Wrist-worn communications apparatus

• US 7,251,197 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Issued: 07/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Murata, Yoshiyuki, Yoshida, Kaoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska; Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US10/531,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20050265125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 368/4, 368/10, 368/13, 368/47, 368/88, 368/281, 368/292, 455/90.3, 455/344
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets

Abstract

A watch of the communications apparatus is worn on a user'"'"'s wrist by bands. A support member pivoted on the band is then turned so as to extend in the transverse direction of the bands. A speaker unit is provided on the support member so as to face in a transverse direction of the band while a microphone unit is disposed on the support member so as to face in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the band. When a user communicates with the other party, the speaker unit provided on the support member is directed toward the user'"'"'s ear. This causes the microphone unit provided on the support member to be directed easily toward the user'"'"'s mouth. Alternatively a hinged lid is provided the lid carrying a key-in unit or a display and a speaker unit.

Claims

1. A wrist-worn communications apparatus comprising:

a device;

a band that is coupled to the device and that is adapted to be worn on a user'"'"'s wrist;

a speaker unit including a sound output cylinder that is disposed at a predetermined position on the band so that an output face of the sound output cylinder faces a same direction as an open face of the band through which the user'"'"'s wrist is insertable; and

a microphone unit including a sound input cylinder that is disposed in a vicinity of the speaker unit on a surface of the band so that an input face of the sound input cylinder is perpendicular to the output face of the sound output cylinder;

wherein when the user'"'"'s wrist is inserted in the band and the band is worn on the user'"'"'s wrist, the output face of the sound output cylinder is adapted to be directed to the user'"'"'s ear and the input face of the sound input cylinder is adapted to be directed to the user'"'"'s mouth.

2. The wrist-worn communications apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a speaker-microphone assembly provided removably at the predetermined position on the band, wherein the speaker-microphone assembly comprises the speaker unit, the microphone unit and a mount on which the speaker unit and the microphone unit are mounted close to each other.

3. The wrist-worn communications apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the device and the speaker-microphone assembly are provided on opposite sides of the band so that when the user'"'"'s wrist is inserted in the band and the band is worn on the user'"'"'s wrist, the speaker-microphone assembly and the device are on opposite sides of the user'"'"'s wrist.

4. The wrist-worn communications apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the device comprises at least one of an input unit, a display unit for communication purposes, and a timepiece unit.

5. A wrist-worn communications apparatus comprising:

a device;

a band that is coupled to the device and that is adapted to be worn on a user'"'"'s wrist;

a support belt member disposed at a predetermined position on the band such that the support belt member can extend (i) along a longitudinal direction of the band, and (ii) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the band;

a speaker unit including a sound output cylinder provided on one end of the support belt member so that when the band is worn on the user'"'"'s wrist and the support belt member is extended in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the band, an output face of the sound output cylinder faces a same direction as an open face of the band through which the user'"'"'s wrist is insertable;

a microphone unit including a sound input cylinder that is disposed on an opposite end of the support belt member so that an input face of the sound input cylinder is perpendicular to the output face of the sound output cylinder; and

wherein when the band is worn on the user'"'"'s wrist and the support belt member is extended in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the band, the output face of the sound output cylinder is adapted to be directed to the user'"'"'s ear and the input face of the sound input cylinder is adapted to be directed to the user'"'"'s mouth.

6. The wrist-worn communications apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the support belt member is supported by a pivot at the predetermined position on the band.

7. A wrist-worn communications apparatus comprising:

a device;

a band that is coupled to the device and that is adapted to be worn on a user'"'"'s wrist;

a support belt member attached pivotally by a pivot to the band at a predetermined position on the band;

a speaker unit including a sound output cylinder provided on one end of the support belt member so that when the band is worn on the user'"'"'s wrist and the support belt member is pivoted in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the band, an output face of the sound output cylinder faces a same direction as an open face of the band through which the user'"'"'s wrist is insertable;

a microphone unit including a sound input cylinder provided on an opposite end of the support belt member so that an input face of the sound input cylinder is perpendicular to the output face of the sound output cylinder; and

at least one lock member which locks at least one end of the support belt member unlockably to the band;

wherein when the band is worn on the user'"'"'s wrist and the support belt member is pivoted perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the band, the output face of the sound output cylinder is adapted to be directed to the user'"'"'s ear and the input face of the sound input cylinder is adapted to be directed to the user'"'"'s mouth.

8. The wrist-worn communications apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the output face of the sound output cylinder faces outward in an extending a direction of the support belt member.