer includes a base support having means for removably mounting the microcomputing elements thereon.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the at least one laptop computing component comprises a keyboard, further wherein the base support further includes a first surface having a recess with means for removably mounting the computing components therein and a second surface with means for removably mounting the keyboard thereon.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the at least one laptop computing component comprises a display screen operatively communicatively coupled to the plurality of microcomputing components and hingedly connected to the base support.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the display screen further comprises at least one of a mini-keypad input device and a touch pad input device.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a support, physically distinct from the microcomputing components, for housing and supporting the wearable computer on the body of a wearer.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one laptop computing component comprises a keyboard and display connected together.

8. A portable electronic computer comprising:

a display screen;

a plurality of operably communicatively coupled microcomputer elements, each disposed within its own enclosure, and operatively communicatively coupled to the display screen, including a processor for performing computer processing functions; and

a housing wherein the microcomputer elements are disposed within the housing;

further wherein the housing further defines a pouch with the microcomputing elements removably disposed within the pouch and the pouch including an outer surface having at least one keypad-type input output device.

9. The computer of claim 8 and further comprising:

a base support operatively communicatively coupled to the display screen and configured and arranged for removably mounting the microcomputer elements thereon.

10. The computer of claim 9 wherein the base support further defines a first surface having a recess with means for removably mounting the microcomputer elements therein.

11. The computer of claim 9 wherein the base support further defines a second surface with means for removably mounting a keyboard thereon.

12. The computer of claim 9 wherein the base support is hingedly removably connected to the display screen.

13. The computer of claim 8 wherein the housing is removably mounted on the base support.

14. The computer of claim 8 and further comprising:

a base support operatively communicatively coupled to the display screen and constructed for removably mounting the housing thereon.

15. The computer of claim 14 wherein the housing is mounted on a top side of the support.

16. The computer of claim 14 wherein the housing is mounted on a bottom side of the support.

17. The computer of claim 8 wherein the housing is a flexible member.

18. The computer of claim 8 wherein the housing includes an outer surface having a cavity formed therein for receiving a display screen.

19. The computer of claim 18 wherein the computer further includes a second display screen operatively communicatively coupled to the microcomputer elements in the housing.

20. The computer of claim 8 wherein each of the microcomputing elements further include a portion of a wireless communication network to define operative communication coupling between the microcomputer elements.

21. The computer of claim 8 wherein the microcomputing elements and display screen define a local area network.

22. A method of using a computer comprising:

wearing about a user an elongate flexible support member having a plurality of batteries and multiple computing modules arranged thereon so that the batteries are disposed on the sides of the user while the computing modules are disposed on a rear portion of the user;

removing the support member from the user; and

adding at least one laptop component to the batteries and computing modules to form a laptop computer.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the wearing step further comprises:

wearing an input/output device arranged adjacent an end of the support member at a front of the user.

24. The method of claim 22 and further comprising:

holding a display device with at least one auxiliary device storage holder on the support member, the holder operatively communicating with the display device and the computing modules.

25. A method of converting a wearable computer into a laptop computer, the method comprising:

providing a wearable computer, the wearable computer comprising a plurality of connected microcomputing components, including a processor for performing computer processing functions;

providing a support, physically distinct from the microcomputing components, for supporting the wearable computer on the body of a wearer;

rearranging the microcomputing components of the wearable computer; and

connecting at least one laptop computing component to the rearranged microcomputing components, the at least one laptop computing component being selected from the group consisting of a keyboard and a display, to form a laptop computer;

wherein the microcomputing components are free of the at least one laptop computing component when the microcomputing components are connected as a wearable computer.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one laptop computing component comprises a keyboard and display connected together.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the rearranged microcomputer components are placed into an enclosure;

further wherein the at least one laptop computing component is supported on the enclosure.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising placing the microcomputing components onto a base support before connecting the at least one laptop computing component.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

inserting the microcomputing components into a flexible housing prior to placing the components onto the base support;

removably mounting the housing with the microcomputer components therein onto the base support.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising;

snap-fitting the microcomputer components into a recess of a first surface of the base support.

31. A computer system, comprising:

a plurality of batteries;

at least one computing component including at least one processor, the at least one computing component operably coupled with the plurality of batteries;

support structure constructed to support the plurality of batteries and the at least one computing module on the body of a human wearer, the support structure supporting the plurality of batteries on opposite sides of the at least one computing module while worn on the body of the wearer to form a wearable computer; and

at least one laptop component constructed for operable connection to the plurality of batteries and to the at least one computing component to form a laptop computer, wherein the plurality of batteries are in a different arrangement relative to the at least one computing module when the plurality of batteries are operably connected to the at least one laptop component.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the plurality of batteries are disposed on only one side of the at least one computing module when the laptop computer is formed.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the plurality of batteries includes a first plurality of batteries arranged in series and a second plurality of batteries arranged in series on opposite sides of the at least one computing module when the wearable computer is formed.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the first and second pluralities of batteries are on only one side of the at least one computing module when the laptop computer is formed.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the at least one laptop component comprises a keyboard component.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the at least one laptop component comprises a display component.

37. The system of claim 31, wherein the plurality of batteries are disposed underneath the at least one laptop component when the laptop computer is formed.

38. A method of arranging a plurality of computing elements, the method comprising:

providing a conventional cloth necktie, the necktie having a narrow portion for disposition near the neck of a wearer of the necktie and a wider portion for disposition near the waist of a wearer of the necktie; and

supporting the plurality of computing elements with the necktie, the plurality of computing elements being disposed between the narrow portion of the necktie and the wider portion of the necktie, to form a wearable computer.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the computing elements are flexibly connected together.

40. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

providing a belt for wearing about the waist of the wearer; and

supporting at least one battery with the belt, the at least one battery providing power to the wearable computer.

41. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

supporting a display screen at the wider portion of the necktie.

42. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

supporting an input/output device with the necktie.

43. A method of arranging a plurality of computing elements, the method comprising:

providing a pair of pants;

providing a pair of suspenders, connected to the pair of pants, to support the pair of pants on the body of a wearer;

supporting the plurality of computing elements on the suspenders to form a wearable computer.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the computing elements are flexibly connected together.