Wearable electronic device

• US 8,994,827 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2013
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Mistry, Pranav, Sadi, Sajid, Aumiller, Curtis Douglas, Wei, Chengyuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao, Andy
• Application Number:
  US14/015,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20140139637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 348 42- 60, 348143-160
• US Class Current: 348/158
• 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 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

In one embodiment, a device includes a device body that includes a touch-sensitive display and a processor. The device also includes a band coupled to the device body and an optical sensor in or on the band. The optical sensor faces outward from the band and captures images. The processor communicates with the optical sensor to process captured images.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a device body comprising;

a touch-sensitive display; and

a processor;

a band coupled to the device body;

a first optical sensor in or on the band, wherein the first optical sensor faces outward from the band and is configured to capture an image and the processor is configured to communicate with the first optical sensor to process the captured image; and

a second optical sensor in or on the device body, a center of an angle of view of the second optical sensor being substantially parallel to a viewing cone of the touch-sensitive display.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first optical sensor is configured to transmit the image to the device body.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the image transmitted to the device body is displayed on the touch sensitive display.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a rotatable element about the touch-sensitive display; and

a detector configured to detect rotation of the rotatable element.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the detector comprises an encoder.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the encoder comprises:

an optical encoder;

or

a mechanical encoder.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein an inner surface of the rotatable element comprises the encoder.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein:

the touch-sensitive display is substantially circular; and

the rotatable element is a substantially circular ring about the touch-sensitive display.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first optical sensor comprises a camera.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first optical sensor comprises a depth sensor.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a third optical sensor located in or on the band.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first optical sensor comprises a camera and the third optical sensor comprises a depth sensor.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the band comprises one or more of:

a flexible strip;

a clip;

a necklace;

or

a keychain.

27. The device of claim 1, wherein the second optical sensor comprises a camera.

28. The device of claim 1, wherein the second optical sensor comprises a depth sensor.

14. A device comprising:

a device body comprising;

a touch-sensitive display;

a rotatable element about the touch-sensitive display; and

a detector configured to detect rotation of the rotatable element;

a band coupled to the device body;

a first optical sensor in or on the band; and

a second optical sensor in or on the device body, a center of an angle of view of the second optical sensor being substantially parallel to a viewing cone of the touch-sensitive display.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the first optical sensor is communicably coupled to a processor in the device.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the first optical sensor faces outward from the band.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the first optical sensor is configured to capture an image and transmit the image to the device body.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the image transmitted to the device body is displayed on the touch sensitive display.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the detector comprises an encoder.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the encoder comprises:

an optical encoder;

or

a mechanical encoder.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein an inner surface of the rotatable element comprises the encoder.

22. The device of claim 14, wherein:

the touch-sensitive display is substantially circular; and

the rotatable element is a substantially circular ring about the touch-sensitive display.

23. The device of claim 14, wherein the first optical sensor comprises a camera.

24. The device of claim 14, wherein the first optical sensor comprises a depth sensor.

25. The device of claim 14, further comprising a third optical sensor located in or on the band.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the first optical sensor comprises a camera and the third optical sensor comprises a depth sensor.

29. The device of claim 14, wherein the second optical sensor comprises a camera.

30. The device of claim 14, wherein the second optical sensor comprises a depth sensor.